Tree choppin

We had a fun time hunting for trees, the only kind of hunting I will do.  We bundled up and rode 4-wheelers up the canyon to begin our search.

We had a lot of help from cousins, which always makes it more fun.  We soon realized that we had dressed much to warmly and the best thing we could do was try and stay out of the mud.

I think everyone was pretty worn out by the end of our adventure, and I didn't even get a picture of the tree.

A few days later we finally got to decorating our trees.

Allie fell in love with these ornaments, she wanted them right where she could reach them, I thought that would be alright

until the next day when I found her in the corner hoarding her 'eggs'.  Only one got broken and I think it scared her enough that she hasn't tried to collect them again.

C.J. jumped right in to help me place them higher up on the tree.

We also recieved a special package from the Norht Pole and inside was none other than an Elf on the Shelf.  This is a new concept for us, but seems to be working like a charm.  His name if Freddy and we love that magic that he brings with him to make our holidays even more fun.

The first morning after his arrival we found him doing pull ups in the hallway.  He has continued to return every morning in a new spot.  C.J. can't decide if he is more funny or more cleaver.

Santa is comin'

We are starting to get excited about the holidays around our house.  We made our annual stop to see Santa on main street. Lists were whispered into Santa's listening ears, and even Allie wasn't afraid to sit on his knee.  She asked for a princess crown.

While decorating our house for Christmas we have been playing some great music.  When playing a Mindy Gledhill C.D. the song from Babes in Toyland came on.  I was singing a long when the big girls looked at me strange and asked how I knew this song. 

I told them it was from Babes in Toyland thinking they would totally know what I was talking about, but nothing, just blank stares, so I was on a search for that movie.  The local movie rental place (we only have one left since redbox entered the world) actually had it, only on VHS, but for .99 cents for 5 days we took it home. Yes we still have a VCR to use in situations like these.

I think the kids thought it was wierd at first, it moves much slower than movies these days, they ended up really liking it.  C.J. kept telling me I must be really old since I watched this as a kid and it was really old.  Kids are good at reminding us of those wonderful little details.

I really need to check out the other movies that are available, I think there are a lot that our kids would love. 
So we begin this wonderful time of year and all of the crazy business that comes along with it.  Happy Holidays! Now if only we can keep our shelf elf  Freddy around we will have happy kids.

seven

C.J. is seven, holy moly, how is he that old already? He had such a fun baseball party that included a homerun durby, sunflower seed spitting, hotdogs, and cracker jacks.  The best party was a huge room for all of these boys to run around in.  It was such a fun time!

Breakfast in bed included chocolate chip pancakes, C.J.'s favorite

He was so excited to get a flash rider for his Birthday.

Baseball cake and cupcakes, that he didn't even eat, he was to excited to try out his new toy.

He spent the rest of his day doing this...

G&G Thalman stopped by for a birthday visit, and of course grandpa had to try out the new toy

can you see Jake totally crashing this picture?  crazy dog

Happy birthday to my most favorite boy in the world,  We love you so much!

Halloween 2012

We had such a fun Halloween this year, as usual we carved pumpkins, made homemade rootbeer with dry ice, went trick or treating and ate way to much candy. What can be better?

Our cute Minnie Mouse that was still wearing her costume 3 days post the holiday.

Our whole crew

Fox

Fighter Pilot

Katniss

And their off.  Happy Halloween!

A few days befor Halloween we celebrated Tom's Birthday.  Madi made a cake for him, she is becoming the resident baker around our house.

We partied in style.

Emma and Madison performed in a Halloween Variety Show.  Emma was in the Monster Mash and Madison was a Scarecrow.

Pumpkin Patch

 We love the fall and all that comes with it.  We enjoyed our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch.

 The weather was so nice it felt like we were hunting for pumpkins in the middle of July, I can't complain though, it has been wonderful.  I was so glad that we had some muscle to pack the pumpkins this year, because the kids were all about finding the biggest pumpkin to carve.

 See the bright red cheeks, proof that it was really warm.

 

Don't they look thrilled? We really did have a great time and notice all the bling on little sister, bracelets and necklaces are definitely her thing lately.

2.5

My baby is 2 and a half, it's so crazy.  She is such a fun little girl we love her so much!

I love this bottom picture because she was talking non stop, as usual.  She was telling me that she church is fun, that daddy is funny, that she wants to go get her 'guys' from school, that she really wants to go to dancing, she is such a funny baby.

Maple Grove

It was so much fun to go with C.J. on his field trip to Maple Grove.  It was so pretty with all of the fall leaves.

He loved looking at all of the animal furs and skulls, he is such a boy.

Making colorful leaf tracings and perfecting his snake grass whistle, I think he was an expert by the end of the day. 

C.J. is lucky enough to have two cousins in his grade, they are such a cute little trio.