SNOW!!!

We are in the middle of a great snow storm!! We have a TON of snow and more on the way. I am so thankful for such a great dad!!! He came over on his tractor and plowed us out!!! Just one of the perks of living by them! It was fun to see all the neighbors peering from the windows as he worked his magic!! 

The deer and other holiday decorations under snow!

Where are front steps?

Help on the way...
Not only for us but for some kids that were stuck!

My great Dad coming to save us!! 

What an AWESOME DAD and his toys! 

The neighbors watched in amazement...
 tractors in my neighborhood are not "normal" sightings 

Thanks Dad for having such a servants heart!!  

Love you.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light.

For rest and shelter of the night.

For health and food.

For love and friends.

For everything thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson  (1803-1882)

We pray this years bring forth many things to be thankful for.

We are thankful for your love and friendship

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Family Wedding...

John and Alicia

John and Alicia were married this past October and it was a great family event. We were able to see the entire Mach family. John, Jennie and Ella even were able to make it from Bolivia!!!!  It was especially fun for Dan and I as we were able to go back to where we lived in college and during our first year of marriage. We had a great time connecting with some friends and visiting some of our old stopping grounds. 

Uncle Dan and Ella
Ella had to teach Dan a few dance moves!! 

Groom (John) and proud Mama 

John, Ella and Alicia dancing at the dollar dance

Ella and her daddy dancing... priceless

Parents of the groom
Tim and Bev

More Halloween...

These linded the driveway for the trick or treaters

Flying bats! 

Flying bats and fog

Glow in the dark mirror

We hope you had a safe and fun Halloween. 

Happy Halloween Preview

Just a sneak peek of Halloween...

Bringing home our pumpkins 

Front Door

Which one do you like best???
We compete every year since we have been married... let us know which one was your favorite!! 

Just a peek at our yard... more to come

Landscape updates

 We have been busy with some landscaping.... 

 Happy Fall!! 

My personal favorite season!! 

 We added some much needed landscaping around the electric boxes

New tree for the front yard. It will bloom white in the spring! 

Mums 

This tree is actually three put together. It's in the back yard and will bloom a red/pink in the spring

We are hoping to add a little privacy to our yard. 

 Dan's personal favorite... an Aspen tree for the back. 

It is almost as tall as our second story! 

Hope you are all enjoying this great fall weather! 

Happy Birthday

Dan and I were able to get away for a few days to celebrate his birthday and enjoy the fall weather we have been having. This year the candles filled the cake!! We both had to laugh when my sister even commented that we were old! 

We spent two days at Camp Lebonon in a cabin. Dan was able to fish and I was able to catch up on some reading.  It was wonderful to get away and just enjoy nature and a slower pace of life. If you ever need a get away... highly recommend it! 

Here is the view from the cabin inside

            Dan grilling his birthday dinner.                                             A cake I found at the local "grocery store"

Just a few candles... and we were even missing a couple! 

The college guys enjoyed the rest of the cake later that weekend! 

Inside the cabin-

The camera battery died, so we didn't get to take any pictures in North Dakota or the rest of our time at the cabin

After we had been at the cabin we headed to see my brother and sister at NDSU. We had a fun dinner celebrating the Dan's birthday's (my Dan and my sister's boyfriend Dan) and just catching up. We took an exciting trip to Walmart to load them up. Dan and I always appreciated when people did that for us in college, guess you can say we were paying it forward. We had a great visit. It was very serial to see my little sister and brother grown up, but exciting to see where life was taking them. The weekend ended way to fast, but we enjoyed getting out of the daily grind and being able to spend time with family. 

Counting down till we get to see the ENTIRE  Mach side... it will be here before you know it!! 

Growing up

 Its hard to believe that today my little brother started his freshman year of college. Not only has he moved out and now is considered a "college guy"... my sister will be there with him. How neat is that? Dan and I are excited that we can see them both in one visit and it's less than a days drive!

 My little brother and sister have a sweet spot in my heart. I know what many of you are thinking, they are your siblings ... and you are right. I love them dearly just for that reason. But I also love them on a deeper level because of the age difference between us.  Jake and I are 9 years apart and Jess and I are 7 years.  I won't lie when they were first born and even when I was in high school there were times when I was not ecstatic to be the older sibling, but now things have changed. I adore spending time with them. Learning and seeing what makes them tick. Learning all the "cool" things out there that Dan and I have lost touch with.Along with having the opportunity to give them wisdom from some of the lessons I have learned along the way. They truly are fun people to be with. I wanted to leave them with some advice and wisdom for the up coming year and those that follow.

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

 Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. 

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, other can destroy over night. 

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. 

Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. 

Be good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. 

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. 

-Mother Teresa Prayer-

So yes, Jake and Jess I do hope that these are the times of your lives. Stay up late, do crazy fun things that you can only do in college. Have those jobs that pay near to nothing, it will make you appreciate the little things. Make life long friends, learn and never give up on your dreams!! And as Dad used to say to Dustyn and I.... "GET TO CLASS!!!".

Love you guys and am so proud of who you are becoming!!! 

Love your big sis.