Puzzle Time

One of our Christmas traditions is to have a family puzzle going.  Everyone (but me) enjoys spending time working on it.  Well, Grant saw this puzzle and wanted it soooo bad.  I was happy to let him pick out this years puzzle.  However, I didn't think about the fact that the kids were not coming home this year (it was (their in-laws year) this puzzle was a HARD 1000 piece puzzle. Grant would be be swayed into buying an easier puzzle and saving this one until next year.  So...it took a couple of months but here is the finished project!

Grant putting the LAST piece in!

The masterpiece.

I have to admit that it drove me crazy to have the mess out for two months but It is a great memory for my little guy.

Cowboy Steve.....Calgary Stampede 2011

If you haven't heard of the Calgary Stampede you must be living under a rock!  The whole city celebrates this event.  They dress western at work, there are free breakfast, lunch and dinners all over the city for the week of the Stampede. People come from all over the world to attend.  Even Prince William and his new bride Kate came this year.   It is quit the thing to observe.   Well Steve showed up to work in "regular" work cloths one day and was told that it was not proper attire for Stampede Week!  He had to take clients out to the Rodeo the next day so he was "expected" to dress the part.  Here he is in his new duds.....

I had to laugh a little bit while he was putting his boots on.
 I told him he reminded me of the kids dressing up
for cowboy day at school.

Maybe next year he can spring for a cowboy hat!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

 Yep...that is my husband working out to an exercise show with his dress cloths on!!!

Look Who's 50!

My darling husband turned the big 50 this year. Sense he was not going to be home on March 1st (his real birthday) I had a few friends over to celebrate while he was home! He actually blew out all 50 candles. It took 2 cakes to hold them all and as you can see he had a little bit of help.

He got some really funny gifts. People have been so good to him and us through this transition period. It was nice to have so many come. He has been as he says "Lonely as a man can be" away from the family.

Happy Birthday Honey...50 is the new 30...we have a long way to go!

CANADA...business and pleasure 8/2009

Steve had business in Calgary Canada. I have never spent much time in Canada and so I was thrilled when he asked me to go along. He worked all day on Friday and I spent the DAY at a wonderful spa. Yes...I am hooked!! We took advantage of the weekend and headed to a couple of national parks in the area. Everything was BEAUTIFUL! We spent some time hiking here at Lake Moraine. Over looking a beautiful river...

Steve... standing outside of the Hotel in Banff.

Guess who was in Banff the very same day! Honest we didn't plan this or even change our schedule's to make this happened. When She called to say she was in town we were a block and a half away from each other..ha ha small world. We had a lovely dinner together (except for the waitress) Yep! The Boyer's......:)

Stacy stood at this spot and took pictures for anyone that needed them...It was so funny!

A picture of the Banff Hotel. It truly was amazing. We went inside to explore. It reminded me of a cruise ship inside. The wood inside was beautiful!!!

This was at Lake Louise. It was so crowed with tourist ( which I was one of) But it was beautiful.

As we were hiking we came across this sign with a forest ranger standing guard. If you wanted to go hiking you had to wait until 4 people (It was a law) were going on that trail. After I read the sign I really had NO desire to hike that trail. In fact I was a bit nervous to hike at all....

This was my favorite place. Lake Morain....it was the color of the ocean. It truly was this blue. Gorgeous!!!!!

Steve had fun with the chip monks...They were very friendly.

It was a wonderful trip and we loved spending time together just the two of us. The kids at home held down the fort and were so good with Grant. I have great kids...Boy will life change when they all head off to school. They will be missed! Thanks kids.

The Boys Hike Timp! 7-2009

Posted By Tyler:
On Wednesday (July23,2009) my dad, brother Blake, and myself left bright and early to hike Mt. Timpanogos. My dad has always wanted to do this hike and we finally took the time to make it happen. We were on the Alpine Loop Trail at 5:30 in the morning and decided that after making it to the summit we would come down the Timponoke Trail in order to see the whole mountain. Although I was a little worried about it, my dad did really well and we made it all the way to the top in pretty good time! We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the scenery.
Looking down at Emerald Lake from the summit.

Blake at Emerald Lake.

Blake and I at the very top of Timp. You really feel like you have accomplished something looking down from here.

Blake's Captain Moroni pose.

Almost to the Saddle.

Happy Fourth of July 2009

We had a great time on the fourth of July at the Connel's beautiful home. We had a BBQ, swam and visited until it was time to watch fireworks. We had a perfect seat from their backyard over looking a beautiful golf course and view.

Here Steve is swimming with Grant and Tanner. Grant swam and jumped off the diving board non-stop for four hours! Needless to say he was asleep before we got home!

Camille visiting with our friends the Rousseau's.

Camille taking our picture. Can you tell how HOT it was. We love Texas Summers. ;)

Blake went to the party for a little bit and then he had a hot date! Blake and 3 of his"ladies"
watched the fireworks from the back of his truck on the "love Sac"! The things that boy comes up with! All in all it was a fun and relaxing day. A day we all needed.

It is important to remember why we get to celebrate this day to being with. I am so thankful to be blessed enough to live in this great country. Thank you to all of the men and women who have made the USA ...the land of the FREE. I love this quote:

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who do us harm. -George Orwell

FIGHT NIGHT at the BISHOP"S house!! Hummmmmmm 12/27/08

Boys will be boys.......... Some of Blake's friends in the Ward decided to have a fight (boxing) night and showed up to one of the leaders home who thought they were coming over to watch a game. Of course it was a night full of great stories of who whooped who. The videos were very telling as yes... STEVE (BISHOP) was right in the middle of it all and could be heard on the tape encouraging them on. Many of the more refined parents were shocked at even the thought!! :) Of course Jackson and Blake BOTH wore their 'Victory Suits" the next Sunday because they both thought that they won... even though they fought each other! HA This night was the re-match. Steve once again was in the middle. I was a nervous wreck and told them that they were limited to 2 one minute rounds. They both got some pretty good hits in and again they both wore their victory suits to church the following day. LET'S RETIRE THE GLOVES!! PLEASE!! :) Hummmmmmmmmm...shouldn't he be trying to stop this??

All- A...Board December 13,2008

We were able to pause for a few hours from all of the hustle and bustle of this crazy busy month and take a trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express.....:) It was a fun night spent with good Friends and Santa himself! Of course now Grant thinks that the North Pole is right up the street and he wants to call Santa almost every day!! The group of kids all waiting to board the train!

Grant and Steve.

Grant LOVES his OLD (old as in no longer... not old as in aged! Ha )Primary teacher Lauren.

It's SANTA.........................!

The Pumpkin Patch

We headed to the Pumpkin Patch tonight for FHE. We wanted to see where pumpkins REALLY come from. Grant enjoyed running and playing on all of the cool stuff they had there. We searched and search for the perfect one to take home. Grant was not real keen on cleaning it out. He said it is "gross". Blake came to the rescue! All in all it was a successful night for all of us.