Christmas Eve at Rocky's

We spent Christmas at Rocky Moldenhauer's, a family member of Aaron's side of the family. It is a family tradition to go to Rocky's. Dawn, Rocky's wife prepares a feast of a dinner and it is always wonderful! We play a white elephant game and family fued. All of Aaron's family tries to be there because it is such a blast! The kiddies open their jammies before we leave, another tradition! It is a good time!

Star Wars Christmas!

We'll be Home for Christmas!

I am not trying to be Bree Vandecamp with this post but I just wanted to share my Christmas with you.....haha. I love traditional Christmas festivites like Christmas programs at church, Christmas dresses, baking, decorating, a warm fire on a cold, snowy day, the Polar Express, and seeing my babies smile because they can hardly wait for Christmas Day....these are a few of my favorite things!!!

Merry Christmas from the Trenkles!

Santa visited the kid's school the other night where they had stories and hot chocolate. I thought I would take the opportunity to get a picture with the Christmas shirts and sweaters for a Christmas card. Santa ended up being pretty authentic...yeah! In fact, Macy and Tate asked me if he was the "real" Santa because of his beard. I said that he may be but that I have seen a few authentic Santa's in my day. They seemed alright with my answer.....and yes, Tate still believes in Santa. I hugged him last night and couldn't let go because I don't want him to grow anymore.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas! I have been crazy busy but everything is ready and I am going to cook today. I like making fudge, dipped pretzels,carmels, sugar cookies, banana bread, I just love to eat at Christmas...can't you tell! We hope you have a merry one!

My missy loves to perform!

Imagine that! Macy loves to dance, does that shock ya..haha. She was able to perform at our ward party the first week of December. She performed a tap dance to "I Wanna Hippopotamus for Christmas" and ballet to "Angels We Have Heard on High". She is so much fun! She went on the Polar Express at kindergarten for their Christmas party. They dressed in their jammies and had a ticket too..so cute. She sings "Rudolph" and 'The Hippo Song' at the top of her lungs when it comes on the radio. She's a nut and I love every minute of it! She is beginning to read and it is fun to listen to her sound out words! She's lovin' gymnastics and playing "Mississippi River" on the piano (a variation of Twinkle Twinkle). She's a busy 5 year old but seems to be lovin' every minute of it. If you didn't notice... Aaron is in the background. He also performed that night. He and some guys sucked helium from balloons and sang the Chipmunk Christmas song. It was hilarious!

Tate's Idaho History projects!

Tate created this teepee with his dad! I was so impressed with him because he went to the craft store and knew exactly what supplies he needed to create such a beautiful teepee. He is very creative and a great artist (like his father). They really enjoy each other and spend quality time together on projects like this. I am grateful that Aaron takes time for his kids. He really gets down on their level and I love that about him. Tate has also started basketball. He is playing in two leagues and is doing very well! He is great underneath and shoots awesome on the outside too. We are proud of this boy, obviously, but most of all, I love his personality! He is very confident and kind.....a future CEO..haha. Here are also some pictures of their fishing trip to Springfield. They are always guaranteed to catch a fish.....great place to take kids!

Disco Dynamo!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Here We Have Idaho!

We went on a drive to Swan Valley to enjoy our last days of FALL. These past few days have been choice. I mowed my lawn, Friday; and Saturday, I cleaned out all of my flower beds! I really enjoy yardwork especially when the weather will cooperate. I love this time of year and am grateful to live in such a beautiful area. A few years back I had a professor chastize us "natives" for not being proud of this area. It gave me a new perspective and I would rather live here then anywhere else. We have God close to use not only through the majestic natural surroundings but also through people that value morals and virtue. How can you beat that? I could trade the winters....... but it is really all I know:).


A LATE WALK

by: Robert Frost (1874-1963)

WHEN I go up through the mowing field,
The headless aftermath,
Smooth-laid like thatch with the heavy dew,
Half closes the garden path.

And when I come to the garden ground,
The whir of sober birds
Up from the tangle of withered weeds
Is sadder than any words.

A tree beside the wall stands bare,
But a leaf that lingered brown,
Disturbed, I doubt not, by my thought,
Comes softly rattling down.

I end not far from my going forth
By picking the faded blue
Of the last remaining aster flower
To carry again to you.

Amen!

I am feeling frustrated with the backlash from the passing of Prop. 8! I found a response to the backlash on a friend's blog that put into eloquent words how I have been feeling myself! "Thank you" to this Roman Catholic bishop for defending the sacred institution of marriage between a man and a woman!

“The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.

“Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.

“As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.

“I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.

“I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.”

Halloween Festivities!

We have had a fun couple of days.....Thursday, the kids had a Spook Parade at Woodland Hills! I entered the school parking lot and "Monster Mash" was merrily broadcasted over the speakers into the parking lot! Parents met in the gym while the students walked around in their classes. It was cute. Even Matthew walked in the parade with Tate! After school, we headed down to Blackfoot to visit Mere and Cara...Grandma Suzie was helping Aunt Hollee and Baby Alex.
Halloween day was a whirlwind, always is. I had to work my morning shift at Apple and then the kids and I went to lunch with my dear friend, Natalee Erikson Groberg. I stopped at Wal-Mart for some more candy (since it doesn't appear to be in the pantry...never is), and then we went home to carve our pumpkins for the Trunk or Treat. Our neighborhood has a Trunk or Treat every year at the end of our subdivision(we are landlocked)where we also enjoy donuts and cider along with great comaradarie with the neighbors! The weather turned out really great! My hubby didn't attend the festivities, though. The poor soul was in bed not feeling well. I gathered up the kids after the Trunk or Treat and we went to get a Jack-O-Lantern pizza at Papa Murphy's. I attempted to purchase one earlier in the day but it was a mad-house. I returend at 6:30 and was able to get right in and buy one! I am glad we had our festivities earlier! Every Halloween night we watch "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown;" so we came home, ate yummy pizza and watched our movie. It was alot of fun, but I was ready for bed at 9:00 last night! Aaron perked up about that time and we didn't hit the sack until 2:00 am. He had a 3 hour nap after work:0. We had a good day....hope you did too!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

I know it has been quite a while since my last entry...just busy, I guess. The kids and I went to a darling pumpkin patch tonight over across from the zoo. It has a beautiful red barn, with a white picket fence, hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins and even a John Deer tractor arranged for pictures. You pick out your pumpkins and pay (on your honor) in a box posted to the barn. Inside the barn there were more picture scenes along with an old vintage stove where hot chocolate, cookies, suckers, and candy are for the taking...all free. There was an old man working on the barn door. It was like we were part of a wholesome movie from the fifties. I thought it was absolutely wonderful. I wondered if the old man owned the pumpkin patch. Whoever owns it has a great thing going. I will go every year; it made my Fall even more enjoyable. It didn't hurt either that the weather has been beautiful these last few days!!!

My other Wanderer....

Okay, I get it. It is me. I am feeling like the worst mother on the block right now; No, in the universe. My other child escaped this afternoon and braved the neighborhood. Only, he decided to go to Tate's football practice which crosses a busy road over to the school and is out of our subdivision. Our bishop, of all people, (I just want to crawl in a hole right now and forever stay there)called my husband and relayed that Matthew was in the school parking lot. Aaron called me and asked me where Matty was, I said, "Downstairs playing with Macy." He goes, "Are you sure," I was pretty sure, although I didn't recall hearing his voice along with Macy's. Then it ocurred to me that Macy talks to herself when she is playing alone. I flew out the door and drove down the road, when, low and behold, here comes bishop around the corner with a big grin on his face and Matthew sitting by his side. I win the Crappy Mother of All Time Award and it was delivered to me by the last person I would want to deliver me such an award. I don't know, I feel awful right now, in fact, sick and I have learned a huge lesson! I am soo grateful that I have a loving ward and great people in my neighborhood!

This is Hilarious!!!!

1950
1958
1968
1974
1996
1950
1962
1970
1990
2000
Tonight, Aaron and I laughed sooo hard we were brought to tears from these awesome pictures. Aaron looks a lot like his dad and his brother, George.....hilarious. Aaron says I look a lot like my mom and my sister with the long hair...we have had a ball....

My little wanderer......

My Macy has been wandering the neighborhood and branching out to streets that are further and further away from home. She goes on these adventures without asking me and therefore, has caused me some major stress in the last couple of weeks. I tell her that she must tell me what she is doing for obvious reasons; but she has ventured off a couple of times even after I have tried to drill into her independent mind that there are creepos out there that could take her. Through the scary "what ifs" I am experiencing while tracking down her pink princess bike, I have to chuckle, because she rides her bike soooo fast right down the middle of the road.....and I rememeber that care-free, brave feeling of childhood.