My Favorite Day

Our annual tree hunt is one of my most favorite days of the year. We had to move the date up a week earlier this year since we will be out of town for Thanksgiving. Saturday was the day. I was so worried we would have to cancel because of a storm, but it ended up being the most perfect day. It was very cold, but I was toasty warm the whole time. The sun was shining and the area was beautiful.

Jonah and Marles

Me and my perfect tree (one of them, I got two this year and I am sooooo excited!)

Bryan not so happy about hauling many trees out of

the woods.

Aliska warming her frostbit toes.

Hauling the many many trees home!

Smuggling one of the trees home since Nate left his permit at home.

The day exceeded all my expectations. I loved it! I probably hiked around the mountain side the equivalent of running 6 miles. It is so fun to just tromp through the snow, stepping over logs, stepping in streams, not having a clue what is under my feet and then chopping down the tree and dragging it to the car. Lot of fun for me.

Family

About a month or so ago we had an impromptu family service night at Nate and Aliska’s house.  It was so great.  Everyone was there helping prepare their backyard for sod.

Nothing spectacular happening except the feeling of being together and helping out.  We always have fun when we are together.  I kind of like hanging out with these people!

Fun Filled Weekend

For Tiffany’s birthday I gave her a weekend with no children.  She could choose to go somewhere or just be at home without them.  She chose this past weekend and so we had a fun time with 5 friends over.  As usual we wish we could say our kids were cousins or something that doesn’t sound as odd as “my best friend’s kids”.  One of Brandon’s friends had called Friday afternoon to see if he could hang out.  He replied, “My cousin is here for the weekend so I can’t.”  He hung up the phone, looked at me and said, “That is much easier than saying, my Mom’s best friends daughter is here.”  I completely agreed.  They all act like cousins and actually are the only kids my kids are allowed to have a sleepover with.  Anyways, we had a wonderful two days with them.

Friday night, Megan played nail parlor and taught Ellie and I how to properly make our nails look their best.

Saturday morning shot after everyone survived their night of sleep (yes my basement still looks like the 70’s)

And a much more formal “family” photo

An extra table set up to fit everyone at dinner time!  Jacob and Luke called this their news spot….they felt like they were on the news in front of the window.

Sledding in the daylight and then again in the pitch dark.

Ellie really wanted to sleep with Jonah in his bed.  She finally agreed to let Joshua sleep in the room as well…on the floor.

We all had a great time and as I kept telling Tiffany, it was no big deal having an extra 5 kids around.  They are very good kids and a lot of fun to be around.  No drama, besides Megan’s pranks and trying to get she, Jacob and Luke to go to bed at night!

They left this morning a bit after we went to church and once we got home this is what my kids did

I didn’t get a picture of Brandon and Bryan doing the same thing!

Tonight as Jonah was getting into bed he said, “can Joshua and Drew come over to play tomorrow because I haven’t seen them in a yong time.”

Pajama Day

Yesterday was pajama day at Jonah’s preschool.  He was so looking forward to the day.  They had pancakes for snack and I guess enjoyed the day in their pajamas.  I asked Jonah which pajamas he wanted to wear and he picked these.

I am probably the only person who got such a kick out of the way he looked.  His little toothpick body with shoes, a jacket and backpack.

Pretty cute little boy.  If I could freeze his age I would!  Actually I would have frozen it when he was 18 months old.

Happy Halloween 2011

I LOVE Halloween! I love dressing up, I love going around visiting with all my neighbors, I love eating homemade donuts, I love the thought of kit kats and almond joys being in my house, I just love it.

I always want to go to a Halloween party and so I decided next year I am having a party! Don’t let me forget.

I spent a long time wrapping Jacob up like a mummy, it lasted about 5 seconds.

Jonah saw this monkey costume at Costco and fell in love with it. He carried it around the store hugging it. The largest size they had was 24 months…..thank goodness it fit him. And yes he wanted to carry around the giraffe halloween bag.

Brandon broke my rule and made me mad. My kids can go trick or treating every year of their life……as long as they really dress up. He was all set to be a certain NBA player and then he comes running in the door and says, “Me, Sam and Davis are all being football fans”. I said, “that is not dressing up! That is who you really are”. I let him go, but was mad all night. I won’t ever let that happen again!

I am very proud to say that I made that skirt. Yes, me all by myself (with lots of walking me through it help from Tiffany) made it. I was very proud of it. I spent so much time and thought on the skirt, I forgot to get a cute shirt to go with. Oh well, maybe next year.

It must run in the family. Here is Nate and Aliska dressed up like characters from the movie Labyrinth. I was so jealous of them going to a party.

And the sight last night as the boys were trading candy. Jonah didn’t really understand what they were doing and kept giving all his candy away. He was mad when I had him put it all back in his grocery sack, he really wanted the bag!

Oh until next year……..I will have to be thinking about my party all year long!

I almost forgot to add pics of our pumpkins! I spent a LONG time on this scooby doo one for Jonah. Next year we are sticking with traditional jack o lanterns!

Brandon and Jacob did nice jobs on theirs, although I think I did most of Jacob's.