Decking the Halls...

 Decorating for Christmas has got to be one of my favorite things ever. It takes a good portion of the day to do it, but I look forward to it all year.  However, unlike me, my darling husband does not derive joy from stringing up the lights and unearthing reindeer and snowmen from their cocoon of packing bubbles.  Puzzling, I know, but I don't judge him. I've always done it myself and I've never minded.  I crank up Donny Osmond's Christmas album and I let the festive times roll.  This year, to my utter delight, my boys practically jumped out of their socks to help me, and now that they're older, it's been so much fun to let them.  Bridger was even able to help without breaking anything.  And drum roll please...this year was the first time in 8 years we've been able to decorate the ENTIRE tree, not just the top half.  Hooray for kids getting bigger and dogs that no longer yearn to chew on bright, dangling objects.  

My headless helpers

Finley wasn't about to be left out of all the fun.

Gannon was having a moment with the tree, but clearly it wasn't a good moment.  Doesn't he look frightened? Maybe one of the snowman ornaments were giving him the evil eye.  

Family Reunion

This past weekend I was able to fly home to see my mom and the rest of my family.  Mats and Bo made it home too, so all five of us siblings were together at the same time.  We were trying to figure out when the last time was that had happened and it was so long ago, none of us could remember.  So now we have evidence of this reunion for the future.

 My beautiful mother.  She looks pretty even when she's eating. :)

 Nothing like pinning your child down to get a picture, huh Kais?!

 Slide train at Aiken Elementary, where all of us went to school.   Notice the legs of Carter, in the process of photo bombing.

 The Photo Bomber has arrived. 

 Keaton and Carter "acting natural".

Mats "acting natural".

Bridger: A Man of Action

Bridger has places to go and people to see....dump trucks to drive and...

undies to wear on his head like a super hero's helmet.

He's a hard-working cowboy out doing his morning chores...

 and a BSU Broncos fan, tirelessly working on snow removal, even when most of it has already melted.

And last and definitely most amusing...he's a scholar, doing a little reading in the buff.

More Fall Break Fun

Lots of families were gone on vacation for fall break, but lucky for us, the Bolanders were in town and we had a ball hanging out with them several times during the break.  We went swimming, to the movies, to their house for a Halloween party and to the Homestead Park for a picnic and hike.  We sure love this sweet family!

 Getting ready to see who can throw the farthest...

 All of the Bolander kids are SO sweet to Bridger.  He idolizes them all and talks about them constantly.

 Miss Alia...if arranged marriages were still in fashion, this would be Gannon's future wife.  Such a doll!

 What is it with sticks?!

On your mark, get set...

 JUMP!

 A bunch of cool cats...

This picture just makes me laugh.  Terrie is looking so lovely and Addison, the little stink, refused to let me take her picture.  And when I finally got one, she put food in her mouth on purpose.  I will get you when you least expect it, Addison. :)

Them Bones...

Oh, the things you can do with Elmer's glue, Q-tips, energetic boys and a whole lot of time on your hands (2 weeks of Fall Break).  They had a blast making these skeletons and learned valuable lessons regarding the eternal truth that "less is always more" when it come's to Elmer's glue.

Boo-ing

Dressing in dark clothing, sneaking around in neighbor's yards...no, I'm not teaching my boys to be robbers...we're spreading some Halloween cheer by "Boo-ing" our friends.  Making the treats are fun, but the real excitement comes, when we get to sneak up to a doorstep, ring the bell and then run like crazy.  We "boo-ed" several families, but Hayden and Gannon kept begging to do more.  I think they are addicted.  Don't worry, boys, our tradition of doing the 12 Days of Christmas is right around the corner.

The Paint Mines

We love to go exploring and hiking and a really neat place close to our house is the Paint Mines.  It's seems like you are out in the middle of nowhere and then you come upon the coolest rock formations. 

 Come ON, Mom!

 Hayden, the great explorer...

 

Isn't that the saddest face? Poor kid fell and skinned his knee a few times.

 Having a conference...

 white bums...

 A lone man in the wilderness.

 There's a reason they can climb so high.  And that reason is MUSCLE.

Again...a lone man in the wilderness, feeling moved by his surroundings.  Are you moved?  I know I am. :)