Third Time's a Charm!

WE FINALLY HAVE A TREE!!!!
Today was a beautiful day with an
abundance of sunshine
(the Weather Channel's words).
The kids had a great time playing in the snow
& there was no crying about being cold.

Dot had to get in on the snow action.

"The Spot"

One week later & it's still lookin' nasty.

It looked like it had claimed more victims in the last week.

We drove around it today.

Now it feels like Christmas!!!

Not Meant To Be??

Every year we go into the forest and cut our Christmas tree.

We have done this for years & years and have always had a great time.

This year, however, we've had nothing but trouble.

Last weekend we loaded up and drove the hour to Springerville to get our permit and the office was closed. (It's always been open until noon on Saturday.)

So we drove back around to Show Low to a sporting goods store my friend said she got hers at.

They were out of permits.

Hungery, disappointed, & not wanting to steal a tree we headed home.

My Mom, the kids, & I drove back to Springerville during the week to get a permit so we'd be ready this weekend. As we were walking into the office I noticed a sign saying,

"We will be open from 9 to noon this Saturday."

I guess we were a week early!

So yesterday after church with premits in hand we drove to our favorite spot.

Not far off the highway we helped a lady and her kids who were stuck.

We laughed at how one could get stuck on the snow-packed dirt road and proceeded on.

Not too much farther up the road we (our Suburban & my Dad's truck) became firmly stuck in a snow drift covering a low spot on the road. Thank goodness for Karma. Two trucks came along not too long after and came to help us.

The next 4 1/2 hours look something like this.

The guys were able to get my Dad's truck unstuck but he was unable to pull us out.

One of the other trucks was able to pull us to the other side of the drifts but then while trying to blaze a path thru managed to get themselves stuck in the same spot we were.

Oh, did I mention the 30-40 mph winds?

Thankfully the kids were very good the whole time we were stuck.

They finally got too bored and we had to start a movie.
Good thing we had one with us.

In the end the other 2 trucks called someone to pick them up and we loaded into my Dad's truck. That makes it sound too easy. We got the kids all bundled up (with groans about how their movie wasn't over yet), loaded up all our supplies, & had my Dad walk over to us. Then my Dad & Dale each carried a boy, I carried Dot (wrapped in a blanket) & Samantha had to carry my purse. We walked across the long snow drift in a blizzard (because of course it started to snow) and then loaded into my Dad's truck. We were able to drive out and get home safe.

Dale and some of the guys from the shop just left to drive back up there to meet the guys from the other 2 trucks to try & dig out the abandoned vehicles.

So in the end we are starting to wonder if maybe we aren't meant to have Christmas trees.

The Blizzard.

Good-bye Fatty

Tonight we said good-bye to "Fatty".

She is goning to live with a family in our ward.



We will miss you & good luck in your new home!

UPDATE: "Fatty's" name has been changed to Topaz.

Good-Bye Spot

Today we said good-bye to our little pup Spot.

We wish him well at his new home!

What am I doing right now?

I am eating a home-made English muffin

with home-made butter

and home-made pomegranate jelly.

OH YEAH!!

Oh My Garsh!

Grandma gave Colin a pen to draw with during sacrament meeting.

This is what he did with it.

(Click on pic. for a better look.)

I think he's been watching too much Popeye!

Happy 5th Birthday!!

Today was the boys' birthday. I can't believe they are 5.

I tried to tell them I wasn't going to let them turn 5 but they didn't believe me.

Patrick was the first boy up this morning. He came into the kitchen and said,

"So, where is my present?"

We were so mean and wouldn't give them their present until after preschool.

They were so excited to get "big boy" bikes.

Grandma & Grandpa got them the helmets.

It didn't take them long to ride all by themselves!

(They have been riding Skuuts for the past 2 years. I highly recommend them. Without them I don't think the boys would be riding so well so fast.)

We are so lucky to have such sweet little guys in our family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!!!

So Much To Blog, So Little Time!

The super heroes on their way to their costume party at preschool
Samantha at the costume parade at her school.

Samantha loves to throw in the ball.

She had a great season.

As a goalie she blocked the ball twice and almost made a goal!

Samantha's team won almost every game!

Great job

Samantha (a robot),Patrick (Superman), & Colin (Batman)
at Trunk-or-Treat.
We made root beer

there was also a cotton candy machine.

Oops, I forgot to turn this one.
I liked the sign on the back of this M&M.
His brothers had them also.

The Jack-o-lantern Dale and the kids carved.
Scary!!

The boys relaxing at Grandma Ruth's
after a big night of candy gathering.
(This only lasted about 3 seconds)

You can tell by Patrick's face that he had a great Halloween!

Samantha was the top cookie dough salesperson at her school.
Here is all the awesome prizes she earned including her TWO
$50 Walmart gift cards.
She was able to buy some cool stuff.
I made her buy some Christmas gifts and her own winter boots
she was happy to get a new Lego set and her own fish bowl & fish.

Which is the real Samantha???
(Hint: one of them is really Colin in a mullet wig)

Princess Patrick didn't want to be left out of the dress-up fun.

Amanda took my Mom & I too see the Phantom of the Opera for our birthdays.
It was a fun day. Dale & my Dad took the kids to Cabela's.
On the way down to Mesa I got to sit by Colin & look at these too cute legs.

The boys had their birthday party at the park this year.
The weather was perfect.

Colin blowing out his 5 candles.

Patrick blowing out his 5 candles.

Colin showing off his super yummy birthday cake.
They said they wanted a pumpkin cake so I made
Grandma Connie's Pumpkin Bars.
They were a big hit!

They got lots of cool gifts.
Thanks everyone.

THE FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR!!

Witchalina came again!

This is the story Witchalina left for us last night.
The kids had a great time trying to pick up the paper with just one finger.


We were a little confused about the clue to the treat. The kids were looking all around the washer and dryer but it took them a few minutes to think to look inside.

They were so excited to find a big tub of glow-in-the-dark perler beads. They are the kids new favorite craft medium.

Thank you Witchalina!!!

We are so lucky!!

At Christmas time we have an elf that visits us. His name is Rizban and at night he goes to the North Pole to report to Santa. The kids love Rizban and have been looking forward to him coming for another visit soon. So you can imagine our surprise and excitement when we found a Witch visitor yesterday. She had a note saying her name is Witchalina and she will bring stories, games, and treats. The kids were freaking out. Patrick kept looking at her and is pretty sure he saw her blink.
Last night while I was making dinner and the kids were playing computer she left us this note.

Here is Witchalina and the silly glasses she brought for the kids. She taped them to the bottom of their chairs. I took a few minutes before Samantha thought to look up under her seat. As soon as Patrick found his glasses he went over to say Thank You to Witchalina. Samantha and the boys left her a plate of dinner last night and were super excited to see that she had eaten it. We can't wait to see what Witchalina has for us tonight!!

Our Family's Big Day

We are now an eternal family!