Searching For That Perfect Tree!

We decided this year to be the "Griswalds" and trek to the mountains to find that perfect tree.

We went with our friends the Shephard's and they led us to a perfect spot.

We packed all our winter gear, hot chocolate and sandwiches.

The weather was so beautiful though, most of the winter gear was ditched quite quickly. Isn't this a beautiful spot?

She could be the little angel on top!

Max found a stick right off, of course!

Searching, Searching, Searching!

Down the ravene, next to the river...

...across the field...

...the boys by the river....

...packing a sweet baby face...

...holding the hand of a energetic little girl...

...sledding down the hill of ice...

...enjoying the perfect winter day....

...kids galore!...

...the perfect tree was finally found...

Ryan actually said he had a "Clark Griswald" moment. He came around the corner and

AHHHH! the sun was shining a beam of light on our perfect tree.

We actually found it so fast the kids were all complaining because they weren't ready to leave.

We drank hot chocolate, played, ate our sandwiches, played, played some more and then headed for home to set up our beautiful evergreen.

It was so much fun, kids and parents loved it and hope it will become a tradition.

Thanksgiving surprise!

This would be why you don't leave your rolls rising on the counter and the flour out while you do your other daughters hair.

Also a good reason why you should always dress the baby last!

She wants Homework too!

Sweet baby doesn't know that she should take advantage of not having school work to do! She wants to be just like the big kids...

She has assumed the position and requires pages to get her work done as well.
If only they all were as excited to have "work to do" and pages to do it on!
In all actuallity, school is going amazingly well, and the kids really do like learning all the stuff that we do.
I am so glad that I took the plunge and did homeschool this year.
It has been so much fun to be the one to introduce them to the new concepts, they are starting to think I may just know a thing or two!

The Ceilings Are Finally Done!

No longer when you come to my home will you have to look up at the ceiling and wonder "What are they doing? and Will they ever finish? Ryan spent three days last week finishing the ceiling. He stayed up until midnight finishing the kitchen, only to realize that he had bought the wrong paint and had to go Friday to buy the right stuff and re-paint. He had a campout with Sam and go the kitchen all done and the rest of the entry all scrapped off just in time to leave. I had a bajillion things to do on Thursday and Friday, and then of course Friday I had tickets to "New Moon" so I was no help. Feeling very guilty about my lack of help, I got home from the movie and stayed up until 3:00 a.m with Noah to paint the front room. On Saturday all we had to do was clean and then put the room back together. What a job...one that had to be done, but is just how it should be, and doesn't really make a huge diffrence in how things look. I like to do a job and then be really impressed with how much better it looks. It does look so much better to not have popcorn, cracks and holes, but it is just how a ceiling should be...not bells and whistles. Thanks Ryan for getting motivated enough to get that done! Now bring on the snow and ski season! ;)

Rodeo, Arkoudas Style!

Ryan was in charge of the activity for FHE. I believe it was one of the kids most favorite activities to date! What could possibly claim that title? A rodeo of course, featuring Ryan as "the bull".

He gave all the kids rides and tried to buck them off while I timed them for eight seconds.

Emma was the only one who lasted the whole time. They all got bucked off.

Max definately had to get on his cowboy clothes and even made me saftey pin a "rodeo number" onto his back.

They had so much fun, and Ryan burned at least 1000 calories. He was plum tuckered out when he was through. The funniest had to be when he tried to buck Sam off. That kid certainly is getting big.
It won't be too long before he has to give Ryan the ride.

Who knew that this "free" activity would be remembered and loved the most off all the things we do!
Lesson learned: When boredom strikes, just bring out the ol' dad!

Garnets~

We are lucky to have an amazing home teacher who always comes with the most interesting lessons to apply to our lives. Last week he brought us a bucket of gravel. The gravel just happened to come from Dillon Montana where there a lots of garnets. My boys were so excited. He gave us this lesson:

Garnets are like people.

They start out pure and as they get bigger they are exposed to more and more impure things. If they hang onto impurities eventually the impurities leave a dark heart which light can not travel through. The majority of garnets have dark hearts but a few stay pure and full of light. As with the gospel of Jesus Christ when the light of Christ can pass through your heart then God can work with you. God can knock of the ruff edges and shape you into a very valuable stone. But if your heart remains dark from the things you have been around then God can not shape you.We spent Monday night looking through the gravel to find the most beautiful garnets.

It truly kept us entertained for a long while. All of us.

Even Emma got in on the action.

Mara was our checker to shine the light on the garnet and see if it had a black heart.

I was truly overcome with a love for our Father in Heaven's hometeaching plan. How grateful I am that my children get to hear from someone other than their parents, how important it is that we have pure hearts and stay away from situations and things that cause us to lose some of our light.

Holy Tooth Batman!

ThE PRoof Is iN thE PudDinG! Caleb fInAlly haS a FrOnT tOotH!

wE nEveR thOuGht thaT hE wOulD eVer noT Be ToOthLesS! But nOw hE is!aNd wHaT a hOnKEr iT iS!

BucKy BeAveR wilL bE jEalOuS!