Lucky Day

I got a phone call the other day notifying me that Hudson's name had been drawn as the bank's quarterly Kirby Kid's Club winner. We've had prior success with the bank. The kids each won a potato decorating contest entitling them to a box of Dots and a kiddie cone. In addition we've enjoyed the free lunches they occasionally provide. It is a very small-community oriented credit union. But when the lady informed me that the drawing was for $50 I was even more satisfied with our little bank.

The bank asked what bills Hudson would like. With little thought he repeated the "five tens" option. Now he's trying to decide what to do with his fifty bucks.

He also got McDonald's coupons from school that day. What a lucky day.

Tradition. . . Tradition!

Traditions are some of the things I enjoy most about the holidays. The kids were over the moon when Ojo, our elf, arrived. He's been a busy guy as of late. Oh the questions they ask about him and Santa! It's a race in the morning to find where he's chilling. Ojo can always be called on to help end an argument or motivate one to do their chores.Yesterday we ginger-ed the day away making gingerbread men and then decorating our "graham cracker-bread" houses. The kids love the opportunity to get their hands dirty and get creative. Hudson rolled out lots of gingerbread snakes and worms. They were his favorite. Both kids decided their houses were going to be hit by a big ice-ing storm.
Meanwhile, Ruby watched from her trusty high chair. She is most content up where all the action is. Here's to many more days creating traditions.

Charlie Brown Tree

With all of the snow, we decided the best option for Christmas tree hunting would be down at Stop n' Shop. We loaded up the kids and drove down. While they looked at the bushier trees with their dad, I found the scrawniest one there and declared it my winner. Without further discussion, Brent went inside and purchased the tree. Once standing in the living room, Brent surveyed the embarrassment. I tried assuring him that it would be fine.

Hudson helped with the decorating and declared it the most beautiful tree ever. I suppose that's all in the eyes of the beholder. But to me, a scrawny Christmas tree like I grew up is best.

Hooray For Ruby

Today we celebrated her first birthday. It was equally exciting for all of the kids.
I made Hudson and Dalanie eat breakfast while Ruby got some time alone in the bath with her new toy. She loves it. It was a low key birthday, but we finished the day by going swimming. (We've tried to make birthdays special by doing something out of the ordinary.) She is such a splashing fool. It was hard to keep a hold of her because she wanted to take off swimming.
Things we love about our Ruby-Doo:
-her happy disposition
-playing peek-a-boo and patty cake (love watching her clap her chubby hands)
-eating her neck and listening to her giggle
-listening to her mooo when you ask where the cows are
-the way she begs for food as soon as I sit her in the high chair
-pulling her around on blankets
-confidently watching her approach stairs, turn around, and maneuver down them like a pro
-the way she snuggles her blankies
-her 5 crazy baby teeth
-that she finally says "Mom"
-that her hair and lips are still the object of conversation

Giving Thanks

We kicked off the morning inside with a Treadmill Turkey Trot since it was too frigid outside.

After a quick snowmobile ride, we headed over to Grandma's for dinner. The cousins put on a little play about the first Thanksgiving, complete with Hudson's cap gun and the paper bag turkey. Not many anticipated the bang, so Hudson got a good belly laugh when people jumped.The kids worked on thankful worksheets and countdown Christmas chains.
Hudson's thankful list included cousins, family, and his tongue (the other day he started a great discussion about all the things our tongue helps us do.) While the other kids were stapling candies to their paper chains, he graciously refused with a simple "I'm trying to eat more healthy."

My heart is full of gratitude and Thanksgiving for the life I have and the blessings I enjoy.

Salmon River Adventure

I got to join my husband and his friend for a Steelhead fishing trip on the Salmon River. It's a unique experience. Our friend's Grandpa pioneered the river for private boats. He is a legend, so it's fun to go with him. This trip was quite an adventure. We left in snow and drove 6+ hours to the campground. The first day was cold, but a few fish were biting. I wrestled a big one for over 10 minutes trying to land him. Towards the end I could barely keep a hold of my pole I was so tired. He must have been a wild by the way he was fighting. He finally surfaced near the boat and he was huge, we estimate over 40". Just when we thought we were going to net him, the line broke! Dang it! No picture. Take it as a fishing story if you want, but my arm is still sore.The next morning we woke to 3" of new snow. It let up, so we shoveled the boat out and went on the river again.



The wind decided to pick up and persist, not good for fishing. We tried to keep warm and wait it out but finally decided to pull out, pack up and head for home.
It was slow going, but we made it to Salmon to find out the road was closed home. We spent the night and continued rest of the way home in subzero temperatures. The closer we got to home, the worse the roads got.
We won't be eating Steelhead for Thanksgiving this year, but at least we're home.

Paper Bag Turkey

Hudson was having a Thanksgiving Feast at school and of course, everything had to be store bought (Maybe safer, but definitely not funner.) So we bought a bag of popcorn and whipped up this turkey in no time. While we were at it, we made one for the cousin table for Thanksgiving.As luck would have it, school was canceled due to the snow, so we have two birds waiting around for the big day.

From Sunshine to Snowboots

Last week we were enjoying the beautiful fall weather in t-shirts. We picked the last of the apples and cut the tops off the onions for the winter.



It's a good thing because now we're scrambling to find our winter clothes to keep warm. The kids insisted on dragging out the mittens and hats so they could go play in the snow. We kinda got knocked upside the head with this winter thing. But you know what they say, "When life gives you snow, make snowmen."

Big Deal

Grandpa Hillman pulled out Hudson's 1st tooth Halloween night. Grandpa has a lot of experience and did a great job. It was relatively painless. The family was together, so there were cousins and aunts and uncles to show the tooth to.

Once we got home (at bedtime) Hudson requested to call his Aunts and Uncles on the other side of the family. It was pretty important to him. Loosing teeth for a kindergartner is a pretty big deal.

The tooth fairy even came!

Happy Trails

We moved cows yesterday. Despite the cooler weather, the kids and I were determined to take part in the fun. We bundled up and hit the trail. Hudson was especially excited to ride his own [borrowed] horse. After riding around the pasture, the girls traded mounts for one with hand warmers, bigger saddle [lunch] bags, and more accommodating seats.




The funniest part of the entire day was when Brent was eating his snack-sized chips at lunch. The two older kids were begging for some as usual. In the meantime, Ruby reaches her hand into the bag to get her own. Verdict: There's not a chip bag big enough for the four of them.

Happy Halloween

With a week full of Halloween activities, we're glad this holiday is coming to a close. I must say we got our money's worth out of the costumes. Ruby was our beautiful butterfly, Hudson pulled out some aggressive moves as the Karate Kid, and Dalanie enjoyed telling people how her hair stuck up as a Garden Fairy.



We enjoyed a spooky lunch with friends, carved pumpkins, decorated sugar cookies and went to several carnivals.

RubY' Lantern

Need a little inspiration for pumpkin carving?

Hunting and Gathering

During the last few days corn harvest, the kids and I drove around the edge of the fields looking for piles of spilled corn. The hunt was on, and boy did they love doing this. Once one was spotted, the kids got ready with their colanders. As soon as the four wheeler came to a stop, they were off and scooping. We gathered over 30 gallons for our chickens. What a win-win, good fun and good food for the birds.

Every variety looks different. I especially liked this one that looks like candy corns.