A Very Merry Wii Christmas!

While there is much to blog that has happened before today and much to say about our wonderful Christmas this year, I will quickly add this cute video of our kids finding out that Grammie and Grandpa gave them a

wii!!!

They have been wanting, wishing, dreaming of getting a wii (or a different game set) for

MANY

MANY

years now.

This year they kept dreaming/guessing that they are getting a wii and we have had to carefully dispell the dream yet... they were right!

THANKS Grammie and Grandpa!

Aunts and Uncles gave us great games and we are really excited play!

Santa brought games, remotes and batteries!

How did he know? 

Thank you all! 



I will publish more about Christmas soon!

Muffins with Mom!

I got to go with my younger 3 kids to "Muffins with Mom" at J. and B.'s school.

Thanks for having breakfast with me!

I love you all!



Happy Anniversary!

Marty and I were able to go away for 5 days to Vail and enjoy the mountains for our 13th anniversary. Then enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.

(A big THANK YOU to Andrew and Megelyn for watching our kiddo's and hosting Thanksgiving)

It was so nice to get away and get to just focus on each other instead of being pulled away by all of our other responsibilities.

The plan was to spend a day or two trying our hands (or feet) at snowshoeing and sledding.  The problem was that there was almost no snow.

...sigh...

but we didn't have to tell the reason why we couldn't go over and over to disappointed kids so we were alright with it.

Instead we did a lot of walking around the town of Vail and enjoyed people watching and the interesting scenery.

Thank you for 13 wonderful years and for the beautiful roses Honey!

J. becomes a Deacon!

Before the ordination the member of the Bishopric who was conducting was asking questions as a means of teaching and reviewing the doctrines of the Priesthood.

He asked "why is it that your father can give you the Aaronic Priesthood"?

W. (who is 4) says in his little voice

"because he has the Melkevadent Priesthood (Melchizedek Priesthood)"

We didn't see that coming.  It is always satisfying to see that the understanding of our children is greater than believed.

J. we are happy to see you start on this journey of growth and service.  May holding the Priesthood be a great blessing in your life!

J. turns 12!

Any of you who know me are not sirprised to hear that we forgot to take any pictures of the Birthday Breakfast with friends until just after it was over :-(

Here are a few from our family time.

Younger siblings give such wonderful gifts!

What could it be?

Finally my own scripture set!

Kite Flying!

Winter Wonderland!

I am have been feeling like I was really not ready for winter to come it is October after all and that is "Fall".

So....I was grumbling to myself this morning because we have snow again!

(This is the 3rd this fall)

Then I realized it is

NOVEMBER!!!!

Woah!  When did this happen?

I guess I can just enjoy the snow and accept that Winter is here!

It is BEAUTIFUL and FUN!

Halloween Time!!

Pumpkin Carving Time!

Costume Time!

4 trick or treaters = Way to much Candy!

Dicipline I will have dicipline!



Last campout as an 11yr old scout!

Nature and Science Center

Great family time can be found at the

Denver Nature and Science Center

There was a worker there who had this amazing dinosaur costume. 

It kept eating up kids!

There was a showcase of russian folk sculpures made entirely from different rocks. 

This is just one of the amazing peices of art!

On the "map" of the center it touted "the best view of Denver" and I was kind of laughing to myself that they would claim that... then

Wow!

The best view!



The INCLINE!

At Marty's Birthday Dinner Megelyn said

"hey do you guys want to hike "the incline" with me?"

We looked at her like a couple "deer in the headlights"

So she explained that it is just a 1 mile hike up part of Pikes Peak.

So what's the catch??

In the 1 mile you make a 3,000 ft elevation gain!!

There are uneven stairs in the side of the mountain made with railroad ties.

They go straight up the mountain. 

Looking down.  This in no way does it justice.

At the top!  Whew!

Looking down from the top!

During it was a bit intense!  However we will certainly do it again.

It was nice to take 4 miles to go down after the "fast" hike to the top!

Marty's Birthday treasure hunt!

J. needed to plan a treasure hunt for his Geocashing Merit Badge so...

Marty got to hunt for his birthday presents.

He was quite worried that someone would take off with the presents while we were hunting but we fooled him (ok he figured it out half way through the hunt)

They were at home hiding!

The next day we had family come over for a Birthday dinner and dessert!

It was great to celebrate together.



Pumpkin Chunkin!

Last year when we were out visiting Colorado we went to the local

"Pumpkin Chunkin"

The kids had a blast and wanted to make it an every year tradition so attending this year was a given.

I ended up going to Time Out for Women (thanks Janis) and had a great time.

Therefore Marty was on full time kid duty.

It also happened to snow the night before and rained all that day.

  BRRRRRR!

and FUN!

Making rope!

Nice hat dude!

J. was FREEZING because she didn't have her coat.

  The snowball fight (earlier that morning) ended when she sliced her head open and was bleeding everywhere.  Hence the coat was in the washer.

Another craft!