A Christmas Visitor

Yesterday morning (Monday) Grandma and I woke up with a visitor in our yard. The Canadian Goose had taken refuge from the snow storm next to the smaller of the two pines in our back yard. It has been there now for a day and a half, as the snow continues to fall.
Geese are very rarely alone. They mate for life and when they travel, they do so in family groups. This goose will call out every now and again, especially when it hears the train at the railroad crossing. There is no doubt it is calling for it's mate or family.
At this Christmas time of the year I am reminded of the importance of having loved ones around us. How cold and empty the world must seem to those of us who don't have a loving family with which to share the warmth of the holidays.
May all of you find the love and joy to fill your lives during this wonderful time of the year and may we always remember those that are cold and lonely in ways that might ease their burden.
Merry Christmas and Love to all of you,
Grandma and Grampa,
Mom and Dad,
Ron and Chris

Re-Trimming the Tree

Vanna Brown

Ok, this is how it went down, literally!

Grampa brown had the fun job of watching Liam and Aidan while his parents went to billings on Thursday. Mid-morning Aidan was in the toy room and Liam and I were in the hallway when we heard a crash from the living room. Liam and I looked around the corner to see what happened and found the tree had fallen across Grandma's chair. Ornaments, lights, needles, and the water from the tree stand were everywhere! Liam looked up at me and said "Grampa, that wasn't me!" (He must get blamed alot at home)

So the tree is back up and redecorated. If it comes down again, out it goes!

Trimming The Tree

Merry Christmas

When we got the tree home, we found a tiny nest tucked in safe, high in the branches

How it survived after being cut down, dragged through the snow, and the

70 mph ride home on top of the car, we'll never know.

Helping Grampa with the pudding

Sparkeling clean after a momma spit face bath!

Naughty or nice?

Never trust a "skinny" cook

Grandma Brown

Candi loves Christmas

Candi and Charlie hoping it's a little girl in July








Last Saturday, Charlie and Candi and Liam and Aiden, went up with Grandma and Grampa Brown into the Gallatin range to cut down our christmas trees. Wednesday, we had Them back over to our house for a dinner of left over turkey. Christine made turkey enchiladas. One pan of red sauce, and one pan of green sauce. (VeryChristmasy) Charlie made the salsa and we had a mexican feast! I should point out that in order to have left overs, we had to cook another turkey last Sunday. We had 24 people for Thanksgiving and there wasn't enough left over for the usual left over festivals. For desert, I bought some day-old chocolate donuts and made chocolate bread pudding. (a recipe inspired by Robyn Jones) If you want the recipe, let me know and I'll post it.









Anyway, after the enchiladas, we all put on our tree trimming hats and went to work!

In order to hear this video, you must first scroll up to the music selections in the right column and click on the pause icon. come on, you can do it!

Happy Thanksgiving

How could the Seahawks lose with fans like these!

Elanor and Robyn

Our Elf Princess Isabel

homemade Egg Nog for Breakfast at Grampa's

Triptophan kicking in

Liberty and Lillia

The Jones surprise Grampa

Most of the Thanksgiving pictures are on Gini's blog @ http://rigbyericksons.blogspot.com/

Wow! What a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were planning on the Ericksons from Rigby, and Charlie and Candi's family from here, and Zac and Pip and Liberty of course. What we weren't planning on was the wonderful surprise at church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We arrived just before the start of the meeting when we noticed Charlie and Candi and the boys sitting about three rows in front of us. Surprise! But that wasn't all. Sitting next to to the boys, was Lope, and next to him was Eden and Clara and Janette. (Robyn had taken Elenor out to change her) So we had a wonderful reunion. The only ones missing were Mac and Kelly. ( They had Thanksgiving with Grandma Adams and Uncle Kerry and Aunt Tess.) It was a wonderful week! (The only downside was the lack of leftovers)