Moose's Favorite Toy

We have a hard time finding toys for Moose. He loves toys that squeak when he bites them, but he tears them apart within minutes. We recently found a squeaky toy online that was made out of recycled fire hose and was supposed to be fairly indestructible. Yeah right. Moose had it torn up within a few hours of playing. So, we resorted to some cheapie tennis balls. He loves them! He loves chasing them as they bounce through the house. Mostly he likes to catch them. He is pretty good at catching the ball in midair. Hmmm....we'll have to try a Frisbee this spring! We thought this picture captured Moose's personality pretty well. What a goofball!

Snow Day!

Yea! Today was declared a snow day by our school district, which means a free day off for me! I have never seen so much snow in Mountain Home. Even though it gets pretty cold here, it usually stays dry for much of the winter. This year sure is different, though! We’re expected to have accumulated about 8 inches of new snow by this weekend (on top of what we already have).

This is our second snow day this year. This is the first year since I’ve worked in the district that we’ve actually had snow days. I don’t mind!

Only The Best For Us At Work!

So this week my job in Boise replaced the "old" style bottled water tank for the new improved version. The new model sports the same features as the old one: hot and cold water. Only catch is that there aren't any bottles for the new model.

This one connects (via a hose run through the ceiling tiles) to the toilet tank in the bathroom next door. I'm sure you can only imagine the jokes running up and down the halls today that necessarily accompany a drinking water source that is shared with the john...

Its supposed to be completely safe. Filters water (not flushed water, of course) with Reverse Osmosis. Yep, I had to look it up to know what that actually meant. Should be safe to drink... we hope...

We don't even let our dog drink from the toilet...

Tyson

Long Week

Ugh...it was hard getting used to being back at work after a two week break for the holidays. But alas, the weekend is here! We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Tonight we are meeting up with our friends, Craig and Laurie, for pizza, and we can't wait for pizza! Now that the holidays are over we're trying to get back to eating healthy (and lose some weight). After a week of healthy food, we're ready for a bit of a treat! Tomorrow my parents are driving up to Boise to pick up some appliances for their new house. We are looking forward to spending the day with them.

We are thankful that both of us are feeling better. Tyson and I were pretty sick over the holidays. Nothing like spending my break from school sick as can be. It must be all of those first grade germs I pick up on a daily basis!

Another Year

Today is our fifth wedding anniversary! We have been so blessed these past five years. I love my husband more today than I did five years ago when I walked down the aisle. I am excited as I look ahead to another year of marriage with my wonderful husband.

This time of year everyone is thinking about what they would like to accomplish over the course of the next year. Tyson and I find ourselves in a unique position here at the beginning of 2008, in a place we are not too familiar with- waiting. Since we met, the Lord has made our course very evident for dozens of important decisions- getting married, buying homes and property, education, and jobs. He made our paths clear and quickly opened doors for us. However, the Lord has us in waiting in this new season of our lives. We are waiting for the Lord’s direction in several important areas of our lives, for the Lord to work these things out to His glory. We know He will, we just don’t know how or when. And that is the kicker. Those of you who know me know that I am a planner. I love to plan, and maybe that is why teaching suits me so well. I plan my classroom lessons weeks in advance, I always plan out a detailed dinner menu for two weeks at a time, I love to plan vacations with Tyson, I just to love to, well, plan! And now that the Lord has us here in a holding pattern, where all of my plans are pretty much a moot point, I am finding that I have to learn patience, trust, and contentment. I know that the Lord is using this time to sanctify us both. There are important lessons for us to learn here in this place, and I hope that over the course of the next year, we’ll be open to them.

I look forward to embarking upon yet another adventure with my husband, even if it is an adventure in waiting. I am thankful that the Lord has supplied me with a partner who is willing to be my spiritual leader, best friend, and great love. Happy anniversary sweetie!

Christmas Day

Moose got a new bone for Christmas. It kept him out of our hair for quite some time!
Moose loved his Christmas present!

Tyson made an excellent christmas breakfast
Tyson was playing with the stellarscope I got him
Playing around with our new gifts

Tyson and I spent Christmas day at home. We slept in, opened gifts, and then Tyson made us a nice big breakfast. Later in the day we shared our Christmas dinner with our friends Bill and Jaque.

Christmas Eve

Laughing over the Elf Yourself webpages
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

Shelly and Jenny
Laurie Miller
Rabbie Miller
My handsome hubby

Steve Fuday
Nora Fuday
Butch and Susan Raber

Zachary Thayer
Jenny Fuday, caught with her mouth full
Scott Hughes

Tyson and I hosted a Christmas Eve Open House this year. We invited our church members as well as our friends from Open Door Fellowship. Throughout the night our friends stopped by to partake in fellowship and food. I always enjoy hosting people in our home. It gives us an opportunity to open our home to others and it provides me the opportunity to cook up a storm!The menu for the night included:

shrimp dip w/crackers

warm spinach dip w/tortilla chips

cranberry sauced franks

chex mix

peppermint fudge

caramel cheesecake bars

ginger-spice cookies

pecan dippers

spiced cider

hot chocolate

Tyson also prepared Elf Yourself webpages for each family that came. We had a great time watching it on the TV. Everyone seemed to have a nice time. We certainly enjoyed having everyone in our home!