Snowflakes

I brought an idea of a new twist on the basic snowflake. These are 3D and time-consuming to make, but they turned out great! Artists in the making.

Elzo and Renee' White Grandchildren

These are all of my parents' grandchildren: Heather, Derek, Caden, Nikole, Jace, Elizabeth, Carl, Maecie and Kutter
We went to my parents' in Snake River on the 23rd. We had a nice lunch and spent the day together.

Christmas Eve Dinner

For several years when we were first married, we'd take turns having Christmas at my parent's or Blaine's, but as we had more children, we started wanting to be at our own home on Christmas Eve and Day. We started inviting Blaine's parents and whoever was on the Family Farm on Christmas Eve to our home for Chile and Cinamon Rolls, and then we go downstairs and read the Christmas story from the scriptures and sing Christmas Carols. This year, Heather, Nikole and Elizabeth all played a Christmas song for us. We then go upstairs and play card games or other games. Blaine's Dad is 84 and his Mom is 78. We were glad to have them with us. We always have fun together.

Magnum and fence line

Heather's colt, Magnum, up on the hill. There's a special story about Heather helping Magnum be born on a new moon night up by Uncle Francis and Aunt LaRue's. She was there, alone, with Rad's mare when she delivered the colt. He's big in this picture.

Fourth Generation Ripplinger Farm

This family farm of Grandpa Carl and Grandma Alena Ripplinger is what brought Blaine and Nikki and their two little ones, Heather and Derek, home to Bates in the winter of 1994. Many fond memories have been made on this farm. These are beautiful fall pictures Heather took.

Heather cuts her long hair for Locks of Love

Cup cakes from school

Nikki made a soft, snuggly quilt for Jessica Drigg's new baby, Ava

More of Nikole

Beautiful Nikole

Heather took these pretty "school pictures" of Nikole

More Fall Fun

Carl liked having his face painted at the Carnival. Heather made the cool spider web cake and cupcakes.

More of Fall

There was a pumpkin patch and fun games at the Carnival. Elizabeth's 5th grade class ran a spook alley, and they made about $700 for their Yellowstone trip in the spring.

Fall Memories 2010

Fall in the valley of the Grand Teton is beautiful. Heather was home from BYU-Provo and took Nikole, Elizabeth and Carl to the Driggs Elementary Halloween Carnival. Carl is 6.

55 bags frozen corn

These are pictures of my mother and I passing corn back and forth through our homemade "dumb elevator" while we worked on freezing corn. We ended up with 55 bags of corn. We think that's a year's supply, if we eat about one a week. I was so excited my mom surprised me and came to Driggs to help can corn and a gazillion pears.

Derek Makes His Living

Derek has earned his spending money the last several summers by a small lawn mowing business he started. He obtained the job with the Bates Cemetery the last two summers and he also mows two lawns for Clint Argyle. He's saving his money for a mission and college, and he was able to use some for his trip to Europe this summer.

My Derek and Rome

July 13 - 26, 2010 my Derek and I were blessed to be able to go on a trip to Europe. Here, we are in front of the Great Collosseum in Rome, Italy. It was around 100 degrees and very humid, so my hair looks lovely, and I didn't even care by then. Through a series of events, I actually ended up being the leader of our group of about 12 from Teton. We joined up with groups from Utah, California and Tennessee. I had never noticed to the degree that I did on this trip, that Derek reminds me so much of Blaine. He walked like him, talked like him, had similar mannerisms and even treated me nice, just like Blaine. Some great spiritual things happened on that trip, along with all the wonderful sites we were able to see. I'll journal them, as I get more photos posted and learn how to do this blog.

Hiking To Devil's Staircase

Piano or Bed?

It was time for my youngest three children's bedtime. We had scriptures and prayer and then we headed to their bedrooms, stopping to brush their teeth on the way. Heather plopped down at the piano, and started playing. Soon the other four were perched around her, and singing along. I couldn't resist a picture.