What the....

I've been a slacker on my blog since August. Not because I haven't had time, not because I haven't had anything to say. I just haven't. I'm too busy reading other people's blogs, or on Facebook, or other ways that I ignore my kids. I mean cleaning the house!

Here is our year-end review.

September:

Grandpa Paul Nelson passed away in September. He was 94 years old. It was a sad but happy occasion. It was nice to have the whole family together and reminisce about Grandpa.

Many of those memories happened here at the Bard Store.

The Gray Family moved to California in September. Hunter and Dylan are just a few months apart and have always been the best of friends! They had a great time playing one last time together before they moved!

On September 19, Hunter turned 8 years old and was baptized! I can't believe that my baby Hunter is 8! It was nice to have family and friends there with us.

Later that night, Hunter and I participated in a Missoula Children's Theatre production of "Pinocchio" Hunter was a Toy Soldier and I accompanied on the piano.

And what month wouldn't be complete without a quick trip to Disneyland?!?!?! My sisters and I got together for our annual NTA sister weekend. We had a great time! Then I stuck around one more day and did the Disneyland Challenge with these guys!

October:

October was pretty uneventful, except of course for Halloween. Have I ever mentioned I hate Halloween. But I know it's about them...not me.

November:

The Pioneer Woman was in Phoenix promoting her cookbook. The stars aligned correctly and Edna and I were able to make the very quick, but fun, trip up to get her to sign my cookbook. I even asked her a question!! Edna had never heard of the Pioneer Woman, but as I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I LOVE her! A few days later, as she posted her Recap of her PHX trip, I saw this:

Edna and I made it onto her website! She posted the picture again when she did her "Thankful" post for Thanksgiving!!! She's really nice and it was awesome to meet her!




I also got the chance to play in a "band." I played "keyboards." I always think of Ross from Friends and how he played Keyboards in college. Haha. We did all 80's music, which is why I dressed up that way. Paul now thinks that I should wear big hoop earrings with every outfit! We played at a party one weekend and then got to play a little bit at the Youth Dance the following weekend! I gotta tell you...it was fun having a bunch of kids singing "Don't Stop Believing" with me! Thanks GLEE for making that possible!






I'm ashamed to show the following pictures, but it has been a work in progress for me...5 years in progress. I always "clean" my office, but it never manages to stay clean. It's the room that I can just close the door on, or gets left for last, so mainly gets ignored. Well we were going to be hosting Thanksgiving at our house, so I set my deadline.

Before:

After:And I'm proud to say...IT'S STILL CLEAN!!!!

**my incentive to keep this room clean is that my dad changed the door out...it's now a french glass door! No more hiding!

What's sad is I have no pictures from Thanksgiving!

December:Riley and Hunter both lost teeth around the same time! Riley lost her first tooth and received her first visit from the Tooth Fairy.

Hunter started Scouts in September, and that has been a learning experience for me!! He earned his first badges and loves it! In December Hunter and I experienced our first Pine Wood Derby. And I must tell you...we're in trouble. Paul was all over the Internet trying to figure out how to make the best, fastest pinewood derby car. Let me just tell you now that Paul will be starting in June preparing for next year's Pinewood Derby!!!

Chris took our pictures for our Christmas Card. Considering the getting ready portion of these pictures was horrible...children crying, people yelling...everyone behaved themselves wonderfully and smiles beautifully. Taylor was especially hilarious!


I attended my friends Homemade Gift Exchange party and decided to take a Topiary like I had made at the beginning of the year, except I made it with Christmas Paper. I have to say I really liked how it turned out, except I think I would have painted the pot and stick green, or a different color. But as I thought of this, I thought it would be cool to have different Tops for different occasions and just swap them out as wanted...so then black would be a good base. Just a thought....

And in case you're wondering what Paul has been up to......