Christmas in Montana -- 3rd Stop

BOZEMAN::
After our 2 day stay in Glendive we packed up and headed to Bozeman. Nate had an appointment so we had to leave early.


We arrived safely even though I couldn't see out the back end!

Christmas Eve is the big night for the Knutsons. Someone did a little last minute shopping in the morning---NATE!!! That's ok, he got wonderful gifts for everyone with his huge loving heart! Joan cooked a delicious prime rib with the awesome sides and then we got ready to go to church. But, before we went to church, we took a little detour and drove around a neighborhood that puts out luminaries every Christmas Eve. They were beautiful! The neighborhood has someone who heads the whole project and if you are out of town, someone lights your luminaries and shovels your side walk! WOW! So we drove down a few street with our lights dim to take in the neighborhood festivities. For the five years I lived in Bozeman, I had no idea they did this. Here is a photo from the newspaper. Pretty cool.

Next was church then opening of the gifts! We were all tired before church and thought we may just open gifts the next morning, but after church, we were rejuvenated! We stayed up late drinking wine and opening our gifts. Then we fell asleep watching a movie. Maybe that was just me ;)

We woke up to see peaceful snow coming down. Nate insisted on us going sledding. So we got our gear on, hopped in the car (dogs included) and drove to Highlight. The mountains were so gorgeous with the fresh snow. Jake noticed that if you looked closely you could see the entire shape of the snowflake. So cool!

Our first hill was less then desirable. Boys mastered it. I -- not so much. The trick was to "bail" before you went down the second hill. I was going far too fast to "bail" and managed to hit one of the two boulders we were trying to avoid. Then I was done :) I didn't get a picture of my huge bruise. It is healing now. I asked Nate how it looked last night. His response, "Maybe you shouldn't wear short sleeves yet." I take it, it still looks bad. ;)

The next few hills we tried we ok. Nate went over a rock and popped his tube. The last hill was the best. Joan taught me how to do cross country skiing. I was NOT good at all. I kept telling myself it was because my arm was just injured from the boulder. We found a road with a little decline. Maybe .5%. I told Joan I wanted to try out regular skiing. Then she turned around to watch me and said it was the slowest slow motion fall she had ever seen! I wasn't good at that either. I think I will stick to sports without snow.

The boys were having fun video taping the runs down the sled hill. Jake has all the photos from this adventure. There were some good ones. I'll post once I get them. The dogs had a blast!

We had another delicious meal of turkey and the fixings. yummmy!! Then came our family game time. Nate gave me a new game called 'Quelf'. It is so fun! You should get it. It is a great time to get your belly roaring with laughter. We also played it the next night when Renie and Tara came to visit.


This is the moment right before they had to make a run to the restroom. teehee!!


The card said they had to dance like they were at the prom :)

I had to stand in an 'X' until my next turn. ugh!

Rick doing a little singing :)



We had a wonderful, quiet Christmas with the Knutsons. Quite different from what I am accustomed to, but it was great to get to spend it with Nate and his family and get to know their family traditions :)

Christmas in Montana -- 2nd stop

GLENDIVE::
We left Missoula and headed to Glendive. We made a quick pit stop in Bozeman to unload a little of the fully packed vehicle. The Knutsons were in Havre hauling grain so we weren't able to see them.

Here is a cute photo of the dogs. Jeter is resting his head on Bridger.


Two seconds later, Bridger decided to jump out the window. Luckily, we were stopped. I was out of the vehicle calling him to come to me. I found him sitting next to the tire like a scared little puppy. We are hoping he got his fix of jumping out the window. That was the same road that Jeter decided to see what it was like to jump out the window. He never thought it would be fun to do it again :)

Bridger sleeping on a pillow.

This was my first year not spending my favorite holiday at home. It was definately harder than I thought it would be. Being away reassured what I love most about the Morasko Christmas :: my cute little cousins running around the house, making little kid noises, and doing everything they can to make us laugh :: a lot of people around to have different conversations with or just enough people so I don't always have to talk, I can just listen :: puzzles, watching the kids faces when Santa comes to Grandma's, the White Elephant gift exchange-always a good laugh, Grandma's bean dip, Toni and Tara's cookies, Sandy's pound cake, Mom's cheesecake, pumpkin pie, all of Dad's cooking, Mike's Margs and quacamole--I must like food :), leaving Grandma's h0use around midnight and knowing that Santa comes real soon :: flannel pjs from Mom, wearing the flannel pjs every Christmas morning, Mom's carmel rolls, sitting in the den with a fire, taking a nap after opening gifts Christmas morning, waking up just in time for another feast with the family, more cousins running around, football, taking naps on the couch surrounded by family and looking at all the photos Gwyn captures. Can't wait for next year!





The addicting game this year. Over the Moon or something like that. Tia mastered it, but we found out the table was at a slant after Vince and Nate mastered it. I, on the other hand, never mastered it :( Maybe next year.

If you can't read the shirt, it says, "I love my Jeter" :)




A few photos of what we missed Christmas Day. I didn't get any from Christmas Eve at Grandma's :(

Christmas in Montana--1st stop

Since I was unemployed, I was able to take off as much time as I wanted for Christmas! I took full advantage of the situation and left early to Montana. Nate had a job in Missoula that week so I loaded the dogs up and we drove to Missoula! We stayed two nights and the timing was just right that we were able to hang out with our friends Jaimee and Cole for a night! Thank you dearest Tara (Nate's cousin) for watching the boys and letting us stay at your place! xoxo!




Tight squeeze to get us in. :)

A Blast from the Thanksgiving Past!

While I was home, my dad came across these photos and I am so grateful for him finding them. There were many great memories from dancing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and looking back at these photos I remembered so much more!


Mom with the "Hello Deli" guy from David Letterman. She was tickled pink ;)

Yes, I was not thrilled about being a 'cheerleader'. They switch between cheer and dance routines. I happened to land on a cheer routine year. Boo...but I still had a BLAST!!!


Krista Holden in the center!

This one is for Vince. Legos!!! I am pretty sure that is real rope. What do you think, Vince?

Can't wait to go back -- not quite in our budget after hearing about the parent's trip to New York. eeek!!

Quick December

I had a few photos from some activities we did before the big trip to MONTANA for Christmas.

First, I decorated the house! This was kind of our first Christmas. Last year I was in Seattle for December and couldn't decorate :( It was great to see our "First Christmas" ornaments we received as gifts. I didn't put everything up, just the important stuff. The tree was beautiful and the more days that past the higher the ornaments moved up---Bridger. He would choose the real sparkly ornaments that were plastic and EAT THEM! Actually swallow! Nate was happy because he didn't even like the colors. They were pink and purple :)

Now that I look at these I notice the stockings are not hung! My mom made us stockings since we didn't have any. They were the perfect final touch. She even made to stockings for Bridger and Jeter in the shape of a dog bone :)


I also added to my Christmas decorations with a wreath I made. I will add some ribbon next year. I couldn't find exactly the right color and I got sick of going to the craft store!




Then we attended the annual "ugly sweater" party thrown by one of Nate's co-workers. It was a hoot! (picked that one up from mom's old timer language :) ) Believe it or not, there were not a lot of ugly sweaters at the Good Wills or the Value Village out here. I called my grandma to see if she could find one in the back of her closet. She said she threw those out a few years ago. Dang. Luckily, the reliable Attic in the dive and sweet mom came through for us!

Nate has GREAT co-workers and the get along so well :) Plus Mark who isn't a CN (ClarkNuber) employee.

Next Stop--Montana!!

Thanksgiving!

I know I have been bad at updating this wonderful blog, but I will give you a quick one right now. :)

Thanksgiving was celebrated in wonderful Texas visiting Jake. While down there we were able to see the Texas rivalry--Texas vs. Texas A&M. Not quite like a MT rivalry, but still fun! We started tailgating around noon, had a yummy Thanksgiving dinner (turkey and all!), watched the great game, and finally left the football field at midnight. I got my football fix for the year! Joan has the photos from the game. Too much maroon to show on here for me :)

We were fortunate to have another Thanksgiving dinner as Jake's friend's house as well as make a trip to Austin. Here are the only picture from our camera. Kind of sad.

First, is 6th Street in Austin and the rest are from the empty airport. We took the late flight to same some $$$