Tree Hunting/Thanksgiving 2010

Christmas tree hunting was not quite the Griswold's experience it was last year. Things ran much smoother this year. We headed to Walmart to buy boots for MJ. We met RB's brother there and loaded up in his vehicle to cut down trees. We found a spot and got all bundled up. RB and his brother took off to find the trees while I stayed with the four kids to play. They dug holes, rolled down the hill, and took sled rides. Lil lasted 2 min. before going back into the car, and the others lasted about 10 min. including me. My toes were freezing. Once we got back into the car and started it to warm up the temperature read -4 degrees. Yes, it was that cold! After waiting for about 10 min. RB and his brother showed up. They had snow up to their waist they were walking through. I'm glad we all didn't go trekking up there this year. That would have been awful with four kids and snow up to their heads.








The boys were freezing when they got back and after some lunch they finished tying the trees up on the car. Then we headed home. Because our jeep still has problems, we weren't able to drive it. So, once again we shoved our tree into our Scion. I told RB not to make that a tradition although this year the camera had batteries so I was able to get pictures of it. So besides the freezing cold temperatures we had a great time and hopefully will get the tree up today.



Thanksgiving this year was at RB's brother's home. Since we had to travel an hour and a half we decided to leave from there and go visit my family. I did bring my camera and was smart enough to take zero pictures. What can I say I was having too much fun playing games, talking, and of course eating to take pictures. It was great to see both sides of the family. We had to come home a day early due to weather but it's good to be home and relaxing before school starts again tomorrow.



Here is a picture of our home with Christmas lights on it for the first time. I know it's not a lot but it's a start. On today's agenda is to go to church, decorate the tree, and watch A Mickey's Christmas with the family. Can't wait!

Halloween

We had tacos before carving our pumpkins this year and MJ was very creative in how she made and ate hers.



Lil enjoyed drawing on her pumpkin before I carved the other side.


MJ took a million pictures of us carving the pumpkins. She touched the stuff once and was done with it. Just like Lil. One year they will help gut it out.


We all chose different pictures from the Internet to base our pumpkins off of. RB wanted to the ghost on top, MJ wanted a pirate, RB carved mine with just a silly face, and Lil wanted a skull of all things. So here is a pic. of the finished products.


MJ and Lil both wanted to Barbies this year. Lil was going to be Tinkerbell but changed her mind. They loved their costumes. I'm glad they fit over their winter gear because we got down poured on while trick or treating. It was still a lot of fun though.



After MJ had a great time handing out candy to those who came to our home. It was fun. For school RB and I dressed up. I didn't get a picture of RB's costume since some of it was borrowed. He was Dr. Doofenshmirtz on Phineas and Ferb.

I was a basketball. The students did not understand my costume at all but all the teachers loved it. I find out if it is a boy or a girl on the 15th. Halloween was good and relaxing this year. Fun times!

Hair Bows

For super Sat. the other day we made hair bows. My girls love them and I am very proud how cute they turned out. Especially since it was me who made them. They were easy and quite fun too.



The pictures do not do justice to how cute they are. But I tried.

Moab Oct. 2010 Trip

Going to Moab has become a family favorite activity. Even MJ enjoyed beeping this time. We took off Wed. after MJ's Kindergarten field trip (first the the hospital, then the pumpkin path, over to a fire station, and lastly to the zoo.) RB went as a chaperon on the field trip while I stayed home to can tomatoes and finish packing. After staying the night in a hotel we finally arrived in Moab about 8:30. We dumped our camping gear at the camp site and we were off on our first adventure.

We went down to Moab with two jeeping friends. Neither of their spouses were able to make it and they both brought along two of their kids. So the kids had plenty of friends to play with and I kind of felt like a third wheel being the only girl. It was worth it though. One of the guys who came knew another group of jeepers that were down in Moab for the Fall break weekend. So we hooked up with them at the City Market and off we went on our first trail.

Here are two pictures of the jeep convoy ahead and behind us. There were nine jeeps total. One thing RB and I have learned is never go beeping alone. You never know what might happen out on a trail in the middle of nowhere. We also have learned the more the merrier. It was so fun being apart of the convoy cruising down the street.


Before hitting the trails it is important to take care of the jeeps by letting air out of your tires to the correct pressure. This gives the jeep more traction on the trails.


The first day we hit two trails. The first was Rose Garden Hill and the second was Top of the World. Through all the stops and starts we got to know our party pretty well. They are wonderful people who were very helpful in teaching us new-bees how to jeep. One man lived in Moab and knew the trails VERY well. By the time we got down from Top of the World it was dark and we were all hungry. So we went out to eat at a Mexican Restaurant. It was good food. By the time we set up camp in the dark and got to bed we were all exhausted.





The second day we went to Kane Creek Canyon. This trail was so fun to go on. RB let me drive in the beginning. I went up one big hill and then around a corner where you had to climb some rocks. It was so fun. Once we got down into the sand dune part of it I let RB drive. That is his favorite part and he wanted to see if he could drive the rest of the trail. He went on this trail in May but he got a flat tire and had to be pulled on some of it. This time we made it with no problems at all. The rest of the group went on another trail but MJ was done. So we headed back to camp and had fun playing at the camp site. That night we roasted hot dogs, and marshmallows which the kids loved.

The last day we decided to visit the Arches. We hiked up Delicate Arch and took lots of pics. It was a long hot hike, but it was worth it. By the time we got down we were ready to eat and head on home. The trip there was good besides the hour long traffic because of construction. Then on the way home we got the death wobble. This occurred about 5 times. The death wobble happens when hitting a bump at high speeds. To stop the death wobble one slows down until the shaking stops and then you can pick up speed again. As soon as we could exit the interstate we did. We took highways and back roads the rest of the way home. This made for a very long trip home.







One of our favorite games in Moab is to see what rock shapes look like. This is our marching penguins.


Overall the weekend was a blast. I loved every minute of it!

First Time Driving While Beeping

This week we headed to Moab for Fall break. I have a ton to post and write about but it's getting late and it's not going to happen tonight. However, I did drive for awhile on one of the trails. RB got some cool video and posted it on YouTube. Techniqually it is not my first time driving. I did drive some of Fins and Things last year but that was just a bunch of up and downs. This was some major rock climbing action that I went over this time. Hope you enjoy and I will post more later about our trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BUkJAU1RuU