Fort Day in the Teepee

This year the cold has been slow to come so we have enjoyed nice weather for weeks now.

The boys decided to set up the teepee in the yard to make a fort.

Then they got the idea to bring daisy in to trap her undivided attention.

She only lasted so long 

This was a fun.

Canyon recently had a tooth pulled and is now a pirate.

Thanksgiving 2012

We started the day with our own Turkey Trot. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed a nice walk together while we told the story of the first thanksgiving.

This sparked a great conversation! I love talking with my kids and hearing their ideas.

I'm thankful for family, good food, and the quiet of nature that makes life seem a little more peaceful and the day a little more simple.

Troy worked til noon so we worked together to prepare the feast for when he got home.

Troy really wanted us to try making the whole feast this year...so we did.

it was so fun and it turned out delicious!

Lacey always has a way of adding special touches.

She made napkin rings and set the festive table.

The day before the kids and I made 5 pies! So good.

Rustin made the cranberry relish the boys helped peel potatoes and make a salad.

Me making the gravy.

When Troy got home he took charge of the turkey.....mmmm can't you just taste it!

O.K. so obviously our family loves food. It makes us happy.

The feast is finished! Yum

The meal brought many happy faces...

Like the 1st thanksgiving our feasting lasted for at least 3 days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have much to be thankful for.

Kasen's 7th Birthday

We had a very last minute party for Kasen but he was very happy with it.

He had his three best friends over: Collins and Mason and Ella.

The three boys went bbgun shooting first then we played a mystery game where he had to guess who was on the other side of the door. They played headbands guessing game as well then we had cake and presents. Kasen loves people having his friends and family around him makes him happy!

We love you Kasen!

Family Deer Hunt - Nov. 2012

This year the hunt was at China Peak. The three little boys went early with Troy. Rustin, Lacey, and I joined them on the weekend.

When we got there the weather was nice with light showers of rain.

It got worse...

But we were able to squeeze in a hike 

down the canyon to find fall leaves and picnic before the storms hit.

No matter the weather the hunters didn't stop hunting and we didn't stop having fun.

 Grayson, Kasen, Canyon, Jaxon & Lacey in the bottom of the canyon.

Pretty cool leaves

Pudding a rare treat-Kasens favorite

Shady trees and big boulders to climb on.

 Quad rides with grandpa..room for all

 Campfire gathering-get close to stay warm

Kasen loves uncle Tracy's horse Big Red so he asked to get a picture with him.

We did lots to pass the time...

We sat around the fire listening to the adventures of the day and years past. 

 We hula hooped

 we shot guns

 We played games

 We ate jerky

 We hovered over the mighty hunters who tagged a deer and dreamed of the day

 when we will be so lucky

We crammed together in trailers to talk, play games, giggle and stay warm.

It was not our most successful hunt but we had a great time.

Of course this is the back at camp version of the trip the hunters had a whole different experience.

They would come back wet through shivering and hungry with sore feet and backs.

They would spend hours in caves or under cliff hangings with a fire and wait for the hail or snow to let up so they could see some deer.

Some even had success.

Check with them for the whole story they tell it better every time:)

We love spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors.

More Do it "Myself-ers"

O.K. I love this sequence of Photos...only because I'm their mom and they make me laugh, which I need. These two are so funny when they get ideas.

At first glance out the mudroom window I saw this. My first reaction was to say GET DOWN! those wheels are going to roll and that can't end well.

But then my foolish side got the best of me and I got curious as to what they were doing and grabbed my camera for a closer look.

Kasens concentrating on every move he makes.

"What are you two doing" I asked.  Mom we are getting our fishing pole untangled form the close line."Me:"Do you want me to help?"  Them:"No, see we got it!" 

Me:"That looks really precarious boys be careful." "WE ARE MOM, we're fine, SEE"

"What if the car rolls", I ask. Kasen replies,"It won't Jaxons holding it, see."

(My thoughts: ya I see, no one's feet touching the ground! Fantastic, boys are so....sssss....silly.)

They seemed so confident and sure of themselves. Who was I to wreck their plan and knock their ego's.  I never said get down I just walked back in the house and left to them to their devices. (giggling) 

They both survived.

All by MYSELF.

I have heard the phrase"I can do it by myself Mom" often lately.  Canyon is growing up so fast it seems. Doing so many big boy things. I think I have mixed feelings about this since he is our baby and all. But then I love watching him do things and then get so excited about it.

These pictures definitely capture one of the simple joys of motherhood...watching your child concentrate on a task and succeed!

I let him wear his shirt backwards and wrong side out all day, it seemed the right thing to do.

Oh how I love this boy!