Snow Fun

McKaleigh giving a wave before trudging up the big snow hill.
Today we spent the afternoon sledding with the kids. It was so much fun! We were not sure how long our little Alex would last, but he made it the whole time. He really enjoys playing with the big kids, and as long as they are doing it, he would like to be right there with them.

After much pushing and pulling of sleds, daddy took a little time out to watch the kids.
Here go the big kids down the hill, they thought they were brave, but their faces said otherwise!
Alex taking a break from sledding and just chilling in his sled.
Getting ready to take the hills.
There goes dad and Alex - with a big push from Colton.
Mom and Dad getting a turn with Colton.

Dad sledding with Alex

And a big smile at the bottom of the hill.

Mommy pushing Alex around on the snow.

What is Happening?

I know, it's the Holiday Season, the time when the kids are all at home and you are supposed to be taking pictures GALORE, right? I really don't know where this Christmas break has gone...but there is goes! So for now, I just want to document what did go on. With just a few pics...

Daddy and I went on a cruise for Christmas and Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Walt and Bri came down and spent time with the kids. They had such a great time, I think it was a vacation for them just as much as us! Grandma Deb stepped in for a few days and made sure the kids were ready for mom and dad to come home. I have to say, leaving the cold weather and heading down to the Bahamas is the way to go! No to get greedy, but it really made me think about a tropical Winter home! Wouldn't that be fabulous?

Here we our on our trip - Lots of R&R - just what we needed!Christmas was busy! The kids were going with my ex-husband for Christmas Day, so we held Christmas morning on Christmas Eve morning. We opened presents, and Alex kept saying "my turn my turn" and helped with everyone's gifts. McKaleigh is turning into a typical tween and just layed on the couch with her MP3 player, Nintendo DS, and new book. I think Colton was a little overwhelmed, as he just went from gift to gift - no really giving it a chance, but just seeing how it worked and moving on. Then we went for our traditional Christmas Eve Morning breakfast - out to breakfast as a family. That evening we went to Grandma and Grandpa Cushing's home for more present openings - where the kids were surprised by a Playstation 3. We have spent a good majority of our time playing Band Hero and Rock Band (mom and dad's gift). And I have to say, we might have a future in Karaoke!
Chritmas Morning is hard work! Here are Uncle Matt and Cousin Tyler watching a little Monsters Vs Aliens.
All of the kids got new snow toys for Christmas, here they are testing them out.

Since then, everything has been a blur...I have been busy with everything and really nothing at all. We have had fun sledding with friends, swimming in the indoor pool with cousins, shopping, and genarally just milling about the house playing games and spending time together. Life, as crazy as it gets is good, we love each other and have wonderful family and friends. I count my blessings all the time and wish everyone a great New Year.

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Gingerbread Houses!

Every year we make Gingerbread houses, this year we were able to build two of them...Hooray! Dad is usually the master organizer of this activity, as mommy just does not have the patience (after years of hearing me say "hurry up, just put the candy on, okay, we're done, the job of houses fell to dad). He does a much better job anyway. This year McKaleigh and Colton had a little bit of help from Alex, so their houses did not look quite the way they wanted, but I think fun was had by all.

While dad was helping the big kids, mommy had a little fun with Alex.
We thought we would put him in charge of passing out the candy to the big kids, but quickly saw it disappearing. I think he ate as much as he doled out.
McKaleigh's finished product.
Colton's finished product.
Our buddy Alex in the tub after a messy craft. He is such a good natured, fun kid.

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Daddy and Black Friday

Yesterday we spent the Thanksgiving afternoon eating with family and making a rather large shopping list for Black Friday items. It took most of the afternoon, but we were able to come up with a pretty hefty list of items that were a great bargain (that were on the kids lists anyway).

After collaborating with other family members we were able to strategically figure out who would be going to what store and which items they were going to pick up. Between Brett and I we decided that he would get up at 2:30a.m. and go to Walmart, while other members of the extended fam hit Target, Fred Meyer and other stores. Brett had a list of about 10-12 items he was in charge of and headed out into the cold and chaos at a very early hour.

Now....I have explained how crazy it is on Black Friday in the past, but when Brett got home with ONE (1) item and a look of utter shock on his face I knew he had no idea what he had gotten himself into! He said that this whole experience made him completely amazed and disgusted at those out shopping and continued to explain his prediciment. Does he race around the store? Shop for the most expensive item on the list? Find as many items as possible and just put them in a cart? In the end, he waited in line for the big ticket item, and lost out on all of the others, but came home with this to say..."Next year we are taking the kids and sending them out into the store to help!"

All in all, I have to say that he was a great sport to get up so early and shop for the family - and this is just a tiny reason why I am so in love with my husband - even if he did get just the one thing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I guess this is the time of year when we should all be feeling a little bit of gratitude for all of the good things that we have in our lives, but it seems like with the business of the Holiday of the Christmas season right around the corner, it has taken a back seat. Every year I tell myself I am going to take my family to a food bank or shelter and provide some form of service, show them that what we have in our lives is something to be thankful for, try to cultivate an attitude of service, but it seems like there is never enough time in the day...or is there and I just don't find it?

Thanksgiving thoughts, thoughts of love and service to others are the kind of thoughts that we should have all year long. We should take the time to show our children, and loved ones that kindness and extending a helping hand to others is the true spirit of the holiday season. This season, I would like to encourage everyone to become more grateful - to everyone around you and live a greateful life.

Early Snow

Today was the first "real" snowfall - and we went out in the snow to take advantage of the 1-3 inches that fell. Alex had so much fun playing with McKaleigh, throwing snowballs at us and most of all - eating the snow. He even brought a snowball in to eat by the fire!
McKaleigh was really proud of her perfect snow angel - as you can see, it looked really great.
Here is our Alex tasting a snowball - he loves them! Now we have to teach him the difference between clean and dirty snow!
Here are the kids - Alex trying to smash a snowball in McKaleigh's face, and McKaleigh trying to smash one on his head!

After all of the fun, we came in to warm up by the fireplace and eat homemade scones with honey butter - just right! And McKaleigh, once again found a good book to read. These are the reasons I love winter - cozy, fun, family togetherness!

Weeks of the Sickies

Well, I just have to say that it has been an illness ridden two weeks at our house, and when I mean illness, i'm talking SICK! McKaleigh came down with what might have been the dreaded Swine Flu, coughing and snotting all over the place - and that was two weeks ago, and she is still under the weather - and now has a stiff neck!
Colton, Alex and I all came down with various degrees of illness, but remember, fellow bloggers - The Mother Is Never Too Sick To Take Care Of Everyone Else!
Brett was admitted for surgery today, and had his Gall Bladder taken out - all went well, except for the discharge - when he kept getting sicker and sicker. He was really going downhill as the evening progressed, but they sent him home finally and said if he gets worse, go to the ER.

Needless to say...I'm really looking forward to our cruise next month!

Happy Halloween !

Happy Halloween to everyone. I hope that your trick or treating was successful. It's funny, but after all of that candy was all spread out on the counter, it did not even look appealing! I guess our candy bin will be extra full this year.

Here is a shot of our front porch pumpkins, mine and Alex's, dad's, Colton's and finally McKaleigh's (from left to right). McKaleigh wanted the biggest pumpkin, but to her dismay - it also contained the largest amount of "pumpkin guts" to clean out. Daddy even dared her eat some "guts", which she did!

Here is our McKaleigh on Halloween Night! I will have to get a picture of her in her costume and post it later. The theme for this year's 6th grade was "people in the past", so she had to pick a costume from there - she was Annie Oakley, and the costume was really cute. At least she got to go to the "trunk or treat" and to dad's work. It was so sad that she could not join us, but was thrilled to stay home and watch Twilight - again.

Here are the boys - getting ready to go out. Daddy is gettin the wagon ready, because when Alex got tired, he would just dive head first...rest a few houses and then go again.

Here is Alex - all dressed up like Blue. He really loves Blue's Clues, so when I saw this costume, I knew it was for him.

Colton was a Ninja this year, but did not wear his Ninja head thing because he said it was itchy. Alex checking out the Pumpkin lights - he kept trying to blow the candles out. And our candy and sign in the back ground (we left that for the trick or treaters, since McKaleigh was sick and did not want to be disturbed).
Each of the kids posing with their pumpkins before going out for the night.
It was a great night, and every year our neighbors down the street set up a big fire and chairs in their driveway and serve hot chocolate and scones with honey butter. That makes for a really nice break and visit with the adults and candy check between the kids and their friends. We really do live in the best neighborhood for these kind of events! Happy Halloween Everyone!

Halloween Is Coming!

For the past two weeks our family has spent time taking advantage of the Halloween activities that have been taking place throughout the valley. We have spent LOTS of time in pumpkin patches, hay mazes, and looking for Witches.

Here are the kids getting ready to pick up a few pumpkins for the porch and carving.
Alex found one that was just the right size!
Colton spent most of the time visiting the "spooky room" that is set up in one of our favorite pumpkin patches. There is scary music, and really scary guys set up in a dark room.
Here are McKaleigh and dad weighing all of the options and trying to find a pumpkin that will be just the right height for carving.
Here are the kids trying to get through the hay maze out at Wheeler farm. Even Alex did pretty good, but it was really fun watching him get to a dead end and try to figure out where to go next.
Our little family on the wagon.
Grandma Cindy even came up for a day and hobbled around the farm with her cast on. It was really great, because she does not get to see these kind of "holiday" things very often.
Another fun activity was the Scarecrow Festival down at Thanksgiving point. All Alex wanted to do was ride the train - which of course had a long line, but daddy was a trooper and waited with him.
Meanwhile, McKaleigh and Colton took him to the Fishing pond and he got a great looking pair of Vampire teeth!
Finally on the train after all that waiting!
Daddy and the kids also rode the Spider Speedway bikes, daddy had Alex on his lap...Looks like McKaleigh is in the lead with her funky fishing pond hat!
Near the end of the day we went to see the Giant Pumpkins...maybe we can grow our own next year!
It has been a really fun couple of weeks taking in all of the Halloween sites, but I think I am ready for a rest until Halloween Night !