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Very Merry Snowman Holiday

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Kung Fu

Moving!

I have the perfect solution to weight lose, just move!

Last week I was looking through the classifieds and saw a house listed for rent in the south area of town. It was in our price range and included water, sewer, garbage. Which is rare for house rentals. I called on it Monday morning and found out it was located on the same street as the high school. I knew this was one rental we couldn't pass up. I called Terry and asked him to meet me on his lunch break to look at the house. It ended up being three house down from the high school. When we looked at it we couldn't believe how big it was and that they weren't asking more for it in rent. We knew it was to good to pass on, so we put our application in. On Friday we got the keys. We actually ended up getting the house for less rent then was listed because we agreed to take care of the yard.

Terry has been really excited about it. He timed how long it would take him to get to work. It is only a 4 minute walk. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with the hole matter. I know that the Lord led us to this house, but it has been hard for me to wrap my mind around it.

I could never have dreamed of getting such a good deal, in such a good location. When we started looking for a new rental at the beginning of the year, I started freaking out about the whole prospect. I prayed about it and got a distinct feeling that we needed to wait. I am so glad I listened. It was hard because I had found a house I really liked. Had we moved into the house, we would have been paying more for rent, had less square footage, smaller yard, and had to pay water, sewer, garbage. I am so grateful for everything we have been blessed with lately.

We are actually renting the house from the fire depart. The home was owned by an older couple who lived there for around 40 years. When they sold it, the fire department bought it for the land. The home is surrounded by fields. They did some fixing up and painting of the house and now are renting it out. Riley was excited about renting a house from the fire department and getting to meet the fire chief. While we were at the fire department signing papers the kids got their own personal tour of the station.

For all those who ever want to visit us, we now have room for you to stay with us.

Full Bath

Basement bedroom. Not sure what we will do with this. It will probably be my craft room or the office or both. First I have to figure out what to do to make sure there and no spiders. When I was vacuuming down here I found a couple. I really do not like spiders. Any suggestions on how to keep from having problems with spiders in a basement.

Unfinished side of the basement.

Back of the house.


Basement family room with the basement kitchen in the back.



Other half of the basement family room. Got to love the antlers on the wall. they will be going. Plus the old boxed TV. We think it will actually work.



Backyard and garden.



Master bedroom.



breeze way between the garage and house. It is also the laundry room.



Riley's room



Abbie's room.



Kitchen



Living room



Living room and dinning room.



View of the mountains from our back yard. Plus some of the pastures that surround our house.

Professor Carlsen

The Community College has asked Terry to teach Chemistry during the evening. He will be teaching on Tuesday and Thursday nights. He begins on March 29th. There could be an opportunity for him to teach each quarter. It all depends on how this quarter works.

Soon to be 8

We went to a meeting last night for all the kids in our ward who will be turning 8 this year. There are about 15 of them. Riley is so excited to get baptized. At the meeting they had the Cub master talk to the boys about what they will get to do in cub scoots. Riley was so excited I could hardly keep him in his seat. After the meeting was over he found the cub master and asked her question after question. My little boy is growing up. I can't believe how fast his baptism is approaching.

I know that most of you are to far away to make it to his baptism, but know that we would love to have all of you here if possible. Terry and I do understand if you can't make it.

We have set the date for April 9th at 3:00pm.

Karate

Right before Thanksgiving Riley started taking karate lessons. He is loving it, and has a great Sensei. Who is actually in our Ward. When he got out on the mat the first day he had this really serous face on, and was just ready to go. I have been amazed at how fast he has picked up on everything. He does really well when he focuses and doesn't get to silly. We are working on his confidence as well. He is so worried he will mess up that he doesn't want to do the different moves on his own, but I know he can. It will be fun to watch him progress.


They had their first test at the beginning of January. Riley was able to get his first piece of tape on his belt. After he get so many and can focus and listen (which Riley needs to work on) he will be able to move up to yellow.

Riley at his first Karate test.



Dad helping Riley out at his test.

Snow, Snow and more Snow

After the Bott Family Christmas party we spent a few days at my parent's house. We planned on coming home Wednesday, but due to a big snow storm we stayed an extra day. We had fun playing in the snow. The kids even got to help Grandpa Bott plow snow with his tractor.

Bott Family Christmas Party

The Monday following Christmas was my family Christmas Party. It is always fun to spend time with my family, but it never seems like enough time. I am so blessed to have such wonderful brothers and sisters.
My niece Clarissa (correct me if I am wrong) made these cute scarfs for all of her girl cousins. They loved them. Abbie wore hers for most of the night.
My nephew Kyle getting his first cowboys hat from Aunt Beverly. He had the biggest smile on his face.The two love birds.

We had my brother Stephen and his family for Christmas. We got the girls some fleece blankets. They had fun snuggling with them. They looked like they were ready to go to sleep right their.

Grandma opening her present from us. It is a book made from our blog.


Abbie got a hold of the camera and took some pictures of Terry and me.
My brother Roland and his family gave us this fun snowman bowl, and the game Sorry. We had fun playing the game with Grandma Bott at her house.

Holidays

I hope everyone had a wonderful time over the holidays. We had a lot of fun. I was worried about what the driving conditions would be like. The drive to Terry's parents house started out foggy, but by the time we got up Cabbage Hill (this is the beginning trek through the Blues) it was clear and beautiful. The sun was shining and the fog was gone. When I looked back behind us, it was like looking at a sea of fog. It was quite a spectacular scene. I wish I had taken a picture.

As usually my kids did a good job traveling. Abbie did her job a little to well and didn't say she needed to use the restroom. She ended up wetting her pants. Mom wasn't to happy, but we got things cleaned up as best we could until we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with Terry's parents. On Christmas Eve, we went out and played in the snow. It was too crunchy to make a snowman so we decided to make forts. Terry and Riley made one, Abbie and I made one, and Brian and Tyson made one. Then we had a snowball fight. By the time we got to the snowball fight we were all worn out from building the forts. Come Christmas Day we were feeling the effort of all our work. We were quite sore. I do not have any pictures of this. I was having to much fun in the snow to get my camera.

After our outdoor playing we came in and helped the kids make cookies to eat and to leave for Santa. Wilma had a lot of fun Christmas cookie cutters. Abbie loves sugar cookies. She stood in front of the stove watching the cookies cook.




Later on we had a family dinner and Christmas program. Terry's family has a tradition of reading the Christmas story from the Bible and then the youngest child gets to put the baby Jesus in the manger. After this everyone gets to open one present.
Abbie and her present on Christmas Eve. She got Bedtime Bear.

Riley and His present on Christmas Eve. He got a Mega Blocks dragon egg. He was so excited to get his first Mega Blocks set, so he could become a Mega Block master.
When Riley found out that the dragon egg present was from Abbie, he gave her a big hug.
Wilma made a lot of fun stuff and gave them to everyone. This is a crown and scarf she made that Abbie got.

The kids were so excited to open presents Christmas morning. They each got a pair of slippers in their stockings.
Abbie and her Santa gift. She has been asking for a snow globe for most of the year.

Riley and his Santa gift. He got a big Mega Block dragon set that goes with the egg that Abbie gave him the night before.

Terry gave me this bobbin threader. He got tired of me complaining that mine didn't work on the sewing machine that I use, and that I have to get out my Grandma's old sewing machine to thread my bobbins.
This is the first gift Terry opened. It is a keyboard that he can use with the Wii. We got one for the family for Christmas. I thought that is was going to be the gift that the kids had gotten him. Unfortunately we hadn't opened the Wii yet, and Riley can read now. We had to do some sweet talking to convince him that the keyboard was for Dad's I pod touch and not a Wii. We didn't want to spoil the fact that they were getting a Wii.
Grandma Carlsen opening the present from us. It is a book made from my blog.
Here we are with the Wii.
Terry finally opening the present from the kids.