Catching Up...

Well, normally I would have new pictures to post, but unfortunately, the camera is in the shop. :( So it will just have to be old fashioned typing. The past couple of weeks have flown by, yet at the same time, they drug on. We had a very nice and quiet Thanksgiving. It was really hard being by ourselves, but we managed just fine and had a really nice day. The only bad part really, was we ate ourselves silly and still put just as much food as I made back into the fridge!!! But we enjoyed the leftovers!!
The weather has been bitterly cold lately. The last two morning have been -20 with a wind chill of -35. Next week we are supposed to be getting a lot of snow, every day next week! Kinda excited about that, but at the same time, want to be able to get our Christmas shopping done. We are actually going into big town tomorrow to do some of it, and of course, our big monthly trip. Hopefully the weather will hold out until after Sunday, when we plan to go to the forest and get our Christmas tree (majorly bummed I won't have my camera!!).
As far as the munchkins go, nothing much new. James is now walking everywhere. He loves his new freedom. Now if he can just figure out how to get out of his crib, he would be a happy camper. :) I just finished our Christmas letter, so hopefully will get those in the mail the beginning of the week, so be on the lookout. Jacob has been busy feeding, but in a week or so, the cows and calves will all be leaving. So that will alleviate a lot of his feeding time. All that will be left will be the bulls and horses. Beyond that, I hope all of you are doing well. We miss you and hope to see you soon.

Our walking little man!

I finally got some good video of James walking. It just took having someone else in the room distracting him from the camera. :) Of course now he will cruise around the living room, making turns, picking things up, etc. But only in the evening! Go figure that one out. Last night Jacob and I were watching him walk around being a ham, and he bent over to pick something up. But he got too far over the toy and as he reached down to pick it up, he became top heavy. BONK!!! Went the head and Jacob and I busted up laughing. He looked at us like, "What was that?" But saw that we were laughing, so he did too. Way too cute!

Let it snow, let it snow!!

This week has been extremely busy to say the least. Starting Wednesday the kids and I loaded up and headed into Denver to pick up my sister, Aunt Jodi. We finally made it home around dinner time, too long!!! The next day we spent just relaxing and the kids playing with Aunt Jodi. The next morning we woke up to about 6" of snow, and it was still falling. We got all the kids bundled up and ourselves, and headed outside to go sledding. By then there was about 12" and Jacob and Brian (the other buckaroo on the ranch) were done with their work for the day. So we found some sleds and looked for the best slope to do some sledding. After a few lapfuls of snow (I helped "pave" the way for sled paths) the kids were ready to go. But unfortunately, the first hill wasn't so great. Thomas & I found a better, steeper slope, so I "paved" the way on that one too. By now, poor James was just wanting nothing to do with the sleds or the snow, so he spent the rest of the time being held. Little Aaron gave up not too long after, too. But Rachel & Thomas were nuts!!! Rachel loved the sleds and kept going up and down all by herself, while Thomas just loved to slide on his bottom down and little slope. Happy as clams!!
After that we all went inside to have hot chocolate and some leftover chicken enchilada soup (adults) and grilled cheese sandwiches (kids). It hit the spot!!! Then we got everyone into their swimsuits and loaded into the car to go to some hot springs we had heard about in Steamboat. By now, there is about 16" of snow on the ground, but we didn't care. We just wanted to relax in the hot springs and enjoy the beautiful snow. We made it to Steamboat with no problem, but when we got to the "driveway" of the springs, we ran into a little more trouble. We had called ahead to make sure that they were still open, they were. But they failed to mention that they are at the end of a 2 mile long unpaved road, that goes straight up!!!! We were doing fine until a car came down the hill, in the middle of the road!!!! We had to go off to the side, in the deep snow. From there, it was all downhill. Jacob did an amazing job with that slippery hill and no traction on the road. The gravel was missing under the snow, so it was just icy mud. We called to the hot springs to let them know that they really needed to plow it, but they were in a turf war with the county over who's responsibility it really was. By now, we are not the only ones trying to make it up this hill. We finally said, it wasn't worth it and backed down the hill and went off in search of something else to do.
As we were driving around, we found another hot springs (a swimming pool with hot springs water). We unloaded everyone and got in!! It was so amazing seeing the snow falling and the warm water steaming. The kids loved it!!! Needless to say, so did us adults. After spending a while there, we headed off to dinner at a Mexican restaurant to top off the evening. It was so wonderful being able to do something like that with the kids. On the drive home, the roads were more plowed than before, so it was an easier drive. The next day, unfortunately, we had to take Aunt Jodi back to the airport. So at 6:30am, we loaded up and headed into Denver again, hoping to beat the next storm that was rolling in.
We made it to Silverthorne with no problems (except for our heater didn't work all the way there!!! we were very cold!). After that, a completely different story!! We hit a terrible blizzard and bad roads until we got to the top of Denver, just before you drop down into Denver. Everyone (crazy Coloradans) was driving wherever they wanted, not in between the lines!! That was the only time I had to be in 4-wheel drive. But we got her there with 2 hrs to spare. But, Jacob had called and said that another storm was blowing in and I had to get home pronto! So it was a driveby-dropoff, and the kids and I headed back home. We got lost in Denver because they closed about a mile of the Interstate, but failed to give great detour directions. Finally around 2pm we made it home. It had just started to get bad as I got there, so thankfully we made it before the worst part. Which never really came, thankfully. We ended up with a total of about 18" in the 2 days of snow.
Yesterday we tried a new church, but weren't very happy with it. We are still searching for a good Bible teaching church, but having a bit of difficulty. One that we had really enjoyed, we are learning that they are a little flimsy on their "Bible" teaching. They pick whatever version makes it sound good for the sermon. Not great. Most of the last service we heard there, was from the message Bible, and as we tried to follow along with NASB, totally different things were being said. So we are still searching. Please pray that we can find something, because this is getting very wearing, and we would love to be plugged in somewhere, and get some friends.
Since Sunday, I have also had a terrible cold. Yesterday, Thomas & James came down with it too. So unfortunately, no sledding for now. Poor Rachel is very disappointed, but the snow is still here for now. We have had beautiful blue clear skies for the last 2 days. But still very cold!! Yesterday barely made it out of the teens, and today is the 20's. Well, I really should get going. Here are some pictures of the last few days. (sorry they are in reverse order of events)


One of the many "mansions" in our area
Aunt Jodi & Rachel

James all snuggled in on the drive to Denver

The boys ready to take Aunt Jodi to the airport

Some Reindeer we saw as we were trying to go up to the hot springs

Aunt Jodi & James Everyone get ready to go down!!

Aaron was very cold!!

James just chilling on the stairs

Rachel waiting for Thomas to go all the way down, so she could sled down.

Working!

This week has been full of work inside and outside. Yesterday the kids "helped" Jacob drive "Puffy" and more manure into a big pile in the corrals. Aaron figured it out right away, while Rachel just kept having a hard time sitting inside the small compartment with her tall daddy, and Thomas didn't last too long.

Thomas got a new bed this past week. He was thrilled to pieces!! It is actually a bunk bed that breaks down into 2 twin beds. So for now, Aaron is keeping his toddler bed, James is still corraled in the crib, and Thomas has a big boy bed. All day he kept saying "Thank you for my new bed," and "I love my new bed!"

I did finish the boys' curtains finally. They turned out better than I had originally planned. I think that for next summer, I will change them a little and cut them down the middle so they can open up and let the sunshine in. But for now, they are keeping a tremendous amount of cold out!

Rachel's curtains have been my next project. This one took me nearly 3 hrs to finish, compared to 1 hr/curtain for the boys'. Hers was so thin that I had to sew a thicker backing to it to help with the light and heat/cold. But I think it turned out pretty good; now just to do it again one more time! Her favorite part was the ruffle at the bottom (thanks to a scrap tablecloth with a pre-made ruffle!).

As for the rest of the week, just getting ready for Thanksgiving and my sister, Jodi, coming to visit us tomorrow through Sat. The kids keep asking, "How many more sleeps?" They can't wait either! Saturday we took a trip to "Big Town" (Laramie & Cheyenne, WY) to go to Sam's Club and some western stores. They was a good trip, although its hard to believe how much Christmas stuff is already out!! Today the kids and I took a trip down to Steamboat Springs to take Thomas to the drs. Lately we had been noticing his shoes were wearing down funny. So we decided to take him to an orthopaedic specialist to get checked out. Thankfully, all is normal and it will just be something he will have to outgrow. His hips looked perfect and everything was in alignment. We were very thankful for that. Well, I guess that's about it for the past week. Hope all of you are doing well, we miss you and pray for you.

Making Caramel Apples!!

Last night we had a wonderful family night. We made caramel apples and dipped then in toffee bits. Then the kids enjoyed their apples immensely!!! James was even eating his caramel more than the apple. But after we put the caramel apples away, he still had a regular apple. So he proceeded to eat that one. For a 20 mo old little boy with only 8 teeth (molars are starting to come in too), he ate that little apple like a pro! Of course we only let him have a few bites not knowing what it would do to his little teeth. :)
After cleaning up the kids loved seeing their grandparents (and aunt) on the webcam. But as usual they were pretty wound up so it was kinda hard for the grandparents to carry on a conversation with them, but they still loved it. Hopefully next time we will do it earlier in the evening so they are so wound up and tired at the same time!

Eating caramel apples

The boys watching the caramel melt over the apples

Daddy helping Rachel with the dipping caramel

Thomas & Daddy making a great caramel apple

Aaron just wants to stick his finger in that caramel!

Fun videos

Here is a little video of the kids making their snow angels.

Here is a video of them with their hot chocolate (or coffee)!

First snow!

Today was a wonderful day! We bundle up really tightly cause it was very, very chilly and windy. The wind chill itself was down in the single digits. Right now it is still only in the mid teens. We got about 3" of snow last night and it is supposed to continue for the next couple of days. After playing outside for a while the kids came in for some hot chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup (only Rachel & I had the soup). Now it is all nice and quiet and the kids are all sleeping!

On Monday night we finally got Dally here. He was in the trailer for nearly 4 days!! Definitely too long!!! But he is hear and safe and sound, mostly. He is still a little limpy from having some stone bruises, but doing very well. Yesterday Jacob even was able to take him riding and they both loved it!!!

Here are some pictures from our snow fun!

getting ready to go outside in the new snow!

James ready to go out, too!

Caught Aaron in the air while he was running to get me.

James was laughing at the others throwing snowballs at us.

Daddy caught Thomas after he tried to get him with a snowball.

The kids were trying to get Brian with snowballs.

Aaron making snow angels

Thomas making snow angels.

Rachel's snow angel.

The kids and their pumpkins that we grew in Spray. They each had their name carved in them when they were still small and green.

Coming in all rosy cheeked and ready for hot chocolate!

Enjoying hot chocolate waiting for lunch! James didn't stop drinking his "hot" chocolate until it was all gone!