Great Race

Last year a tradition was started to raise money for the University of Montana Western. It is called the Great Race. People challenge each other and you bet on the race and have a chance to win $50 if your chosen person wins. This year there were three races and one Lawn Mower race. It is a good time with great food and lots of people getting together to raise money.

Head Men's basket ball coach raced one of his players Jaron Brown. It was a good race in which Jaron won in the end. Coach Keller wore a great outfit and had a great cheering section.
You know you are in Montana when a Friday night is spent watching supped up lawn mowers race around a track that was ploughed out of snow. It was absolutely hilarious and a little red neck, but everyone had a great time.

Happy Easter

My mom Linda and my aunt Bonnie dish up the wonderful food that everyone brought. I cooked the ham and everyone brought salads and dessert and of course wine. It was a wonderful and relaxing Easter.
Phil and I hosted the dinner at our house. It was really fun and as you can see we were really excited. After dinner we drove out to my aunt Bonnie's new house. It is not quite finished yet but is getting close and it is beautiful. Grandpa and Grandma pose for a picture in the new house.

Meine Branding

This last Saturday my family branded their calves. Phil helps out in the corrals as I help do the food. It is really fun and lots of people come out and help.
After all the work is done we finally get to eat, sit and relax. We both look forward to branding each year, it is time well spent with my family.

Congratulations!

My dad Rich, won the Distinguished Service award this year! He didn't even know he was nominated and it was hard to keep him at the banquet, but I think it was worth it.

Todd Maki won the Outstanding Young Man of the year award.

Sex in the City

Our friend Amberly turned 30 this year. We all celebrated with a Sex in the City themed party at the Lion's Den. All the girls dressed up, it was really fun!
Carly dressed up as Carrie Bradshaw and I well, went as myself. I must be boring. Of course we had to enjoy some Cosmos!

I just had to take a picture of the cake. Isn't it one of the coolest things you have ever seen? It was so fun and unusual.

Weekend in Big Sky

Valentine's day weekend we took a drive over to Big Sky. We met Phil's family over there and stayed in a beautiful home. This home was incredible, nothing like we have ever stayed in before. Phil's brother, Andy, has a client who owns this home and he let us enjoy it for the weekend. Hudson, Nacho, Phil, Andy and Mitch had a blast up in Big Sky. We all relaxed!

Charlie, Brooke and Ashley also had a good time in all the snow.

On our drive up to the mountain we saw some Big Horn sheep grazing on the hillside. They were just the females, we saw, no Rams. They were still really cool and something we don't get to see every day.

This picture of Fan mountain is just beautiful. This was the view from out side the house we were staying at. Not bad huh? We can't wait to go back and hopefully we will get to soon.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve we spent in Ennis with Phil's mom. We then get up early and go to Ashley's parents' house for Christmas day.
Mac and our Christmas tree. He sits long enough for Ashley to get a picture.

Mac and Phil pose with their Christmas gifts. Phil and I always do "our" Christmas just us two. This year we ordered pizza and stayed in to open gifts.

Tree Looking Party 2008. The Meine family has Tree Looking Party each year. We go to people's home and have snacks and drinks and "look" at their trees. It is a great family tradition and everyone always has a great time.

Hanging Lights

The Sunday after Thanksgiving was so nice and warm, Phil thought it would be the perfect day to hang the outside lights. We hung a lot of lights. I wish everyone could see them. They look great. Our subdivision has really done a great job with lights as well.
Mac got to spend the day outside watching us hang the lights. He was a little confused on what we were doing. He liked spending the day out in the nice weather.

Madison Valley

On Thanksgiving day, Phil took me for a drive up in the mountains by McAllister. It was a beautiful drive. The views from up there are absolutely amazing. We couldn't believe there was not any snow. Usually by this time of year the road is a little dangerous because of all the snow. I had never been up there and it was the perfect beginning to wonderful filled day.

Mexico Vacation

Barb and Robert organized this wonderful occasion by getting married. We were all happy they chose somewhere warm to get married. The wedding was beautiful and it was great to see all of Phil's friends from college and his childhood.

Albee, Andy, me and Phil took a picture by the ocean. We had a blast drinking, eating wonderful food and just being in the warm, sunny weather.

The girls pose for a picture in the pool.

Robert, Phil and Andy enjoy the first night at the Resort. We stayed at Aventura Palace Resort. It was so much fun!

There was actually a bar at the resort that had beds as sitting places. I had never seen anything like it. It was a topic of conversation and it got lots of laughs out of everyone on the trip.

Andy, Albee, me and Phil took the ferry over to the island of Cozumel. We rented an old Volkswagen convertible bug. It was like a tin can! We drove along the beaches and stopped at some fun little "spring break" spots. The water and the beaches were so pretty. I didn't want to leave.

After our relaxing day in Cozumel we hit down town Playa del Carmen for some night life. This bar was right on the beach and it had swings as bar stools. The night life was very fun. Phil and I had so much fun we can't wait to go back.

Happy Halloween

The Lion's Den had a Halloween Party and a Costume contest. Phil and I did not dress up cause neither of us are big fans of the holiday, but it was fun to go and see all the costumes.

My gradparents, Bob & Dotie and my aunt and uncle Casey and Bonnie dressed up as people from the Wild West.

Dana and Kami dressed up as pirate ship maidens. All the den workers were dressed up as pirates, it was really cool and they all looked really good.

My dad was a great pirate. He grew a beard for 3 days just for the occasion. He even had a parrot on his shoulder, thank goodness it was not real!

Pumkin Carving

For something fun to do. Phil, me, Kasey and Valory all went to Kasey's house and caved pumpkins. We all hadn't done that for a long time.

We all cheated and used pattern's out of a book. Well, all except for Kasey who is an answer artist and he drew a Bulldog head that was awesome. Valory and Kasey had fun picking out a pattern for Valory to do.

Here they are, the finished product. Phil did the spider web, I did the scary tree, Kasey did the Bulldog head and Val did the cat, pumpkin and spider. They looked really cool in the dark with their candles inside of them.

After we fished them we didn't know what to do with them. None of us were going to be home for trick-or-treaters so we decided to deliver them to John and Joann at the radio station. The next morning they talked about them on their show. They loved them and they had no idea who put them on their door steps until Kasey could not keep the secret any longer.

Planting Day

Ashley's parents came over and helped plant two new trees.
Phil and Rich did most of the work. Linda and Ashley took pictures and told them what to do!!
Mac was really excited to finally have shade in the yard. He can't wait for it to get bigger so he has more shade.
Everyone got in on the action for the second tree. Mac was just enjoying a nice belly rub from "grandma"!
Even though it was not a very warm day, the trees got planted and both look great in the back yard. Mac was having nothing to do with the family picture.

Phil in Seattle

Phil goes to school in Seattle to Pacific Coast Banking School. He is not always studying, he gets to have fun like going to baseball games and golfing.

At the Mariner's game. This is Phil's favorite baseball team, so he even got to go to two games this year, not just one. Phil always has a great time.
Phil, Jared, & Kelsey take time from playing to take a photo on one of the greens. They get one day off in their time at school and both years they have all gone golfing.
The view from the first tee at Newcastle Golf Course. The wonderful Seattle skyline is in the background.

Golfing at Old Works

Phil, Ashley and Ashley's parents went golfing over at Old Works in Anaconda. Old Works is a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. It is very fun, but difficult in some points. Phil shows nice form teeing off on the 9th hole.
Ashley tees off on the 9th hole. She almost beat Phil!!