All of Us

We had an enjoyable Chinese Buffet dinner - celebrating Sam's birthday early!

All of us - at least those in Pocatello this weekend!  Notice the cute way Anna decorated the front room windows for February.  See how big Bob the Cat is - but still Anna's 'baby'.  Sam's insulated Arctic jacket's emblem glows in the flash - safety in the dark I suppose.

Breakfast and Basketball

 The Mortensen's came Saturday for breakfast - well - more like brunch!!  Dad made yummy waffles and we had berries and whipped cream on them.

Joel's first basketball game - these little girls are learning how to cheer - it was fun.

Joel waiting to play defense at the top of the key.

 Joel getting a loose ball!

 Joel - blurry - driving to the basket - and scoring!

 Their team played great - but lost by one point.  Grandpa consoling Joel after the loss.

Joel happily having his picture with Uncle Sam.

Sam comes to Pocatello

 Friday, January 30th, Sam flew from Anchorage, to Salt Lake and then to Pocatello...arriving just after noon.  Kate picked him up at our house to go down and pick up Joel and Anna from school.

 What nice happy wonderful people we get to love in our family!

We set the timer and all got in the picture!  Fun to have Sam here...we are planning some fun things for Saturday.

Logan High School Debate Dinner

 Saturday, Jan. 24th we drove to Logan to enjoy a Logan High Debate - Legacy of Excellence.  Becky was in charge and it was a lovely evening - of course! The program was at  the Castle Manor in North Logan.

 Britt Mitchell and another of the Debate Captains - fun to be around high school debaters!

 The students sold over 200 tickets, at $12.00 a piece for a yummy dutch oven dinner - baked beans, pork and chicken, cheesy potatoes - ice cream for dessert.

 I told Dad we should get there early - so I could help Becky with the last minute details ... yup sure enough.  As soon as we got there she asked us to sell tickets at the front table until the students got there.  Here is Gwen Mitchell and a friend who took over for us.

 The Logan High School Debate Team - had 9 students signed up in the fall - Becky volunteered to coach the team and now they have 46 students - whose lives are being affected for the better - yay Becky!

 Program Becky put together - without her name in it!

Monday Holiday

Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King day by visiting a Nature Preserve in Pocatello - with Jordan and Kate and kids.

 There is a community fish pond and here are people ice fishing.  Reminded Jordan of all the days ice fishing with her family in MT.  She said that each of the sisters had fallen in the hole at one time or another!

 This fisherman fished off the dock and did well! we meet him on the bridge.

Joel and Anna wanted to walk on the ice.

Jordan heading back to Resburg, isn't she pretty?  It was such fun to have her visit - sure hope she can come many more times.

We had lunch at the Pizza Pie Cafe - lots of good food and fun, family!  Nice way to celebrate a holiday from school and work!  Ben had to work.

Bowling at Idaho State University

 After playing at the park we went to ISU Games Center to go bowling.

 Kate took this 'bum' shot of Dan helping Sadie.

 Kate also took this picture of her family - we are glad Kate had university ID - we got a discount!

 Kate helping Sadie - the ball is just about as big as she is!

 We used this ramp thing for Sadie and Olivia - even with the bumpers they did better with the ramp.

 Beautiful Grand daughters!  Sadie had a cold and wasn't feeling the best.  Kate heard her at our house, she had sneezed and said in an annoyed voice:  The boogers just keep coming out!  didn't keep us from having a blast.

 Ben and Dad played ping pong at the Games Center.

 Joel and Ben also played - notice the ball in midair - great photo!

 Here is the gang enjoying the two baskets of french fries!

 Lindsey threw three strikes in a row in the 10th frame!

 Great bowling Dan, Lindsey!!  Annabelle was hot also - she scored 95 to lead the kids.

A kind lady took a picture of all of us on the steps of the Games Center - what a fun, bunch of people!

Playing at the Park

 Joel and Anna and Olivia took me on a new trail to the park - down our steep backyard!  It was a little muddy but we had a good time.

 The rest of the party took the stroller and the gentle trail that leads to the road.

 Fun kids on the swing - and lots of adults to push!

 Please notice that Sadie is swinging the opposite way of everyone else - gotta love that girl!

 We had thought maybe we could go sledding - but no snow, as you can see.

 Cute Georgia - happy baby!

 Sadie was happy to have Jordan to push here!

Happy Georgia also liked the slide.

Model Railroads

 Six wonderful grandchildren at the Model Railroad Show.

The big room full of trains!

 Joel with the largest train on the track way above his head!  It went all around the room, cool!

 Olivia and Sadie and James - the Engine.

 Sadie and Olivia and Thomas the Train Engine.

 Looking at the trains.

 Jordan carried Sadie so she could see.

 The kids table - so much fun!The little girl 'helping' Georgia had a white cane - and thick glasses and was having a good time playing.

 More fun for the little ones.

All the girls playing with the train table.

A kind man took our picture.