Sunday, December 13, 2009

This past week of Christmas Cheer

Tara had her first violin concert, she did great.
Torie played a solo at the branch party, Facebook has the video
My little band!!!
Our nativity from church, Torie was Mary, Tanner was a Shepard and Tara was the Inn Keeper
Tanner got to speak with Santa, and share his list!

Monday, December 7, 2009

O Christmas Tree....

Every year we take the trek to Home Depot to pick out the tree. We take turns each year on who gets to choose. This year was Tara's year, and she did great. We got the tree home along with a second, and were trying to figure out when to decorate it.....
Loren's family came with us, so it was a family affair, and it was cold. A storm was A' brewin
It was fun to have family with us, and let the kids play.
That storm that was mentioned earlier...it hit and so it was time to bake, and then the power went out, Well, make the best of it.......
Time to decorate, we got the lights up and then.......


We lost all power, so a fire went in and we went to decorating, everyone has their own ornaments from each year that they get to put up, and it is so neat that the kids know which ones are theirs and what they represent.

About 20 minutes after the tree was done we had power again!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Ready or Not, He's 4

He informed us the day before his birthday that he slept fast so it would be his birthday...He is all boy and has brought us so much joy. It's hard to believe it was 4 years ago (nov.14) he joined our family.
He loves his Pez collection, who knew?
He is so excited when things are for him.
Tanner are you so happy?
Yes Mom I love when it's my birthday.

Monday, November 16, 2009

15 Years and Going Strong

I could post a series of photos of our 16 total years together but it would take days. We have had a great run and look forward to an eternity still to come. We have built a family, a friendship and a business. I love this guy, he is the best friend anyone could ask for. He just wants everyone to have fun and get along, what more could a girls ask for?
The past week we got to get away and focus on us, and how much we enjoy having fun together. Tad planned another awesome vacation and we had a blast.


Here's to another 15 + years, Tad I love you and I had a Happy Anniversary.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween Week 5 T's Style

Our weekend started with Davin's baptism, and lots of friends came to visit. That same night was the trunk or treat at the church.
We got into the spirit of the night and had alot of fun with our soups and stews and our trick or treating!
The girls and some friends
The cousins that came to have fun with us.
On October 28 we headed out to Glamis for what would be an awesome weekend of family fun! Tad can plan a great trip, and does every time!
Tad gave Torie a lesson on going up and down Oldsmobile Hill, what would end up being her favorite thin to do for the next 4 days.
Tracy (left) Torie (center) Tad (right) heading up Olds as a family
Tanner had his turn riding his quad, he is getting so big
The family on top of the Hill
Camp fire fun every night, of course marshmallows were a must
Thumbs up to you to Big Daddy
Tara and I on top of the Hill watching Torie
She went up and down for a straight hour
Nate (left) Carter then Charlie and Torie (right) lined up like the dads getting ready to race the hill. Funny how they did this on their own.
Tanner did you have a great trip? He said on the way home... This was fun dad when can we go again, Thanksgiving Big Daddy only a few weeks away.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Good Fun

Every year we try to better our gardening skills. This year we have had great success with the tomato crop. I love having the kids take ownership of their garden.
In preparation for canning day Tanner and I went out and picked only the red ones, that took a little explaining. last weekend I canned the veggies, while the girls and Tanner had a Nascar date with dad. Spaghetti sauce, salsa and applesauce were completed by the time they got home.
The girls were excited to do jam. We decided on peach and pear, and away we went.
Everyone had a job to do and they could see that we had an order to this chaos, each job had to be done before we went on to the next.

I took care of the water bath duties, the girls did pretty much everything else. They were fascinated with pectin.

They did a great job of stirring constantly! They are so much fun to cook with.
Torie tried to get creative and she kept thinking of what we could add to "spice it up" She was reminded how important following the recipe was.
All that was left from here was pop pop pop!

A little hard work and alot of love turns the fruit into jam, quote from Tara!

In all we did 12 peach and 12 pear, and then we all had toast!