**Merry Christmas**

We would like to wish all of you a very

Merry Christmas!

I tried to put a picture on here, but it is not working, so it will have to wait until next week when we are home again.

We weren't able to send out Christmas cards this year, which I'm kind of sad about, but that's just how it is. :)  We had an unusual winter so far and sending cards just wasn't part of it, so if you normally get a card from us and are thinking maybe we don't like you anymore because you didn't get a card???  Not to worry, we still love you!!! :D

We are having a WONDERFUL time with our families!! 

Have a BLESSED Christmas and thanks for being the best family and friends in the world!!

See you next week! :) 

A Thanksgiving to be Thankful for!

We were so happy to have some of our family here for Thanksgiving this year.  Kyle and Mandy and their six darlings came and stayed for five days.  We had a grand time!!

The end of the week was supposed to be cold, so on Thanksgiving day, we ate breakfast and went out to Uncle Michael's farm and spent the whole day out in the woods.

We took a trip to the cave and found these tiny bats covered in drops of water - anybody have a clue why this is?  I suppose I could google it....  These drops of water were all over the ceiling and they looked like drops of gold - it was beautiful!

Rachel carving out her name.

Of course, we had to take the BB guns. :)

As soon as we got there, we made a fire and when it had burned down a bit, we roasted "smarshmellows"  This young man found his own roasting stick - isn't it great?

Such a fun time!

Getting splinters out.

The mighty hunters - and Megan who hung out with Daddy most of the day - went galloping through the woods in search of some meat. :)

Aren't these lovely?  I wish I had a whole wreath full of them for my door.

Us girls found the "enchanted woods" (named by the little girls) and spent our time under this tree tunnel.

The girls all brought an apron and bonnets - I'm not sure where the bonnets ended up, but they sure had fun.

They found this bush that was arched, so they decorated it for an "enchanted wedding"

They gathered all kinds of beautiful greenery for their decorating.

Little Elijah, just rested. :)

The men didn't find any meat, but they found a 4 wheeler.

After a full day and picnic out in the woods, we came home and had tacos - I think we all agreed that it was the funnest Thanksgiving day, yet. :)

The rest of the weekend was spend indoors mostly - here at home, or in a store.

The guys decided to decrease the squirrel population, so one would be on the lookout for cars passing and the other would look for an innocent squirrel.  It made for good laughs.

"Oh, there goes a car, ACT NORMAL (get the BB gun down)..... okay shoot"

The kids has so much fun being together!

"Quick, there's another squirrel....Oops - Get down there's a car"  It was quite a hilarious time! And they never did get to shoot one!

You know, most people put out a card table, or something for the kids at big family dinners?  We got smart and let them have the big table and we ate at the small table. :)

One of the things we do every year at Thanksgiving - don't really know why - is make onion rings....so yummy, but makes for a very messy kitchen!!!

The boys enjoyed having more boys to play with. :)

Overall, it was just a wonderful time of eating, laughing, talking, playing and making memories!!!

Thank you, Kyle and Mandy, for coming up and spending the week with us! We thoroughly enjoyed you all being here.

Ashlyn Turns TWO!

This is the fourth time (three different weeks) I've tried to post this....we'll see if the fourth time's the keeper. *smile*

Our youngest darling turned TWO a few weeks ago.  I thought the fifth child was supposed to be the calm, cool and collected one, but she has proven to be the opposite.  In fact, she's an identical specimen of her oldest sister.  We have buckled our seat belts and are enjoying the ride.

She LOVES to climb....on anything. She is not afraid of very many things and is always up for an adventure.  She's starting to talk and it's very sweet to hear her little voice say words.

 

 Mr. Carl wasn't able to get a cake (he was not very happy with the cake shop lady) so he brought chocolate and vanilla cup cakes and cake pops and ice cream cups - whew!

Megan loves to give gifts and is always wrapping things for someone when it's their birthday.  She gave Ashlyn a present on her birthday.....

 

 Jeren said, "Hey, that's my kitty!  I was wooking po dat." (I was looking for that)   Don't you love how little kids think?

Mr. Carl got her a puppy that barks and walks.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa for her tricycle - she is really enjoying that, too.

'Tis The Season....Deer Season, I mean!

Do you have hunters in your family?  We sure do. (*smile*)

I wish I could say Keith shot this beauty, but he didn't (hasn't yet).  This is a buck we saw a couple of years ago in August - full velvet.  Isn't he handsome?  (It's a copy of a copy, so not the best quality)

Anyway, on with the hunters.  I think everyone in our family loves to hunt, except Ashlyn, who is too small to know better. I don't hunt for deer, but I love picking squirrels out of tree branches from the dining room window with the BB gun. (*smile*) I can't stand it when I fill the bird feeder and these pesky critters come running as if it's for them. Hmph....

But Keith, of course, goes hunting for real and the kids love to go with him.  One day this week was Kristyn's day and they shot a nice doe and was she ever excited!!

She took her book with her (as always) and read the entire thing.  Keith said he told her to tap him if she saw something, so every little bit she'd "tap, tap, tap - Daddy, there's a red bird!"  Tap, tap, tap - Daddy, there's a blue bird!"  I don't know how she managed to read the whole book AND see all she saw, but she had a grand time and we have a nice stash in the freezer to enjoy!

I love my hunters!!

*Little Jeren Man*

Today was opening day of deer season and it was Owen's day to go with Daddy.  Nobody was paying attention to Jeren and he got himself all dressed and ready to go.

 

He was quite disappointed when Daddy told him (again) today was Owen's day and that his day would be another day.

 

But I told him that the girls and I were going to go hunting (good thing there's a little patch of woods nearby for occasions such as this) and he could go with us - that made him feel better.

 

So we walked down behind the school to "our" little creek and he made a bee line for the woods (tiny strip of woods along the creek)

 

He checked out every hole for rabbits, or foxes, or snakes, or bugs.......

He checked out the creek bank for tracks...

He navigated through all sorts of fallen timber - with much help from his older sister

Like with all hunters, I'm sure, nature calls at the most inconvenient times....

Then he hollers out, "MOM, A FISH"

When he figured out he couldn't catch the fish, he continued on with his hunting...

Not one leaf, or pebble was left uncovered - there might be creatures crawling under there....

Maybe a splash will bring the creatures out of hiding...

"Hello?  Anybody in there?".....

With the hours passing and no success on his hunting trip, he decides to head back home...

He was sure he could keep up with his big sister, because he tells me daily, "I'm big boy now"

Not wanting to leave his dear mother behind (or maybe he was a little terrified of the "big woods" he waited for me to catch up)......

With crossing the creek, the girls decided it was a delightful place to set up house keeping - with that thought, the mighty hunter heads back out to bring home the bacon...

Ever so quietly he creeps through the branches, hoping to spy out the big game...

"You can't see me, I'm wearing camo"

Then an obnoxious branch sends his hat flying... (and almost sends him flying)

Back on it goes and back to hunting he goes....

"Ummmm - are you coming, Mom!  I'm not scared if you don't want to, but please do come with me."

Another fish, or is that a lobster?..... (crawdad)

Hunters have to be balanced.....

And sure of every step....

Finally, he decided that hunting was not for him and it was time to go home for a nap, so he sneaked out through his secret passage way....

Followed by his three sisters.....

I love this little hunter with one ear in.......

And one ear out.....

Hunting is hard work, but he did a fine job of it.....

Momma loves you, Buddy, maybe next time you can bring home the bacon!