Where We Work

This is a "until I can get more pictures" post. I have not downloaded the pics on my mom's camera for awhile ( she has a great camera) so I want to show everyone where Ben and I work. We both work for Carbon County, Montana, and the county seat is Red Lodge. It is about 36 miles from our house. Ben has a take home patrol truck, so he goes on/off shift from home. I, however, must commute. I do car pool, and that is fun. Although Ben patrols all of our large county, his office is in Red Lodge at the Sheriff's Department, and my office is a block away. Here is what Red Lodge looks like. It is a beautiful resort town that is nestled at the base of the Beartooth Mountains. In the summer, it is the gateway to the Beartooth Highway/Pass going to Yellowstone National Park. In the Winter, it' home to tons of skiers as it is a very popular ski area. Most of the residents in Red Lodge either work for the county or work in the shops/restaurants. Probably half of the homes here are summer/vacation homes. This is a view of Main StreetThis is a view of the Ski Resort that over looks the town

Traveling South out of town towards the Beartooth Pass. ( See Labor Day post for more Beartooth Pass Pictures)

What I've been doing lately

Because Ben has switched back to working nights, my evenings have been filled with High School Volleyball. My sister is 17, a junior, and an awesome volleyball player. It's fun to to go the games and support her. She is in the bottom picture, third player from the right in the furthest row. (towards the bleachers)

Freedom Isn't Free- We remember 9/11

For those of you who do not know what a black band over a police officer's or firefighter's badge is, it is called a mourning band. It signifies a memorial to a fallen brother or sister. Today is the sixth anniversary of 9/11. My husband is working for the U.S. Marshall's today ( he is a part time Marshall), so I couldn't get a picture of his uniform badge and mourning band, so I found this one on the internet. It's days like today when I remember 9/11 that I am so proud of my husband and what he does.

For all of the fallen officers of the NYPD, we salute you.

Labor Day Weekend!

This weekend was a lot of fun! It was the first time Ben and I had a few days off together with both his Mom and Dad, so we went for a short little one day trip to Yellowstone National Park via Red Lodge and The Beartooth Pass. Here are some great pics of our day! This is the start of the pass looking out in the direction of Red Lodge

This is at Vista Point were you can look down a majority of the pass in both directions. This is Ben's dad Cliff and mom Janet.

We were matching and didn't even plan it!

The other direction of the Beartooth Pass- You can see the highway below it!

On top of the Beartooth Pass.

At the Mud Pots in Yellowstone

The mud pots and thermals

A little too close for comfort!

HOME SWEET HOME

TA-DA!!! All Done!!! One year and several back aches later!

This is the outside. I will briefly go through what we did to everything. All of my pictures of the "before" are just that: pictures, and they aren't digital, so until I can get to a scanner, just use your imagination.

Outside, we scraped all of the green paint- ( on the left of the house is the well covering, and it's not painted yet, so that was the color of the house- kind of a minty turquoise) The siding, garage doors, and trim were all chipping paint before. We stained the decks and doors this brick red, painted trim, siding, and garage doors. We also hauled in the river rock you see and planted the flower beds.

This is the living room where we restored the hardwood floors, painted the walls a toasted wheat color and the ceiling white, replaced the ceiling fan, and restored all of the original wood trim work.

In the bathroom, we painted the walls and ceiling, and this plastic tile that you see. It is the 1960's plastic tile. It was mint green. Seriously! I just primed it and spray painted it. We also re tiled the floor- (it was sparkly black and pink linoleum) and Replaced the sink/vanity, mirror, and light fixture.

The master bedroom was painted, hardwood floors restored, and updated the ceiling fan. (probably the easiest room to do)

The kitchen saw the most renovation. The walls and ceiling were painted and the new flooring was laid. We installed new light fixtures and we tore up one layer of nasty carpet and two layers of gross linoleum to get to the sub floor. Also, the counter tops were replaced (they were a 1960's pink with silver trim) and all of the appliances were replaced with new ones. They old stove was a 36" double oven that was condemned by the gas company. The new stoves are usually 28", so that is why there is a 6" gap by the stove.

We also remodeled another bedroom and an office, but they were way too messy to take pictures of :) So, I hope you enjoyed our little re-model from old house to new home. Next Summer: A privacy fence and tree trimming, and in a few years, finish the 1,400 square foot basement with two more bedrooms, a bathroom, and one very large living room. I think that one can wait!

Family Fun

First of all, I would just like to Congratulate Chris, Kate, and Fischer on a beautiful and healthy little boy! I can't wait to see him! Kate, you are going to have to ask Diane and Amy what it's like to have two little busy boys running around!!

This weekend, Ben's brother Ryan and his family came over from Dickinson, ND to see everyone before their kids started school. We had a fun day at the mall and dinner at "Grammy and Papa's" house. After dinner, it was four wheel rides, basketball, and yes, scooter races!

Adrian was having a blast with Uncle Ben and Aunt Sara! Quincy kept leaning over the back seat and giving her kisses

How funny is this?

"But Grammy, I wanna go for a ride!!!?"

This is Ben's Mom, Janet: AKA: SUPER GRAMMY!!

This is Miss Hailey, who at Georgetown Lake, learned to ride her bike WITHOUT training wheels!Ben's brother Ryan, and wife Kristy, and Ben's childhood dog, Rollie


All together now! Hailey, Tyler, Ashley, Corey, Bradley, and Adrian
Ben's sister, Sarah (yes, it can get confusing) and husband Mike- ( For Some reason, Corey thought having two aunt "Sara(h)'s" was confusing. So, one day he looked at me and said, "Your name is Bobo." --- okay..... So now there is Aunt Sarah and Aunt Bobo. You can't make this stuff up.

What do you get when you get a 25, 28, and 30 year old racing on scooters? Tons of laughs and fun!

Where oh where has the summer gone???

On Saturday, I took my usually early morning trip into Billings and when I was at the arts and crafts store, I was so pleased to what I found. Autumn and "harvest" decorations! WOO HOO! Fall is by far my favorite season. I love the trees, the weather, harvest season, and of course, my girl time when dear hubby is off killing something to put on my walls. So, I couldn't help myself. I got a new wreath for the front door, some scarecrows (cute cute) and some new candy dishes for inside. But, on the way home, it hit me...... Where did the summer go? I know it's still August, but still? In a few weeks, the corn field behind my house will be chopped, and the leaves will get a little yellow around the tips. Has a summer really came and gone? It seems like yesterday it was the beginning of May, and I was waiting for my flowers to bloom. It's been a fairly productive summer, and this was out first whole summer in our new house, too. This last weekend I finished the front of the house painting the trim, garage doors, and two front doors. It's looking more and more like our home, instead of a run down, out dated, mint green box. Now, the upstairs is all finished, as is 70% of the outside. This week dear hubby is out of town at a federal law enforcement training, so my evenings will be spent finishing the staining on the back deck and the back window trim. I hope to have it all done when he gets home Thursday night. Then, I guess we can just sit back and watch the leaves turn, and be so thankful for all we have; a wonderful home, great friends, and of course, a wonderful walk of life.

Summer Vacation 2007: Georgetown Lake, MT

A moose eating dinner right on the shore about 150 yards from our camp.

My brother-in-law Mike trying to reel in a big one!

Benjamin's "keeper"

Me in front of my "dream house"

The grandkids playing "Hand and Foot" with Gramma Wulf

One of the many mansions on the lake (See above)

A visitor in our camp! A beautiful blond black bear

Gandpa Wulf and Bradley out for an evening stroll!

My nephew Bradley eating some yummy food!

This is my little sister Erin who came with us in front of our tent at the main camp site.

We had so much fun! But it is so good to be home! I have found my new favorite spot! Georgetown Lake! I will post more comments and pictures later! This was Ben and I's "cargo" that we hauled up to the lake.

Family Traditions

I think that one of the neatest things when you get married is carrying on family traditions. You get to teach your husband your family's tradition, and you get to be part of his, too. Then, when you eventually have kids, you can pass them along.

It has always been a family tradition for my husband's family to go to Georgetown Lake, Montana and spend one whole week (yes, 7-9 days) camping. And, I am not talking about cabins or fancy trailers. I am talking about tents, old trailers with no plumbing, outhouses, wash basins, and cooking over a fire. I have never gone, and it's been four years since Ben has been there. So, tomorrow, we are heading off to Georgetown Lake until the 12th of August! I am very excited because I love the outdoors, but I'm not sure how much of a "vacation" so to speak, it will be. There are going to be 10 kids from ages 2-16, and 16 adults. So, not a lot of alone time, or quiet relaxation. But, I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. We are taking up two of our 4-wheelers, and two more we are borrowing from our friends. And, Ben's sister and her husband are taking their boat. So, it should be lots of fun. Let's just hope it's not extremely hot, or raining the whole time either!

Here are a couple of pictures of the Lake that we are going to. It's about 5 hours away, Past Butte and Anaconda, and out towards Phillipsburg. It looks, and for what Ben tells me, is AMAZING!