O Christmas Tree

Saturday after Thanksgiving we headed up to Heise to find our Christmas tree.

Our friends the Freed's came with us and were searching for their own tree.

The kids were excited to have some friends come with us.

I have learned over the last couple of years that when we go and pick out our tree it is not the most perfect tree, but for us it is the experience that is the best. Hiking around the hill looking for a tree. You know with the kids bundled up and screaming cuz it is cold and they want to go back and sit in the car--and mom not being able to hold all the little hands. It is a priceless experience. So here is the tree we picked before we cut it down.

The boys all took a turn sawing the tree trunk

Dragging the tree down the hill and back to the truck Hattie and Logan hiking back to the truck.

Here we are with the tree on the truck ready to go home. {the extra person is our nephew Jaden} So Russell, Joy, Andrew, Brinton, Brock, Jaden, Breanna, Hattie, and Logan

And here is the final product. Decorated with lights and decorations.

Surely helps bring the Christmas spirit into our home.

Thankful

I have so many things to be grateful for
*my house
*my family
*my friends
*my extended family
*food to eat
*the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life
*teachers who teach my children--at school, at church, piano, dance, & sports
*holidays
*good books to read
*time with family and friends
*date night with my hubby
*the great outdoors
*vacations whether big or small
*game nights at home

Just a few things that I am thankful for

Growing Boy

He is 3 1/2 months old and boy is he cute. Andrew is such a great baby. He is happy and content most of the time. He is sleeping pretty well. I usually get up with him once a night (sometimes twice) but this is much better than some of my other children. He is laughing and smiling often. He is starting to wiggle around when he is laying on the floor. The kids love him. He gets many, many hugs and kisses during the day. Right now he has some great blue eyes. [hopefully he will keep them] What a sweet little boy. We are glad that he is part of our family.

Proud Mama

Each time my children participate in something--a play, a talk in primary, a piano recital--my eyes tear up because I am so proud of them. I have watched them practice or not practice. Then when they accomplish what they have practiced--I am just so happy for them.
This past weekend Brinton had UpperValley Piano Recital in which he participated in and received a score of 100. He did a great job. He is becoming a great piano player.
Then on Sunday they had a piano recital. Both Breanna and Brinton did a great job.

I hope they keep up on their piano lessons and practice.

{Something I wish I would have been a little more interested in!!}

Brock is taking piano as well--he has a different teacher--but is doing great too!!

Last Weeks Happenings

Last week at school was spirit week. Monday was wear your favorite hat day.

Tuesday was Crazy Hair day--this is always a fun day. Brinton for the last couple of years has put little piggy tails in his hair and then sprayed them. Brock went just for hair color this year.

Breanna told me that she was just going to go to school without combing her hair.

I helped her put her hair into two pony tails and then we ratted them and colored them.
Wednesday was something that has left my brain for the moment
and Thursday was Halloween Parties so they all took their costumes to put on at school.

Friday was no school day. I decided to help the kids carve pumpkins. We had a fun time taking out the goo and making faces on our pumpkins.

Andrew hanging out while we worked on the pumpkins.

I attemped a challenging Lightening McQueen pumpkin. It isn't the best but you can tell that it is Lightening if you look closely.

Here they all are...

Friday was also Russell's birthday. We went to the ward dinner and hung out with the kids.

Saturday was of course Halloween

here is

Harry Potter

Hermoine Granger

A Ninja

Hannah Montana

Lightening McQueen

And a cute little frog

Ready to go and get some CANDY

They had a great time trick or treating.

Then Sunday--Logan's birthday

He loves watching Cars and playing with Cars.

I decided to make him a Tow Mater cake

So here it is---

I must say so my self that it is a pretty awesome cake!!!
Logan loved it.

We had the grandparents come over for cake and ice cream. Russell must have thought it was pretty great too because he cut the little round extra cake and served it so that we didn't have to cut into Mater. Later when more company showed up we ended up cutting into the cake.

Logan had a great birthday and hasn't put down his McQueen backpack full of all his cars and he is having a hard time taking off the McQueen pajamas he got. He may just wear them all week long (day and night!!)

And the last photo of the week is my mom and Andrew.

Family Photo

The last couple of years, we have had our friend {Mary} take our family pictures for us. Normally Russell cannot stand to take pictures--which has rubbed off onto the older boys. Well, just the fact that we are outside and that Mary takes a lot of pictures in a short amount of time --somehow he doesn't grouch as much and neither do the boys. This year we went down to the park by the river--next to Key Bank. It was beautiful. We captured some great photos. THANKS Mary, we couldn't have done it without you!!!

After most of the pictures were taken, we had a leaf fight.

As Russell and I were taken the little boys to the car,

Mary captured these pictures of the older kids.

What a great family we have!!!

Miscellaneous Post

A few weeks ago I found a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Bowls. Well I made them for our FHE treat. They didn't turn out the best and I would change a few things if I do it again. But it was fun for the kids to eat the bowl that their ice cream was in!!

ANDREW's Blessing Day

Just pondering the words his dad said in the blessing! :)

Grandma & Grandpa Anderson

Grandpa & Grandma Taylor

TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE

Starting way back in April or May of this year we told our kids we would take them to Yellowstone to see Old Faithfull. Well with me being pregnant and Russell's Alaska trip and all the other summer stuff--we didn't really get a summer trip to Yellowstone. We got a fall trip. It was beautiful weather until the day before we left and then it got really cold.

We decided to make it a three day trip so the kids didn't have to be in the car for so long.

Don't get me wrong we were in the car for a great part of the trip but we also had some time to hang out in our hotel and were able to swim in the pool a few times.

We stopped at the fish place by Warm river, Lower Mesa Falls,

Upper Mesa Falls, and Big Springs. You will notice the winter coats and hats.

It really was that cold!!

Look closely and you will see the fish in the water at Big Springs

The second day we went into the Park.

We saw some Elk, a Bald Eagle, Bison, and a lot of Hot Pots.

These are the Fire Hole Falls

What a cute and such a good traveler

Looking out at Shoshone Lake

Then on the third day we drove home.

We drove home the long way--through the park and then through Jackson

Not to self--don't do this with the kids again UNLESS it is warmer and we can get out of the car a few more times for longer periods of time.

But the scenery was beautiful

AND FINALLY...

a baby getting bigger

Andrew was 14 lbs at his 2 month check up.

At least 3 lbs bigger than his brothers and sisters were at this age.

Which means he can graduate out of his cradle

{since he is growing out of it anyway}

and into his crib!!