SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

We took a quick trip to Idaho. My whole family was able to get together and we had a sleigh party on the hill just behind my parents house. The kids had tons of fun.
Riding snow machines, sleigh riding, and just being back home. I think it will always be home to us. It was a beautiful day!

I just had to share this great country with all of you.








Logan covered in snow just after Spencer pulled him back up the hill on Grandpa's snow machine.


I had to be quick to capture this photo of Kate she was always off again as soon as she go to the top. I am not sure she even stopped to roast a hot dog.


Lunch Break! We all roasted hot dogs and had hot chocolate.

After our bellies were full some of us even took in a nap.

To the far right of this picture you can see my parents house and the group of buildings in the middle of the three was our old place.

THE WHOLE GANG!

Laurel Locomotive Basketball

The End of another season of basketball is about to close for the boys. They have had a pretty good year. We can see some great improvement. Logan had a slow start with a hip injury at the beginning of the year. In fact it was the first day of try-outs. Despite his injury he was able to make the team. This put him out for almost 3 weeks he learned what it was like to get around on crutches. They both have proved themselves and our finding their niche. Spencer is following in his Grandpa Yost's footsteps he plays most games with 3 plus fouls and has fouled out several times. Last night he played his first game without getting a foul. His shot sure has improved. Logan has started the last few games and had a career high scoring game of 22 points. I just wanted to share a few photos of them.

Our Ageing LaWanda

She has had a rough year. Montana has aged her. First off the heater died, Second someone ran into the front side panel and next she got her bumper tore off all in the High School parking lot. This week she lost her muffler. So she hot rods down the streets of Laurel. So Yesterday Logan & Spencer took her to the Foster Body shop in the church parking lot and gave her a make over.

We hope she can hang in there a little longer. We sure love her!

Pinewood Derby

Levi had his 3rd and final Pinewood Derby. Saturday, February 6, 2010
Mikes last one! He has helped build many of these and not just for our boys we lost count after 11. We had a more difficult time putting this one together. All our tools and things were in storage but we were able to put it together with a little extra help.



I guess we have finally mastered it. Levi took 1st place. He won every race he competed in.

The Apartment with Beds & Our Things!

We have chairs!!

Spencer & Levi's Beds

Logan & Kate's Bed

Our Bed!
It is so nice to be together again even if we a crammed into a two bedroom apartment!

Moving Day

The Moving Van has arrived.



The Moving Company Spent two days boxing everything up.


The Third day they loaded everything up into the trucks and shuttled it to the Semi where it was loaded up. Thank goodness we had all this help or it would have been a nightmare to move.





So now the waiting continues. We are crossing our fingers and holding our breath in hopes that we find a buyer.

A Bitter Sweet!

On January 7th We said our goodbyes and locked the door on our Helmick Home.
We put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that home and I mean literally.

I really loved it! I will miss it! I just wanted to put together some photos of our year and half stay in Oregon. Fixing it up. Some of you never made it out to see it and most of you never saw it at it's worst.

Here are a few of the before and after pictures.









Here is a picture of just one of our trips to the dump we took 5 of them all this size.

















The Loft and Spencer's Room




The Master Bedroom


The Kitchen/Living Room



The Grand Room



Kitchen


The Stairs



We spent every spare minute we had fixing it up. We replaced every window & door, More than half of the sheetrock, 4 new skylights, new roof and gutters, and a new paint job. We put in a new water line with 2 hydrants and cattle water line. We built a fence. Pulled up over 300 trees and pruned 301. Sprayed and cut back ivy and blackberries.

We gained a lot of experience and this may be the closest we come to building a house. We made a lot of good memories while here. Thanks to everyone for their help and support.