The Boxes

 

Who knew that  2 large boxes could be so productive?

We have two new ranges for the Yurt at Big Canyon and along with those ranges came 2 big boxes. Brian brought them home for the children to play with. (fun Dad) Well, I seized the moment and said, "You can take the boxes to the play room but not until it is picked up. You have 10 minutes." (slave-driver mom) I have never seen such a mess get picked up so quickly.

Bribery? maybe. I like to think it was a "motivation from mom" moment.

Fresh Foods Restaurant

 

This lovely building consists of a table and chairs inside, a door, windows with curtains and great service.

A Knights Castle

This building has the towers on top and a drawbridge for protection.

Two new fun things and a clean playroom. Happy kids. Happy mom!

 

You HAVE to See This

 

Dog!

Remember Rodeo? Caleb "won" him at the Peoa Rodeo. (hence the name, Rodeo) He was about 9 weeks when we brought him home in May and would fit snuggly into our arms. Well, not anymore. He is soooo long.  Half Basset and half Lab. What a mix!!  Long body, short legs. You should see him run in the deep snow.  Or should I say, sink and then pounce.  Pretty hilarious!

Bandit, Caleb's other dog, is still pretty much the Grumpy Old Man towards Rodeo. He will growl and show Rodeo his sharp teeth. I am sure he is saying, "Grow up, you runt!". However, he does seem to be warming up to the idea of being buddies with this short-legged creature.

Oh Daddy!

 

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my Dad?

Well, I do!  I love him this much - (arms spread way out)

We had a little "date night" on Sunday and we had a great time!!

Thanks Dad!

Remember this?

 

It is our mud room. This is what it looked like right after Christmas.

 

This is the same room 2 weeks later. (Yes, that is tile under all the coats and boots.) Not much change, for the better, anyway. What kind of people live like this? Oh, yea, we do! Not always, not every room and not all of the time. But it is a good sign that there is activity in our home, lots of life and many memories being made.

Well, a person can only take so much. And I had finally come to that "so much" point.

It was finally time to gather the troops and go to battle in this room.

 

We CONQUERED!

We pulled together and did it.

(yes, its the same room - see the lovely tile?)

Missing!

 

The children finished their school work, bundled up and headed outside to the sledding hill.  Mind you, it is a hill that I can not see from the house.  It was very quiet in the house.  About 30 minutes later, Dani Rae came in. Her little face was so red and cold.  I asked her if Tessa (our 2 yr old) was cold. She said, "I don't know". I then asked her, "Well, is she fussing?" Again, she said, "I don't know".  So one more question, "Well, is she having fun out there?" 

This is the conversation that followed that question...

Dani Rae- "Mom, she not out tha".  Me - "What! She is not sledding with the kids?"  Dani  - "No"   Let's just say I asked every question I could possibly could to make sure that she was not outside.  Then I screamed at the top of my lungs said, "Tess is missing! Help me find her!!"  We hollered and ran all through the house. Then I started looking deeper - closets, beds, under things etc.  No Tess.  I ran to her bed and her "dee" (favorite blanket) was missing. Ah ha! She is somewhere with that "dee".  And more than likely asleep and not hearing us.  Now, my heartbeat slowed down.  Sure enough she had grabbed a sofa pillow, her "dee" and snuggled in for a winters nap. 

 

 

 

O.K. - just love this little girl!!

The Circus Boy

Introduuucing...Weston the Amazing Acrobat

and his two lovely assistants - Dani Rae and Elizabeth!

Don't try this at home...

 

TA DA!!

(oh, those boys!)

FYI - no injuries occurred during this stunt

"Sled In" the New Year

What do you get when you have tons of snow, a steep hill, cousins, and many sleds? An afternoon of fun and laughter, of course!!!! 

My brother, Grant, and his family came to our home for New Years Day. The main event was sledding (and just hanging out).

The Sledding Crew

Down the Hill

(Abbi hitting the "Big Kahuna")

 

Up the Hill

 

Down Again

 

Up again!

And they did this over and over again. What a blast!!

 

They were having so much fun that a Bald Eagle stopped by to watch for awhile. He got a front row seat on the power pole. Awesome Bird!!

Abbi                                               Elizabeth

   

Hudson                                Cousin Jacob

     

Cousin Josh                                       Weston

  

Maggie                         Shannon and Jess

   

Julia, Dani Rae and Tessa

  

These little girls stayed warm in the house while eating fresh Banana Bread from the oven!

When the kiddos were done outside, we ate pizza and ice cream cones.

 

Shannon and Grant

Thanks for spending the day with us!

We love you!!

Bling!

Tessa wishes you all a

Happy New Year!