Hiking Adventure

Last year, Joe and I went to Picture Canyon for an afternoon of hiking and had a great time. So great of a time that we wanted to go again and asked Moe and Jess to come with us. Jess was excited about it as it would be an opportunity to use her new camera!

We first went in search of the Indian rock art on the canyon walls.

Then the guys just HAD to climb as high as they could! Jess and I opted to stay on the ground - hey, someone had to take their picture!
Then we went off hiking. Last time Joe and I went to Picture Canyon, we went off the trail and did our own exploring - this time we stuck to the trail. We lost the trail once and Joe decided to go climbing again - you know, to get up high and see if he could see the trail! So he climbs straight up this cliff - crazy guy - and once he was at the top he announced the trail was up there. What?! I didn't have faith in myself to climb straight up - so Jess and I found a different spot that wasn't quite as steep. We were almost to the top when Joe yells at us from the bottom - apparently he had walked back down the trail and it would have been much easier to get to the top! Oh, well, we did indeed make it. Then we all looked down from where Joe climbed up originally. Yikes - he was even shocked at how straight up the climb was!

We took a little break at the top to enjoy the rugged landscape!

And to think, we went out hiking - in short sleeves - in mid-January!! It was such a beautiful day! We hope we can find more hiking spots to visit again soon!

Crazy Mutt

What happened to that quiet scared little puppy that wouldn't even come out of her cage? Now, Lela is anywhere BUT in her cage! This dog, I don't know what to do with her! She has learned to jump a 6 foot fence - there just is no keeping her in. Thankfully, when we call her, she usually comes home. And if we have to go looking for her, if she sees the car she will follow us home. We just can't seem to keep her in - she loves her freedom, I guess! She comes home and jumps back in and prances around all proud of herself. Then there was the day she brought home some road kill - yuck - I have no idea what it once was!! We have decided to get one of those fences and a shock collar to teach her her boundaries. (I know, I know - sounds so cruel! In my defense, it gives TWO warnings before it will zap her!) Problem is, the weather has just been so nasty out, we haven't braved it to install the fence. We may just have to buckle down and do it - I fear someday she will get out and never come back. Maybe Lela was meant to live in the country - where she can roam freely. Maybe someday we will live in the country and she can. But we just can't bear the thought of giving her to someone else - she is too much a part of our lives now. I love how she peeks at us out the hole in the fence when we come and go. And how when we get home she runs to the back door and waits and if we don't come out right away she has the silliest little sound she makes that is somewhere between a growl and a whine! I love watching Lela and Joe play chase! Oh, what am I gonna do with you, Lela-dog?!

Christmas Craziness!

Ahh, Christmas time! A season of celebrating Christ's birth, of spending time with family, of festive lights and colors, of snowy white scenes, of sugary treats, of love and laughter! It is an exciting year for us, as we have moved into a new home and can share that home with others!

We started out our Christmas activities with our staff Christmas party at the Landmark here in town! We left the restaurant with very full bellies!

The next night we had a little 'housewarming' party with my parents, grandparents and siblings. Joe cooked an AMAZING prime rib and we ate till we couldn't eat anymore! The conversation and laughter filled my home - I loved it!

On the 23rd we went out to my parents house for our own family's Christmas celebration and had a delicious breakfast for supper feast! Such a great thing to be able to spend the holidays with family!

Have I mentioned yet all the goodies and homemade treats everyone has given us?! Sugar rush!

On Christmas Eve, Joe's family came to our house for our Christmas celebration and yes, once again, we had a feast! Had a great time opening presents and spending time together!

For Christmas Day, Joe and I actually just stayed home and relaxed. Joe had to work the evening shift and I wasn't feeling too well, so it was good to just rest. I think we watched Christmas movies all day long!

The day after Christmas was the big Hilger family reunion. Wow - lots of people! Not everyone made it due to the weather, but several families braved to slick roads. The guys cleaned out the shop out by Joe's parents house so there was somewhere we all could fit! They even took the TV and the Wii out to the shop so the kids could all play. Laughter rang out, conversation abounded and we all had a merry little time!

Oh - and Joe's aunt and uncle and their 8 kiddos stayed with us for a few nights. I love that I was able to offer family a place to stay - again, I love my new house!

I think that is all for now! It has been a very BUSY Christmas - but oh so good. So good to be around family. So good to have a house full of kiddos and love and laughter! A good Christmas, indeed!

Judson's Birthday

We decided to throw Judson a surprise birthday party! We went behind his back and planned the whole thing - bowling, Bionicle/Transformer theme, cake, punch and all! We decided he would come over for his piano lessons as usual and then mom would head home, but take a detour at the store long enough for me to set up the decorations at the house and beat them to the bowling alley. Kelli was coming from Garden City and Rach was on her way home from college. Now, Judson wasn't expecting Rach to be home until really late that night. I don't think he quite figured out what all was going on until Rach walked in the door! He wasn't expecting to see her so soon!

We played one game, not that any of us were great bowlers, but we had a lot of fun! Judson wanted the bumpers up, but we gave him a few pointers and he got a few pins here and there. He even managed a strike at one point!

We ordered pizza and went back to the house to eat. Then the presents came out and FINALLY it was time for the Transformers cake. Mmmm...it was delish!

I sure hope he enjoyed it! I think the rest of us did! It was good to be together!

November 2009

Wow, what creative titles I have come up with! And wow, it has been a while since I have posted, too! Whatever have I been doing?

Well, since we bought the house in October, we thought MAYBE we would be in by Christmas. Well, thru a whirl-wind of activities, we actually moved in the second weekend in November! We spent one week furiously cleaning every knook and cranny and did plenty of painting. Since I decided to paint a beautiful red color on my kitchen wall - it took 3 coats of paint plus primer. I didn't think I would ever be done painting it. But, I must say, I LOVE how it turned out!

My grandparents wanted to help us out by either helping pay a down payment or by helping buy new furniture. I had already started saving up for a new dining table, so the extra money meant I could buy one earlier than I had planned. We decided to make a trip to Garden just to pick one out, but I really didn't expect to find one I liked. I had been looking, but never found 'the one'. Well, we go to the first store and I tell the sales person what I am looking for - a square table that seats at least 8. The only square tables they had were the taller counter height ones, not what I was looking for. HOWEVER, right beside those tall square tables was this GORGEOUS, dark, long table. It was a simple style, yet a little bit elegant. I fell in love! Yep, it now graces my dining room and I couldn't be more happy!

Best of all, we celebrated Thanksgiving at our new house with Joe's parents and their pastor's family - and we all fit nicely around the big table! I love having a big table for big dinners!

Oh, and one of the most AWESOME features of the new house...I have a scrapbook room! An entire room dedicated to scrapbooking! Already I have used it so much! I actually haven't scrapbooked, but I have worked on Jr. Church lesson materials and getting crafts ready for the kids! I truly love that I can spread out my stuff, and if I don't have time to put it up right away, then I don't have. I wasn't able to do that before, I needed to have the kitchen table cleared to eat at!

We have thoroughly enjoyed being homeowners. No, the house isn't perfect, and there are many things that we would change. It still is the nicest place we have ever lived, and most importantly, it is OURS!

October 2009

Picture of Table Rock Lake, Branson

It has been so long since I have posted, it has just been so busy lately! Where did October go?

So what has kept us busy this month?

We are now officially home owners! Yay! After many phone calls, tons of paper work and several signatures, we now own our first home. We bought Andrew and Meghan's house, as they are moving out to the farm. We hope to be all moved in before December gets here!

With plans to go on vacation for the last week of October there was much preparation. I had to work ahead on things at my job, as it is a busy time of year. And right smack dab in the middle of it all, our chickens - which mom raised for us, since we live in town - were ready to butcher. So the day before we left on vacation, we went out and butchered 19 chickens. Yes, most people think it is gross, but it sure does save us alot of money at the grocery store.

At last, the long awaited final week of October got here. Joe's parents decided to take all the family to Branson for a week. This was all a part of Joe's dad's birthday celebration. You see, on Sunday, we all went to church with Joe's parents and had a surprise birthday dinner and party after church. Yeah, Nin thought we were up to something when we all showed up at their church! After the party we took off for Branson.

We had to stop off at the Springfield Bass Pro Shop, of course, so the guys could get some fishing gear, but on Monday afternoon we finally made it to Branson.

It is SO beautiful there. All the leaves were turning to their glorious fall colors and it made for some amazing views! We stayed at a resort right off of Table Rock lake. The guys enjoyed a little bit of fishing and even caught a 15 pound fish on their jug lines.

We went to the Talking Rocks Caverns (and no the rocks do not talk!) and had quite the time there.

One day was spent at Silver Dollar City going on rides and shopping at all the little shops. Even I rode a roller coaster - but only after my hubby tricked me into it, but that's a whole other story!

A few of us went to downtown Branson and did a little shopping and ate out. Each evening we relaxed in the awesome hot tub - which was especially nice cause us flatlanders were just not used to walking up all those hills in Branson!!

The week came to an end and the girls left the guys in Oswego to hunt while we made the drive back home. As much as I LOVED the vacation and all the fun that we had, it was really good to be home!

And now on to November, which will be just as busy as October was. I need to start packing. I have a new house to paint, clean and move into. The holidays are coming up and I really need to start thinking about Christmas shopping....

We'll see how long it takes for the next post!

Sisters, Sisters!

While Rach was home for the summer I intended to spend alot of time with her and Kelli. We weren't able to spend as much time together as we would have liked to, but the bits and pieces of time here and there were lots of fun!

One particular trip to Garden was great. We had breakfast at IHOP and went to the zoo. After hours of shopping we hit Patrick Dugan's Coffee for a little break. I so enjoy the time I get to spend with my sisters. I am very glad that we all have a good relationship! I hope next summer when Rach is home we make it a point to get together more often!