Merry Christmas 2014

 HoHoHo

'One Frosty Morn'

Merry Christmas 2014

December....Started the month by taking Dad to an appointment in Havre to have his carotid arteries checked. Everything is good! While in Havre we also talked him into touring the Timber Creek Assisted Living facility. He like it but doesn't think he is ready for it yet. We planted the seed anyway! Dixie had a haircut and highlights on the 4^th and we had Jack and Carla over for dinner on the 5^th. The 7^th was a ladies Christmas Tea at the church. On the 8^th we celebrated Dad's 81^st Birthday with dinner at our house. Doug and Fran were back so we were all there (minus Danny of course). The 11^th was a school staff Christmas party at Tammy & Terry Jones. The 12^th as a trip to Havre to finish Christmas shopping. The 13^th there was a Christmas Stroll/Poker Run in town. Dixie helped Denise set up the shop and displayed her jewelry. It was a fun night for all and I was able to sell some more jewelry. We all ended up at the bar for dinner. There was a good crowd in town! On the 14^th was the kid's Christmas program at church. The high school basketball games started on the 16^th. We were able to see 3 of Tyler's games – we will miss seeing the rest of the season. The 18^th was the school Christmas program and the 20^th Dixie & Fran went to Havre shopping. On the 22^nd we drove to Chester for the ballgame. We stopped in Inverness so Dixie could set up a jewelry display at Merlene's beauty shop. It was fun to visit a bit as well.

Christmas Eve was church in Hogeland at 330p and then dinner at Doug & Fran's. We enjoyed hot wings and all the fixin's. We decided to draw names this year and opened the gifts after dinner. We even remembered to get some family pics! On Christmas Day we took down our decorations and then went to Doug & Fran's once again. We had a wonderful roast dinner and Shay went on a scavenger hunt to find his trip to Disneyland!!!!

We are packed and ready to head to south! Doug & Fran drove us to Great Falls on the 26^th. We had dinner the Celtic Cowboy.

The 27^th was another long day of flying. The flight that was open out of Great Falls (645a) suddenly filled up – we made it on but barely! We were in Denver by 815a with the connecting flight departing at 1115a. It was delayed and also full – we didn't get on. The next one was at 3 something – also delayed and we didn't get on. We finally made the next one around 5 but we sat on the plan delayed so missed the US Air connection in Phoenix. Arrived there at 1030p and the flight was to leave at 1040p...however in another terminal – we would have had to go outside security and then go back thru. DIDN'T EVEN TRY. We opened up the computer and booked a Priceline Express Deal hotel – the category that said it had a airport shuttle. We called the hotel right after booking it and were told the shuttle quite at 10p. We found a number for Priceline and went round and round with them for a refund since they said the hotel had a shuttle but in fact it did not. Mike finally got them to give us a refund (haven't seen it yet however). I called a hotel on the board and we ended up at the Econo Lodge. The shuttle ride took over a half hour as it delivered people to the parking lots first and we finally arrived at the hotel at 1230am. It was a short night as we had to get up at 645a. We made our 820a flight to Yuma with no problems. Our bags were evwn in Yuma when we arrived. The Tracker was parked at Million Aire aviation where John parked it. Mike called and they even came and got us! We made it to the motorhome around 1030. We unpacked and then headed to the grocery store to stock the motorhome. We were not able to hook up to electric at Harold's as there was a problem with the polarity. The next morning we went back to the store and then headed for Pilot Knob RV park. We got set up shortly after lunch.

On the 30^th we drove back to Yuma and went to the movie, “Unbroken” and shopped for Lexie and Ryan's wedding gift as well as a few other items.

The 31^st we got things together for our trip to San Deigo. We enjoyed bar-b-que ribs, twice baked potatoes and asparagus for our New Year's Eve dinner. We didn't make it to midnight or even midnight in New York!

 Our tile job in the bathroom

November in Montana

November....We spent the month attending some of the basketball games for the Jr. High kids. Shay, a 5^th grader got to play some. Dixie had 2 more therapy sessions and went back to work at the school. On the 20^th Bonnie & I even filled in for Jacque who took a day off. We found out we could handle a simple breakfast and lunch on our own! We made a trip or two to Chinook and Harve. Dixie took Dad to a foot clinic in Harlem on the 6^th.

Our main project for the month was tiling our main floor bathroom walls. Doug & Fran did all the work with a bit of help from us! It turned out beautiful and we are really enjoying having a shower on the main floor. Thanks again to both of them for doing this! Mike and I put up lattice work on the ceiling in part of the basement, installed wall board in the bathroom and did some additional painting. The basement is looking much better!

The 3^rd Dixie & Fran made Lefsa with the church ladies at Susie Billmayer's. The 8^th there was a craft show in the old Gym. Dixie set up a table with her jewelry and sold a $180 so it was a good day.

The weather changed on 10^th....below zero and snow....Happy Birthday Mike. We had a dinner for him at our house with Denita and the whole family. Even Levi was home. Doug & Fran left a few days before for Oregon where they will remodel Camilla's bathroom.

We decorated the house and put up lights outside around the deck...looks pretty nice!

Thanksgiving we went to Denita and Steve's for a wonderful dinner. Steve, Annie and Uncle George we there as well. We all contributed in the food preparing. The day after Dixie and Denita attended a DoTerra Essential Oil party at Shawna's. Did I say how cold and snowy our November was????

 After the surgery

 Our tile work in the kitchen

Nephew Shay

October 2014

October...Dixie helped at the Churches fall turkey dinner on the 5^th. It was a wonderful dinner! She worked on the 6^th and then we headed to Great Falls. We had dinner at Chili's and did a little shopping. Surgery was scheduled for 630am on the 7^th. While talking to Dr. Cameron just before going into surgery it was decided that she should also have carpal tunnel surgery again on the left hand since the tingling is in all fingers & thumb. That will make recovery a bit longer. All went well but the doc said that the wrist was a bit unique as the nerve had grown around the scar tissue since the surgery 30 yrs ago. He had to do quite a bit of moving of the median nerve so it will be more sensitive for awhile. Also the ulnar nerve was quite compressed. Hopefully when it is all said and done there will be improvement. We overnighted again in Great Falls and headed home on the 8^th. The next week Dixie was in full bandage with a little movement in the elbow.

The 11^th and 12^th Doug & Fran put in the tile backsplash in the kitchen. It turned out beautiful!

On the 12^th we attended the Hogeland Fireman’s Spaghetti dinner.

The 14^th we road to Great Falls with Doug, Fran and Camilla. We had dinner at Borries. Dixie had a follow up with Dr. Cameron – he removed the bandaging and stitches from the elbow. The wrist stitches will remain for another week. The middle and ring finger are still pretty numb & per the doctor they could be for awhile. Dixie went to the chiropractor in the afternoon and we headed home after that.

We packed the motorhome with more stuff – preparing to take it south. Mike helped Doug with the building of their roof deck on 18^th, 20^th & 21^st.

Dixie had Donnie Harmon remove the 5 stitches from her wrist on the 21^st.

The 22^nd we went to Chinook. Dad & Dixie had a flu shot at the Health Dept and Dixie had physical therapy. They also got car license for both of Dad's cars.

Mike didn't feel well on the 22^nd and 23^rd so we went to Harlem to the doc (PA actually) on the 23^rd. He got medication for a UTI. It took several days to help but by the 27^th he was finally feeling better.

Doug & Fran installed part of the tile in the bathroom on the 23^rd & 24^th.

The 25^th we left with the motorhome to head south. We just went to Chinook as we had a surprise 60^th Birthday party for Doug at the Eagles. It turned out very well and he was even surprised. We served 61 people dinner! We overnighted at the Bear Paw RV park.

The 26^th we left around 830am. We had to make several stops (for Mike) but we made it to Clark Canyon Reservoir around 430ish (371miles). It is 20 miles south of Dillon. We saw a few snowflakes that evening but it was a pretty view of the water.

The 27^th we pulled out around 815a and drove 394 miles to Payson, UT where we parked in an old Starbucks lot next to Walmart.

The 28^th we left at 715am with a destination of Bullhead City...457miles...a long day! We overnighted at Ridgeview RV park. We had dinner at Bill & Gloria's RV and enjoyed catching up with thems.

The 29^th we made it to Quartzsite – Rainbow Acres. We parked at Jim and Linda's site since it was easier to get into than Bob & Cheryl's. Unfortunately we had a little accident. We had unhooked the car but didn't move it....well Mike didn't see it (since we normally move it once we unhook) and he backed the motorhome up to position it to pull into the driveway....oops crunched into the grill of the Tracker. The radiator hose was crimped and water and antifreeze were coming out. Beside's this mishap we had fun with the gang in Quartzsite. We had happy hour that day and then shopped a bit in Quartzite on the 30^th and then went to Ehrenberg for dinner.

The 31^st we drove to Yuma and then on to Sommerton. We had called John Hebblemen about the tracker and he told us a place to take it. We left it with Jose Yepez in Sommerton for repair. We then drove the motorhome to Harolds and parked it. John came and picked us up and took us to the airport. We could get as far as Denver where we overnighted. We made it back to Great Falls on the 1^st and Doug picked us up.

Snow on 9/11/14

SEPTEMBER 2014

September...The month flew by. Dixie had physical therapy on the 11^th and 17^th. We hosted an FMCA RV rally in Harve at the Evergreen Campground on the 18^th – 21^st. We had 14 coaches. Dixie scheduled tours to the Buffalo Jump and Havre Beneath the streets. Both were great and most everyone attended.

We went to Great Falls on the 23^rd and the 24^th was a full day of appointments. Mike had his yearly DR. appointment, Dixie a Mammogram & visit to the otho doc. We both had a dentist visit. Dixie found out she needed surgery on the ulnar nerve in the left elbow. It is scheduled for Oct 7^th. She completed her lab work and EKG today also.

Dixie worked at the school 2-3 days a week and we started getting the motorhome loaded for our trip south.

Aug 20-31

August 20-31...We unpacked the MH and got it parked. Then we started mowing and trimming on Wed. as rain was predicted for the remainder of the week. The rain started on Wed. evening and didn't quite until sometime in the middle of the night on Sunday. It was a steady rain and we ended up with 4 and ¾ inches. Wow we were wet..the motorhome looked like it was parked in a lake!

After one load of laundry we realized we had another drain blockage and the laundry sink was leaking.....HELP Doug & Steve. Thurs after 3 hours they were able to break loose the blockage in the old pipe. It caused quite a mess – black gunk everywhere. Dixie went for a haircut and then returned and cleaned it up ~ but all is working! Also on Thur Dixie painted the window frames and touched up the paint around them.

Dixie baked a couple of pies on Friday... a thank you for Marge & Dick Hickel for watering while we were gone and one for us, Dad & Tyler. Doug & Fran went to Great Falls and Denita and Steve to Missoula to help Levi move apartments.

Sat. we painted the bedroom.

Sunday was church and then we made Taco's at Denitia for Dad, Tyler and Shay. Later Tyler & Shay came over to our place and stayed overnight.

Monday ~ Dixie started a new 'job'. Bonnie Harmon called the night before and said she had agreed to help as a kitchen aid at the school. She wasn't feeling well and wanted to know if I would fill in and possibly do it 2 days a week until we leave in the fall. Of course I agreed. It is just 2 ½ hrs a day. I did work the first week on Mon, Tue and Thu. I help prep food, serve the small kids and do dishes! The time goes very quickly and it's fun to see the kids!

More painting projects – this week was the bathroom cabinets!

We had Doug buy a new laundry sink/faucet and on Tue. Steve hooked it up and also installed our 'whole house filter'. We worked on the water softner as it is no longer worked. Mike scooped out most of the old salt as we found out the salt that was there was the incorrect kind – we need pellets. We had a salt bridge which stopped it from working.

Wed. we went to Chinook. Dixie had a physical therapy appointment for her elbow. We also bought paint for the bathroom and groceries.