Some pictures... from the last 6 months!

I know people have asked for a new post, pictures, etc... So here it is! (The delay increases suspense, even if it is 6 months!)

SNOW DAY.......

Snow day today for sure and then some! It has yet to stop snowing since it started yesterday in the AM. I have never in my life seen this much snow in my yard and I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Montana, and Washington State. How much is this much? As of 3:23 PM I am at 24+ inches! Look at the pictures and see what we have going on here! Well I would love to write more, but I have another 4 or 5 inches to shovel again.

Last night around 10 PM

This AM around 9

Shoveling the driveway

Getting Oliver ready to play in his first snow storm

Susie, Oliver, Emily, and Xavier

This was actually earlier but his hair was so fun that I thought it should go up too.

Of course Isabel is here too.

Okay so we HAVE been HERE....

Okay so this is way later than intended but here goes... We went to the midwest right after my last post. We stayed and had a lovely time in Indiana, Chicago and Detroit. We visited family and friends and was a whirlwind of activity including Shed Aquarium, Chicago Cubs game, wisdom teeth out (for me) and more. So here are pictures from select events after our return, including the start of the remodel of our house (the inside anyway.)
OH YEAH, the arrival of ISABEL WAS RATHER LARGE SINCE IT HAPPENED AT HOME... If you want the crazy story, call us... or e-mail.... or wait till I post it here later :)

Traveling on Amtrak Chi-Det

In Chicago (self portraits)

Old Stairway railing

Replacement for railing (work by Mr Ken Kosch)

Old Fireplace and walls

Oliver helping daddy with fireplace

Remodeled fireplace

Emily's preschoolers
WOOHOO! Whistle while you work...
Oliver's Birthday

Sunset from our deck

Halloween with the lions! (Dad and cub)

Look what I found! (yes that is a kitten)
Camping with my 7th-8th grade boys
More sunsets (the second photo courtesy of our friend Kelly Yeagle when she was here)
Bedhead!
Lighting the Advent Wreath
Oliver and Xavier before the grooming
After the groomingHERE SHE IS MEETING HER BIG BROTHER! Isabel Grace Kinley







Another Kiss from big brother

Almost there...

So this will be the last post most likely from Montana as we move on Monday to Spokane, Wa. I have to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so it is hectic right up to moving. We are going to miss our friends, the scenery around here and being close to Glacier National Park but we are looking forward to the new opportunities.
Here are pictures from my brothers recent trip here (last week.) We had a lot of fun including hockey, rafting, and hiking.
On the hike, we saw a bear, UP CLOSE and personal. Like 15 feet in front of me close with Oliver on my back. As we were hiking uphill my brother yelled BEAR! from behind me but I did not hear him the first time. He yelled again, I stopped, picked my head up and was staring a black bear in the face. I slowly backed up, asked for the bear spray and the bear walked around us and back onto the trail where it proceeded to head towards more people. As one group decided to RUN off the trail despite my yelling instructions to them, the bear decided to run too, right at them. Fortunately the group was large enough the bear just kept on going.

AND FEATURING........ Isabel(l) Grace! We just found out we are having a girl!

3-d imaging, pretty cool!

Almost Friday...

I can't believe it is almost Friday and my brother will be here in two days! (Also can't believe two posts in the same week at the rate I have been going...) So far this week I rode to work with Oliver and that was a tough go on the climb up to work but we made it and it was a nice feeling for sure.

We had a lovely dinner on Wednesday at our friends Vic and Myia. Our friends Kelly and Chris were also present and were able to enjoy the food, the wine and the Bald Eagle. Vic has a license to keep special birds and so right now he has a Bald Eagle named Gracie. She is quite majestic and I loved being around her.

Myia and Oliver

Vic, Kelly, Oliver, and Big Bird!
MAN IS THIS FUN!
Me, Oliver, and Gracie
Gracie
Chris and Oliver hanging outVic playing the flute and Oliver totally into it! (Vic is AWESOME by the way at the Native American flute.)
Oliver today having a snack.
Several weeks ago, Oliver made nice with a goat.

Spokane and other things....

So it is official, we are moving to Spokane, Wa in 3 weeks from today. We have already started packing some things and had a moving sale on Saturday. These pictures are from our trip to Spokane about 2 weeks ago as well as some other pictures from activities going on here. My brother comes into town this coming weekend and we are so excited!

I am a cowboy! (more horse at the bottom of the post!)

Our new home in Spokane that we move into on July 14th.

Kitchen and dining room of the new home.

At the mall in the kids play area

Our friends' daughter Fiona, one last visit before they move to Colorado.

A different kind of swing!

Fiona, their new daughter Meghan (1 week old in this picture) and Oliver.

A little entertainment after hockey.

JUNE 10th!
Still JUNE 10th!

Kelly and Oliver after hula

I think I figured it out!

Lunch during the moving sale.
Swimming pool time!

My first set of wheels!

Rrrraagghhhh! Little monster!

Yeah, real nice mom...

At the top of Lone Pine with Oliver (about 2 mile climb)

Jessie comes to town...

And a few other pictures :) Our friend Jessie came in all the way from Manhattan, New York to visit for a few days. The weather wasn't perfect but not bad.

I am trying to sleep here! (actually he is asleep)

HIGH ON LIFE :)

Jessie and Emily

Hanging out by the river waiting on the kayakers

I love you daddy
SO don't put me in the riverTalk about mischievous!
There goes a kayaker!
Ok, so I can sleep anywhere.
The river in Glacier National Park, next to Going to the Sun Road. Water is a little high right now.
The river coming down from Avalanche Lake.

On our way up to Avalanche Wake.Avalanche Lake, about a 2.5 mile hike one way.
Mountain goats at the lake.
At the end of the hike back by the river.
Jessie's last day :(