Decorating the Christmas tree

I believe this was are largest tree we've had.

You can tell Brandon is thrilled to be

putting the lights on.

Riley putting her ornaments on her tree in her bedroom.

Sierra

Paige

Paige started climbing the ladder so Brandon tried helping

her to the top. She did not want any of that. She is so afraid

of Heights.

Riley hitting her head on the ceiling.

Thanksgiving in Idaho

We drove up to Idaho Falls to have Thanksgiving

with my mom and other siblings this year. We arrived

there after 10PM but my girls were ready to play with

their aunt Karissa after sleeping the 3 hour drive.

It was very late but none of us went to bed being to excited to

be in each others company. Paige of course found Grandma's

Lincoln Logs.

So even after 11PM Grandma spent time with the girls.

They always want Grandma to play the piano with them.

The next day while me and my mom prepared the Thanksgiving

meal, the others headed off to Grandpa's Cabin to sled and

shoot guns.

Karissa getting ready to shoot!

Thanksgiving would not be the same without

my mom's fancy China and crystal.

My wonderful mother who did it all!

Before bed the girls all decided to climb into Sierra's

play pin but were all crammed in their so they couldn't get

away from uncle Michael's tickle.

We stayed the whole weekend to have more time with family.

Every morning very early and right before bed Grandpa goes

out to feed his cows. Farmer in the morning, Farmer at night and full

time Lawyer in between. He is always so busy, but some how he always finds

time to play with the girls. So the girls wanted to see what it was all about.

It was not 6:00 in the morning but the girls got the idea.

Later that day we headed off to the mall on crazy black Friday.

Lets just say we survived. Brandon and I hate shopping almost

as much as my girls like being dragged along with us.

My sister got this big red awkward bag free with her purchase

and we were bored waiting for the others to look around so we

got creative. Not as comfy as the stroller we forgot but Sierra

was cool with it!

Thank goodness for the bus. My girls were going to die

of boredom.

We usually cut down our Christmas tree ever year on the day

after Thanksgiving but since we were in Idaho we were unable

to go to the same place. So Grandpa offered a tree on his property

at the cabin for us to find a tree.

We decided to say hi to Grandpa's dog, Maverick while we

waited for Grandpa to fix his tractor. To our surprise,

Maverick jumped into the car and made himself comfortable.

I tried to be a cool mom and not freak out that this dirty farm

dog was in my car. Grandpa decided to let Maverick ride with us to

the cabin. The girls thought it was so fun. They love Maverick. And I

must admit he is a darling dog.

At Grandpa's cabin waiting for the men to cut down the tree.

It was fun yelling "TIMBER" as the 15 FT tree fell to the ground.

Grandpa and Grandma

Sierra does not get much of anywhere in the snow unless

someone picks her up. She has not gotten use to the big

snow boots yet. So she sat and watched most of the time.

Grandpa pulling Paige and Sierra in the sled over the frozen pond.

Now Grandma's turn!

Brandon jimmy rigging the giant tree to our car.

Grandpa & Grandma trying their tree down.

We always have so much fun up in Idaho. There is never a dull

moment. Grandpa has given me and my girls such fun

experiences that other wise we would have not had.

Thanks for the fun weekend!

Kindergarten, Thanksgiving Party

I was unable to help with Paige's Party, but

she came home wearing this.

I helped with Riley's Thanksgiving Party. They started

with tying a balloon to one of their ankles and tried popping

each others with their feet. They were all so funny. Riley of

course was a little timid.

Riley and Hallie always seem to find each other in a crowd.

One of the boy's Dad came and read to the kids.

They also decorated cookies.

Grandma G's Birthday!

We celebrated Brandon's mom's birthday by eating out at

one of the families favorite restaurants the Mandarin, a Chinese

restaurant in bountiful. We left all the kids home with one

of Grandma's neighbors. After dinner we headed back to

Grandma's house for dessert and presents. Grandma always

lets the kids take out the candles after they help her

blow them out.

The girls like to help with everything. And they love

Playing with Uncle Spencer.

Eating Grandma's birthday brownies and Ice cream.

"Like father, like Son" Josh is such a cutie!

Josh always makes the same faces that Jeff makes.

Grandma and the girls!

"Happy Birthday Grandma"

We love you!

"Hold to the Rod, the Iron Rod"

Brandon did a fun family night for the girls.

He had a rope tied from their room all the way into

the kitchen. We made chocolate chip cookies to represent

the Tree of Life! The girls thought it was so much fun.

The first snow of the year!

Riley and Paige were so excited to see snow on our grass

that they did not wait for me to get all the snow gear out.

It only lasted a minute until they were so cold. And

were asking for their snow clothes.

Halloween 2009

The girls were so excited to wear their costume

before Halloween at the elementary carnival.

Sierra as a "Pirate"

Riley as "Minni Mouse"

Paige as a "Witch"

Riley throwing bean bags trying to hit the milk jugs.

She must have no coordination like her mom and dad.

She had 5 tries and did not hit it once. But they gave her a

treat anyway.

I'm not sure why it is underlining everything I type just right here. Anyone know?

Sierra got a cat finger puppet from the fish pond.

Paige won on the first try in the cake walk.

She got a doughnut and cookie.

Riley and Sierra waiting for their number to be called.

Halloween Day

The night before after the kids went to bed Bran and I

made the cookie dough so it could chill over night.

In the morning obviously before the kids got their hair

done they cut out the cookies.

Then we cut out pumpkins. I took the pictures while Brandon

gutted and cut the pumpkins. I've always disliked pumpkin

carving. I'm not very good at it.

Paige and Sierra had some good laughs touching the slimy

insides of the pumpkin.

The girls finished product.

The neighborhood bunch.

At the church for the trunk-or-treat.

This time with the Harestads in the group picture.

Riley and Hallie

Sierra loves her babysitter Maytlin.

After the trunk-or-treat, we headed back to the house

to see cousin Josh and Great Grandpa Gardner.

The girls with Grandpa!

Thanks to my Broken foot I stayed home again this year

to pass out the candy while Bran took the girls out.

One of our neighbors had a fun set up for the kids to

pick which hole they wanted to reach their hand in

to get candy.

After the girls had enough trick-or-treating we headed

to my sisters house to have Chili. Mikel had a fog machine

set up so that's why it looks smoky in the picture.

Kami was a cow. And obviously Mikel was President Obama.

Sierra would not get near Mikel with his mask on. So right before

we snapped the picture he threw the mask on.