Reavis Ranch

For Christmas, Chad and I gave each other a date-a-month. Well March was our scheduled Backpacking trip but we didn't think it was going to happen because of kids continually getting sick for a whole month!!  The kids were better and Chad had a weekend off so he decided thats what we were going to do.  It was a much needed trip for us and me!

{at the trailhead}

{climbing the alligator juniper}

{seriously, that tree was enormous!!}

{old farm equipment at our campsite}

{can't be a getaway without a little action, right?!}

{hanging by the fire}

It was about a 7.5 mile hike into Reavis Ranch. I was definitely sore but it was beautiful in there.  There is a big Apple Orchard in there that still produces fruit so we will be going again in the fall.  We don't have any pics of this but at dusk a group of white tail deer camp right into our camp and stayed around us the whole night. It was awesome!

Becoming a Soccer Mom

A certain little boy started soccer this year....

He has loved every minute of it and is actually pretty good.

Just scored a goal!

His team sign made by Coach & his wife

On the way to one of Grady's soccer games, I asked him how many goals he was going to get. He told me 5. I said ok, go for it!  Well, he ended up with 7 goals that game...and I couldn't be more proud of this awesome kid.

End of year REcap!

Since November and December were so busy and tiring, here is a little recap of what we have been up to!

what is that?! Oh its just some elk skin!

The butcher. I now have 70lbs of meat in my freezer...

 This year they got to have one in their room and they decorated it all by themselves with toys!

Temple lights!!

Joseph and Mary (grady had to pose like this or he wouldn't let me take the picture)

Santa Came!

Off to church after presents

Our annual New Years Day Hike.

It was a wonderful year and I hope this year will be even better!

It's My Party...

No crying was involved at this shindig!

Grady wanted a "chocolate sauce with chocolate inside with a ramp so my fourler (4-wheeler) can do a backslip."

So this is what I came up with.

I think it turned out well and he loved it.  Thanks to Grandma Farr for providing dinner and venue!

{its the boots and chaps and cowboy hats...}

{Grandma Great Willis, Grandma Great Smithson, Dearest Aunt Carol, Grandma Smithson}

{of course she couldn't be left out so Grady shared his doggie Cake}

And a special thanks for all of Grady's Grandparents who came to celebrate our handsome cowboy!

Beauty Parlor

Guess who decided they needed a haircut?

Yep. 

I just trimmed her hair for the first time on Friday, but apparently I did not do it to her liking.  

Needless to say, all scissors are hidden, many tears were shed (mine especially), but I still love my spunky girl!  

p.s. We just happened to have had family pictures taken the day prior...Thank Goodness!

Spotlight

It started like this:

and now its like this:

 In the Blink of an eye!

This little boy turned 4 today!  

He loved every minute of his special day.  

{had to be a cowboy for breakfast}

{finding his hidden presents}

{being sung to at Applebee's}

{and getting 'zackly' what he wanted}

This is the interview we had this morning:

Name: Grady
Age: (shows fingers then counts them) 4
Favorite Color: Orange
Best Friend: (You!) Mom
Favorite Animal: Tiger
When you grow up: a Dad
Favortie Movie: Tarzan, then whispers in my ear, "dinosaur movie" (still don't know what that is)
Favorite book:  Spiderman
What makes you happy? Mom and my family
What makes you sad? I make bad choices
Favorite song to sing: a bang, bang, bang song on the guitar (rock music)
What games do you like to play? Twister, Dance with Lyla, Playing house, Cars

I melted more than a few times during this.  Grady is our energetic, ornery, sweet, mischevious, thoughtful, smart little boy!

Happy Halloween!!

We went pretty low key this Halloween despite planning to be more extravagant (life always interrupts my plans).

Grady decided to be Peter Pan just so he could carry a knife around.  Lyla just wanted something with wings so she was Tinkerbell.

{The Peter Pan Shirt was Chad's from his childhood}

We carved pumpkins a little too early...they rotted before the big day.  

{a little girl in her element...a mess!}

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween!!

p.s. Candy in the house is a very, very, bad idea!