Sunday, January 4, 2015

RETIRED!

After 45 years of being a Mink Rancher, my dad retired this December.  It has been a bitter sweet decision.  He and my Mom have worked so hard and have been so successful.  We are so proud of the mink business they ran and I am so grateful for the wonderful life they provided me and  my sibblings growing up.  It's hard to imagine there will be no more working on the ranch for my boys.  They have learned so much up on the ranch and loved being up on the ranch with Grandpa and Cousins. My dad has taught them a lot and they have learned the importance of hard work. Mink Ranching is hard, dirty, stinky work, but the boys we're always rewarded with a pay check at the end of each season of working.  This helped them understand the importance of saving and how hard it is to earn money.

I love my Dad and Mom and looking forward to there new Chapter in Life.  Let the fun begin!

Merry Merry Christmas 2014!

 Christmas 2014 was wonderful.  We ended up having a White Christmas, which the kids were truly excited about, me not so much.  I was enjoying the 50 degree balmy weather we were having. You don't need snow to make it seem like Christmas.  
Turn on the Christmas music, Bake/frost some sugar cookies, turn on the christmas tree lights &, BAM it feels like Christmas, 
NO SNOW required.
The kids enjoying making there Gingerbread Houses!
The flu hit our family this week,  all accept Kade,
we were all running a little low on energy!

Kade trying to add a little excitement to the gingerbread making photos!

2 Materpieces! These Boys have Talent!

Sadie then added signs to each house!
The finished product!

Mom can you see me?  Can you see me now?  

Sampson Family Christmas party!  The kids really look forward to the Sampson Family Christmas party!  It is always the week  before Christmas and they each look forward to having a fabulous time at Grandpa and Grandma's house with Yummy food, Cousins, service project for the Angel Tree, Live Nativity & last
 but not least the infamous Talent Show!

The SAMPSON LIVE NATIVITY SHOW!  

Even though Sadie was feeling down, she made sure we made time to make our Traditional Sugar Cookies!

Sadie wanted to mix, measure and stir all the ingredients for the Cookies!

Sadie has the Sampson tongue.  Cutting the cookies out!

Frosting  & Sprinkling the Cookies!

All ready for Santa to partake

Annual Christmas Eve Dinner with Grandpa & Grandma Mink

This year we went and saw the new ANNIE movie!  Sadie loved the songs.  Then we were back home to our annual Fondue Dinner.  Steak, Chicken, Cheese Fondue with Apples and Bread cubes!  Mashed Potatoes, Green Salad , Corn on the Cob and
 IBC Rootbeer to Boot.

Sadie and I Christmas Eve Selfie!

Mitch & Kade enjoying there IBC Root Beers!

Scott and I already for the festivities!

Mitchell entertaining us all with Christmas music on the guitar!

Sadie can hardly contain herself from all the excitement that an 8 year old has on Christmas Eve.  

Kade playing quirkle with  Gradma and Grandpa while we prepared for the Chocolate Fondue.

YUMMY!  Chocolate Fonde!

Grams and Gramps digging in.

Mitch & Saide already partaking of the yumminess!

Sadie was truly enjoyed her Chocolate covered Strawberries!

Christmas Eve traditional P.J'S


So excited to nestle into there beds!

STRIKE A POSE SAMPSON KIDS!

New PJ's with GRAMS & GRAMPS!

SAMPSON FAMILY PHOTO!

Cookies and milk and note already for SANTA!

TRADITIONAL SLEEPOVER with all the kiddos!

BEADOS for Sadie from Santa

Binoculars & Basketball for Kade


Fishing Gear for Mitchell

Sadie was thrilled with the new whiteboard markers
Kade bought her.

KIDS Christmas Gift from Dad & MOM!

What could it BE????

YES, you read it right,  Scott and I broke down after 12 years of begging for a dog.  Let the looking begin.

We truly had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends & we spent time reflecting on how much we have & everything we have to be GRATEFUL for, we Truly are Blessed!  2014 was an amazing year, of happiness and health.  
Hears Looking forward to a Fabulous 2015!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Cabin Fun!

 My brother and his wife invited our family up for Thanksgiving Weekend to their beautiful Cabin.  It was relaxing and wonderful.  We had a blast & made many memories.
Mitch bonded with Knox while we were at the cabin.  All this poor kid wants is a dog to call his own.
Sadie and Bo built the Santa's toy workshop with the blocks.
They were super duper builders & excited about their end result.
The kids played games all night long!

Hours and Hours of sledding down the hill, the kids made it look easy being brought back to the top with the snowmobile. This is our kind of sledding. 

These 2 were pooped!
 They were sledding for 4 hours straight!

The Snowmobile Crew!

Mitch sledding with Knox!

Sadie and Bo! Sledding Buddies!
Thanks Degelbeck Crew, We love you.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Mitchell's 2014 Football Season

Mitchell had a FABULOUS FOOTBALL season.  
He played Middle Linebacker and was
ONE of the TEAM CAPTAINS!  #12

GO #12!  WAY TO GET THAT TACKLE!

MITCHELL, IS A HUSTLER AND ALWAYS
RUNNING FOR THE BALL!
Mitchell's 2014 FOOTBALL BROTHERS



GO GET HIM #12

They were able to play in the MASCOT BOWL this year!
 It was super fun for all the players.

Started every game with a TEAM PRAYER!


FOOTBALL BROTHERS!
Making MEMORIES!

MASCOT BOWL!
Mitchell's Football team did very well.  They lost a hard fight in the semi finals game!
13-14!
Way to go bud, we LOVE YOU!