Christmas 2011

Christmas eve we went over to Greg and Laurel's as usual. We had a delicious dinner and our annual christmas eve fire. A few weeks before we had aranged to get the kids a turtle and to pick it up on christmas eve. We had forgotten all about it but thakfully we were reminded! So after presents, which was nerf guns for all 4 of the kids, and dessert, we went and picked up Franklin. The kids had been wanting this turtle for some time and the person we got it from has been wanting to get rid of it!

Christmas morning was an early one! We had planned on getting up about 5 am so that we could do presents and have enough time to get ready for chruch on time. The kids had other plans though. Thye were up at 4am! It made for a sleepy day but it actualyl worked our really well. We had pleantly of time to open presents without being rushed and have everyone get ready. I even had time to make pancakes on my new griddle pan I got for christmas!

After church it was on to Aunt Lisha's where we had another delicious dinner and opened presents again!

It was a sleepy day for Mom and Dad but thanks to the long ride home the kids were re-energized with a nap. They were ready and rearing to go! We opened up a few of the kids' toys that they got and played for a few more hours. We also gave Franklin a little ride on the boy's new rc cars!

The next morning was a total day of putting things together. The boys put together their lego sets and we also had the girls' barbie house to put together! That was a challange but got it done!

Elk Anyone?

I know I have told you all about the wonderful elk burgers that our friends Mike and Becky have made for us. Well.... now we will be able to make our very own and won't have to beg Mike and Becky for elk meat anymore! James was able to go with Mike on a hunt and get an elk of his very own. While the guys were out hunting, the kids and I stayed with Becky at the house. The kids made christmas ornaments, gingerbread houses, and cookies. They even had a neighborhood pine cone war. My kids had a blast just playing out in the neighborhood with all the kids. They didn't even care that it was only 34 degrees outside. Kenni had the most fun searching for snails. Last time we were there Mike showed them how the snail would "dissolve" if you put salt on it. When it was time for school monday morning my kids saw how the neighborhood kids jumped the wall in the backyard to get to school instead of taking the long walk around. Once all the kids were in shcool my kids decided that they wanted to jump the wall too. Becky and I were entertained watching my kids try to get over the wall. Finally they got it mastered. Not too much longer I looked out to check on them and noticed they were not alone! The wonderful and diligent police of St. George pulled up to see just what my children were doing. They informed the officer that it was our friends' house and we were visiting from Arizona. He seemed satisfied enough with that answer and went on his way. Once James and Mike got home with the elk it was 2 straight days of cutting and packing red meat...non- stop! Thankfully before they came home they were able to do all the really grose stuff.
Laura and Sami making their ornaments.

Kenni hard at play!

All the little kids working hard on making a mess...I mean creating their houses.

Kenni's finished product.

All the kids and their masterpieces.

Santa's village!

James' boot in the snow where he was hunting.

James and his elk. He shot her at 177 yards.

All the boys hard at work!

Our freezer packed full of elk meat!

Full Auto

James had me bring the kids out to the shooting range. His buddy was there with some sort of big fast gun and he wanted the kids to shoot it. The 3 older kids have all shot it before but Maddi never had. Maddi hadn't even shot any gun at all. When we got there she didn't want to shoot it but after she saw all the other kids doing it she decided she'd try. She wanted Sissy to help her so her and Laura shot it together. Maddi then told Daddy that she wanted to do it all by her own self. James loaded her up some more ammo and she let it rip! She had a blast! Of course all the other kids did too.

Busy Hands

Since October I've been very busy sewing my little heart out. I had made the kids' halloween costumes and then I made Ally a bag for her birthday. After those two projects were done I had a huge project of making a quilt. My friends son tore a huge rip into his favorite blanket that he had since he was a baby. She wanted me to fix the rip but there was just no way. Instead I cut up the old blanket and made it into a quilt. I've made a baby quilt in the past but never a full size one. It took me a long time to do and the material was so thin so it was extremely hard to work with. I am so glad that I was able to save the blanket but I'm even more happier that I'm done with it.

November

It seems like November came and went like a flash. James Jr had his class Field trip to the Museum of Natural History. I was able to go with him. It was a super crowded place and I had 6 crazy 3rd graders to keep track of so I didn't get many pictures. It was a neat place with a ton of stuff, too much really. There was a lot to read as you looked at the displays and of course the kids wanted nothing to do with that! They did get to dig up dinosaur skeleton, pan for gold, be in jail and look at all different rocks and minerals found here in AZ.

The kids have been palying a lot of baseball in the backyard lately. These two videos are what Laura and Kenni took of the two of them trying to teach Maddi to play. She hit the ball once but once they got the camera out she wanted nothing to do with it. I just thought these videos were funny.

We had Thanksgiving at Greg and Laurels as we do every year. Instead of having everything out side as usual we had most of it inside. It was a windy, cold, overcast day and we even got a few rain drops. There were some of us who enjoy the dreary weather that did spend the day outdoors.

My 9 year old Little Man

October 17th was Little Man's 9th birthday. While Grandad was here we celebrated so on the actual day of his birthday we didn't really do much. I made him the dinner and cake that he wanted and he got to open his presents from us.

Happy (or not so happy) Halloween

This year the kids wanted to be mummies for halloween so for the last couple of weeks I (with the much appreciated help from Laurel) was making mummy costumes. Thankfully they turned out great and the kids actually looked like mummies!
The morning of halloween Maddi had a party at her preschool. They played games, ate junk, and went "trick or treating".
That afternoon I had to work and was fortunate enough to even get off early. We quick came home and scarfed down dinner, got all mummified, and headed out. Of course I had to take pictures of the kids and Little Man, of course, had to be a grump about it. One he got to the trick or treating part of the night he was much happier.

Maddi before her party


Maddi with her preschool class

The not 3 scary and one not so happy mummies

Kenni in full character

Laura and her (what she called) scary mad face

Suprise!

I know what you are thinking. Either Traci has fallen off the face of the earth or she has quit blogging. Well I am still here and no I haven't quit blogging. I have been working afternoons where Maddi goes to preschool. Even though it is a part time job I don't have a lot of extra time. I thought Maddi going to preschool would give me more time to goof around but I am busier than ever!

Over the kids' fall break this year we had some suprise visitors. Grandad, Mary Lew, Aunt Tammi and Allison. Well James I and knew they were coming but the kids had no idea. The night they got in they had us meet them at Cracker Barrel for dinner. When we pulled in the parking lot I saw right away Aunt Tam taking a picture (one of very many while she was here! HA!) and they quick ran inside so the kids wouldn't see them. They were browsing around when we walked in and it took a minute for the kids to realize it. Laura with her sharp eye saw Aunt Tam and Ally first! All the kids were so happy!

The next morning Laura, James, and Kenni had a half day of school. While they were at school James and I took Ally and Maddi with to run some errands. One errand was to go pick up James' check. The girls got to go inside and eat doughnuts and also while we were there they got to sit on a loader that was in the yard.

Saturday we had a family get together. Since our house is on the small side Greg and Laurel were so kind to let us have the get together at their house. I forgot my camera but I'm sure by now you all know the normal pictures of Greg and Laurel's, horses, chickens, hay...
After we got home from chruch Sunday the kids showed Grandad the Wii. I think I'm pretty safe to say that in the near future Grandad will be purchasing one himself! He fell in love with bowling AKA arm chair bowling! HA! The kids showed him boxing and some of the other sports too but bowling was his favorite.

Monday Grandad, Aunt Tam, and Mary Lew went to visit Aunt Bobbeye, Uncle Boyd, Uncle Charles, and Jaine. Aunt Bobbeye has fallen recently and Jaine was in the hospital also so James and I stayed home with the kids. I braided the girls' hair, they played Barbies, and they also made rice crispy treats.
Tuesday Grandad took the boys to the barber. I always cut their hair so Grandad thought it would be a nice treat for them to get a different haircut. I only know how to cut it one way! They boys decided to get flat tops. When they got home we headed to Wal-mart. Grandad and Aunt Tam wanted to take James shopping for his birthday since it is just around the corner. He got an "adult" fishing pole and some bait and stuff for his tackle box. After Wal-mart we went and saw Dolphin Tale at the movie theater, then we went to Target and Albertsons. On the way to Albertson's we passed by Eegee's, which is a sub shop and they have amazing italian ice type slushy made with real fruit. I decided to make a last minute stop there to pick up some eegee's. Grandad now affectionatly calls it Eggee's .

Wednesday we got up early for a family day of fishing up in Mt. Lemmon. Aunt Tam and Mary Lew stayed home and unfortunately Laura wanted to stay with them. So the Ladies went out to lunch and shopping and the rest of us headed up the mountain. It was beautiful and Grandad loved the scenery. Ally had never been fishing so that was an experience for her too. She did great! After a while she just ended up collecting snails and just had a blast! Little Man was the only one who caught a fish for the day but Ally still got to see it and touch it. She wasn't scared one bit!

After our fun filled fishing trip, we came home and just hung out at the house. They were going back home the next morning and their flight left super early. So we took some pictures, played chicken foot, had a family bowling tournament on the Wii (which Grandad won) and the kids slept out in the living room one last time.

I do have to say I am glad there are not 10 people in our family every day but it was a great visit and one the kids will always have great memories of!

Maddi Gail

Maddi has been asking me to curl her hair for a while now. The problem is that every time I touch her head she cries and whines because I'm hurting her. Today she asked me again to curl her hair and surprisingly enough she was really good and didn't whine once!