CaMPer UpGRadE

Our camper has been a good one for many, many, many years, like 45, but we have decided to upgrade. So we purchased a 1994 fifth wheel trailer with bunk beds. The layout is so cool and it will fit us well for many years to come. It was a really good find we just have to make a trip to Oregon to pick it up. The camper was in Salem and we had it delivered to Jason & Christianna's (brother & sister in-law) who are in Jefferson, which I guess is close or so I am told. So we are going to go during the kids spring break in March and visit Aunie & Papa and Jason & Christianna and pick-up our new purchase. It will be fun and we are excited. We are not only excited to get the camper, but for the time off of work as well.

The camper is loaded with all the fun stuff. I am most excited for two things 1) the bathroom! No more hiking 1/2 mile to hide in the woods to relieve myself when I am camping/hunting with the boys. Also, when it is 3 o'clock in the morning and freezing out I don't have to try to find my glass and shoes. That is way to much work. 2) our bed!! In the old camper you had to step in the middle of the table to step up into bed, which requires skill that I am not always possessed with. Then once there don't even think about sitting up definitely not enough room, which does not work well when you are claustrophobic like me.

I will have to share pictures in March when we actually get to see the camper in person. All we have seen are pictures over the Internet and I didn't think to save them to my computer before they were removed from the website. Don't worry we did not buy this camper blind we did have Jason go look at it before giving them any money. So with the help of Jason's approval we went forward with the purchase, which I of course stressed about. However I am extremely happy to have a new-used and updated camper. Now if we could just have it here in Wyoming with us.

LauraLee, Chase, & Emmalee come to WY

My sister LauraLee and her two little ones, Chase & Emmalee, came to visit us. They hadn't had a chance to make it up to see our new house yet. For those who don't know we finally were able to buy a house in April of '08. LauraLee braved approximately a two hour road trip with a 4 year old and a 1 year old. We haven't had any storms lately so luckily the roads we good. We planned a sledding trip. So we got Clayton, Mekenna, Chase, Emmalee, and ourselves all bundled up to go play in the snow. Unfortunately the curse of extreme cold weather was upon us once again. So we did not stay out long because we were all getting frost bitten on our cheeks. Not really but after coming inside it looked like it. Plus the kids were getting tired quickly from climbing up the big hill, and I was getting tired as well. You would think running 2 miles on a treadmill 4 to 5 days a week would help with that, but I guess not.
Once we got back to the house we made hot chocolate with mini marshmallows for everyone that wanted some-- Yummy, Yummy. Then we visited and let the kids play. We made lasagna for dinner, which was an adventure on its own, but it turned out delicious. After we filled our tummies the kids played a little longer, before LauraLee got Chase & EmmaLee in there pj's in hopes that the would sleep on the way home. Chase was having so much fun he did not want to leave, he want as far as to go hide in our shower in hopes of prolonging his time with us. It was enjoyable to see them and spend time with them. We appreciate LauraLee taking time out of her busy schedule to come visit we all had a great time. I will have to post the cute pictures of the get together later. I do not have my camera with me here at work. I know, I know I should be working not blogging, however, it is slow and I do not feel like doing the projects I have on my to do list.

Lava Hot Springs

Shawn & I were by ourselves this last weekend and he said he wanted to do nothing but relax. Well I proposed the idea to go to Lava Hot Springs. We woke up Saturday morning packed and made the 2 hour drive. Once in Lava we found a motel & checked in, so far every motel room we have been in in Lava is lets just say not top of the line. Anyway we got settled and than headed to the hot springs. We spent about 2 1/2 hours relaxing in the hot pools. The water was hot & relaxing which was nice and just what Shawn had ordered. After 2 1/2 hours we were quite prune like and decided to go back to the hotel. We had an all day pass so we intended to come back for a couple hours after dinner. Oscar came on the trip with us, so we decided to go for a walk with him. Then we went back to the hotel for a little while and relaxed while watching t.v. Now it being early evening were getting hungry so we went to dinner. If we would have had cash on us we would have played bingo while we ate, but we didn't so we just enjoyed our meal and watched others play for awhile. Instead of going back to the hot springs we decided to go to the Blue Moon Bar to see if the band was playing country music. We thought we might kick up our heels a little, but the band was not playing anything you can two-step to. We did stay a little while and listen to the music. After, returning to our room to try to attempt to sleep. I did not get much sleep between the uncomfortable bed, to being able to hear traffic outside our room, to trying to share a full size bed with Shawn & Oscar, and for the first few hours I was freezing cold. We talked about going to the hot springs the next morning, but decided against it when we got up. Instead we decided to take a bath in this huge 2 man tub that was in the room. We packed up the car and headed home, which I slept for about half of the trip. Once we got home I started laundry and laid down for a nap. So minus the bad nights sleep we had a great time. Nothing like a short & sweet getaway! We took the camera, but failed to take any pictures at all.

Sledding in the freezing cold

We took the kids sledding and it was freezing cold out but we still had fun. Oscar thought it was fun to chase them down the hill and we thought it was funny until he got too excited and tried to bite at the kids. Amazingly we stayed for 2 hours even though we were Popsicles. We did get some cute pictures to share out of the extremely cold outing.

A New Year. . . what is in store?

First off, I have to confess I took our Christmas tree down earlier than normal. I took it down two days after Christmas. I usually wait until New Year's day or the first weekend after New Year's, however, we did not have room for the tree to begin with and Shawn & I were both ready for normalcy & room to move. Just a side note Oscar was also ready for things to return to normal. He enjoys running around the living room & the Christmas tree made that impossible to do.

Ringing in 2009--

I had a doctor's appointment in Idaho Falls on New Year's Eve. We got off work at noon & headed to I.F. I went to my doctors appointment & then we ran errands that we can only do in I.F. After that we went to O'Callahan's to meet my mom & step-dad to pick up Christmas gifts. We had planned to go to dinner & catch a movie after that, but our plans changed. We stayed @ O'Callahan's for dinner & rang in the New Year there. It was great to see my Mom, Lynn (step-dad), Aunt Sharlene, & Ted(family friend). Instead of driving home at 1 o'clock in the morning we stayed at my mom's, she has a guest bedroom. Shawn & I got up the next morning & went to breakfast before our track home. On the way home we hit bad roads so the second half of the drive was slow. We were both tired from staying up so late & I fell asleep for awhile on the ride home. Once home we showered & were completely lazy until Shawn went to go pick up Clayton & Mekenna.

It took him over 2 hours to get the kids because of the bad roads, but once again they made it home with no incidents. Thank heavens! I am looking forward to what adventures the new year brings. I am happy & feel blessed to have a great husband- Shawn, Clayton, Mekenna, Oscar, & a loving extended family to spend it with.