NEW KITCHEN!!

January has brought changes to the Tinker house. We decided that we need to update our house, and bring it out of the 90's and into 2011! So our first project was the kitchen. Micheal, Brody and I started the demolition and grout removal on the 15th, and with the help of a pro, finished the project on 24th! Granite tile counter tops, new back splash, bead board, fresh paint, upgraded the cabinets,and new grout in the tile floor! It looks like a completely different kitchen. WE LOVE IT!! More updates to be done, but I think I will wait a couple weeks....or months!

The New Year...brings New Changes

I asked my daughter-in-law to please change my background to reflect my wonderful personality, she told me she wouldn't until I actually posted to my blog! How rude! However, she is so good at updating her's all the time that I felt obligated to do the same!! So here it goes...if I can remember it all!

Christmas was wonderful, the kids spent Christmas Eve with us and then they are off to their homes to wake up to play Santa! Then off they go to their in-laws to be fed some more. This year Micheal insisted we do a craft, last year we did gingerbread houses, so I figured we would do wreaths. However, I might note that Michael had to work so he didn't even show up till 3:00. But Michaela and Danielle made beautiful wreaths for their homes and Taos watched me make his!!! Typical boy! Brad, Taos, JJ and I had a road trip to Yuma, Arizona to see Brad's parents and on the way spent a night in Jackpot, two nights in Vegas and two nights in Yuma over New Years.

Speaking of New Years...it is over rated when you get past 40!! However,we had a wonderful dinner with Mam and Papa before heading back to the hotel where Taos and JJ were so intent on staying up and partying like wild 11 year olds! Both of them fell asleep at 10:15! So much for the party!!

Life is awesome in the Tinker family! Taos is playing 5th grade hoops and still hates homework. Michaela is having Brody get Tinley's room all ready when she arrives in June. Broxton is two and babels up a storm, and is the best helper to his momma, and the best boy to his daddy. Michael and Danielle just started school again so they can grow up to make more money in the medical field, and Jace is the cutest thing ever, sitting up and all he does is smile! Grandkids are the BEST!! Brad and I still work to pay the bills and go on awesome vacations, but the best part of our lives is our family.

We couldn't be more blessed than to have three beautiful children,two awesome and most wonderful son & daughter in-laws, and three wonderful and beautiful grandchildren! We look forward to a wonderful 2011!!

FAMILY PICTURE DAY!

The end of October marks the Tinker family "All Because of Danielle" pumpkin carving and family picture day! We had so much fun even though the weather was cool and rainy! Grams and Mam & Papa all came over for Brad's homemade chili in bread bowls, Cream of Potato Soup and all the fixins! Taos made treat bags and popped popcorn for his skeleton hand bags. We played with Jace and Broxton and had a great evening of fun family! We look forward to the upcoming holiday season and all the great memories we will share.

FAMILY.....WHAT I LOVE THE MOST

GRANDKIDS.... Broxton Dean will turn 2 in December. Our little Jace Michael will turn 1 in May, and we will be welcoming another baby in June! Our little family is growing quite quickly and we are all very excited! Being a grandparent is a WONDERFUL thing! Brad and I are so excited for our children and how beautiful their little families are. Broxton is busy getting ready to say something amazing and little Jace is the cutest thing you have ever seen. HEALTHY, STRONG, and BEAUTIFUL are the blessings we have and we couldn't ask for anything more!

WEEKEND AT THE HOFF CABIN!

What a way to end the summer!! A weekend at the Hoff cabin brings back a lot of wonderful memories for our little family. Brad, Taos, Jeremiah, Michaela, Brody, Broxton and myself went and spent a wonderful weekend with Trey and Lorie and it was AWESOME! There is something special about Warm Lake and it was so fun to spend time alone with Trey and Lorie. Trey made us all laugh when he took Taos and his buddy Jeremiah on the tubes with the motor boat! Uncle Trey is the best!! With a motor boat, a beach and a water trampoline.....these boys were never bored! Brody wasn't getting enough attention, so he damaged his leg up pretty good jumping off a dock! Oh Brody! Great food, great company and great memories. THANK YOU AUNT LORIE and UNCLE TREY for making our family memories at the cabin so wonderful!

CAMPING......WE LOVE THE MOUNTAINS!!

Well it's not summer without a quick trip to the mountains for some CAMPING!! Michaela, Brody, Broxton, Taos and I headed for the hills to go camping. It's football season so Brad is not there to share in the excitement. Mikey and Danielle are back to work and so they missed out! (Not to worry they went the week prior for more than an over niter!) So Pine Flats up by Lowman was the destination and Taos and I drove Great Grandpa Tinker's camper up for the first time! What a blast....that thin hauls and I love it! Here are some of the memories we created and Michaela recorded because I forgot the camera!! We hiked down a trail to the hot springs that were right off the river...Broxton was into throwing rocks and he could have stayed down by the river for hours on end.
Games...got to have the board and card games (and by the way Brody cheats at Kings Corners) Yatzee is my game.....always won up at college and I think I won all but one of the 5 games against Brody!! It was awesome sleeping in a camper, when your from a military family it's tents or nothing at all......so bring on the campers!!! I helped Brody pitch the tent and that was all I had to do! NICE!! Michaela loves to camp and I sure am glad that is something my family looks forward to doing.
We are headed for Aunt Lori and Uncle Trey's cabin at Warm Lake and this time both Michaela and I will take lots of pictures of our weekend with the Hoff's! Mikey .....we will do a camping weekend with you hopefully soon.

JULY...Fireworks and Birthdays!

I love the 4th of July. Being a military brat I have learned the importance and gained the respect of our freedom and our flag. I miss you dad!

Well, Michaela and Michael both are our July birthday's - Michaela turned 24 and Michael turned 23. WOW.....where did time go? I remember when they were little and we would always have a combined birthday party (which was smart since they were 1 year and 10 days apart) and next year that is what I have planned.

We spent the 4th watching fireworks, swimming, scooter rides and eating (which of course was the most important). Danielle had a BBQ at their home with family and friends on Michael's b-day and so everyone is celebrated and a year older.

It is so fun to watch their little families grow and celebrate fun times together!

HAPPY JULY EVERYONE!!