December

What a crazy, atypical December we have had. I have been in this house for over two weeks now. The snow is now up past my knees. I have pushed my fair share of vehicles trying to dislodge them from the snow. Our Christmas day was quiet, too quiet. I miss my family. I still haven't out grown waking up with butterflies on Christmas day. I have to wake my kids up because I can't wait any longer. The sun never gets too hot here. The camera got sat on and is in need of repair. 10 o'clock doesn't feel like sleeping in here. It feels just right. Sledding is the new activity of choice. I am the newest Twilight series fan. Washingtonians (or whatever you call them) are amazing people. Really feeling the love here. Driving in the ice is really fun...without the kids...then you don't have to be as responsible. Uphill in the ice is not so fun. Snow walking with two kids in your arms is great exercise. Watching it snow is really peaceful. Snow ice cream is as good as I remember it being. Homemade Christmas gifts are the best. Christmas cards are so fun to receive, especially when they have pictures. You can always count on your family. Prayers are heard and answered over and over again. Life doesn't get much better than this.

Just For Fun

LEFT: About a week ago Cody was in a school play, they performed The Three Piggy Opera. Cody was the stick peddler. She did a great job! She told me she nervous and that her hands were shaking the whole time, but I couldn't see that from the audience. Her mother, however, was not so great and forgot the camera. In an attempt to make amends I had her wake up the next morning and sing her solo. I can't listen to this without thinking of Uncle Anthony's impression of Cody :), so I hope he enjoys this too.

RIGHT: Last Saturday, Cody was walking aroung the house singing the same song over and over. Aaron and I were starting to get tired of it. Just before we were about to tell her to SHHHHUSH, Colten gave her a hint, we're still not sure if she got the hint.

Double Digits

Well it's official, I'm...old. Cait just turned 10! We can't believe she is ten. We love Cait, couldn't have asked for a better first born child. She is always there for her brothers and sisters (and her mom and dad). Caitlyn is doing great in school. She loves Washington. She has made many new friends here. She has joined a friendship club at school. She was just asked to work on the yearbook for her school and she is partipating in our stake's childrens Creche Choir. Between her awesome music teacher at school and this choir practice she has made a lot of progress in her singing abilities. We can't wait to go see her perform. The Creche Exhibit is huge. One of the Seattle papers rated it as one of the top 10 things to go do this holiday season. There will be over 400 nativities there from all around the world. Christmas decorations everywhere. Childrens activities, cookies and hot chocolate, all kinds of stuff. Cait you are amazing! We love you!



Oh the joy of trick candles!!

Anniversary Surprise

This morning we woke up to the sounds of our kids collaborating on how to make us pancakes, so they could bring us breakfast in bed. They didn't know we were listening, which only made it that much more fun. When Colten came in to wake us up this morning, as he usually does on the weekends. I heard Caitlyn quickly scoop him up and hurry out of our room, shutting the door on her way. Next came the sounds of bowls and utensils clanging together and chairs be scooted across the floor. Caitlyn had found a recipe for pancakes in a cookbook she recieved for Christmas last year. She was directing the show and hushing the kids when they started talking above a whisper. We heard so many cute comments, the likes of; "Buttermilk? What's buttermilk?", "Yeah, I know where Mom keeps the oil, it's on the top shelf.", "Caitlyn, Look no eggshells when I cracked the egg!" "Good Job, Cody!", "Cody, that's not oil, that is vinegar!", "Hey Caitlyn, lets put cinnamon in it." "Does Mom put Cinnamon in the mix?" "No, but that can be our secret ingredient!" "Chance, don't stir it out of the bowl." "Cody and Chance if you want to be good little cooks you have to clean up after yourselves." "Chance, go listen to see if they are awake." "Nope, they are not." Aaron and I loved laying there listening to them working together and how excited they were to surprise us. We enjoyed a stack of at least eight (slightly undercooked) delicious pancakes. After they served us breakfast and visited with us while we were eating (you could tell they wanted to eat those pancakes with us really bad) they went and made themselves pancakes. Too bad every morning doesn't start this way.

I love a good wager

For those of you that know Aaron and I, you know that we are a little competitive at times. For several years now I have been a little down on my luck. (Rock, paper, scissors is no longer a fun game.) As you can see, it looks like that is about to change. I don't even remember what we bet, I'm sure it was something lame, the important thing is that, I won!! (Hey Honey, you need to work on those flowers a little more.)

He is smirking here because he just realized I was taking his picture and that I am going to post it all over the web.

Invaders

Everytime!, I mean everytime, I go to make something... I have invaders. It doesn't matter if it is PB & J's or cookies. Colten is very excited to "help" there is no way to keep him down. I would have to hide anything and everything that is scootable to keep that boy off of the countertop. Anna is a little better only because you can reason with her to sit on a stool. Even Chance, Cait, and Cody all hang around. I'm feeling a little surrounded. I find myself sneaking to make stuff, while they are in the toy room or taking naps, just so I don't have to worry about little fingers in everything. It was really cute at first, but now, not so much. Just a little:)

Little House of Horrors!

Our Halloween this year was just like what you see in the movies. Streets and sidewalks covered with multi-colored fall leaves, brisk night air, pitched rooftops, the kids all bundled up under their costumes. It was fun.

All of them trying to get into character. Caitlyn realizing she might not have bundled up enough.

The Wicked Witch of Washington or Nanny McPhee? You choose. She thought she looked more like Nanny McPhee, but I definately think witch.

Our little 50's chick, she had fun with this skirt. We even found some saddle shoes in her size at the Goodwill. She's so cute. The boys on the bus think so too. (Scary!!!)

Is that a member of KISS in our living room? (minus the makeup and leather clothes)

Aaron had a little fun with Chance's wig, before we gave it a haircut. Pretty sure he really thinks he is a rockstar. We took a picture with him sticking his tongue out, but it was so ummm...."interesting", that I couldn't bring myself to post it.

A monster in the making. On the outside only. Just a sweet (little bit stubborn) boy on the inside.

HE'S ALIVE!!! (I think, he looks kind of dead there.)

Oh, we don't call her princess Anna, for nothing. (by the way thanks a lot Rhett, I think it stuck.) She is actually a fairy here. She called herself pink Tinkerbell. She moved through the streets just like one. Dancing from house to house.

And what was Colten you ask, well he is #5 and I was sick all week and too tired to care, besides all he has to do is smile at his siblings and they give him whatever he wants. What a life. I don't feel bad for him at all.

Cedar River Salmon

Ahhh!! Blogging drives me crazy!! The pictures never come up in the order I want them to. Oh well, it would take too much time to change them, so here we go again. I also have no idea why this is all underlined.

We have been trying to take the kids to see the Salmon since we moved here. We finally found them. On the day we went to the river there was a group of naturalists (not sure what that means) with an information booth giving out all kinds of information. We met this really nice guide who showed the kids all about the Salmon's journey from the river to the ocean and back to the river. It was really interesting and the kids actually sat listening to this lady for 20 minutes!!

So picture #1 has nothing to do with the salmon, this was part of our walk the night before. The night before we saw the salmon we walked down this really great trail next to the Cedar River. At one point we followed a side trail into the forest and the forest turned into the jungle!! You can see a distinct light difference between this area of the walk and out on the regular trail. The vegetation in this area was so dense. The kids were scared at first, but then it became an adventure.

At last they made it to the river.

Do we dare go through this spooky old tree?..........yes, we dare!

Woodland creatures?

Cutie!... not the baby, his daddy! :) Okay the baby is pretty cute too.

Skipping by the river.

Amazed by the huge decaying salmon swimming around in the tanks at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

See the pinkish black, sticks in the water, those are the salmon.

Just watching the fish.

Two Sparrows in a Hurricane

I don't know why I still continue to load my pictures after I type, but I do, so you will just have to look first and read later.

Anna and Autumn (our neighbor) waiting for the kids at the bus stop.

Our drive way.

I love this view everytime I turn in the driveway. Walking home from the bus stop.
Caitlyn showing you we have leaves. Yeah!

Wow! where do I begin. We live in Washington now. After the last two months, I feel like a sparrow in a hurricane....trying to find our way. Rhett came over to help me pack and told me that, Two Sparrows in a Hurricane should be Aaron and I's theme song. He is right. Aaron sent out resumes mid-August. Accepted a job the following week. Started work the first of September, and we moved up middle of September. Whew!!!

The kids are loving it. Who knew leaves and slugs could be so entertaining. I have to admit Washington is gorgeous, especially right now with all the fall leaves. I just know I am going to get in a car accident someday. I drive around completely distracted by the beauty around here.

Aaron likes work. His new bosses are good people. He likes the weekends more and always has a new adventure he wants to try out.

Last Weekend we went to cut wood. Our desired goal was not quite accomplished, due to a poorly constructed chain saw, but nobody cared because it was just such a beautiful day and the area we were in was amazing.

We have all decided that living in Washington is like permanently camping (in a cabin). In our area there are bears, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, racoons, elk, and deer. We are constantly on the look out for unwanted "visitors". Fortunately we have only seen the nice ones so far.

We really miss our family and friends. The kids have finally come to the understanding that we can't just get in the car and go see who ever we want. They are having a hard time with the fact that it will just be our family for the holidays. Aaron and I will miss our traditional holiday feasts, but are excited to come up with our own menu. We have a couple of fun things in mind.

Hope all is well for everyone. Thanks to everyone who helped us in this new adventure. We couldn't have done it without you all.

Climbing Colten

It took forever to post this video, so I have had it as a draft for a long time. Finally finished it.

Two or three weeks ago I walked into the girls room and found Colten sitting on the top bunk. I was frustrated that the kids had put him up there and left the room. So I went and told the kids how dangerous that was, and that they shouldn't be putting Colten up there, ever. They assured me that they didn't do it and I walked away thinking they were little liars, until 10 minutes later when I couldn't find Colten again and went in search of him. Much to my surprise this is what I found. I think the part of the video where he acts like his foot is slipping is just a tease, because I have seen him climb that little ladder many times now and he is really quite proficient at it. Unfortunately, climbing has become his newest hobby. When ever I hear him "calling for help" (screaming), I know he has climbed up on something and can't get down. At least he hasn't discovered how fun jumping is. His latest climb landed him on top of the stove. He borrowed a nearby stool and scaled his way to sweet treasure. He had eyed a tub of cookies from down below. Aaron walked past only to find him devouring his hard earned treat. Colten was quite pleased with his successful quest. Too bad we didn't think to photograph that, I think we were too shocked to find him sitting on the stove.

The Ranch

In April my friend Katie and I entered a contest for a stay at Rancho de la Osa guest ranch in Sasabe, AZ. We had both agreed to take each other if we won. Well....she won!! Of all the vacations we could have won, this one was the best. Both of us could hardly wait to go, so she booked a stay in June. It was hotter than heck, but we were the only ones crazy enough to be at the guest ranch and that more than made up for the weather.



The wranglers were great people and really catered to our desires. The let us run on the trails. They have over 170,000+ acres to ride on, so you never ride the same trail twice. All of our meals were included, so we were really able to relax.



This is the entrance to the ranch. Isn't it pretty?





This is the building were our suites were located, they did a great job decorating, I thought it was very charming.




Aaron and I before our first ride, Aaron really enjoyed the trip inspite of the look on his face, and I was determined to help my farmers tan fade.




Ready, set, go!


Aaron favorite horse, Brando, he was a morgan, shire cross and by far the best horse on the ranch. I wish they had given him to me, but they save the big horses for the big guys.




This was one of the many scenic vistas, we enjoyed.





Riding the range.




Here are your tax dollars at work, That is the new 8 mile border fence behind us. About 1/4 mile west of were our picture was taken it ends because the is the Indian Reservation. There is also a little watering hole on the other side of the fence with a herd of wild horses that hang out there. That was fun to see, there were several babies with them, but they were pretty thin.




Just another day on the range.




Katie and I after our last ride, we will definately be saving our pennies for a return visit. That was one of my most favorite vacations.

Cody's Kindergarten Graduation

Wow, it's really unbelievable how quickly our kids are growing up. Cody graduated from kindergarten this month and Chance will start in a month. Cody's class had a musical presentation they performed for all the families. They did a great job.


We couldn't get the other kids to leave the toys and come over for a picture.

Cody and her friends

Cody giving us the "I love you" sign and Isaac with a darling smile.

Cait and Cody with their little friend Alexis