HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THIS NEW YEARS, WE WENT UP TO THE BERNT'S CABIN IN LAVA WITH MY FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP THERE AS USUAL, AND THANKS TO THE BERNT'S FOR LETTING US BORROW IT. WE WENT UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND CHRIS AND JARED TO GET OUR TRUCK UNSTUCK, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TIL THE NEXT MORNING BUT WE HAD A FUN NIGHT. WE THEN WENT TO SLEEP AND WOKE UP AND DID SLEDDING, EATING, SNOWMACHINING AND HALLE GOT TO RIDE THE KITTY KAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT THERE. HALLE THEN WENT BACK FOR A NAP, WHILE THE MEN BURNED SOME WINTER SLASH PILES AND MY MOM AND I PLAYED ON THE SNOWMACHINES AND KEPT TAKING TURNS CHECKING ON HALLE. THAT EVENING EVERYONE STARTED TO SHOW UP. BY THE TIME WE ATE DINNER, GOT EVERYONE UNPACKED AND RELAXED. WE PUT ALL THE KIDS TO BED AND GOT TO PLAY A FUN GAME WITH ALL THE ADULTS, IT WAS A BLAST. THEN WE DID WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS WHICH AS ALWAYS, WAS A TON OF FUN! TRYING TO STAY AWAKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT'S SAD THAT WE ARE SO OLD IT IS HARD TO STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT....BUT WE DID IT! AT 12:01 WE KISSED EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT, WITH OUR EYES HALF SHUT! THE NEXT DAY, IT SNOWED A TON AND WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ALL DAY, BETWEEN THAT AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND EATING, WHATS A BETTER WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD DINNER AND DID GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER THIS DAY. THEN SANTA SHOWED UP TO SURPRISE THE KIDS-THEY LOVED IT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT UP AND CLEANED AND WENT HOME. THANKS AGAIN BERNTS FOR THE FACILITY! ALSO, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND GETTING ALL OF US THERE. WE LOVED IT AND HAD A BLAST WITH EVERYONE! (PS KEEP GOING, THERE IS ANOTHER POST.)

PAPA CHRIS HELPING HALLE TO GET STARTED. THANKS PAPA FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY (AND EFFORT) YOU PUT INTO THIS LITTLE THING. THE KIDDOS LOVED IT TONS-WHAT A HIT!

HERE IS HALLE DRIVING THE KITTY CAT, ALL BY HERSELF-SHE LOVES IT!

HALLE AND NANA HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW WITH JARED~

MOM AND CHRIS CHILLING AT THE CABIN....

THIS POST WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS COOL WITHOUT THIS PICTURE OF MICHAEL. WHEN PLAYING THE GAME THIS IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH. ARE COURTESY OF MCKAY-NICE GUYS! MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ENJOYED SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOON ON YOUR MISSION! WE LOVE YOU!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.


OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.


HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS ALOT OF FUN! ANYWAYS, WE SPENT THIS YEAR, AT MY PARENTS AND JARED'S PARENTS AND THEN JUST HANGING OUT. ON THANKSGIVING WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT JAREDS EATING THANKSGIVING DINNER OF TURKEY AND ALL THE FURNISHING-SO GOOD. THEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND ATE SOME THERE. WE PLAYED GAMES, THE WII, TALKED, ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY, SAW ALL OUR FAMILIES, PLAYED GAMES-YOU NAME IT. OVER ALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND FEEL SO BLESSED. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALL OUR FRIENDS AND THE BLESSING WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS! AS ALWAYS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ATE TO MUCH. THE WEEKEND ENDED WITH ANNA, NIKI, AND I SHOPPING EARLY MORNIGN SALES THE DAY AFTER-WHICH WAS A RIOT! THEN WE TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THEIR DADDIES AND NIKI AND I WENT AND WATCHED, THE NEW MOON-CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT SHOW OR EDWARD! LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE LIGHT PARADE HERE IN POCATELLO AND HAD A GOOD TIME. THE FOLLOWING DAY OF COURSE WE WENT TO SODA AND CUT DOWN OUR OWN XMAS TREES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR-SO FUN! WE FOUND SOME GOOD TREES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT! BUSY WEEKEND~

KIM AND JOHN GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING LUNCH~

TREG AND HIS WIFE, TIFFANY~ JUST CHILLING

KEN GETTING READY TO CARVE THE BIRD....

JARED AND I GETTING READY TO EAT!

THE BIRD-WHAT A GREAT PIC, HUH? JARED MADE THE BIRD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

TIFFANY, KIM, AND I IN OUR NEW APRONS FROM RENAE! WE EVEN GAVE OURSELVES NAMES, HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF THEM NOW

TREVOR AND HALLE AT THE LIGHT PARADE....

NANNA, HALLE, AND I HANGING OUT!

JARED AND HALLE ON OUR HIKE UP THE MTN TO GET OUR TREE!

HALLE IS BORROWING THIS HORSE FROM GRMA NAISY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT-SHE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN NOSE DIVES WHEN SHE GETS GOING FAST ENOUGH! (JUST LOVED THE PIC!)

MY BABY IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD!

MY TIME HAS FLOWN-WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR HALLE'S BIRTHDAY. WE DID FAMILY STUFF ON SATURDAY AND A PARTY ON HER BIRTHDAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO A KNOCK-OFF BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP HERE IN OUR MALL. HALLE GOT TO MAKE HER OWN STUFFED ANIMAL AND STUFF IT AND ALL-SHE SEEMED TO LOVE IT. FROM THERE, WE WENT TO BAJIO FOR LUNCH WITH AUNT NIKI, UNCLE TROY, AND CUZZY TREVOR SINCE TROY HAD TO WORK ON SUNDAY. HALLE HAD ALOT OF FUN, THEN WENT HOME AND TOOK QUITE A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT AND VISITED GRANDMA AND GRUMPY SINCE GRANDMA HAS BEEN SICK HALLE HAS MISSED SEEING HER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SUNDAY SHE WORE A NEW DRESS FROM GRMA NAISY AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME TOOK A 3 HOUR NAP, AND THEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SNACKS. THE THEME OF HER PARTY WAS HAPPY FEET AND IT WAS FUN. THOSE WHO CAME WERE: NANA AND PAPA TORGESEN, GRUMPY AND GRMA NAISY BERNT, AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR, UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT BOO, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S. WE OPENED GIFTS, ATE, WATCHED A VIDEO OF HALLE OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND JUST HUNG-OUT. IT WAS PRETTY RELAXED AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THAT NIGHT I HAD A BREAKDOWN AND CRIED FOR A BIT SINCE MY BABY IS GROWING UP SO FAST AND LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS DAILY. THE NEXT EVENING PAPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL CAME IN TO DROP OFF A GIFT AND STAYED FOR DINNER WITH US AND AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR. IT WAS A FUN NIGHT TO BE TOGETHER. ALL IN ALL HALLE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALOT OF FUN AND TURNED OUT GREAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE-WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! PS..THANKS FOR ALL THE GIFTS-SHE MADE OUT WELL! THEY'LL KEEP HER BUSY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!

HALLE IN HER NEW DRESS-GETTING READY FOR CHURCH!

LATELY HALLE ENJOYS SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD FRIDGE-ADORABLE!

HERE IS SOME OF THE DECOR~

THANKS NANA FOR THE AWESOME CAKE. I HELPED MY MOM (OKAY NOT MUCH) SHE DID THIS ADORABLE CAKE-WITHOUT A PAN OR ANYTHING! THANKS NANA IT WAS PERFECT AND SO YUMMY TOO!

TREVOR AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT!

FAMILY PHOTO SHOT~

HALLE SITTING IN HER NEW DOLL BASSINET-IT WAS HILARIOUS! GO FISHER PRICE THAT THING DIDN'T EVEN BEND!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER EVERYONE LEFT AND HALLE COULD ACTUALLY CALM DOWN AND SEE EVERYTHING SHE GOT~IF IT WENT ON AS CLOTHING, IT WAS ON AND IF SHE COULD PLAY WITH IT~SHE WAS PLAYING! IT WAS SO CUTE AND SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!

THIS IS THE NIGHT PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL CAME OVER-WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SO I HAVE WANTED TO POST A COUPLE THINGS LATELY AND JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES FOR ME, WHICH HE DID AND I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO BLOGGING SO THERE ARE GONNA BE A COUPLE POSTS ALL IN ONE. ENJOY AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET TO BORED! A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OUR FRIENDS THE COOKS, HAD A HALLOWEEN PARTY. MY MOTHER GRACIOUSLY TOOK HALLE FOR THE NIGHT AND AWAY WE WENT. WE HAD A FUN TIME DRESSING UP, EATING FOOD, PLAYING GAMES, AND GETTING TO KNOW SOME OTHER COOL COUPLES. WE HAD A TON OF FUN HAVING A NIGHT AWAY TOGETHER AND THANKS TO THE COOKS FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

HERE WE ARE DRESSED UP: JARED IS A BASEBALL PLAYER, I AM A SOCCER PLAYER! (THANKS KIM FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR CLOTHES!)

A COUPLE NIGHTS LATER WE GOT TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY TO PAINT PUMPKINS..WE THOUGHT PAINTING WOULD BE EASIER AND CLEANER THAN CARVING WITH THE KIDDOS, AND THEY LOVED IT. WE HAD TONS OF FUN!

NIKI AND HALLE PAINTING AWAY WHILE PAPA CHRIS LOOKS ON!

JARED STEALING A HUG FROM MOM-IN-LAW! THEY JUST LOVE EACH OTHER TO DEATH!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVY PAINTING...

HALLE LOVED THIS...SHE LOVES PUMPKINS AND TO PAINT THEM WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR HER!

OF COURSE, JARED DID NOTRE DAME. IT ACTUALLY WAS AWESOME, PROBABLY THE BEST ONE DONE THAT NIGHT!

THIS IS MINE...CANDY CORN...THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA!

HALLE DID A MULTI-COLORED ONE. HERS WAS BEAUTIFUL! WAY TO GO CUB!

THE NEXT WEEKEND, NIKI AND I TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THE ZOO BOO HERE AT ROSS PARK ZOO. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE KIDDOS DRESSED IN THEIR COSTUMES. IT WAS A COLD DAY. BUT THE KIDS ENJOYED GETTING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING. WE HAD HOT DOGS, CIDER, GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS, AND THERE WAS GAMES AND MUCH MORE. THERE WERE LEAVES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY IN AND FIND PRIZES IN. TREVOR LOVED IT, HALLE WAS HESITANT BUT THEN ENJOYED IT. WHAT A FUN DAY!

NIKI AND THE KIDDOS HEADING TO THE ZOO BOO!

THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE~THEY WEREN'T BIG FANS OF IT!

HERE IS HALLE JUMPING IN THE BIG THING OF LEAVES!~


JARED AND I DRESSED UP, HE IS ONCE AGAIN A BASEBALL PLAYER. THIS TIME I WAS A RODEO QUEEN-OR SOMETHING! I HAD TO GET THIS OUTFIT AT THE DI-IT WAS $6 AND A MUST AND I HAD TO WEAR THE UGLY THING. SO I AM WHATEVER YOU THINK I AM!

THE KIDDOS:
TREVOR: UPS MAN-HALLE: PIG-
JANEY AND JENNA: BALLERINA'S

HALLE AND I TRUNK-OR-TREATING AT NANNA'S CHURCH~

THE KIDDO'S WITH NANNA. THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KIDDOS AROUND MY MOM'S HOUSE WE DID THE TRUNK OR TREAT AT HER CHURCH. WE LOVED IT! THEY GOT TONS OF CANDY, THEY GOT TO GO OUT WHEN IT WAS STILL LIGHT AND NOT TO COLD YET-OK NOT FREEZING YET! AND THEN THEY WERE READY TO GO TO NANNA'S FOR GAMES AND FOOD...GREAT IDEA AND WE WERE IN PARTYING BY 6:30! LOVED IT!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW MY MOTHER IT MAKES THIS PIC EVEN BETTER. SHE WOULD DIE IF SHE SAW IT ON HERE=WHICH SHE WILL BUT OH WELL! SHE HOSTS A ROCKING HALLOWEEN PARTY EVERY YEAR. WITH PIZZA, FOOD, TREATS, YOU NAME IT. THIS YEAR WE PLAYED A DOUGHNUT GAME AND CHUBBY BUNNY WITH MARSHMALLOWS. WE HAD TONS OF FUN AND WE ARE GREATFUL FOR HER AND PAPA HAVING SUCH FUN TIMES AND ALWAYS BEING A GREAT HOST AND HOSTESS! THANKS YOU GUYS WE HAD A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN WITH YOU! LOVE YA!