The Day After!!

The snow has finally stopped and it is beautiful outside. It is very bright. We received more than 2 feet of snow. It really didn't take a break at all yesterday. We just stayed in the house and went out a couple of times to clear the driveway. Next year we are investing in a 4 wheeler with a plow!!! Here are some more pics from today and yesteray.

Still Snowing!!!!!!!!!!

MORE SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my Christmas morning report. We woke up to about 5+ inches. What a present. We knew it was coming and it is suppose to continue throughout the day. It is nice to have Darin home today. Last night we got our woodburning stove in place and going. It is nice!! Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and we will give you more pictures later.

SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW

Wow....it just keeps coming. We went out this morning and measured 5 inches on our railing. Now I am sure that we have at least 5 more. We really need it!!! It will definitly be a white Christmas. The kids are out of school and it is nice not traveling anywhere in this weather. I am not sure how long it is suppose to last. I love it when it snow. Everything is so white and pretty!!! Especially the big trees that are behind my house. We hope that you are all warm and happy!!! Having great thoughts of the holidays and the ones you love. I have included some pictures of the trees behind my house and also some pics of Dale and his family at Sammy's baptism. Dallas did the baptism in spanish. Their were lots of investigators there. I couldn't understand anything but felt the spirit. Sammy was so excited!!! Dallas confirmed Sammy the following day in sacrament at the spanish ward in Heber. We are proud that Sammy has made this decision to be baptised!!! Congrats. Take Care all!! Merry Christmas!!!

Now we can have Christmas!!

Jenessa decided that if there isn't snow we can't have Christmas. Well we have snow now. It snowed Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. We received about 11 inches. Right now it is about 10 am and only 12 degrees. It has been really cold...2 below last night but fortunately we have heat and power unlike Darin's Dad in Boston. He lives in a place called Fitchburg and they have been without power due to the ice storms since friday I believe. He has a woodburning stove so they were able to stay in their home. Cheri (Darin's step sister) brought their family over to stay for a few days. (No power no furnace) They have shared stories of the noise at night from the frozen branches breaking and falling. Needless to stay they didn't get much sleep. We are thankful that they are ok. Just one more thing to be thankful for this time of year.

Jenessa's plays are done for now. The kids are just having one party after another at school this week and then it is two weeks to sleep in and play with the kids. Christmas will be nice this year. Small but very nice. Josh is coming over to the house to finish the tile work and we should have our woodburning stove in and going in the next few days. YES!!!!

I have been writing this over a few days and guess what MORE SNOW!! We had a storm yesterday and are expecting another one today.(Friday) The news said 12" to 20 " in some areas. Winter is coming all at once.

Lisa had surgery yesterday and we are relieved to find out that they don't believe it was cancer. They are testing the tissue as a precaution but it appears good.
She will be in the hospital till at least Sunday. Based on what the Dr. said....no wonder she hasn't been feeling well. To read more about her christenfam.blogspot.com) if you need an invite let me know. (heckel88@msn.com)

Looking forward to a super SNOWY DAY!!! and a warm cozy weekend.

Visit with Santa and Ty's Birthday!!

We had a great weekend. As you can see from the photos. Darin keeps everyone and everything going all the time. Never a dull moment. We saw santa on Saturday at Zermatt. Darin even took his turn. Jenessa didn't like the fact that we are starting to celebrate Christmas and there is no snow! We had a great lunch at the Hub for his birthday. On Sunday we had a birthday dinner and we have an awesome tradition. The birthday boy or girl gets to take the first bite out of their cake. As you can see we usually don't let them take the first bite with out some help. He will be ordained a Deacon next Sunday. He is so Awesome!! Excited but nervous to pass the sacrament. Hope you all have a great week!!

Christmas is almost here!

This has been a good week. We had a wonderful RS dinner last night. The ladies that planned and decorated did an amazing job! The kids are going in all different directions. The theater group is preparing for the "Gift of the Maji" next week, The boys start Jr. Jazz, Sammy is getting baptised, The young men and women in our ward are headed down to see the Christmas lights at the temple soon, Larissa is off Volleyball (ing) all the time. Our ward party is this next week......we are doing the food of course!!! With Darin's connections I don't think he will be able to get out of this for awhile.

I really look forward to all of this but can't wait till it is over. The kids are excited to having 2 weeks off of school. We get to put up our tree this weekend! One of my favorite things is to sit in front of the tree with the lights on at night and just relax! With Christmas coming so much to do and so much "Stuff" to get caught up in. We are trying in a small way to take Christmas back to what is should be about. All the crazy people in the stores, all the toys, bigger and better, and so on ........ THAT IS NOT IT! We hope that you find a way to get the true Christmas spirit back in your home over the next few weeks.

Have a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving Pics..............

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Monday!

Had a great weekend. This is going to be a great week. We are not too busy and will have an opportunity to see family that we have not seen in a while. We are so blessed. I decided to just keep the TV off this week and enjoy the peace and quiet and not listen to all the crazy things going on. Hope that you all have a super week and an very "FULL" thanksgiving!!

A week of Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanksgiving is here already. Wow....time is flying by so fast. The kids are all doing well. Here is a picture of what I am truly thankful for. We have so much fun in our home. I look forward to relaxing this week with my kids. We will be with cousins and they love that!! Hope that you all have a wonderful week and a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A week in the life.....

I am working on adding a slide show soon so keep watching.

Wow...what a crazy couple of weeks. (Nessa says what do you mean week....YEAR!!!) Jenessa finished her current play Oklahoma. I say current with reserve because she is always juggling 2 or three at a time. They are now starting work on "The gift of the Magi." She is a crazy women applying for scholarships and grants for college and trying to decide where to attend. She loves to keep busy and when she is on stage she is in "HEAVEN"!

Larissa started county volleyball. I think she loves volleyball as much as J likes the stage. She had her first major practice last night and could hardly move when she got home last night. She says that is a good thing!! Could not move at all this morning......the life of a teenager.

Travis What can I say? He is a unique child. Thinks it is cool to be as tall as his sisters and I know it won't stop there. He is growing like a weed right now and eating to keep up with the growth. I don't think he ever stops eating!!! Between the huge books that he reads and food and the computer he has no free time.

Ty is starting to get the idea in his head that he is growing up cause he is no longer in Elem. school. He will be passing the sacrament in 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!! He is a little nervous, but Trav reassures him that it will be ok. He love to read and play on the computer.

Phil is now the "Oldest group in the Elementary. He feels pretty cool with that. He loves to create things from nothing. He is like McGiver. He was so creative for Halloween.....He was a card board BOX!!! YES that is what I meant to say.


Nate is trying so hard to keep up with his brothers and doesn't like it when he can't do what they are doing. He is in 2nd grade and really likes his teacher. Loves to bring his books home and read with dad every night. He played soccer and really loved that. Definition of 2nd graders playing soccer.....a flock of seagulls chasing after some bread crumbs.....That is totally what it is like.

Darin's work is slowing down a little now and we are hoping that it is not long term. We know alot of people that are losing their jobs and homes. We feel very blessed!! I seem to be getting more and more clients that just want us to go in and check their homes on a regular basis. Last winter was not good for many of my clients. Lots of water damage! It is strange to have a quiet home during the day but I do enjoy it when all of the kids get home and life gets going at a running pace again. Darin has had to work evenings the last couple of weeks and so he is home with me during the day......very strange......We actually get study time in and an occasional nap.

We feel very blessed especially this week. I was scheduled for surgery on Dec 18. I went in for tests before surgery and they called last night and said that my tests came back normal and so I don't have to have the surgery!!!!!! YES!! That is not all that we feel blessed for this week. We have a super family!!! We are especially thankful for our testimonies of the gospel. We love you all and are greatful for opportunities that we have to hear from you. We pray for you and when Nathan prays it is for all of you individually!!!!

We hope that you have a wonderful week full of Hope and Love!!!

Darin and Nancee

Update........Heckel's

It has been very busy. Isn't it always busy!! We are all going in different directions. I would love to make a few clones of myself so that I can be in numerous places at once.

Darin.....is currently teaching Gospel Doctrine. It certainly makes you study more than you might otherwise. He is really good at it and loves it!!! He is enjoying his job at Zermatt Resort. They are keeping busy. He really enjoys working with Craig his boss. That makes it nice.

Nancee....I just got released from teaching Gospel Doc. and I am now the Scout Committee Chair. I am really learning a lot. I know cub scouts really well but not Boys Scouts. No better time to learn. Fortunately we have some amazing leaders for the boys!! I am trying to figure out all this blog stuff. It is really kind of fun when you get the hang of it. I am not there yet but having fun learning.

Jenessa.....is a Senior. She has been really busy with the play "AIDA". She was AIDA....(you say it I-EDA). They performed in October and now she is in a community play "Oklahoma". This is her love and she doesn't even care to sleep if she can be on stage. After this they will be doing the "The Gift of the Madgi". She just had tryouts for that. She is also doing fundraising for a trip to New York. The theater group goes and gets quite an education on what the theater is all about from the best in New York. It will be a lot of fun for her!!! Still trying to decide where to go to school. I think it will be BYU or Utah State. Depends on the scholarships and theater programs. She is checking into that now.

Larissa.....is a freshman. Loves VOLLEYBALL!!! Would play year round if she could. They did pretty good for a first year team. She has to work extra hard cause she isn't as tall as some of the other girls. She loves school!! I am happy that it comes easier for her and Ness than it did for Darin and I. She will be trying out for the basketball team in a week or two. It will keep her active and in shape for Volleyball!!

Travis.....is 13 and is working on his Eagle. He loves scouts....especially snow cave camp outs. He is trying to be nice to Larissa but it seems to be very difficult for him. He does really well in school and I think Math is his favorite subject. All the boys will be doing Jr. Jazz Basketball in the next few weeks.

Ty....is in 6th grade. He has the same teacher that Travis had last year. Seems to enjoy school. Likes to read! He is an 11 year old scout and can't wait to be 12. He just passed off his first class and will be 12 in December and that means he can go camping with out dad. Darin, Travis and Ty went to Bondarant Wyoming for 4 days with the Young men in our ward and had a great time. The stayed in a cabin up there and even had showers and toilets....not camping which is just Darin's style!

Phil....is in 5th grade. He loves school. Likes to play with his friends and play on the computer. He would stay on the computer 24/7 if I let him. That is pretty much what all the boys would do. Loves football and can't wait to play next year. Is looking forward to basketball though.

Nathan.....is just a little spoiled! Next year Nathan will be the only one in Elementary School!!! WOW can't believe it. Being the baby of the family it is hard not to be a little more attentive and give in a little more. He is in 2nd grade and loves his friends. He is better than my mom and many others on the computer already. It is amazing how quick they learn to get around on the computer. He doesn't really love to read but will learn to like it just like the others.

All of my kids enjoy a good book. Travis and Jenessa are crazy readers. Travis started a book with over 600 pages just about 5 days ago and is more 3/4 through it.

As a family we are getting ready for a heavy winter. Last year it was crazy and it is expected to be the same this year. We spent alot of time on roofs clearing snow. The boys had 5 driveways that they were responsible to clear whenever it snowed. We kept really busy last winter keeping them clear. We just installed a wood burning stove and once we finish the tile this week we will get it fired up. Can't wait. We are experiencing an Indian summer right now but they are saying that is about to change.

Loved listening to conference. It was AWESOME!! Can't wait to get my Ensign and read all of the talks through. I can't wait for this election to end. I am tired of the constant crap that I have to listen to on the TV. It makes me crazy!!