Did we really just celebrate New Year's Eve last night?
Holy cow.....I know I say this
all the time....but where does all the time go?!?!
HAPPY 2006 EVERYONE!!!
First and foremost ~ Garrett's page has been updated with all new pics...too many to post
on this page - CHECK IT OUT !!!
We are all in grey and drizzley Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho where we haven't had a single day of sunshine the entire time we've been here (So far seven days)!
This is very atypical weather for this area and wouldn't you know that the three feet of
snow they had on the ground for a month prior to our arrival melted three days before we arrived - at least for the most part.
It's actually been fine....we've just done a lot of nothing since we've been here (For a
change!).
We did find enough snow at a local family-type ski area (3 lifts and 25 runs) to ski for
a day and plan on a return trip before leaving. We put Garrett in ski school for the first time and by the end of his day
in the "Mini-Moose Club" he had actually skiied a whole 25 feet all by himself!
We weren't sure how he'd do in ski school, being only 3, but it turns out that this was the
ONLY way to go! He was in a little 2 hour class the covered all the basics and a couple of times up the tow rope (He had to
have help here) - which he thought was a blast - and a break for coloring and hot chocolate thrown in....all for the bargain
price of $30 - TOO COOL !!!!
Christmas was a whirlwind of food and fun and seemed to last forever as we celebrated with
three different groups throughout a two-week period.
Santa dropped Garrett's big gifts at the house a week early since they were too big to get
to Idaho....he got a little John Deere Gator (A battery operated farm version of a golf cart with John Deere colors and a
dump bed...the horn is fun too!) that he can drive all over the farm to do "Chores" and also a large, new all-terrain tricycle
that will be perfect for him to learn to ride on the gravel roads. The small cement sidewalk doesn't leave hardly any room
to learn how to pedal.
We had a snow/ice storm that confined us to home for two days (Oh darn!!!) in SEVEN degree
weather....a welcome change since we've had less than an inch and a quarter of rain since EASTER. No joke. Pray for
rain in Texas!!!! We kept the fire burning, played in the snow and had lots of soup, chilli and hot chocolate. It was a pain
for Shari to have to go break water in the pond and water troughs 2-3 times a day for our family of animals but we can endure
anything short term!
Shari and Walter got themselves an early Christmas present - though Walter would say it was
all Shari's: A new Subaru Outback with ALL the bells and whistles....the leather, the big engine, traction control and TWO
moonroofs in Shari's favorite Green and Gold colors. We've been driving around older cars with lots of miles for a long time
and since Walter is going to continue working in San Antonio for the forseeable future he wanted Shari and Garrett to have
transportation under Warranty. It's been so hard to enjoy the change - NOT! Shari plans on keeping it FOREVER and running
it into the ground!
Thanksgiving weekend was nice as we decided to stay home, cook
our own food, invite no one and go nowhere!
We enjoyed our home and just having family time!
Halloween was fun as we celebrated at church, a friends party and STILL did a nieghborhood.
It was the most amazing thing to see barely three year old Garrett run house to house....not just typical houses, but the
neighborhood we went to was all houses on one acre lots so there was lots of room between them....he still managed to run
the whole way. It must have been almost a mile! Amazing what candy will do to a child!!! It was really funny because we went
to a friend's house first and her seven year old answered the door....Garrett had been practicing the "Trick or treat" ritual
in the car and he approached the door all prepared until little Jimmy answered in full costume and yelled "Boo!" as he opened
the door reducing Garrett to tears and a bundle of nerves. He didn't want mom or candy or anything until Mrs. Janet
handed him a light-stick to wave around. He managed to recover from the rocky start! The next house we went to he performed
a perfect
"Trick or treat" and after candy was placed in his basket he walked in the house to make himself at home! We
had a good chuckle out of that one! At several other houses he felt compelled (Never having met a stranger) to "Show"
everyone what he had in his basket. Needless to say he made a lot of new friends that night! We started at 5 and by the time
the night was over it was almost 10pm and we ended with TWO gallon-sized ziploc bags of Candy - sheesh!!!!!
Shari learned a few tricks to make it last not near as long as it should have!!! :Op
Garrett's birthday party in September was a raging success and his pony "Charlie" arrived
as a huge surprise to all --- Garrett loved him and we're not sure who had more fun the kids or the adults! Totally unrehearsed
Garrett got up in his saddle, waved his hat in the air and said "Ye-haw!".... have we ever said that Garrett is not short
on personality?! He just kills everyone with his wit and charm.....lookout world!
Unfortunately Charlie developed
some severe eye troubles very shortly after coming to live with us so we had to trade for a different pony - a palomino pony
named Nuggett. Garrett loves Nuggett and fortunately was a really good sport about the whole thing.... He has been busy
learning how to ride and care for his new buddy and has even managed a pretty good trot in the saddle all by himself!
He's pretty cute in his spurs and cowboy gear, that's for sure!
Aside from being graced as Garrett's parents, except for a few small events and holidays
life has been pretty quiet in general - at least as quiet as ours gets!
We had two new arrivals of late at the ranch - both cows had calfs and we are expecting a
new lamb any day now.
Shari's brother Spencer and wife Reveau are expecting a baby girl in March. Shari's brother
Scott is dating a wonderful new gal he's been friends with for quite awhile...she lives near him in Idaho (Stay Tuned!). Mom
and dad Sloane are living in Coeur d'Alene with him for the time being and looking forward to a February trip to Mexico...
Walter's brother Randy just bought his first home and Garrett likes spending time with cousin's
Tavita and Taio at their football and basketball games.
We look forward to getting home to rest for our vacation.....
Hopefully everything will still be standing....least of all us!
We love to hear from you
all and enjoy all your news!
Really, we do!!!
Write!!!!!
Again ~ Happy New Year to everyone!
You know where we are!
