Christmas Tree Hunting

We got a Christmas Tree Permit again this year. We had another year like last year, and it seemed like we ran out of weekends to get the tree. There was lots of snow again, and we made the mistake of the boys and I trying to follow Rett off the main trails. The boys and I ended up down a big hill that we had to climb out of, and it was so deep the boys couldn't really walk. We ended up getting cold hands and snow down their boots, so by the time we made it back to Rett and the sled, they were crying and really sad. They even told us they just wanted to buy a tree next year. But Rett found us a tree, and it was a lot of fun. The boys were great once we got back to the truck and got them warm. And they loved decorating the tree and didn't want me to take it down after Christmas when I started to. I told them we'd leave it till New Years and then take it down.

Christmas Morning

I don't think it gets any better than Christmas with young children. It is so fun to see the joy and excitement and magic of Christmas. We've always done Christmas Eve jammies, but this year, something a little different happened. And it was magical. And it was very exciting for the boys.
One of Santa's Elves knocked on the door, but was speedy at getting away. He left Crew & Drake some Christmas Eve jammies and a note that said they should go to bed early so Santa could bring their gifts. Drake was so excited! Then he realized he didn't get to see the elf and was sad. He cried because he wanted to see the elf. It was so fun when they told people about it too. They were so excited!
Christmas morning was fun too. Rett woke me up at 6 something to tell me to go turn on the Christmas tree lights, the Christmas train, and Christmas music. I was sound asleep. I tried going back to sleep. Then he kept asking me if we should wake the boys up. Finally, after he tried ringing jingle bells and they didn't wake up, he went in to get them. Drake's not much of a morning person, especially if he doesn't wake up on his own. At first he didn't really care, but Rett and Crew convinced him he should get up and check out what Santa brought.
I loved seeing their cute and excited expressions. It just melts my heart. It's amazing what making your kids happy does for a parent. They got mostly new clothes, which they needed. Crew got the spurs he asked for, with his name on the leather strap, which was an extra special touch that we're grateful for :) Drake got his camo pants! They also really wanted hiking boots like Dad's but they were very hard to find, so we settled for some black hiking boots mostly like Dad's. They got new suits for church, which I have to get pictures of them in, because they are super handsome boys! We let the boys pick out presents for each other this year, trying to help them realize the joy of giving. Crew got Drake a foam t-ball set. And Drake got Crew a rope for roping calves. They both loved their gifts and were mostly grateful and happy. Drake wanted to keep unwrapping gifts, which I think was his favorite part. I really wanted to help them understand that they are very blessed to have what they have, and to try to think of others, and help others at this time of year. I wanted to do an Angel Tree gift, but was a slacker of a mom and was too late. We wanted to help a family in the area, but a few others decided that giving money for the mom to go shopping for her kids was the best thing. The boys weren't really able to be involved in that, but we talked a lot about it. And we found a Santa to deliver the money from a bunch of other families, and we heard that it was really neat. Next year I have to be much more proactive about helping the boys help others. Because that is after all, the true meaning of Christmas. We did some really neat advents to get ready for Christmas, and I hope the boys learned something from them.

Visit With Santa

We took the boys for a visit with Santa. They were so excited and have been talking about going to see him for so long now. Crew went first and asked Santa for some new spurs. He also asked him a question he's been wondering about for a long time now! He wanted to know if Santa ate the cookies first or put out presents first. So he asked. And Santa's response was to eat the cookies first and if they were REALLY good, he might leave an extra present! It was so cute and Crew is so excited to leave really good cookies on Christmas Eve!


Drake was a little shy, but did really well. He asked for a pair of hunting pants (camo pants). He's wanted them so he can go hunting with his Dad. It's cute. But this wasn't actually the first thing he wanted to ask for. We had to help him scale things down a bit. He wanted to ask Santa for a real bucking bull. But we explained that there would be no corrals to leave him in, and it just wouldn't work! So he settled on asking for the pants.


During all the fun and excitement of getting ready for Christmas, I can't stop thinking about trying to help the boys learn about giving to others. I helped Drake pick out a present for Crew, and so far, it's still a secret. But it was really hard for him to pick something out for Crew and not for himself. And we'll let Crew get something for Drake too. But I really want to do more. We're working on figuring out what to do to help the boys catch the spirit of giving. Do any of you have traditions or things that you do to help your families remember what Christmas is all about and to help teach them that giving really is better than receiving? I'd love to hear about them if you do!

Sick Kids

I was woke up Saturday morning at 5am to a sweet little Crew in my bed telling me his tummy didn't feel good. He said he was hungry because he didn't eat his dinner Friday night. (Why is it again I try to make meals when my kids want nothing but mac and cheese, hot dogs, spaghettios, and PB&J???) As I walked to the kitchen in my undies and without grabbing my contacts to get him a graham cracker, I was thankful we'd decided to put carpet only in the bedrooms of our home. Crew got sick on the kitchen floor before I could race him to somewhere that required less clean up on my part. Needless to say, the poor kid continued throughout the day, to have an upset stomach. I tried a bowl next to him, but inevitably he had a few misses. I decided that the only thing that would make it worse, was if I was sick right along side of him or was pregnant and nauseous. I am grateful that neither of those scenarios were true this weekend!

As I rubbed his back and tried to console him, I couldn't help but think of how grateful I am to be the mother of two healthy boys. My heart aches for families that have had to deal with chronic illnesses, disease, or other hard health situations with their children. I am not always the most patient mother. And I am grateful for weekends like this that help put things in perspective for me. I want nothing more than to be a good mother and raise my children to be good men. It also made me grateful for my good husband. He is so good to me and to our boys. And it made me grateful for his parents for raising him to be such a wonderful man. I am grateful to my parents for all the times they must have had to sit with me while I was sick and help me feel better. Sometimes, as a stay at home mom, I feel underappreciated and overworked. But in all reality, I love everything I do at home for my family. And I'm hoping to remember to slow down and enjoy the moments with my small children and the love of my life. I am grateful that I get to clean up toys, because it means my kids are having fun. I'm grateful I get to cook meals, because it means we have food to eat. I'm grateful I get to wash laundry, because it means we have clothes to wear. I'm grateful I get to clean the floors, because it means that I've had people in my home who care about me. I'm grateful to help resolve fights, because it means that they are learning to love each other. I am grateful when I get frustrated and Crew and Drake remind me that they love me. I am grateful for whoever started the saying "Don't cry over spilled milk" because it reminds me that silly accidents and imperfectly cleaned homes don't really matter. I am grateful when Rett teases me, because it reminds me of how much he loves me and how lucky I am that he chose to marry me and spend his life with me. I am grateful that somedays I don't get to leave my house, because I am getting to spend so much time with my family. I am so grateful when Rett walks in the door at night, because he is safe and we are together as a family. I am grateful when I get to lug two heavy boys to their beds at night, because I get to be home with them to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. I am grateful that I get to crawl into my bed with my husband by my side everynight, because I know people who have lost that and I cannot imagine how much I would miss that night time cuddle with my sweet husband. I am grateful to be a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend to so many amazing people.

Today, Rett took Drake to church and I stayed home with Crew. Crew and I colored in coloring books for an hour together. It was so simple, and yet, both he and I enjoyed it so much. Sure, I could have been doing a lot of other things, but I am so glad I took the time to color with Crew today. And I don't regret it one bit. I don't remember a lot from my childhood. But I do know that my parents loved me. And if I can make sure that I raise my own kids to know that I love them and that their Father in Heaven loves them, that is all that matters.

It is fitting that it is November and we're approaching Thanksgiving. But I am hoping that after experiences like these, I take the time to be grateful more often than just around Thanksgiving. I hope you get to enjoy your day and remember how important the little things are in your life today and always!

Halloween

When we asked Crew what he wanted to be for Halloween a couple months ago, he said, you guessed it, a COWBOY! And of course we told him he was a cowboy everyday so he had to be something else. After a lot of thinking and a little help from Mom and Dad, the boys decided to be a bucking bull and a rodeo clown. I couldn't really figure out what to do for Crew's bucking bull, so it's a pretty simple brown jump suit with a tail and a mask. Drake's was pretty easy to put together too.




The Thursday before Halloween the grade school puts on a carnival. We were getting the boys ready and painted Drake's face and he hated it! If you don't know him well, or haven't been around during one of his embarrassed episodes, he really doesn't like attention when he's embarrassed. Maybe you could even say something stronger than just doesn't like. He's freaked out before because of comments made because he thinks people are making fun of him. It's crazy bad. We had dinner at someone's house once and were eating alfredo and he had it all over his face, and I told the hostess that he really liked it, and he thought I was making fun of him so he freaked out. Or once at a family get together, he was gobbling down a brownie and someone said he really liked it, and he got mad and threw the rest of the brownie and spit out what was in his mouth. It's getting better, we're trying to work on it with him. But every once in a while, you can tell he's about to crack. So, the only thing we could think of that night was that he thought he looked silly and that people would make fun of him. He kept asking us to take it off. We finally convinced him to go wearing it and he wasn't happy, but went. Once he got there, he was a little better, probably because he saw that everyone was dressed up kind of silly. But he was still super shy and clung right to Crew's side. He doesn't like big crowds for sure!

The next morning he was begging me to do his face paint again! So, I let Crew do it for him, and he actually did a pretty good job! Last Friday, they played rodeo ALL DAY! And it was so funny. Drake told us he'd been watching Rett's old rodeo video's so he knew how "real rodeo clowns" did it! It was the cutest thing! Of course I didn't record it the day he was doing it so cute, but I did get one yesterday that is still really funny!

Pumpkin Walk

North Logan has this really fun pumpkin walk. There are all sorts of scenes made from pumpkins. Most of them were characters with pumpkin heads, and some had everything made from pumpkins. It's free. You just walk through the park where they have all the scenes put up and look at how creative some people are. Some were really cute. We especially loved these two!








And at the end they had a bunch of different characters set up. We decided we should take a few pictures of us together. Drake was mad that we wouldn't let him be Jessie from Toy Story! And they both made really cute Mickey Mouse's!





It was a cute, fun little Halloween outing. We couldn't believe they wouldn't at least have a trailer full of pumpkins to sell. There were so many people going through it! But we're glad for the free entertainment for our kids.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Cats and Dogs

Chief is one of our black labs. He's a great dog. He's at the perfect age for the boys too. I should have taken pictures, but never did. All summer while Rett and I would be working in the yard, our boys practiced riding sheep on Chief. You'd tell him to sit. The boys would take turns climbing on him. And then you'd call him to you, and they'd try to stay on. He didn't mind at all. A pretty good dog to let the boys abuse him like that. He's good with cats too! This cat climbs in his kennel and cuddles with him all the time. They are weird, but they seem to love each other. Rett really wanted a picture of it, because it is a little strange, and not something you see everyday. So here you go, the friendly cat and dog!

And these pictures show part of another recent project. We, well, mostly Rett, but I did help some. We built dog houses, attached them to the inside of the shop, and cut dog doors into the shop wall so the dogs had a warmer place to go during the FREEZING winters up here. They are pretty nice and much cleaner and warmer than previous options we've used.

While we are on the subject of the cats, I have to share more about the cat. He's a soul survivor of three. Grandpa Kip brought us 3 kittens in May. The boys were so excited and loved them! Rett and I aren't really cat people, but we had tons of mice in the shop last winter, so we decided it would be ok. The first cat met its fate not too long after we got them. Which is kind of funny with the pictures of the other cat and Chief being so sweet together! Zink loved the cats too, only he played with them a little too rough. One morning the boys came into the house crying and so upset. One of the cats had crawled into Zink's kennel and Zink licked it to death. It was all wet when I found it. I don't think he meant to hurt it, but he did. And the boys won't let him live it down either. They freak out whenever he's near the cat! So, I think that's kind of the boys first real experience with death as they understand it. We had a little funeral for Family Home Evening that night and talked about resurrection. The second cat disappeared. Possibly an owl or hawk. Or maybe it just ran away. We don't know. It was just gone one day. So, this is a real survivor of a cat. The boys carry it all over, put it on the baskets on their bike, drag it around, and do whatever else they can think of to do to it. He lets them and is pretty good about it. Every once in a while though, he does bolt away from them as fast as he can. He has had a couple close calls himself though. Apparently our garage door got smashed on him because he's too low for the sensor. Luckily that wasn't one of us, and it was an accident. We were out of town and for a day, Rett and I thought he was dead, but hadn't said anything to the boys yet, and we're glad, because he was just fine. This puppy we've got for a friend also chews on the cat. I think he must like it, because he just stays there instead of running away from him, and the boys kind of freak out, but he's never gotten hurt by Hook yet. Even though Rett and I aren't cat people, we'd be really sad for the boys if we lost this last cat! I don't even know what his name is. I think originally the three were named Kit Cat, Rollo, and Licorice. I'm not sure which one the survivor is! But we're glad he's here. And we're glad Chief likes him so much!

Horses!

My boys are a little obsessed with horses. Ok, maybe it's mostly Crew, and Drake wants to do everything Crew does. Crew keeps asking when we are going to get horses. Our answer is usually something about how you can't have horses without fences and corrals. So he asks when we are going to build the fences and corrals. And we tell him probably never because horses are too expensive and he gets all upset and crys. We're kind of mean parents like that :)

Grandpa Kip recently put some stuff in our shop while he moved into a rental house. It was a perfect babysitter for a week or so until he moved it back into his horse trailer. It was pretty simple too. And filled Crew's dreams of horses for a while. It was a Christmas Tree in a box, with saddles set on top! The boys never wanted to come in the house that week! They would have to get dragged in for lunch and then headed right back out! It was fun for them! And kind of makes you remember how simple kids are. Such a simple thing, made them so happy!

YARD Work

This summer we have done a lot of yard work. The last few weeks of it were crazy. I tease Rett because he is such a hard worker, and I can't quite keep up with him. I feel bad too, because the last week before we hydroseeded he had taken off to go hunting, and instead stayed home to work on the yard ALL WEEK! So, he didn't even get out on the deer or elk hunt this year :( But, we got a ton of yard work done. It was so raw. Piles of dirt, unlevel ground, and lots of rocks. We leveled the yard; not perfect, but good enough for grass. We got 7 trees planted in the spring. We put in a sprinkler system ourselves. We had four huge rocks hauled in and got one smaller but still big rock ourselves. Then we had them placed. We had curbing done. We hauled in bark mulch. We planted so many shrubs and bulbs. And we hydroseeded. The grass has been coming up. It's not very full yet. We haven't had tons of sun since we planted it. But, it is coming up, and hopefully in the spring will be nice and full. And it's really nice to see a hue of green around the house! We have big dreams of mowing the lawn, playing in the sprinklers, having a little less dust and mud tracked into the house, and enjoying the grass next summer. All the hard work will be well worth it!

Tyrel & Megan: October 8, 2011

Tyrel and Megan were married on Saturday, October 8, 2011. (Tyrel or TJ is Rett's younger brother). It was a wonderful day and we are so excited for the cute and happy couple to start their new adventure together! They were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos, Utah LDS Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony. And after a week of rainy, cold, and stormy weather, we were so glad that the sun came out for the day. Crew and Drake were SO excited to get some new grey cords and cute purple ties to wear. I was just excited to have a chance at snapping a picture of our little family all together. Any excuse is enough for me, since we still haven't had a real family photo done-EVER! Something that's on my list.







Crew & Drake with Grandpa Kip and Debbie.


Rett, Crew & Drake. My super cute boys!


Jessica with the boys. I cannot even explain to you how much Crew, and therefore Drake, LOVE Jessica! She's so good to them. They always want to be right with her anytime she's around and are constantly begging to go visit her or have her come up to our house. Crew said once that he wanted to steal her from Seth.


Drake thought it was a super cool day, because they got to use glass glasses. Yes, I make them use plastic. Recently they told me that Grandma Teresa lets them use glass ones too. Lucky little guys!




Seth and Jessica


Grandma Teresa and Ron


Here we are! Cute little Sage Family! Rett, Jenn, Crew and Drake!