Back in October I posted a 'Before' picture of this project, and here are some 'During' pictures...
Gift Bags
I made these gift bags out of paper lunch sacks and I am rather happy with how cute they turned out. I used some pictures from an old day calendar that I had and paper scraps, but you could use anything really. Even just some crayons, markers, or stickers. At the top I used a hole punch and threaded some wrapping ribbon through, but the bag is so cute that I don't think anyone would have cared had I just used a stapler. I think that these would be fun to let kids make, (you know a hand made gift bag for a hand made gift inside type of thing)...I think that I am going to have my primary class do these on Sunday.
The view from here
I was sitting in a chair by the fire in the living room and thinking about how wonderful my life is. just from my chair I could see a Christmas tree with presents under it and the wonderful Christmas tree smell, a toasty warm fire crackling, and a darling little baby who I just can't get enough of. To add to all that I have a wonderful husband at work, family close by, and every other good thing anyone could think of. It is even snowing outside, making my view even better! i love this life!
Life is Good!!
The Christmas Tree Hunters
Last Saturday we went with Devin's mom and little brother Trevor to hunt for Christmas Trees. Before leaving however we had to take a quick family photo for our Christmas Cards--Just look at those two good looking boys!
After that it was up the mountain (since that is where you get trees around here)...after an adventure of almost not getting up to where we needed to park, we got all dressed up and ready to hunt out our trees! Observe how excited Caleb was:
(Actually he fell asleep as we drove out, then stayed asleep while I dressed him in his warm get-up.) Here is a group shot of us as we were just starting on our way:
Does this tree look good to you? Well we were smelling it to see if it smelled like a Christmas Tree...:
We found a tree that we liked, and we only had to hike about 10 min. to get to it! so we put an ear warmer on it to claim it as ours then continued on in our hunt, we still had to find a tree for Mom's house. We hiked all over the mountain side looking and looking for a tree that smelled good had a pretty shape, and wasn't too tall (our permit only allowed for up to 12 feet). In the end we found one--way up the mountain, but we found it! So Trevor and mom put the bow saw that we had been carrying all the while to good use:
After cutting the extra curve out of their tree we started back down the mountain...I almost forgot to mention-Caleb slept through the whole hunt, strapped right on to Devin, I guess that he was a tired boy, because it wasn't an easy hike...-We carried Mom's tree most of the way down, then took a quick detour so that Devin and I could go back and get our tree.
It was still there, hooray!
Now we had two trees in tow, our hunt was successful! and we weren't too far from Devin's old reliable car.
Now the trick was to get both of the trees and all of us back down the mountain.
We made it!!
After that it was up the mountain (since that is where you get trees around here)...after an adventure of almost not getting up to where we needed to park, we got all dressed up and ready to hunt out our trees! Observe how excited Caleb was:
(Actually he fell asleep as we drove out, then stayed asleep while I dressed him in his warm get-up.) Here is a group shot of us as we were just starting on our way:
Does this tree look good to you? Well we were smelling it to see if it smelled like a Christmas Tree...:
We found a tree that we liked, and we only had to hike about 10 min. to get to it! so we put an ear warmer on it to claim it as ours then continued on in our hunt, we still had to find a tree for Mom's house. We hiked all over the mountain side looking and looking for a tree that smelled good had a pretty shape, and wasn't too tall (our permit only allowed for up to 12 feet). In the end we found one--way up the mountain, but we found it! So Trevor and mom put the bow saw that we had been carrying all the while to good use:
After cutting the extra curve out of their tree we started back down the mountain...I almost forgot to mention-Caleb slept through the whole hunt, strapped right on to Devin, I guess that he was a tired boy, because it wasn't an easy hike...-We carried Mom's tree most of the way down, then took a quick detour so that Devin and I could go back and get our tree.It was still there, hooray!
Now we had two trees in tow, our hunt was successful! and we weren't too far from Devin's old reliable car.
Now the trick was to get both of the trees and all of us back down the mountain.
We made it!!A few things that we learned:
- you get hot when wearing many layers and hiking especially when also packing a baby and a Christmas Tree!
- bring chains for the car's tires if you don't have 4 wheel drive better yet, take a big truck!
- just plan on devoting the whole day to finding your tree
- the selection is smaller at wal-mart
- mountain trees have more personality than wal-mart trees
- you get tired faster when your boots have no traction, all your energy gets used up trying not to slip in the snow.
- It is all about building the memories, not about finding the perfect tree
I eat at Mom's
This t-shirt was created special for breastfeeding babies, I think that it is funny...
Washington Trip part 2
(see below for details, and for further pictures of Thanksgiving Day see earlier blog)
Our Feast!
Hanging out at Lorna's
Yes, Caleb is playing the Wii fit in that picture
The guys on Thanksgiving
Cousins=best buds
Most of last week we spent in the home of Devin's sister Lorna. How very wonderful it was to visit and spend time with her family and Devin's brother Todd's family who also came. For me it was the first time I really had to get to know Todd and Lorna's husband Rich. (somehow the wedding day doesn't fully count) We got to relax in the hot tub, and play on the Wii (courtesy of Lorna's in-laws). Thanksgiving day was a huge success. From the turkey right to the pie everything was oh so yummy. After the feast Devin, Todd, Rich, and Rich's brother in law each got on a computer and played some war game while the women and kids hung out and practiced their Wii skills. Later that night just the adults played the Wii, funny is about the best word I can come up with to describe that adventure.
The day after Thanksgiving we had a special treat-Rich is in the Air Force and he made arrangements for us to go see the jet that he flies. HUGE, I think that about sums it up. Three helicopters fit inside the jet. Those of us who wanted to got a turn in the pilot's seat, and Rich did his best to describe what all of the millions (I don't think that is an exaggeration) of bells and whistles were for. Not many can say they have been in a C-17
Washington Trip part 1
Devin and I had the whole week off of school for Thanksgiving, so we took a trip out to Washington! We left Friday the 21st and stopped for the night in Boise. After a quick visit with Devin's dad in the morning we headed off to Grandma and Grandpa Cook's house :) It was fun for me to see the places and things that Devin remembers from growing up. Grandpa loved Caleb, which was great because Grandpa would hold Caleb while Devin and I ran around the farm or helped in the kitchen. I got to meet some of Devin's uncles and cousins on Sunday that I have never met before. Monday as Devin and I were preparing to leave some farm equipment went past the house and Devin had this great idea to ask if we could ride while harvesting corn. That was way cool for me, I got to ride a combine (is that what it is called?) and see how the corn is harvested. After that we waved goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Cook and continued on our journey.
On our way between Grandma and Grandpa's to Devin's sister Lorna's house we stopped at Ginkgo Petrified Forest. It was only maybe 10 min. out of our way and it was a nice stop. The park consisted of hiking trails and rocks in boxes (see pic of Devin and Caleb below). It was a nice stop to break up the drive.
We arrived safely at Lorna's house Monday evening (after surviving traffic of the worst kind). Tuesday we went for a visit with my Uncle Ben and Aunt Jordie. We got to see their cute little house and the cute things that Jordie has done to make it more like home. Their two girls were a delight! Before the visit was through Jordie had the realization that she was a great-aunt! I have known since she and Ben were married that she was indeed a great aunt, so I am glad that she came to that realization herself. (Somehow I always feel a little guilty for making most of my family feel older...)
Adoring
Last weekend we went to my parent's house for a visit. My brother Preston was in the high school play, so Devin and I went to support. He played the teen angel in Grease. I was not so impressed with the choice of production, but Preston sang really well, I was way impressed. My siblings all loved having time with their "nef neph"--observe the adoring aunties:
And the adoring grandmother:
While we were there Skyler was asked to the WA formal dance! He was all happy, even though he didn't say much we could tell that he was happy about being asked to a dance! He spent the remainder of the evening playing his ukulele trying to hide his pleasure.
Finally, Caleb does this thing where he takes cups (or water bottles) and tries to do what he sees us do with them...It is really way cute, but alas the video doesn't do it justice.
And the adoring grandmother:
While we were there Skyler was asked to the WA formal dance! He was all happy, even though he didn't say much we could tell that he was happy about being asked to a dance! He spent the remainder of the evening playing his ukulele trying to hide his pleasure.
Finally, Caleb does this thing where he takes cups (or water bottles) and tries to do what he sees us do with them...It is really way cute, but alas the video doesn't do it justice.
New Skills
To be honest, this picture is here because I just love it. It shows my life so perfectly well! I am a lucky girl to have two wonderful boys with me forever and ever ;)
I have been taking a nutrition class this semester and my teacher gave out samples of Fiber One Cereal...And Caleb really likes Fiber One!!! Who knew he would love healthy stuff so much? I guess what I should say is that Caleb liked to play with the package, but you get the idea.Below you will see footage of a new skill Caleb has developed-to put it bluntly, I am none to pleased. The swing has given me many nights sleep and many finished homework assignments, and now Caleb grabs the bar :(
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