Here We Go Again

OK, I have a lot to cover so I'm just going to pick up where I left off at Thanksgiving and take it from there...
NOV. 27th

Molly, in carrying on the tradition that I had as a young girl, is preparing the olive tray for Thanksgiving dinner. Good people and good food makes for good times.

NOV. 28th
Then, as has been our tradition for the last four years, we were off to the Amish tree farm to cut the perfect tree. We roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, sipped hot chocolate, and even ran into some friends. It would have been totally perfect had we, and I mean I, not locked the keys in the car. Oh well, perfection is overrated anyway right?






NOV. 29th
Cleveland Winterfest at Public Square
This was a lot of fun. We love catching the train to Tower City Mall this time of the year. They have so much to see. If you haven't had the chance to meet Bruce the Talking Spruce yet, I promise its worth the trip. Our kids love him and he will talk to them forever about anything. We also got to see lots of cool gingerbread houses and tons of lights. Not to mention right in the heart of downtown Cleveland you can go and see a nativity.






NOV. 30th
Letters to Santa



DEC. 1st
Advent Calendars


DEC. 5th
Country Lights (Santa's Workshop)


(attempted pictures with Santa)


Now this only covers a couple of weeks time and you can see we have been pretty busy. The sad thing is that while it is all very "Christmasy" not much of it has anything to do with Christ. I have to say I am glad to have all the "fun" stuff out of the way. We have had more time this last week to focus on the real and true meaning of it all and still have fun. When it comes down to it, I want the memories to be lasting, but the feelings to be built on something REAL!

TX Finale: Poppy's Ranch

This is the first time we've been to Poppy's ranch since he got his cattle. This was the picture I took of the kids right as they stepped out of the car and onto the land... they weren't sure how to react to thirty or so hungry cows heading in their direction.




Grammy and Poppy hung out by the barn while Trav, the kids, and I took the four wheeler and went down to the river. The ranch has about 2 miles along the Rio Grande River and it is so beautiful. We love exploring the ranch, the kids love going FAST! (especially the girls, they're just like their mom)









Of course I have to mention that we rode to the ranch in Poppy's new toy, The Travelall Bounder 39' diesel. This thing even has a front load washer and dryer in it. Dad, if only you had had this while we were growing up. Then maybe all those family road trips in the station wagon wouldn't have been intermingled with death threats to our lives for constantly harassing each othere... actually it probably wouldn't have made a difference.

We loved being south, as always, and we will miss you guys like crazy. So until next time.

Grandmas Retiring!!!

Happy Retirement Grandma!
We just hope this means you can come and spend more time with us.

Giving Thanks '08

I had intentions of doing a lot more food prep yesterday than I actually did. Instead I spent a couple of hours making these with the kids, it was definitely more fun than food prep.

What we are thankful for this Thanksgiving morning . . .

Molly - I am thankful for my family and my grandmas and grandpas and ggs. I'm thankful for Jesus and Heavenly Father. I am thankful for my cousins and my friends. I am thankful for my teacher at school and I am thankful for church. I am thankful for Thanksgiving.

Dillon - I'm going to do Heavenly Father and Jesus first a'since they're higher than us and stronger than us and a'since they have powers. I'm thankful for my family and my toys and the TV. I'm thankful for my baby sister. I'm thankful for everybody in this whole world. I'm thankful for chupracabras.

Charlee - Babies. Puppies. Cookies. Gummy. Numnum. Daddy. Mommy. Molly. Dillon.

Travis - I am thankful for a wife and children that welcome me home each day and who are always there to provide support when times are hard. I am thankful for my faith and the guidance I receive from our Heavenly Father. I am thankful to live in this country and have the rights and freedoms that so many others do not have. I am thankful for my career and the challenges I encounter everyday at my job. I am also thankful that we made it through this year intact, finishing school, passing the bar, and remaining employed.

Me - I to am thankful this day for so much. My family, both immediate and extended (three amazing children and an incredible husband that I would be lost without). My health, both physical and mental. My happiness, I am especially thankful for this. The privilege I have to stay home with my children even on those days I am sure I might loose my mind. A home I love in a city I am loving more and more. I am thankful for the gospel in my life. A gospel I know to be true and one that defines my life and has made it all that it is and helped me to know all that it can be. I am so thankful on this day and will try to be thankful everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Girls Got Cut

This is the first time any of my children have gotten professional haircuts....
it was about time.

I bribed Charlee to stay still with a blow pop, the child will do anything for sugar, but it kept getting hair on it which she would just suck off and say ewe.
In the end, she got a super cute cut and I think it looks great.



I have cut Molly's hair many times, but she has been wanting it short for so long and I wasn't about to make that cut. I love her long hair but I definitely DO NOT like brushing it every morning in the dry winter air, so I gave in.

I was a little sad for the first few hours but I quickly got used to it and now I just love it. It is so fitting for her sweet and sassy personality.

All Sworn In

I know this is a little late, but I have just been THAT busy. So Travis got sworn in in Columbus on Monday, Nov. 17th. The whole family made the drive, here are the highlights...


The blurred person grabbing the certificate is Travis, the picture isn't bad considering just how far away we were sitting.


We made it through the whole ceremony, even with a trip to the bathroom to change a poopy diaper and try to dig a wad of paper out of Charlee's nose that she somehow got stuck up there. Thank goodness for freshly downloaded, never before seen, Scooby Doo episodes on the IPods for the other two.


The city of Columbus.


The building Travis took the dreaded bar exam in.


The Santa Maria, a ship Travis took the kids to see in down town Columbus.
Dillon was especially drawn to the cannons.



Well I guess that's a wrap. We're so proud of you Travis!