Sharing the kids drawings

I thought I might add a few pictures of John's to the blog. I get pictures daily of he and I. This is one where he put Joe in it as well.  My hair took over.



This picture is of John and I out in the snow if you didn't realize that. We made a snowman.




This is a picture John made for Ty. They are having a conversation, and John is the taller one.




This is a picture Sammi drew and of course has a lot of detail. You might want to enlarge it and see the detail.


The kids are having tons of fun drawing and keeping busy. Last week the kids had a Christmas concert and the theme was Hawaiian. Sammi knows Jingle Bells in Hawaiian very well and I will post a recording of her singing it soon. At the concert Adam wasn't feeling very well and wasn't very energetic. We were able to capture those moments with the video camera. We are grateful to have that because I cherish the things they do and the sounds they make, make me smile.



Joe, Sammi and Adam

The season for bow hunting elk is now over. Joe has gone out every weekend during the hunt to try and get our family an elk. With not knowing a lot of the country and being our first time here to hunt, it can be very difficult, and anyone that knows elk they are very hard to hunt with the bow. Well, Joe had a 2 wk window to hunt in Dec, and the first time he went up for a few days with a friend of his from wk and stayed in his camper. This time Joe wanted to take the kids up. He only had a few hours to hunt so he thought it would be perfect to take them on a short hunt. The day was very wet and Adam got cold way too soon. They did see lots of fresh sign but no elk. So they hunted for a while and then they decided to play a little. The kids had fun trying to pull the bow back alone, and together. They had dad hit a tree from about 60yds away.They all had such fun and were so glad they took the time out in nature. We have really wanted to instill that in our kids. The love of nature, not being afraid to get dirty, learn how to enjoy being out. Nature will not be a stranger to them. Both Joe and I love hiking and cant wait to take the kids on long hikes for a few days camping. I really am grateful for the love of the outdoors, and am thankful for my parents and friends like the Grewes that took me backpacking.And all the years I spent at girls camp that I loved immensely.  The pictures of the kids and the elk, are a herd of about 80? that they got to see in a field on their way back home.

Fun in the snow

We had a lot of fun going up to the mtns a few weeks ago. There wasn't a lot of snow to be found, but we did find a great spot.

We have had trouble with the new vehicle because the fuel pump was bad, so the adventure to the mtns was in the borrowed minivan that was horrible in the snow. We have our truck back now and love it.

We went to the mtns with friends we have made here and had a blast with lunch and sledding, snow ball fights and ultimately finding them a fresh tree to cut down. I should have had the camera when we found the tree it was beautiful and large. you should always find one that is about your arms wide and not much taller than yourself in the field. We didn't do that and the tree now takes up their living room even with huge trimming that they did when they got it home. Not that we didn't approve of the tree, we helped find and cut it down. The deception of nature.

Thank you for the wonderful trip. 

Not going anywhere for Christmas

Well now that we are not going anywhere for Christmas I guess I can now reveal my surprise.....






I wanted to surprise my Mom the most I guess. When my Mom and Layne came to visit this summer I was at the heaviest I have ever been not pregnant. I was not wanting pictures of myself posted unless I approved them first etc.
I am very excited to announce I have lost 20 pounds and 231/2 inches off my body. I was hoping to have taken more off before Christmas. I will still keep working on the pounds and toning but am so relieved to have the weight literally lifted.
I have ran faster and have noticed my endurance is noticeably better even to the dog. He has to run a lot faster to keep up.

poison oak

Well since our 5 acres has been neglected for quite a few years before we got here, and people have not put their garbage in the garbage cans, we decided to work out side last weekend and clear up some of the excess. It sure felt great getting some of the overgrowth and junk cleaned up around here. Raking the yard for needles, and leaves, trimming brush and weeds was so rewarding. We all put in a hard long days work, and huge burn pile. Now the acres down the drive and in about 12 ft has at least a better look to it. We know that clearing 5 acres of heavy dense forestation and POISON OAK, would be a work in progress and will definitely take time.
Of course, I am heavily allergic to poison oak and I am the one heading this project up. I am removing the brush and getting piles ready for my family to haul away. What do you think I look like now? Joe said "like I was a victim of plastic surgery gone bad". No kidding! Eyes swollen, neck covered and arms driving me crazy. Joe told me I was not to do that again. Anyone knows me and knows that I am way to stubborn and I couldn't ever let him do all that work by himself, and will inevitably be out there next chance I get, and with the consequences that go with that. I know I should be careful, and stuff but there is just so much work to be done. I know I should MAKE the landlord hire someone to come get the underbrush cleared for fire hazards, but I love being outside and would rather be outside than inside any day. Well lots to think about. No promises.

Adam

candid in the forest

having fun

Dad and Adam

Friends that joined the party

1st view of cemetary brownie birthday cake

Another view of the cemetary brownies

running candid

Some of the kids in front of the trail cam having tons of fun playing outside

Well Adam's birthday has gone and I didn't write about it. Since our schedules seem to be crazy here, we have celebrated the kids birthdays for most of the week of their birthday for some time now. I think they don't mind the attention and the singing everyday. They smile and enjoy the week.

This year I decided to have a birthday party with some friends. I decided to make a halloween themed party and have activities to match. I planned a mad scientist lab, draw a pumpkin blindfolded, treasure hunt, made a cake and stuff. We had 4 friends come and the boys played outside for a long time. I planned tons of food and to serve dinner but with the kids having parties that same day from school, everyone wasn't very hungry. Boys parties are definitely not as structured as girls. The boys would have been perfectly fine with playing solders and eating food for the entire time. Stress of the party can be eliminated for sure. We were happy that we had our friends come and share the fun day with us. All of our friends and family were sure missed and thought of.

ADAM is 9 now. Getting so tall. He is a joy to be around. He loves to make people laugh, wrestle, tease, he is very intelligent, he love math and science. Wants to be a FBI agent and solve mysteries. He loves to read mystery books but has not really found a book that will hold his attention very well. He would definitely want to watch the movie instead. He thinks 3rd grade is a breeze and it does show that with A's to A plus on all of his work. He has gotten several tokens that get passed out to kids at school for doing something nice, etc. without being asked and has been sent home with several notes telling us how he is such a great example to others. He loves spy stuff and wants to skateboard. (really hard to do that on gravel in the country). He has learned to ride a horse this year and is getting more confident every time he rides. He works hard and plays even harder. You are so loved and appreciated for all you are and do. Scouting this year has been fun and he earned his wolf, and tons of patches. He sold popcorn in front of local grocery store. He started out shy and nervous, and not long into it had people coming back from their cars wanting to at least donate change they found in their cars. He did a great job and was having a fun time. He loves exploring and is also loves to shoot the guns. (BB and air soft) We love you and are so glad you are a part of our family. HAPPY 9TH !

surprises

I have never been one to be very good at not revealing a surprise. Not that I cannot keep a secret, surprises are different somehow. As an example, Joe and I would find out we were pregnant and hope to wait till we were at least 3 months along. We tell people within a few weeks of being late. We always wanted to wait just in case something happened, etc. but that never happened and we have been fortunate to not miscarry. Another was we were hoping to not tell anyone when were pregnant with #5 and to show up at my brothers farewell 6 months along. yeah, never happened. We always knew the sex of our babies, and couldn't stand the anticipation. This time I am keeping my surprise. I will reveal it at christmas time when we visit. NO I AM NOT PREGNANT. That is not the surprise.

Trunk-or-Treat

Tyler and his "girlfriend"

Sammi's good friend

Adam's good friend

Sammi decided to be a pioneer since she forgot her witch costume at school on Friday. She had a good friend that had an extra costume. She fit right in with their family's theme. Look, the pioneers even took along a mouse. I bet they took those with them for real all the time.

I should have had Sam step in with their photo. Fun

Crazy running man Joe, and little mouse.

Jasper

Our social mouse

Sick pioneer

Sam, Ian and John about ready for some chili.

Johnny needs a shave. What do you expect from a pirate?

When I was a teenager, I had really long, light brown/blond hair and was bone strait. Those that knew me then would probably not think that this costume is a far stretch from the look I had everyday. The people I know here all had to do double takes and some people didn't know who I was. Very funny.

I love trunk or treat. We don't have to go up and down neighborhoods to get candy. I know everyone in the group and kids are in a safe environment and wont get run over by cars in the hustle to get their stash of candy. The bonus this year is that we weren't going to go anywhere on Sunday but to church. So, this was the best thing for our family. We got plenty of candy and all had a wonderful time.

I love dressing up. Being someone I am not, have imagination, creative in the process of figuring out what to wear, etc. In our home we have costumes and play all the time. I love that the kids want to play and find sometimes the simplest thing and play for hours with it.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Woops, I forgot this was below where I wrote, Joe and all the long locks.