Little peek into bedroom re-do

 Black armoir, about to get a facelift.
you can kind of see the "snowmobile white" through the plastic.
this was the before paint colors, beige, white, and chocolate brown.
These are a few of the paint colors that were in the running.
This just looked too much like mint chocolate chip to me.

So about a year ago, Nate fell through our bedroom ceiling, (that is another blog topic that I really should document) anyway, to say the least there was a giant patched up hole in the ceiling (thanks to great friends) and the mud and tape went down the walls, giving our bedroom a nice redneck look and was desperately in need of some love. So, about a year after the falling through the celieng fiasco, we have completed our bedroom. These of course are the before pics, but, I want to get our curtains up and done first before I show you all our, new to us, bedroom. That way I can tell Nate that I have to blog about them because the 3 of you who follow my blog are dying to see it, right?

Chopping down the tree, round 2

Arshel's, we hold you forever in our hearts. 

 This is showing the steepness, so steep I couldn't open the van door.

 This is Neil & Becky's tree, beauty eh?

 The kids' shrubbery.

 Our family tree. She looked lovely in the forest,

even lovelier in our living room.

 Please notice how much rope is on those trees.

 Please notice the safety line, as to indicate any lifting by the tree.

Please notice me in the front seat, having waited around

40 minutes or so for the master tie on to occur.

So, there we were. In the Beaver mountains, surrounded by beauty, and evergreens galore. It was lovely. Nothing to it really, not this year anyway, no rules to speak of, other than "NO BLUE SPRUCE." So, it began. The search for the perfect Christmas tree. It didn't take all that long. We ended up getting the very first one I picked out, it is a beauty. After looking at about a gazillion trees in the 100 yard circumference that we ventured into, mine won out. Now Neil and Becky's took a little more time. Choosing a tree for someone else really puts on the pressure. We did find a keeper however and her branches are lovely, just like ole tanunbaum's. The real fun came when we tied it on to the van. We were a little apprehensive after our last chopping of the tree venture a couple of years back. Real quick recap: tree on van, friends traveling in front of us, just got on on ramp, friend says, 'hey your tree is lifting a little' 1/2 second later "oh, ooooh, there it goes." Our tie on was soo great it ripped our rack right off the poor van. Our tree went flying, got ran over by a diesel as he honked, and we nearly killed an old man who had to swerve, to miss the tree that looked like a corpse wrapped in a tarp. Oh what I wouldn't give to have that on video. So back to this year, it was quite uneventful comparatively speaking. Nate jimmy rigged our old rack with some u-bolts, (you're a genius babe), and the rest is history. A lovely evergreen stands noble and whole in our front room. Good times. Very good times.

Party Like it's YO Bert-Day yo Bert-Day!

HE'S 9!!

I don't claim to know how this happened, but alas, C'est Vrai.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLE!!

You are the coolest kid I know & I hope your day is amazing,

it looks like it is shaping up to be just that-
Amazing, just like you.

We love you,

Mom, Dad, Maggie, & Fisher

Fest-O-Trees

 A couple of the best people on earth. True heights depicted here.
Cristy is my tiny little friend, with a great big heart. Krista, my tall friend with a great big heart.

 Still awesome people, Cristy & Krista. A bit of squatting along with tippy toes.

I won't tell who is doing what, that's our little secret.

This tree is made out of Motorcycle tires. Awe- Some.

I had a special treat the other night. I got to be a volunteer at the Festival of trees, thanks to my cute friend Krista. She has been volunteering with her mom for years. The whole thing is quite the production, requiring hundreds, if not closer to a thousand, volunteers to pull the whole thing off. It's amazing and good to see how selfless and giving people in the community are. Everything is donated including, trees, ornaments, small trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, centerpieces, food, quilts (which I have a fond appreciation for, knowing how much time and money it requires to make a quilt), not to mention the purchasers, accounting talents, hostessing, leadership, invoicing, time, talent and delivery, which could be anywhere from St. George to Idaho. Impressive. The money goes to Primary Children's Hospital, and I for one have told myself that it goes to families having financial troubles.

What an awesome venture involving awesome people. Hope is abounding for humanity. Look around, goodness is there in full force. Let's add to it. 

3-2-1- Blast Off!

 Do you have a bit of Space Derby Rocket envy? Pretty cool eh?

 Cole with his awesome Rocket as well as hair that is also very aerodynamic.

Some of the cronies and the cool track- thanks to amazing leaders.

Space Rocket Derby. Who knew. Gone are the days of soley derbying with pine wood cars. I have to say It was pretty cool. You know, as a  parent, competitions involving your young child somehow evolves into a competion involving the parents, or dads, if being mostly accurate. Wow, there are alot of tricks and details that could mean victory or failure depending on if you choose to incorporate them or not. Tricks like, clean lines, smooth sanding, the right lube, how many rubber bands are legally allowed, and of course, the awesomeness of the paint job. Cole's shark rocket was stellar. In a rocket world where fat and chunky rockets reigned, Cole's was sleek and clean. A trick achieved with none other than a potatoe peeler. Sweet. As luck would have it, Cole got his moment of glory in one heat, where "The Shark" sailed seemlessly past all other enemy rockets coming in first place. Thank goodness for that one moment, in that one heat, for that was to be his only taste of victory of the day. Congratulations Cole on a competiton well competed with pride and dignity, laced with great sportsmanship. You are "The Shark" of goodness & awesomeness.

The Gobbler Pinata & Turkey Day

 This is Timmy- The 1st annual Gobbler Pinata

 Cute Maggers & Larky get 1st whacks

 Fisher getting his Jeter on

 Finn- taking it easy on Timmy 

 Cole being dazed and confused just before hitting Timmy out of the park

 Uncle Jesse enjoying a Turkey Treasure

Would you look at that spread, yum.

Thanksgiving was pretty great. It left me feeling all warm and fuzzy, grateful, spoiled, loved, and very full. Our families are both amazing and I couldn't ask to be associated with better people. Timmy the Turkey Pinata did not disapoint, in fact he brought much glee and laughter. I highly recommend the afore mentioned activity. Aside from entertaining the kids after dinner, the adults were also quite jovial which is saying something  since we were all suffering from food induced comas. My 3 favorite foods from this Thanksgiving meal were as follows, 3)Turkey w/ cranberries, 2) Grandma Angus' cabbage souffle salad, & 1) Lindy's chocolate banana cream pie. Delish!

Top10 Thankful Goodies

Happy Thanksgiving to All of you, friends and loved ones.
We thought we would share with you our top 10 Thankfuls:

10) Our bodies- Fisher
09) Agency- Cole
08) Time-Cole
07) Hot Water- Maggie
06) Names-Cole
05) Music- Maggie
04) My Wife- Nate
03) Lips to kiss with, Smile with, and Laugh with
02) Gospel
01) EACH OTHER & YOU

Thanksgiving Eve w/ Gobbler Pinata

Tomorrow is the big day. Gorging Galore. Thanksgiving is truly a wonder to behold. The gathering of family and friends. The making of delicious food. The making of memories. The seating arrangements, the table settings, the fancy nut cups to go by each place, and let us not forget the first annual homemade Turkey Gobbler Pinata, complete with stuffing. Stuffing including mini whoopi cushions, lip gloss rings, and mini Connect Four games with which you play with smarties. I know, you're dieing to see the Gobbler and hear of the raging success. Me too. You will have to check back tomorrow as well as the day After Thanksgiving for the report. In the mean time, from our family to yours,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holy handmixer attack Batman!!

 You may ask yourself,"what exactly am I looking at here?"

 This is the top of Maggie's head w/ a bald spot about the size of 2 quarters next to each other.

 This is the right side of Maggie's bangs. Please notice this bald spot is heart shaped.

And this is our cutest Maggie and the hairstyle she will be wearing for the next 6 months. SO cute.

I know. You are saying,"What the? I need an explanation, what is going on here?" I was asking myself the same question as I heard the blood curdling screams coming from the kitchen. The first scream we didn't really respond to because blood curdling screams are pretty common for Maggie (I have taught her well) She screams loudly for things ranging from a spider across the room to stubbing her toe to, who knew, getting her hair caught in the hand mixer. The second scream, which was really just part of the really long 1st scream, we responded to. Nate and I ran into the kitchen to see Maggie standing over the sink with the beaters stuck in her hair. She had turned it off at this point, but the beaters were stuck to her head and they were stuck to her head because they had wound her hair up that tight. Nate of course 1st and foremost unplugged the apparatus. Then proceded to untangle Maggie's hair, which was covered in Pancake batter, that was like glue because they were whole wheat with only the eggs added in so far. I on the other hand, was laughing in silence with my eyes as big as saucers, in unbelief. How? How Maggie did you manage this? Come to find out, she put cinnamon in the batter and had leaned over the bowl to smell the spicey concoction when the beaters made their move. They saw a moment of weakness and attacked in full force. So after a shower, and many tears, the bald spots were discovered. We didn't know they were there in all the commotion, but Maggie soon found them as gobs of hair fell out in the shower. What's to do? I called my sister Gaylynn who saved the day. We took her to her salon, she shampooed and conditioned, combed and combed, cut and styled. And sent her out the door with a cute headband, one of many she has been sporting the last week. Thanks Gaylynn. And thanks Kenzie and Michelle for the cute headband and treat. And the moral to the story is: Ponytails.

more HARVEST

This is Cole's sunflower that he planted last year in 2nd grade. It was huge. It measures about a foot and a half across. It got so big that we had to trim most of the leaves off because it was shading our entire garden. It was like a tree. He and his friends have enjoyed eating the seeds and it is quite the sight to see them haul it around like the prize it is. I do know at one munching session the shells covered about 1/4 of the driveway, which he was not all that happy that I made him sweep up. 'Can I just sweep them into the wind?' he asked. 'NO', you cannot.

Harvest

This is it. The last of the loot from the garden. What a bitter sweet ending. Bitter because I strongly dislike buying tomatoes in the store until the 1st tomatoe of August will appear next year. Those pithy, nasty, poor excuses for tomatoes. Sweet because, YAY for canning being done, I won't be missing you. So, on Sunday we had dinner at Neil and Becky's (delish and yum, thx) and I made one of those Butternut squash you see in the picture. What a treat. My kids snarffed it down. Simply bake for around an hour and a half, remove meat, add as much butter and brown sugar as your conscience will allow, mix, and watch the anti-oxidents and vitamin C go down the gullets of all surrounding the table.Really. It works. Of course, what doesn't work with butter and brown sugar? Bon Appetit.

Works for us, Child Labor, WORK, WORK, WORK

What a fun day of staining the fence. A great time was had by all. Please take note of the safety glasses adorned by all involved. Nate's are rather Erkel-esque, wouldn't you agree? We are on a

"Work as a Family" kick the last little while. Why you may ask? Why put yourselves through that?

I was talking to my Dad about getting the kids to work and how in the world did he do it with us.

He said,"Do you really think we needed a 1/2 acre of beans?" Oh, all this time I thought that he and mom enjoyed canning to Kingdom Come. Come to find out it was all a ploy to teach us how to work. Which in and of itself is work, exhausting, back breaking (or should I say mental state breaking), work. No, really after about 4 hours I was sooo done. But, look at the fence. It's done. The kids are proud of their work. Nate and I are proud of the kids, and it does seem to bring out the best in all of us for a while.

For example:

We work together, small people getting the low areas, big people the high.

We get messy, really messy, kids loved that part.

We become bi-langual, the principle language being Whinese.

We dance and become rather silly, which is my personal favorite part.

So, onward and upward toward the steep climb of teaching kids to work and to enjoy it. It's a trick, but certainly one that pays large dividends. Right?



A SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWS EVE

 Maggs and her friend Lydia at the school parade

 You probably can't see him because of his stealth and Ninja-ness, but this is Cole

 Those handsome eyes could only be Fisher's

 Hip Hip Hooray for Grandpa Neil's office Trick or Treat Extravaganza with cousins

 Just on their way out for the gathering of goodies

 Is this picture self explanatory enough?

 Oh the bliss of sugared confection

Pumpkins and Princess

although she looks a little too much like a prom date for this mother of one daughter



WAAA-HAAA-HAAA & A BoOooo tO YOu!

Here are a few little spooks. A few of the cutest ones if you ask me. We got to have Ava and Mae here for a couple of days. Not nearly long enough, but we loved every minute of it. These glasses are from Grandma Becky, thanks grandma.

And a spooky and Haunting Halloween to you all!