Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends we miss you
all very much and hope you have a wonderful Holiday!!!

Love Brian, Deniann and Makayla

Guess who got to see Santa!!!

We made an appointment like we did last year to go see Santa at MOA. We were not sure how she was going to handle Santa this year,but she did pretty good! She actually acted allot like she did last year when we took her, just not sure what to think of him. But she was excited before we got there to go, in the car she kept saying "Here we come Santa"! But once we actualy made it there and through the long line much of her excitement was gone. Waiting in that line is kinda hard for a little 2 year old even for most adults at times. You wouldn't think you would have to wait in line for this Santa since you have to make an appointment to see him. But what they fail to tell you until you get there, is there are several people scheduled in your time slot. But I'm glad we were able to go it was fun!!!

Happy Turkey Day

I wanted to wish all our family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving and let you all know we are thinking about you and miss you all very much. The 3 of us got up this morning and had our traditional breakfast. Orange glaze cinnamon rolls and egg casserole with ham, cheese, green onions, and of course.... green chilies. We would usually have a butter braid but not sure where to get those out here. Anyways, Makayla enjoyed her orange roll and daddy like always, poured a gallon of Tabasco sauce on his egg casserole. We ate while we enjoyed watching the Macy's parade on TV and browsing through the sale ads for Friday shopping. Makayla had a bath and laid down for a nap. We will get ready and leave to have our Thanksgiving feast at the Mauzy's. Since we have moved out here, they have invited us into their home for the holiday. It is something we have enjoyed and it has become somewhat of a new tradition. Happy Holidays everyone!

Makayla's Birthday Video

Here is a video of Makayla's Birthday day and birthday party that we had last weekend. On her birthday during the day we hung out and played. I wanted to take her somewhere special after her nap, but she decided not to take one...... so towards the after noon she was getting a little crabby. But then Daddy came home and she got her second wind. We took her to Red Robin, her favorite place to eat and had a birthday dinner. She loves their grilled cheese. Not sure what it is about their grilled cheeses but she eats the whole thing, which these days she is a very picky eater. On the way home she fell a sleep with her balloon from Red Robin in her hand, but when we drove into the garage she was up and ready to go again, We went in and opened presents from us, grandma and papa and the Cheyenne group. Afterward, we had two little pumpkin cakes to celebrate her being "2". After looking at pictures, they kinda look like something else.... I'm sure every one will get what I mean when you see the pictures :) Oh well I thought they were cute.

We decided to have a birthday party for her on Saturday at this place called "The Little Gym" We signed her up for classes there every Saturday morning and she really seems to love going. The class runs through January and I figured this would give us a little something to do over the winter since it is sooooo long here. Everyone had fun playing, singing, jumping, and dancing around the gym. Then after our fun in the gym we had cake, juice and opened presents. I hope everyone had a fun time, we enjoyed having everyone there and want to thank you all for making her day special!!!

I can't believe she is two and another year has passed. Anyone that has ever told me that time flies so enjoy her while she's young is so right!!! Believe me, I'm making sure to enjoy every little second I can with her.


I love you Makayla,

Love Mommy

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Nancie

Have a piece a cake on me! I miss you. But glad you live some what close to me so I least get to see you some times, probably more then I would if I was living in Colorado. We need to get down to see you guys at some point though. I hope you have a wonderful Birthday Nancie!!!

Makayla is "2" Today

Happy Birthday To Our "baby girl"

OK so your not so little any more but you are still our baby girl. We can't believe we are celebrating your 2nd Birthday already. You have grown so much and you seem to learn something new everyday. We are glad to be with you for every second off it!


One day after you were born.



Your First Birthday.


You this morning eating your breakfast.


Playing on your new "Horsey" this morning
an early birthday present you got last night.


Happy "2nd" Birthday
We Love You Makayla
Mommy and Daddy

Pool Time time with Friends

Kids

Baby Eastern Blue Birds

This spring we had a second round of blue birds return to our backyard birdhouse to nest for the season . I call them my "Denver Bronco Birds" They are a brilliant blue color with a bright orange belly (breast) but if you read up on them they say there breast color is a rich brown. You can't tell that when they are flying around. They look like a bright Denver Bronco orange. They had 3 blue and white eggs that hatched about two weeks ago. I tried to snap a picture of the eggs but it was too dark and I was afraid to use a flash as I didn't want to freak out the mama. I have attached a few videos, we thought we would try and leave a few worms on their house so mama could pick them up and feed them to the babies. Not sure what we were thinking but it sounded good at the time. We went to take another peek the other day and they have flown the coop. I hope we have some return again next season as it has been fun watching them.

"The bluebird is well named, for he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; no North American bird better deserves the name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes so much brilliant blue. It has been said that he carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast; but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the bluebird's back?" (Quote describing the eastern bluebird from the Arthur Cleveland Bent series on the Birds of North America.)

The eastern bluebird is the only one of the 3 bluebird species regularly found in Minnesota. Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other open areas, including suburban locations with open spaces and scattered tress. The eastern bluebird has a musical flight call that often reveals its presence.

Male eastern bluebird

Red = summer range, Green = year-around, Blue = winter range

In The Backyard:
Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to soften them are well received. The bluebird's special favorite is mealworms.

Nesting:
The eastern bluebird is a summer resident of Minnesota. One or two broods may be produced. Watch for house sparrows trying to use the next box and immediately remove any house sparrow nesting material.

Here's a colorful quote on bluebird courtship, also from the Bent series:
The love-making of the bluebird is as beautiful as the bird itself, and normally as gentle, unless interrupted by some jealous rival who would steal his bride; then gentleness gives place to active combat. The male usually arrives a few days ahead of the female, selects what he considers to be a suitable summer home, and carols his sweetest, most seductive notes day after day until she appears in answer to his call. Then he flutters before her, displaying the charms of his widespread tail and half-opened wings, warbling in delicious, soft undertones, to win her favor. At first she seems indifferent to the gorgeous blue of his overcoat or the warm reddish brown of his ardent breast. He perches beside her, caresses her in the tenderest and most loving fashion, and sings to her in most endearing terms. Perhaps he may bring to her some delicious morsel and place it gently in her mouth, as an offering. Probably he has already chosen the cavity or box that he thinks will suit her; lie leads her to it, looks in, and tries to persuade her to accept it, but much persistent wooing is needed before the nuptial pact is sealed. In the meantime a rival male may appear upon the scene and a rough and tumble fight ensue, the males clinching in the air and falling to the ground together, a confusing mass of blue and brown feathers struggling in the grass; but no very serious harm seems to have been done, as they separate and use their most persuasive charms to attract the object of their rivalry. At times, a second female may join in the contest and start a lively fight with her rival for the mate she wants. John Burroughs (1894) gives an interesting account of such a four-cornered contest, too long to be quoted here, in which the female of an apparently mated pair seemed to waver in her affections between her supposed mate and the new rival; and the latter seemed to have left the female of his first choice to win the bride of the other. However, after a much prolonged contest, the matter seemed to be satisfactorily settled, for two pairs of bluebirds finally flew off in different directions and started up housekeeping without further trouble.

Happy Birthday Phil!!!


We hope you have a good day, wish we could be there for the BBQ
this weekend to celebrate both of your birthdays. Have fun for us.

Happy Birthday Nisha We hope you have a great day
wish we could be there to Celebrate!!!
Love from all of us

Our Life the in the past Month & 1/2

I haven't posted anything in a while so thought I would get caught back up with a little video of what we have been up too. (ok maybe not so little the video is a little long) Enjoy!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Homemade Gift " Office Kit "

This is an office kit that I put together for my mom's new position that she took at her job. The pictures are not the best but if you click on the pictures you can see them a little bit better. The binder clips are kinda multi purpose you can use them of course for your paper stacks but you can also use them as picture holders . The little binder clips you can put wallet size pictures in and the big binder clip can hold a bigger picture . They are really cute little holders.


BINDER CLIPS/PICTURE HOLDERS

PEN & PENCIL HOLDER (Pic 1)

PEN & PENCIL HOLDER (Pic 2)

NOTE BOOK

Highlighter

Archiver's Acrylic Album Workshop

Last night I went and did a class at Archivers with Notasha. Here is what we made, I had a lot of fun and this album turned out really cute can't wait to do more albums like this. I guess you can buy acrylic scrapbook kits at archivers too which is nice so you don't have to buy every thing separately. So you know I will be getting some of these kits in the future.

Makayla is 1 1/2 Today

Today Makayla is 18 months and to celebrate she got a new play kitchen. Brian brought it home last night for her . Here is a picture of her playing with all the play food that was scattered all over the kitchen floor while her Dad was assembling the kitchen in the front room. She had to try every single piece of food by licking it, so we are not sure if she really thought it was real food or not. But either way she was really excited to have some new stuff to play with.

Makayla helping mommy with laundry

Makayla decided that she wanted to help mommy do the laundry today. So I had to snap a few pics. But as I looked down at her sitting there in the basket as I'm putting the dirty laundry in the machine, it just hit me that sooner then later she will be to big to sit in a laundry basket. She is just growing so fast! I feel it is so hard at times to catch every little special moment with her, just so I don't forget her at this age. So Sweet........................

Todays Forecast

Yep we are getting snow again I'm so sick of the snow! Will we ever see spring here in Minnesota. Certainly not used to the weather we get here. Not saying that Colorado couldn't get snow this time of year. But before we left for Colorado for Easter we were in the middle of a storm ending in 6 to 9 inches. The winter is just not this long in Colorado and you get sun.....unlike here. Take a look at our forecast, it really bites!!! I guess we can look forward to the weekend weather but after, we will probably get snow again! Point Forecast: Farmington MN

Today Heavy Snow Hi 35°F Tonight Snow Lo 29°F Tuesday Decreasing Clouds Hi 37°F Hazardous weather condition(s): Hazardous Weather Outlook Heavy Snow Warning Today: Periods of snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 35. Breezy, with a northeast wind between 15 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Tonight: Periods of snow, mainly before 10pm. Low around 29. Blustery, with a north northeast wind between 17 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Tuesday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 37. North northwest wind between 10 and 17 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind around 8 mph. Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. South southwest wind between 7 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Our St. Patrick's Day 2008

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tired Makayla

The results of Makayla at dinner time after having no afternoon nap.



I had a really hard time trying not to laugh while I was taking this video. I didn't want to wake her from the peaceful little snooze she was having.

Makayla having a little bit of Fun

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our BackYard Possum

I have been meaning to post these pictures of our backyard wild life. I was sitting at the kitchen table surfing the net one day while Makayla was napping and this is what was lurking around in our yard . It is so weird to me to find a possum wandering around coming towards our house, I'm sure looking for some food. We would never see one of these creatures in our backyards in Colorado.............. because we had a fence to outline our yards unlike we do here in Minnesota and also we didn't have near the wildlife we have out here. So in a way it is kinda cool as long as he or she doesn't move into our house.





Opossum:

Among Minnesota's wild mammals, the opossum is probably the most unusual. a marsupial, it is a distant relative of the kangaroo and other animals which carry their young in a pouch.

The opossum is about the size of a house cat. It weighs from four to 12 pounds and measures nearly three feet from its long pink nose to its long naked tail. The opossum wraps its prehensile tail around tree limbs as an aid when climbing.

At night the opossum forages for small rodents, fruits, nuts, birds, insects, carrion, and other foods. After eating, it squats on its hind legs and washes, much like a cat.

What's truly unique about the 'possum' is how it comes into the world. The young, usually eight to 12, are not fully developed at birth. Their tiny front feet, however, do have minute claws which the babies use to climb up the mother's belly and into her pouch. Once inside, they attach themselves to a teat. There they remain for 60 to 70 days. For another month after that, the young opossums climb in and out of the pouch, never straying far. Finally, when mouse-size, they climb aboard the mother's back where they spend much of their time until becoming more independent.

The opossum lives primarily in southern Minnesota woodlands, but occasionally ranges into north-central counties. The opossum's naked ears, nose, and tail are very susceptible to freezing temperatures, which explains why the species is not found farther north.Opossum
Opossum illustration

Among Minnesota's wild mammals, the opossum is probably the most unusual. a marsupial, it is a distant relative of the kangaroo and other animals which carry their young in a pouch.

The opossum is about the size of a house cat. It weighs from four to 12 pounds and measures nearly three feet from its long pink nose to its long naked tail. The opossum wraps its prehensile tail around tree limbs as an aid when climbing.

At night the opossum forages for small rodents, fruits, nuts, birds, insects, carrion, and other foods. After eating, it squats on its hind legs and washes, much like a cat.

What's truly unique about the 'possum' is how it comes into the world. The young, usually eight to 12, are not fully developed at birth. Their tiny front feet, however, do have minute claws which the babies use to climb up the mother's belly and into her pouch. Once inside, they attach themselves to a teat. There they remain for 60 to 70 days. For another month after that, the young opossums climb in and out of the pouch, never straying far. Finally, when mouse-size, they climb aboard the mother's back where they spend much of their time until becoming more independent.

The opossum lives primarily in southern Minnesota woodlands, but occasionally ranges into north-central counties. The opossum's naked ears, nose, and tail are very susceptible to freezing temperatures, which explains why the species is not found farther north.

Makayla Valentine's 2008

My Montage 2/15/08

Haven''t been very good about keeping up on on our blog lately,so going to attempt to going forward. So never really did know the meaning behind "Valentines Day" or maybe I did learn it in my early days in elementary school but can't remember now. So I was thinking what is the meaning, looked it up on Google and of course found lots of theories. What ever the meaning, I have always loved this day just for the simple fact of showing the people you are close too a little EXTRA love for the day!

So here is one theory I found............

Valentine's Day History
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

Happy Valentines Day