Surprise 30th Party

On May 12, I threw a surprise 30th birthday party for my wonderful husband. It was one of the most challenging party I have ever thrown. I had the hardest time not telling and bouncing different ideas and things off of Lucas. What I was buying and all the people that I had talked to... But it turned out a great success. Lucas had no idea what we were planning. We had about 30 people show up and hid in our shop just waiting for Lucas to show up. I just did hors d'oeuvres and cake and of course beer. It was such a fun way to honor my husband's 30th. I didn't get very many pictures at all. I was just enjoying the party.

Cora sure enjoyed the party with all the other kiddos.

Lucas, I'm so blessed that God gave you to me. You are a wonderful husband that loves the Lord and follows after Him in our marriage. You protect, provide, encourage, keep us laughing, given all of us a love for hunting and enjoying all of God's creation. You are a loving and strong father that just adores your girls (we can all tell, no hiding that). I pray for God's richest blessings on this new phase of your life. Thank you my love.

I love you, Nicola

Happy Memorial Day!

I just wanted to send out to all our Military men and women past, present and future who have paid the ultimate price for FREEDOM and their families that support, encourage, stand by them and love. May God richly bless all of you this Memorial Day weekend. I thank God for you all and all that you do to protect us and our freedoms that God has blessed us with in the country.

          
Dan, thank you for all that you have done and will do in the future in the United States Marine Corps to secure and protect our freedom.

Lucas, my love and husband I'm so blessed to have you in my life and for your service to our country in the United States Marine Corps.

OORAH!

MAY GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON US ALL!!

That makes 5...

Yesterday afternoon, Lucas, I and the girls all headed out to hunt for a bear. Lucas kept the girls at the river playing with Bandit and goofing off, while I hiked into the bear bait to hunt for a while. After sitting in the tree stand for 3 1/2 hours (good reading time) I looked up and there was a beautiful chocolate color phase black bear. I slowly lowered my book and watched as he slid the stick out of the bait barrel and started licking the barrel. My heart was pounding so fast and the adrenaline was pumping, I slowly raised my rifle, tried to steady my breathing and fired. Well, here's the result.

A 5 1/2ft. 127 lb. (in the fall this bear would probably double his weight) boar with a beautiful coat.

I love that the girls enjoy Lucas and I hunting and get so excited about it. Though Audrey was a bit up-set because she wanted to shoot the chocolate bear (we had been seeing a black and this chocolate bear on the trail camera) and I was supposed to shoot the black one. I had to tell her by the time she would be able to hunt big game (12 years old for Idaho) that this bear would probably be gone already. But the girls were still very happy for mommy. Cora kept telling me, "good job, mommy"! I love my girls. So supportive.

In this picture Cora had just told me that she couldn't said, "cheese" so she hid in the bushes.

I love that my husband gave me my love and desire to hunt. I love that he watches the girls so I can have some time to get out there and hunt.

Thank you Lucas, I love you.

Thank you God for this freedom, to get out in the woods and enjoy ALL Your blessings, from the birds singing, to shooting a bear.

Hair Cut and Uncle Pat's Birthday

Audrey wanted a hair cut, so I gave her one. We all love it.

Pat was up last weekend for his birthday so we had a little party. The girls just love Uncle Pats (that's what they call him).

We had moose steaks, rice pilaf, and Caesar salad and appletini's with Crystal Light and gin (so good)!

Lucas, Gabe (friend from Moscow), Pat

Easter Post, Finally!

I finally got around to getting a post done from Easter.

Here the girls were "helping" me with making the Cappuccino Cheesecake.

Cappuccino Cheesecake

We had our dear Christian friends from Powell over the night before, and we had an Easter egg hunt,  dinner and wonderful fellowship!

Cora and "baby" Charis (as Cora calls her)

Charis enjoyed eating the eggs more than anything! I think she was just trying to beat her mommy with stuffing as many in her mouth before Amber took them away.

Carson and Cora

The four kiddos.

Amber, Adam, Charis, Carson, and us! Sorry about the picture it didn't want to come out right.

Easter morning

We pray the you had a wonderful Easter celebrating our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!