TrEE-TiMe!

"We're kicking off our fun old-fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols!" -- Clark W. Griswold

We headed up on the west end of Boulder this past weekend to get our Christmas tree. We went with our good friends and neighbors, The Crane's. It was one of those days where both the weather and the scenery were breath-taking, but we had a blast, even with a windchill of -19!!

Me, my dear friend Lisa & her grandson, Chase

The two trouble-makers that brought us all together as friends:
Samantha & Kurtis!


Katie & her faithful protector, Daisy


The Crane's brought a huge tube and we managed to find snow deep enough to try it out. This entertained the kids (and mom's) for hours while the men headed off into the woods to cut down our trees.


Kurtis (with his head down), Sam (screaming and hanging on for dear life) & the feet belong to Brooke!

Amber doing her best, "What the....?!?!" Oops, Lisa! I think ya took that turn a little too fast!! ;-)

We literally had to carry Katie to the tube kicking and screaming, but once she tried it, she didn't want to stop! Once her turn was over, true to form, Katie puffed out her chest, strutted around and bragged to everyone about how she braved the wild ride and had so much FUN!! Thanks, Brooke, for hangin' on to her!

Brooke & Chase sledding... too cute!

My gingerbread man costume!

I HATE being cold, so I bundled up a little! The clothes were obviously made for someone Wes's size, but they did the job... I stayed relatively warm, which made it worth all the teasing!!

The expert tree-hunters (Jordan & Wes)! These two would HUNT anything-- especially when it involves using chain-saws! Go ahead, pound on your chests, boys!!

Hey look, the boys actually brought back something to decorate! This pix was taken AFTER they got unstuck-- yay for tire-chains!!

Fun with BUGLES....

My 35th Birthday

I "celebrated" my 35th birthday on December 4th... and for some reason, I was really dreading being 35!! I suddenly feel OLD! :( We didn't really have much planned-- maybe going over to Richfield for dinner, shopping and to see Santa. I cleaned house most of the day waiting for Wes to get off of work. Long story short, Wes wasn't able to get off in time to do anything, so we stayed home and I cooked dinner. But the worst of it came when I backed out of the driveway without checking for Katie's kitty who tends to hide in the engine of my car. You guessed it, the kitty is no more!! I cried as I broke the news to Katie (who, incidently, had lost her pet hermit crab the day before!) It was terrible... she just sobbed!! We went down to the farm and told Wes about it. He felt so bad about my lousy birthday, he surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a sack full of my favorite goodies (including Sobe drinks & chocolate covered cinnamon bears!) I cried again, but this time it was because I felt so blessed to have a sweet, loving, thoughtful husband!! Thanks, Wes!!!

Thanksgiving '09

We spent Thanksgiving day at my Grandma & Grandpa Nowers' house. It brought back so many wonderful memories of holidays when I was a kid!! Kenny & Julie's family was able to be there, and it was great to catch up with them since our vacation!

The adult table

The kids' table

Me & my siblings: Courtney, Kevin & Kayden--

yeah, I'm the shortest!

Courtney & I

Katie feasting on the only thing she gets excited about eating... pickles and cheese!!

Kurtis tree-climbing. This is a luxury since we have no trees big enough to climb at our house!

I think Katie is trying to knock Kurtis out of the tree-- as Gavin learns how to take care of older siblings!!

Dad & Kayden stretching their bellies after the feast! (That's Wes behind the napkin!)

Thanksgiving #2!!

We got a second feast at Grandma & Grandpa Rees' (in Bicknell) the weekend after Thanksgiving! This is Katie eating pumpkin pie... again!!

After dinner, we all pitched in to get the lights on Grandpa & Grandma's house--- Don't fall, DeeAnn!

Grandpa Rees and Mackay trying to untangle the "ball" of lights.

Wes, Grandpa, Mackay & Lyn riggin up Grandpa's tree of lights!

Happy 6th Birthday, Katie!

Nov 4, 2009
Happy 6th Birthday, pretty girl!!
She asked us to decorate her door so that she would be "trapped by decorations" when she woke up! We did this once to tease Kurtis and she didn't forget!! Too funny!



Opening presents :))



So exciting!



Just what she wanted




Grandma even came over for Katie's big day...



... and gave Katie her favorite gift, a pet kitty that purrs, drinks, cries and snores!




I let Katie pick any cake she wanted and this is the one she chose!! Her dad was very proud!




Make a wish!!

SpOoKy!

Diggin' the guts out of the pumpkins





Eeeewww!!

The finished product

HaPpY HaLLoWeEn 2009!!

Katie's a scary "ghost pirate." (She's scary as a little girl too!!)

Our poor little vampire didn't feel too good... got the flu just in time for Halloween. Not much make-up was needed to give Kurtis pale skin and dark circles under his eyes! :(




Trick-or-Treating-- Swine Flu style



Dracula's snacks



The pirate's loot



Mom's goodies!!
Oh wait... I mean... ahhh... Here you go, sweetie, pick whatever you want!

CuTe KiDdOs

October 25, 2009

Primary Program

When God made these two,

He was just showin' off!!

Cowboyin'

Beautiful shot of Fremont in the Fall



In mid-October, the boys gather all the cows off the mountain and trail 'em home. We then have a couple of weeks of sorting, preg-checking and selling the "open" heifers (ones without a baby in their bellies). It's a busy time, but it's fun when we make it a family affair! The kids and I run ahead of the herd and "plug the holes" so the cows don't turn up someone's driveway or down the wrong road.

Bringin' in the herd!! Yippee-aye-ay!