Bone Marrow Donor.

Part of Liam's leukemia treatment will be a bone marrow transplant.   If you are interested in being a donor and want to be tested a simple swab of the cheek or blood sample can tell if you are a match.  The places that I have listed below are free.  There may be another lab in your area that provides this service, but it can be very expensive.

If you live in Montana, his doctor is going through United Blood Service.  You can set up an appointment there.

If you live in Utah or another area you can join the national registry at Be the Match.

My understanding is that family members are the most likely candidate for a match... but, anyone could be a match.  I am medically ineligible because of my diabetes.  So, there are a few guidelines you must know.

Liam-we are here to help you buddy! Keep up the good work.  Love ya!    

Pray for Liam!!!

A couple of weeks ago my cousin Liam (pictured above in the yellow/white plaid shirt, in the arms of his good buddies and cousins Calvin and Kyle) was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  He has just finished his first round of chemo treatments and is doing well.

Liam, like the picture above, you have the support, love and prayers from all of your family and friends.  Keep fighting and I know you will beat this thing.  We love you!

You can track Liam's story at caringbridge.org.  (You have to go to visit and type in liammcwilliams.)  An account has been set up to help Liam with his care at the Stockman Bank in Miles City, MT.  There address  is 700 Main St. Miles City, MT 59301.

Ski day again!

For the 5th weekend in a row I got to go skiing again!  I am not bragging....I am merely sharing with you something that I am learning to love all over again!  I used to ski every weekend as a kid, but had gotten away from it as an adult.  Ya know...life gets in the way sometimes.  So far this year I have had plenty of opportunity to go and am LOVING it!

Rich and I got away to Solitude for a little tradition...ski on super bowl Sunday.  Nobody goes (unless it dumps).  There wasn't any new snow today, but it was still great.

Rich started out the day with a little incident...he bent his pole getting on the lift.  Thank goodness we were able to fix it at the top and not let it ruin our day.  

I decided to push myself a little(skiing childless) and we went to the top for some expert skiing.  The powder was great and we do well for a couple of amatures!

As always....the views are amazing!  Thanks for a great day Rich!

Grace's book

I am so proud of Grace.  She wrote her first book in school last week.  She had to write a book, illustrate it herself and read it to her friends.  For  being in kindergarten, I was very impressed.  

The story she wrote was based on the short film at the beginning of the movie "Up".  Grace took this story and came up with her own version.  It is great!!!

 The clouds make babies and the birds deliver the babies.  There is one cloud that makes the mean kind of babies like eels and sharks.  The bird has a hard time delivering these vicious creatures, but in the book the cloud and the bird learn how to get along.  

  Who knows...she may grow to be an author, and artist or maybe neither!  But...I am so proud of her!

Ryann's milestones

All the toys we have around here and this is one of my kids favorite things to play with.  If I don't hide the laundry basket (or what they like to call the"the bus"), one or both of my kids is sitting in it or giving each other rides up and down the hallway.  I have about 10 pictures of Ryann on different occasions watching T.V.  in the laundry basket!

Ryann seems to be growing up by leaps and bounds these days.  This last week we bought her a big girl bed and got rid of the crib.  She started crawling out and I was afraid she might break her neck.  She loves it!  And with a tear, I put away the crib.

Party time!

I have almost recovered from having company.  Our friends from New York left last Sunday night.  I think I have finally recovered from the skiing and the parties.

Last Friday Erica hosted a dinner party.  Derek and I brought carne esada for taco's and Erica provided all the sides.  Good food and great company!

 That is our lovely Erica with Derek ( in his new favorite shirt!).  She is the hostess with the mostest....always fun.  Look at the liquor collection in the back!

Derek and Mark got to talk skiing/snowboarding!  We were gearing up for our Powder Mountain Day on Saturday!  It was the perfect weekend with all our new snow.   

Jolie and Randy stopped by to have a beer too.  Derek and Randy are always trouble...I hear we are going deep sea fishing in Hawaii sometime soon....get a little beer in 'em and who knows what they will come up with!

Noelle, Erica and Jessica provided the party tunes while we all had a great time eating and hanging out!

Dale, Karen, Ethan and Jessica!

 Jen had a little too much fun and found herself a cozy spot on the couch at the end of the night.  She was gearing up for her 26th birthday celebration on Saturday.

We were nice.  Didn't draw any permanent mustaches on her face or anything while she took a "rest"  from her beverage.

Erica, Noelle and I  saying goodnight.  I love ya girls!  Thanks for the fun party.  Did I mention that Noelle's guacamole was the bomb!  Salsa too.  The girl can whip up some mean mexican!  Thank you!

Mark and Ethan enjoyed hanging out with their Utah friends so much we decided to do it again on Saturday after skiing.  (Not too sure why Mark is flashing us, but we'll blame it on the beer!)

We tried out a new place!  

A Bar Named Sue!  Totally fun.  Going back again soon. Check out all the cute pics from Saturday night on Erica's blog.  Fun Fun!!!!

Skiing at Powder Mountain

Saturday we took Mark and Ethan (visiting from New York, in case you haven't been following the blog) to ski at Powder Mountain.  I had never been there before, but Derek had been and new exactly where to take them!  Very fun place!!!  Grace and I stuck to the easier runs.  Derek, Mark and Ethan made their way to the top!  They took the powder cat.

Although I didn't get to share the experience at the top, I think they would agree the views are amazing!

They sort of look like spacemen walking on the moon...nope, just UTAH.   But, I think they really enjoyed the day. 

Grace and I had a great day on the lower part of the hill.  I even got her out into a little powder.  She is a great skier!  I didn't get any pics because Derek had the camera at the top of the mountain:(