Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Gingerbread House

While out shopping one day I grabbed a gingerbread house kit thinking it would be a fun family activity. 
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 I waited for a night when Steve was home and we started building.

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The kids had so much fun, even though they spent most of the time eating candy.  I realized that I really don't love making gingerbread houses it is messy sticky and the kids end up with a sugar high.  Thankfully Steve helped me keep my sanity and the kids had a really fun time.

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Our "masterpiece" a Gingerbread Chalet.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Christmas in Middletown

I was excited that we were able to go to Christmas in Middletown this year.  We decided to start at the park, hoping to be able to see Santa without waiting in line forever.  We were near the beginning of the line to sit on Santa's lap, but because we were so early we had to wait a long time for Santa to arrive.  Turns out you just have to wait a long time to see Santa no matter what.  

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Ally didn't sit on Santa's lap but she had a good conversation with him.  

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Colton ran right up to Santa and gladly hopped in his lap, so cute.

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Eva was a little shy but after letting Colton go before her she took her turn. 

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Ally feeding carrots to the little donkey with the 4H kids.

My favorite part of Christmas in Middletown, the free horse rides.  The kids love it and I have fun watching them.  
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Eva rode all by herself this year!


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Colton was more than ready for his turn.

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Ally had fun, though the turn was a little short for her.  She was so fast I almost didn't get a picture.

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We walked through town and stopped by Hardester's for some free Gelato.

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Dinner at the Cowpoke with the Zimmerman's. This crazy bunch of kids had fun but they make eating in restaurants a little tiring. 

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Christmas Tree Hunting

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With Steve's schedule change we didn't have the time for a trip to the Plumas National Forest to get out Christmas tree like usual. I set off looking for Christmas Tree farms near us so we could at least cut down our tree.  It wasn't easy finding a place where we wouldn't be paying $100+ for a tree.  Luckily I found a place in Ukiah with reasonable prices.  

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The trees were all on a steep side hill that made walking a little tricky for Colton and Eva.  They were good sports and did their best as I dragged everyone to the far edge of the trees where the tallest trees were. 

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After some debate we finally settled on a tall white pine tree.
I thought a tree farm would be easier than picking a tree from the forest but we had been spoiled by all the silver tips in the Plumas National Forest.

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Ally cut down our tree with just a little help from Daddy.

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Christmas tree hunting completed!

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While Daddy tied the tree onto the car the kids had fun playing on the old playground equipment. 

While not the same as our usual Christmas Tree tradition the kids had fun. 


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This years Christmas ornaments, I have so much fun picking out ornaments.  We are slowly rebuilding out ornament collections.

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Friday, December 2, 2016

Student of the Month!

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Allyson was chosen as the Student of the Month for November from Mr. Brooks' class!  It was so fun to go to the awards assembly and hear her teacher talk about her. 

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Mr. Brooks said that Allyson is a great student, an excellent reader and shows perseverance in her learning.  He said that when they are using scratch paper she will end up doing the math problems on the back of the paper.  He said that when the class got to use the Chromebooks she was the only one who got into docs and began writing a story.  He said she is an amazing student and we couldn't agree more!

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We are proud of our smart, hard working girl!

Thursday, December 1, 2016

November House Update

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The roof going in!  

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Roofing completed!  Now we can relax a little bit when it rains.

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Siding almost completed!

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

November Little Things


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Ally took a few pictures on my phone, this one of Eva turned out pretty cute.
11.1.16
Eva asked if she could take clothes outside,  I said no.  She went back to report to Ally.  I see her coming back inside, she tells me "just don't ask me what I'm doing"

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A selfie, this girl is obsessed with trying to crack the code to my phone.  She has way too much fun when she finds it unlocked.

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A belated birthday present from Aunt Judy!  The kids all love it! 

11.3.16
This morning while helping Colton say the prayer I said "Bless Daddy at work" and he said "Daddy Fire Truck"

Colton was trying to reach the spray bottle on the counter.  When he couldn't reach it he brought out the little stool from the bathroom.  He stood on the stool and he was able to reach the spray bottle.  This boy is too smart.

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Ally dressed up as a cowboy, I love seeing the outfits she puts together.  She wore this all day!

11.7.16
Colton said "Apple!".  I tried to hand him apple slices and he got mad.  I finally figured out he wanted a banana

For the last 10 mintues Colton keeps saying "ooo wind, out lights"  from the poem 5 Little Pumpkins

11.8.16
Eva wanted to know why her apple sauce pouch had wood in it.  I was very confused until I realized it was cinnamon apple sauce.  The front has a picture of an apple and a cinnamon stick.

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Another amazing sunset.  Eva noticed it first, she asked if something was on fire out side.  Luckily it was just this gorgeous sunset.  It was fun to watch with the kids, Eva was so proud of noticing it first. 

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During some silly face making time we realized that Colton has a really long tongue.  We tried to get him to touch his tongue to his nose but he didn't quite understand.  I think his tongue is long enough though!

11.9.16
I told Colton to go get his boots.  He came back without boots, shook his head and said "look everywhere" with a sad face.  I just want to know how you can look "everywhere" in less than 30 seconds.

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My Eva girl can really test my patience.  This particular day was full of struggles for the both of us.  I decided I was not going to argue over her interesting outfit choice (even if we were going out in public). 

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These two are so silly in the mornings.  After we get back from dropping Maggie and Ally off at school they don't want to get out of the car.  I  think Eva needs a little more instruction on proper seat belt wearing before she graduates from her car seat!  And yes, they do the school drop off in their pajamas 99% of the time.

11.10.16
On the way home from Grandma's house after dropping the girls off I hear Colton say "I'm back here mom!".  He was all the way in the back all by himself.

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My handsome little cowboy!
11.14.16
Colton was playing with a toy turtle.  He said "a turtle mom!, she's so cute".

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Colton is always so excited to see Olive when we are at Uncle Brian's house.  It cracks me up how will get right up next to the window to watch her, but once you open the sliding glass door he isn't so sure about being that close.

11.15.16
While driving past some cows Colton said "Baby Cows! Awwwwe, so cute"

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While moving the car seats around I discovered this little bit of graffiti in front of Ally's seat.  As mad as I am about her writing (with red ink!) on the seat I can't get past the irony of her writing CTR.

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A full rainbow out at McKinley Drive

11.16.16
Colton was saying the prayer for lunch and noticed Eva was snacking instead of being reverent.  He said "Prayer, prayer Eba!"

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A little yogurt treat from The Big Chill
11.22.16
When Colton woke up this morning the first thing I heard over the monitor was "momma, I play animals!"

Friday, November 25, 2016

Filling the Woodshed

Whenever my brothers come back to The Ranch it is project time.  While we didn't have to help out with fixing the pipe (thank goodness) we all pitched into help fill the woodshed for the winter.  

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I love that my girls jump right on in and help as much as they can.  Hard work is more fun the more people working together.  

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Colton is never one to be left out, he did his best to help.  He was the cutest little worker.

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As much as Colton wanted to help his grumpiness was interfering with his "helping".  We tried distracting him by "driving" the tractor.

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While waiting to load the next round of wood Eva was in heaven hunting for her favorite Miner's Lettuce, which she happily eats.