Sunday, December 28, 2014

Christmas in the Woods 2014

This year we decided to rent a cabin and have Christmas with the kids up in the mountains. On our drive there we stopped for a tree cutting permit, then took a little hike to find a good one.

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We loaded our tree onto the truck, and after it only flying off once, we finally made it to the cabin.

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When we walked into the cabin, hauling in our tree/bush, we discovered that the cabin came with a beautifully decorated 15 foot live Christmas tree.  The kids were still really excited about the tree we had just cut down so we still set it up and ended up with two Christmas trees which was awesome.

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Christmas Eve was spent setting up our tree, making homemade ornaments, Christmas caroling to the neighboring cabin, Christmas P.J.’s and watching movies by the fire.

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We used the camera timer and took a more refined family picture in front of our refined elegant Christmas Tree and then took a fun(our family in it’s natural state) picture in front of our fun family Christmas tree.

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Presents we brought up with us from grandparents and cousins went under the “nice” Christmas tree, but I think Santa liked our “family” tree better because that’s where he left all of his gifts.

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The kids had a blast on Christmas opening gifts, playing with toys, building legos, trying on makeup, and riding the flying turtle (sitting scooter).

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I had an awesome Christmas as well. With lots of kisses and a quilt that Dan secretly spent half the year making me. Now that’s love!

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After lunch Kayleb came to visit.

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Christmas afternoon was spent…

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…eating and having Tetrus Battles.

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The day after Christmas we went skiing at White pass.

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Then that afternoon Greg, Anne Marie and Makenna dropped in for game night and a bath Winking smile

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Later that night around 8, Dan’s uncle and cousins were renting the cabin next to us, while checking in the caretakers told them, “That’s so funny we have some Ostler’s from the TriCities staying in the lodge.” So after getting unloaded into their cabin Dale and the boys came up to surprise us and hang out for the night.

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The next morning we woke up to snow falling. We packed up and headed home. It was a super fun Christmas with some really great memories made.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Brinley's Birthday

This year Brinley turned 2 the day after Thanksgiving.
 Brinley's favorite thing in life right now is her teddy bear, so her big sisters got creative and made her a teddy bear cake for her birthday.

 TWOOOOOOO
 Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you...
 Make a wish!

Favorite Gift.
Look at the concentration.



Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving (2014)

Had a fun time at home having our very 1st Thanksgiving dinner at our place. Each of the kids picked a few of their favorite Thanksgiving dishes and learned how to make them. Everyone contributed and it turned out great. Happy Thanksgiving!
Grayson the little turkey.
 Brinley the little indian girl.
 Hailey made the deviled eggs.
Kase made a ton of stuff this year… raspberry pie, stuffing, ham/asparagus rolls, but his favorite was making the rainbow jello.
 Alaina made the rolls.
 Ky made the green bean casserole.
 Hudson helped here and there… mostly as a taste tester :)
 The feast.
 Coolwhip!!!!!
The aftermath...turkey coma dog pile.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Bank Robbers


Thursday, November 6, 2014

Busy Season

Fall sprinkler blowout season is winding down. Dan has been super busy with work this past month, which we love and are grateful for, but when Dan is super busy… I am super busy. We have both been putting in 80+ hours a week for the last month and when I'm suppose to be a stay at home mom it gets a little tricky. I have definitely felt the "mom guilt" this past month as I have sat in our home office for hours on end letting Grayson and Brinley run wild. Each time I go to check on them they are doing something fun, cute, or creative together. So I guess on a positive note they have spent a month strengthening their sibling bonds with each other;) but I'm super excited for November… Ready to get back to being a mom….Love that my work can wait now… Love that my kids are so understanding...Love all of the no school days this month that I get to hang out with my kids… Love the fall weather…. Love that Soccers' over and Basketball doesn't start until December (we have a month off!!!)… Love that holidays are just around the corner…. Love that I'm finally coming up for air!!!!
"Mom… come find us!!!"
 "Gray, pull me on the blanket"…."Brinley, I'm hiding"
 Watching big brother play preschool games
 Gray brought a sprinkler pipe in from the backyard to make a marble run. He said he put the blanket over it to make a dark dark tunnel.
 Hey this is my spot.
 Gray teaching Brinley how to go on the potty. 
 If your sister won't get off your car slide, use her as the car slide.
Eating apples in the clean laundry pile.