She's not from around here...

Here's a little chuckle for ya....

At the end of the Jackson trip, we walked back to our car and Michaela stopped in front of the car above and said "Look! An electric car". Now I peered over the roof of ours and said "that thing's too old to be electric!" and she insisted I come around to her side - I already knew what she was seeing. An engine block heater's plug (click on photo to enlarge). And I was right! I was laughing so hard before gaining composure to explain what that device was for.

Jackson Hole: part II

Here are a few last photos taken on our trip to Jackson. Wanted to display just how touristy we were being!

One of the highlights was finding the "Yippee-i-o Candy Co.". This place is a fabulous sugar mecca complete with homemade fudge and an ice cream counter! The kids treat for the day was purchasing a pound of candy.. each! They're already asking if they can return on our next drive up.

A day in Jackson Hole

A couple weekends ago I decided we needed a trip out of the valley and we headed an hour north to Jackson. Jackson has changed A LOT in the 20+ years since my last visit. What a yuppy tourist trap this is! Don't get me wrong, it's still known for its great skiing and uphill sled runs (I'm talking snowmobiles here). But for a town of 8.5 thousand to have and support such stores at Eddie Bauer, Hagen Daaz and Coldwater Creek (to name a few) is insane. You literally have to be a millionaire to live there. Though many say the billionaires are forcing the millionaires farther down the valley. Actually, we have many that live in our area and make the hour commute to Jackson to work. We even have a parking area with a commuter bus pick-up/drop-off!

So we enjoyed the afternoon poking around and doing 'touristy' things.

Elk Antler Arches revisited

Ok, obviously, being in WY, these are a pretty common decor theme. These images are from the Town Square in Jackson Hole. They were in the midst of decorating them for the holidays and getting lights strung throughout the square. We'll trek back up to see them lit soon!

Learning the Alter Server ropes!

Rebecca was thrilled when on our first Sunday Mass in Afton the Deacon announced that anyone who was interested in being an Alter Server should talk to him after Mass.

She's been wanting to do this since I starting taking them to church, so how could I not say yes? Back in MN students had to be in 5th grade before they started training. Here, as long as you've received Eucharist, you can sign up! Perks of a small town where the Catholic population in the winter is maybe, 100?

She's been doing an excellent job and has picked up on it all very quickly in the 3 times she's done it.

Views from our 'hood

I gotta tell ya, it just plain feels good to be back in the Mountains! The air is better up here, it's a slower pace and I actually look forward to getting up because when I open the blinds, there's those gorgeous mountains! The week he was here, I often found Todd paused by the windows gazing out. I think the Flatlander will adjust nicely!

We've been blessed with delayed snow fall. Usually by now they have a foot or two. But it's been sunny and in the 40's and 50's. May get the occasional dustings, but it's been unseasonably fantastic thus far. Last year they logged over 700 inches of snow..yeah. 60 odd feet!!! Can ya just wait for those photos?

That is an ACTUAL photo of our community's post office! Looks straight out of Bonanza doesn't it?

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

Popular here is the idea of trunk-or-treating. Where everyone parks in parking lot and kids get their goods going stall to stall getting candy. Of course this is great because the houses are VERY spread out here, plus, the kids don't get tired and whiney blocks from home.

Our local LDS church held one of these and we were invited to take part by several neighbors. They served chili and hot cocoa. And some people really got into it by decorating their cars! This was fantastic since we'd only arrived in town days before Halloween. And the weather was the most perfect I remember any Halloween ever being. The kids didn't even need jackets!

Actually, I will say. The WHOLE area really gets into Halloween here! It's fantastic! Kids got to have costume parades at school, even the HSers dressed up! All over town employees of businesses were in costume and during the afternoon the Afton Elementary kids get to trick or treat down the main drag (pictured above) and the business people hand out candies. The cops help direct traffic to keep the several hundred kids safe. It was great!

Sporting their stuffs

These photos were taken on Afton's main drag the last week of October. All the kids posed under the "World's Largest Elk Antler Arch" which spans Hwy 89/main street. Afton is about 16 miles south of where we rent our house in Bedford. It's a cute little town full of touristy items. Being an hour south of Jackson Hole, this is to be expected.

There isn't much here in the valley. Conveniences yes, but for cheaper and better shopping most travel an hour and a half to Idaho Falls. I have not yet done this. Been to Jackson a couple short trips and that's about an hour. The valley is made up of 12 small communities, Afton being the largest with 1800 people.

In that spot again...

Here I find myself behind on my postings again. So it's time for catch up. I know the last month has been busy with the move, unpacking, getting everyone settled, doing my school work and starting a new job. But this has been on my mind constantly and it's time!! I really do not just leave you guys stranded!

The move went pretty smoothly all in all. Though all of our stuff did not fit in the truck! We crammed what we could into the moving truck and our car and headed out. It was a long 2 days.

When we arrived several of our neighbors popped over and helped us unload our truck! And they check on us regularly to make sure all is well. I only unpacked what is 'necessary' and there is quite a bit stored in the basement. And Todd's bringing more this Tuesday. He went back to MN 3 weeks ago to help with some stuff at work and of course, to pack the rest of what didn't come the first time. We are missing him terribly and the next 2 days couldn't go quick enough!

The kids are settling in slowly. They like Star Valley, but of course, because we are not LDS, some interactions have been a little slow. Having grown up in this part of the country, I talked to the kids about this before the move. I don't think they really anticipated the severity of it at times. Unlike Marshall, where Catholics are the majority, we are now a huge minority. And unfortunately, there are some who treat non-members of the Mormon community quite differently than they would their own. Not very Christian in my opinion, but it is what it is, and it's their beliefs so I respect that. Now we have met several Mormon families that have been very welcoming and warm. So I don't want it to sound all gloom and doom! Our neighbors the Johnsons have been a God-send for sure!

Rebecca had her first WY sleep-over the other night at her friend Allison's around the corner. She had a great time! All the kids, even Michaela, want to join 4-H. So I gotta check into that. The kids all got rave reviews at Parent-Teacher conferences.

So let's get on to some other posts and get caught up..

First snow

I've met a resident of Star Valley, where we are moving, through blogspot. I jacked this photo from her site. I had heard they were expecting snow yesterday, so much to my surprise this morning, they weren't just expecting, they GOT IT! I sat here laughing nervously and repeatedly saying "oh my God!".

As memory serves from having grown up in the Rockies, the earlier the snows, the harder the winter. This should be a grand Wyoming Welcome!! I need to call my Dad in Montana and see how he faired.

Luckily, they are expecting warmer temps this week so it'll melt. But it's just a small taste of what's to come!

So long Starbucks!

Today is a sad day for a lot of Marshallites...

It's the last day of business for our local Starbucks. I know...it's a coffee house. And we have others, though they close MUCH earlier and will not be suitable for 9pm coffee clutches with friends.. It's sad. The staff is fabulous! We consider them friends and have gotten to know each of them. They were even invited to the wedding! We spent countless hours there laughing and talking with friends and even made new friends. And though it's 'just' coffee, it has an unknown, addictive property. We've joked that it's laced with crack, but just a speculation :)

On the other hand, this will be good practice for our move to rural Wyoming, as I can assure you the closest Starbucks will be at least an hour or so away! It will now be a treat when we 'run to the city'. I am sure that healthwise and moneywise, it's for the best! But there is still a feeling of warmth and coming together that will be missed there.

Wedding Glimpses

Here are few candid shots from the wedding that were taken by Todd's mom. Copy and paste the address below for a slideshow our photographer composed! Enjoy!

http://www.kofoto.net/shows/traci-todd/

Homecoming '08

Unfortunately, since I had to take Becca to the Cities last weekend, I missed helping Michaela get ready for homecoming. :( Thanks to Todd for taking off work early to get her to her hair appt and for carting she and her pal, Brittany, around.

Thanks, too, to Todd's mom for feeding the troops and taking some pics of the girls before they took off. Michaela met her boyfriend, Zach, at the dance, and unfortunately, there are no pics of them together :( My friends and I all carry cameras around as we would a wallet, so I am not sure what's wrong with the young girls LOL

Girls' Weekend!

Last weekend I took Rebecca up to the Cities for her girlfriend, Ally's, bday overniter! They were in the same class and scout troop when we lived in Eagan. Ally's mom and I arranged to surprise Ally and the other party guests by not telling them Becca was attending! The girls were all so excited to see eachother!

Becca had wanted to go to Build a Bear Workshop for her birthday. So the next day, as a belated gift, we took her friends Ally and Evelyn to the Mall of America and made stuffed critters, enjoyed Starbuck's and hung out! It was a special day as Rebecca probably won't see these friends again until sometime next summer. They were great!

Harvestfest '08

Ok...time to play catch-up here! Been rather busy with various papers for school and helping kids with a few big projects they had. No, I haven't started packing yet. In fact, I am procrasinating again by saying "lemme update the blog first!". I've been working on Thursdays in Madison, SD, for Dr. Green. The office, staff and patients are great and it's been a great warm-up for my new position in WY. The 90 minute drive each way isn't so cool though and I am glad I won't be doing that come winter.

Here are a few photos from Holy Redeemer's Harvestfest. It's an annual event at our church with games, prizes, raffles, contests and yes..a beer garden and big screen TV playing the Vikings game too! LOL Michaela found her boyfriend, Zach, and we saw lots of friends and family as well. It was a lovely fall afternoon and we had a great time!

This is my brain on chaos

I am certain that if there were a viewing window to my thoughts they'd be referenced by this photo, or something similar.

Our house went on the market today. I need to start sorting and packing (and everything else that goes along with that). I have heaps of school work. Plus my regularly scheduled life of kids(homework, activities), home and such. SIGH...

The kids are sad-turning-excited, but understanding. Friends, about the same. One ex is irate and telling me what I am doing is wrong and unfair to the child. Somehow, I don't think providing for my family is either of those. But I guess the world looks different when you wear the financial glasses of a retired, Microsoft-made, multi-millionaire. Common sense and reason are not part of the address on Easy Street. I have to work for a living and I need to live where there is work. Plain logic.

Our decision was, by no means, a simple one. But it is a necessary one.

Thanks to all of you that have offered support in packing, loading and even driving with us on our trip to WY. I'm sure I'll be cashing in offers and favors over the next weeks!

Hey! The candles are baaaaaaaaaack!

Ah, yes, here we are again at another birthday. Number 38, to be exact! The years they go by faster and faster..

38 Things about Traci

1. I have 3 tattoos
2. I'd like one more
3. I love that I am nearly 40 and still go to college
4. I consider myself to be pretty fearless
5. My favorite color is green
6. My favorite number 13
7. I have 3 kids
8. I've been married 3 times
9. I love chocolate
10. I have a fear of weed eaters
11. I'm a rollercoaster fanatic
12. I miss my Mom every day
13. I LOVE shoes
14. Scrabble is my drug
15. I'm thankful Kim is nearly done with treatment, she's my best Scrabble buddy
16. I'm glad my kids are outgoing
17. I have been to every state but Hawaii and Alaska
18. I am friends with my exhusbands and I still like them
19. I miss having a mini-van
20. I border on obsessive compulsive
21. I like to laugh
22. I don't like to waste time on sleep
23. I drive fast
24. I love riding on the Motorcycle with Todd
25. Traveling is a passion
26. Landscaping is a hobby
27. I'm not overly fond of snow
28. I haven't really watched TV in 3 years
29. I like to snuggle
30. I enjoy helping people
31. I think scraping teeth is FUN!
32. Salmon flies are disgusting
33. I wish I had more time for recreational reading
34. I'd like to improve my Trap scores
35. I'd give my left arm if I could meet Gary Allan
36. I don't floss EVERY day (shhhhh!)
37. I drink too much Diet Pepsi
38. Bananas are my favorite fruit

New chapter, new look, new blog

Welcome! I'm glad you found our new webhome!! After much thought, I decided it was time to retire my first blog and begin anew. This is a reflection of our new family structure and our upcoming move to Wyoming.

That was a lot of information. Your minds are spinning. Stick with me here.

First off, the blog's name: Experience SaintHoggMann. Funny... the kids came up with SaintHoggMann one afternoon when we were talking about our expanded family dynamics. It is a representation of us all: Todd & Traci St. Aubin, Rebecca & Alex Hogg and Michaela Mann.

After seeing one of my former HS member's blog, I decided mine was just too boring and I needed to hit the next level! She's been a great inspiration and tutor. Thanks, Rach! (Happy Birthday to us tomorrow!)

WYOMING...or maybe WHY-OMING to some of you. After months and months of fruitless searching for a dental hygiene position here in the central region, which is FLOODED with hygienists, the decision has come to move to the jobs. The financial strain of having one income is becoming more of a front-burner concern and I didn't just drop 2 very stressful years and $30K on hygiene school for nothing. Plus the added $ I am spending completing my bachelor of hygiene online. I actually looked at this job for months on indeed (one very cool employment website). Decided to apply, interviewed and was made an amazingly impossible offer to refuse. I will start at what most hygienists here take 2 or 3 years to reach. Plus, I will be just 3 hours south of where I grew up and of course, my father and nephew. In the end, we hoped something would crop up near Marshall, or at least in MN, but it hasn't. So after much discussion - I've accepted the offer and now the rush is on to get moved before the snow flies. We're down to "we gotta do what we gotta do". And for now, this is the best decision.

We realize that this will make a great many people unhappy and upset. Others will be elated. We love you all, but we have to look out for our family first and foremost. After the shock settles, we know you'll understand.

So follow along with us on these new adventures. In the end, they say, it's the journey that matters.