Oh, the Randomness of Our Lives

Jamie, my sweet niece in Pocatello tagged me to post up 25 random things about myself. Now most of you who read this blog know me very well, and so you know all my seriousness and goofiness and my 25 random whatevers would not be all that interesting to you. But for Jamie, I'm going to mix it up between Alan and myself and it will be funner that way. You may or may not know who these bits of randomness belong to.

1. I have a BIG problem with mispronunciation of certain words: nucular - nuclear, relator - realtor, jewlery - jewelry, and woofs - wolves. Now if you're a two-year old, the last one is cute, but not if you're the head of Idaho Fish and Game.

2. I think a person, especially me, should be able to have as many pairs of boots, as they want, and not have to explain every boot purchase to their spouse.

3. I love circus peanuts - you know those pale orange marshmallowey type candies.

4. I love to weed flowers - by hand sitting down in the dirt.

5. I love to weed with my winged-weeder in the vegetable garden; it is so soothing.

6. Have been reading a lot of Jewish related material lately - just can't seem to get enough.

7. I loved dark chocolate even before it became fashionable and healthy.

8. I would love to run a marathon just once.

9. I have to admit, I watch the Beverly Hillbillies once in awhile just because of Jethro.
10. I really thought I had a good chance of going to Hawaii on my mission.

11. I have always wanted to climb the Grand Teton.

12. I love to do logic puzzles.

13. I keep buying jackets for Zachary and they all look alike.


14. When Leah was at our house three weeks ago, she left a little indentation in the crib where she slept under a blanket, and I can't disturb it because it looks so cute. I like to go look at it.

15. What could be better than a garden fresh tomato sliced, salt and cracked pepper, and blue cheese dressing? Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

16. Yes, I'm a little anal about lawn mowing.

17. A person just can't have enough TV's or reading glasses.

18. I have a love/hate realtionship with snowmachines.

19. You know I make the best pancakes and frenchfries.

20. I would love to have a log home on the Habekost place where we could have large Thanksgiving dinners and everyone could play in the snow all day long, and fish on the river in the summer. Oh, that would be great!

21. I think it's OK to read several books at once. Hard to keep track of the plots, but it's all OK.

22. Nieces and nephews are the best! Would love to have you all here all the time just hanging out with us.

23. Is there a sound that I hate? Yes, it is the sound of scraping anything on frozen surfaces. I guess you could say I hate the sound of ice.

24. I am a Jazz fan, true blue, through and through. My heart hurts when they lose.

24. Seabiscuit, Castaway, Casino Royale, and the Three Amigos are some of my favorite movies.

25. In my world everyone would work as hard as I do.

And now, I'm tagging my nieces Maddi, Tenny, Miranda, Leslie, and Banner. Just think up 24 random things about yourself and post them for all of us to read. It will be fun.

Midway Through January, Hurrah!

I realized yesterday that January is half baked. I'm so glad. January is the hardest month for me to get through. It has a lot to do with the sun, the weather, living in Ashton out on the farm, and with mom. The last three days have been the kind that we brag about. The bluest skies, sparkling stars at night, and diamond-like snow in the sun. We decided to get out and enjoy it- because we can if we just go outside. We went X-country skiing on the Fall River ridge. Sara will remember this trail, Zack too. I used to drag Zack behind me on a pink plastic sled when he was really little. Sometimes he slept through the whole thing. We were not the only ones out today; lots of others had the same idea, but fortunately, we met up with only three other groups of skiiers. Lots of snow machines and even two dog sledders were getting ready to mush up the road to Cave Falls. It seemed like we all needed to be out enjoying the sun and nice (30's) weather.

The US Forest service sign. "You are Entering Targhee National Forest!" Do not feed the bears, elk, or moose. There is always a Bear Factor! Violators will be shot and fed to the wolves. Considering my past relationshi0p with the Forest Service, I'm surprised I still like to go to the forest.

We decided to do the first two loops, which meant 3.4 miles.

A good picture of the beautiful blue skies and aspens. This was up on top of the ridge.

Alan looking kind of granola-ee. Yikes!! All we need now is a subaru forrester.

Beautiful aspens. It was gorgeous.

Alan took this shot of twigs sticking up out of the snow. The ice crystals looked like snowy blossoms.

Down off the ridge looking through the Lodge Pole Pines.

The moose had messed up the trail pretty bad in some stretches, and I kept putting my pole into their big hoof prints. I only fell down twice, and Alan, of course, did not fall down. We were looking at some bushes that had been disturbed by the moose and I said, "they must have bedded down here for the night." Alan said, "no they were just pushing the snow around and eating the frozen leaves off the bushes." Then with a very comedy Russian-like voice he said, "Moose and Squirrel." I cracked up. That makes us Boris and Natasha Badanov. Alan makes me laugh more than anyone I know, except maybe Zack on a good day.

Speaking of Zack, he had to move into another room, because the two guys came from Oregon and wanted to room together. That put Zack in the largest bedroom with the other roommate. It has turned out well. He is doing fine - very busy with homework, etc., which is so good for him. He has a nice new snowboard jacket and had to buy a new microsoft suite professional/student package for his micro apps class, which he was not anticipating. But all is going well. We miss him and at the same time we don't miss him. We're happy that he is at school and loving it.

Well, here's to January 2009 and Obama's inaguratiion. May this wintery month be over Soon!

Christmas Week in Ashton

It's Sunday night and I wanted to let all of you know what we've been doing the past week. We have had a nice Christmas holiday and have had a good time being all together for a few days here and there. It has been so fun to haveLeah here with us. We just wish it could be every day - but we have to share with the schauerhamer's who also love her and want to see her all they can.

Before Christmas last week Leah found the nativity puzzle and knew what to do with it. She dumped it out and started putting it together. What a smartie!

A puzzle must be studied from all angles . . .

to be sure . . .

that you're getting the right pieces . . .

to go in the . . .

right places!

And now my puzzle is done.

In her mom's rocking chair - standing up and rocking and loving it

Like mother, like daughter.

With the aid of the rocker she bravely reaches up high and undecorates the little tree.

Eating lunch with Grandpa.

Such a ham.

Christmas Eve Zack worked on this Rubik's cube and got it sooooo close.

Just two pieces opposite of each other in the wrong places.

It took something like 70 moves to undo the mistake - and he still never got it right and then he put it back together just how it was in the picture above.

Christmas Eve we had rack of Lamb. I thought I would post a picture of what I had been boasting about. It was delicious - if I may say so myself.

Pouring the martinelli's - which was not taken by a large labrador retriever.

Christmas Eve the frontroom was absolutely clean and in good shape.

Next morning

it was a mess!

Alan and I got snowshoes for Christmas.
Do you think we'll need them?

We also have a jigsaw puzzle we've been working on.

Morgan and Andrew made these pictures of our pictures. They were really neat.

Andrew was out yesterday on the new sled (snowmachine).

Morgan has been taking pictures of everything - even my Christmas village. This is after she put it back together after Kitty laid in it and squashed all the cheery goodness right out of the Christmas villagers, trees, and buildings with her large hairy body. This happens two or three times a day.

Leah has been using her new cell phone and talking to the dog, horse and sheep that make sounds on it.

Also playing with her pound and play toy. She's not too careful about pounding on the right toy.

We've all been eating way too much food and lighting the makeshift menorah candles every night. Our Menorah has Christmas tree votives in it. Shudder!

This next series of pictures is entitled "Clue"I say it was Leah in Zack's room,

No, wait a minute. Make that Leah in the upstairs hall,

with a redornament and the christmas

tree.

Leaving the scene of the crime.

Acting all innocent. Repeat offender.

Ornaments got stacked together and hung up high because of Miss sticky fingers.

Zack in the office in front of his new computer.

Zack's presents in preparation for college.

Leah modeling her Christmasey outfit. Very preppy!

The black Mary Janes give it just the right touch.

Add the red coat and it really extends the wardrobe.

Checking the weather - just like grandpa.

Tonight Zack lit the menorah for the last time this year.

Notice the Jelly belly Hanukkah mix next to the menorah. Some of his presents were a little lion, a small bottle of olive oil, some chocolate coins, Hanukkah m&ms, and gold fish. I don't know why I gave him gold fish crackers, except that he likes them and so does Leah. Yes, he has enjoyed the small celebrations we did each night and we have all learned more about Hanukkah, some other Jewish traditions and the tribe of Judah.

And we're all better off because of it. Happy Hanukkah , Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We love you all.