A Short Post From the Big City

We are having a great time here in Washington, D.C. We are seeing the sights and walking, walking, walking. It will be a trip to remember!!

This is the National Law Enforcement Memorial. It is so neat and emotional.

There are "quotes" on the four entrances to this memorial. This one is my favorite!

Here is the book of names at the memorial to find out where their name is located. Here is Briese's name. It was emotional for us!
Dave, you are missed..... You can etch off the name of each fallen officer.

At the Smithsonian- The National Museum of American History- there is Sarge! the best Jeep ever!! Just ask Papa Mahoney- or Bradley!

Here we are in front of the Washington Monument! It is really big!

This is one of my favorite Memorials. This is the FDR memorial. If you go behind this statue of him, you can see he is actually in his wheelchair- and his cape is covering it! So neat!

The FDR Memorial is an "interactive" memorial. You can go up and touch and climb over it! It was Roosevelt's wish that this be so- so the children could play on it! How touching!

We walked to the Jefferson Monument. Everything here is "massive"- This city runs the world!

The Korean War Memorial is my FAVORITE! See the soldiers in the reflecting wall? It symbolizes the the ghosts of the fallen soldiers. So moving.

What?? What is the Terminator doing here? He was with his Secret Service detail on the steps of the Lincoln Monument.

Here we are in the Lincoln Memorial.

See how big it is? Look at the people on the steps and how small they look?

The World War II Memorial is the newest memorial in DC. This is VERY emotional.

As is this memorial- The Vietnam Wall. The name of every single soldier killed or MIA is on here.

There are 50 flags surrounding the Washington Monument- one for each state.

Ben at the back of the White House

Just one Cop talkin to another... This is the Secret Service Patrol Division at the front of the White House

This is the Front of the White House.

Auntie and Uncle's Brag Post - Lizzy

They don't get much sweeter or precious than this!

Birthdays, Babies, Lung Infections, and Vacation

Well, I seem to have stashed my camera away and I apologize for not taking any pictures. I stole some from Papa M, but my jump drive seems to have eluded me, too! So, I will just tell you what has been going on. Well, everyone including their dog (seriously) has had a birthday in the last few weeks. We have had birthday's galore! My brother, sister-in-law, and mom- Ben's mom, niece, and brother-in-law. Ben's nephew's is this Wednesday, and mine is next Saturday. I will be 25. It doesnt really seem old to me, but not really young either. So- I think I have gained five pounds just from birthday cake. Great times with the family! Lots of memories made.

Babies... Well, just a baby. THE baby. Lizzy. Isn't she cute in her duck towel? I got to watch her last week for a few hours. We are buds. She is so sweet and is shaping up to be a mama's girl. She had her 2 month appointment yesterday and was almost 13 pounds. She is definitely a hit and steals the show.

Ben came down with the "crud" that I had in December. Both my Mom and Dad have had it, but Ben got it bad. Just returned from the doctor today and he has a lung infection in his left lung. Happy Valentine's Day to him! He is on a bunch of meds and steroids and because he has asthma, it can get scary. But don't worry, I have been taking great care of him!

Yesterday I made about 25-30 Stampin Up cards that turned out pretty well. I, of course made a huge mess and spent more time cleaning up than making them. It was fun! I also went and made Valentine's Day cookies with Amber and kids.

We have our tickets to Washington DC and will be vacationing soon. It will be fun to see the sights and show Ben around who has never been there. We are especially excited to visit the National Law enforcement Memorial.

That's about it for now. I love my job and it is going great! I will be spending a week in Kalispell, MT in May and March and April are already filling up! Ben and Vasko are fighting crime and life is good!

SNoW ShOeINg in Red Lodge

Last Saturday, I went for a Three hour snow shoeing adventure with my dear nurse friends from the ICU where I worked for a few years. They are so much fun! It was a beautiful day and I was exhausted when we were done! Here is Kim, Melanie, and Rebecca

And Cathy, Melissa, Kate, and Julie- and of course the dogs! We had seven people and six dogs! It was so much fun!

Cathy, waiting for me- that was pretty much the story all day!

Lets go!!!!

It was so warm and beautiful!
The next day, I went and bought ski pants! I wore jeans, and the snow shoes kept kicking snow up on my jeans I got so wet! I had to tie this around my waist to keep my bottom and legs dry!

Lizzy's First Christmas!

Lizzy was 11 days old in this picture! She looks so big! Doesn't she look like she is 1 month! Lizzy and auntie Erin!

Nana and Auntie Erin with Lizzy!

She is sooo sweet!

Looks how Gracie has grown! She is so big and over 100 pounds!!

A busy day.....and lots of family....

Complete Chaos............... Bradley relaxing ....Hailey and her sock monkey

Kim, Jason, and Comet taking a nap.....

Happy Holidays!

Getting Snowed In

The week before Christmas, we were snowed in! I couldn't help but think of the Southern Wyoming Friends who are are always getting snowed in. Now I know what you felt like, but we were only snowed in for part of the day and all night before the county came and plowed us out! This is what one side of the road looked like after being plowed.

The drifts were about 6+ feet high on each side. We didn't make it to meeting this morning because the county didn't come out until about 11 because it was a Sunday!

Bradley..........

Santa.... there is no need to check your list twice..... I know a naughty boy when I see one..... what do you think?

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Weather

A few weeks ago, we made the trek over to Butte and Fairmont Hot Springs for our annual Holiday Get-together. But this year we went with heavy hearts, as Grandpa Mahoney peacefully passed away the Tuesday before. Thankfully, Ben was with him at the time of his passing, as was Ben's father and sister and aunt and grandma. So, we spent a lot of time with different parts of the family over the course of a week or so. We were so glad to be home and have things return to normal. I also missed the birth of my first niece on my side of the family.... but all is well in the Big Sky Country and we will have snow for the Holidays... but we have been having some mean and nasty weather...... Grammy and AdrianGreat Grampa and Gramma Wulf......Grammy and Papa MAnd their six grandkids.

But some are naughty and won't smile or sit still for the cameras.....:)

But I think they just like to do what Uncle Ben does..... as we already know, at 27, is still one of the kids.....

Or maybe it is a brother thing......

Ben with Andy and Brittany

Ben and the kids......

Does anyone else see a pattern???? ;) Uncle Ben is their favorite!!!!!

Just ask Adrian.......

Hailey wore this hat all weekend.... she may have slept in it..... we don't know....;)
In Loving Memory of Grandpa Mahoney....
Grandpa Mahoney never went anywhere without his suspenders. He had lots of them and Ben says he never saw him without them on. So, in honor of Grandpa Mahoney, all the boys in Ben's family wore them under their suits to his funeral. It was so neat. Here is Ryan and Papa and Ben

And Papa and Ben looking sharp in their "Flames" and "Shamrocks"

What a bunch of good looking guys.... Especially the one in the red tie and green suspenders :)