Ruth Goes To The Nutcracker Ballet

For Ruth's birthday she received two tickets

to The Nutcracker

from her brothers and sisters.

Our self portrait

Kids from the community played parts in the

ballet.

Ruth's friend was one of these soldiers.

Ruth took most of these shots.

Not bad considering we used no flash.

And it was very hard to catch their movements.

The sugarplum fairies.

Ruth in her new skirt I made for her

birthday.

Perfect for the ballet.

Our attempt to do a ballet lift. Not quite as gracful

as the real ballet!

Overall it was a very good evening!!

Christmas Tree Hunt

This year, once again, we set out into the woods to

find the perfect Christmas tree.

Although, some found it more fun to create a

shelter or teepee!

Very ingenious, but I'm not too sure those leaves

will be much protection from the snow

or the wild animals.

The teepee crew

The award for finding the tree goes to Anna and Steven,

who I might add were not part of the teepee

crew.

The trunk was not too big so

Ruth and

Drew

went at it!

The supervisors!

The whole tree hunting crew!

Emma, Josh, April, Drew, Ruth, Dad, Steven and Anna

Taking it out

Waiting for the vehicle

Tying it on

Putting the ornaments on

Drew, Anna and Ruth

Steven adding his ornaments

April putting up hers.

Ruth all decked out in Christmas decorations.

Last but not least the Christmas tree decorating

Cookies! Yes, they were

good!

November, Thanksgiving

Jason and Karla arrived in time to celebrate the November birthdays.

Ruth turned 11 with an ice cream cake and Steven turned 17 with

peppermint supreme.

I know there are some of you out there saying, "We never

even got to use play guns, what's up with this?"

Yes, OK that is sort of true and yes that is Drew with a real gun!

Ty Saunders was home for Thanksgiving and brought some of his

weapons with him. This is Steven shooting Ryan's shotgun.

Jason shooting.

Ty helping Andrew shoot.

Lots of cooking going on here.

We had a contest as to who could make the best pizza.

I think Karla won!

On family night we had a rousing poker game.

Andrew really took the game seriously and it paid off

because he won!

Nothing like being beat by the nine year old!!

The boys spent a lot of time bonding playing

the gaming system which Jason brought with him in

his packpack!

McCain made a surprise appearance.

Cooking the pies.

Church had a Turkey Bowl Game.

Josh, Ryan, Steven and Drew in this shot.

Drew, Jason, Steve and Josh

The football crew

Bryce, Jason, Karla

Took a drive up to Ouray to visit with the

Maclennans. These are the ice cliffs behind them.

A trip to their new house to check the progress.

Tina has most of the painting done.

Maclennans came down to Durango for an after Thanksgiving

dinner and a marathon risk game.

Saying good-bye to Abby and Ryan

The boys and their macs.

Our Wedding 1977

Since today is our anniversary I thought I would take you back a few years, 32 to be exact! The year was 1977 when Steve and I got married. I know we look like kids and I guess we were but at the time we didn't think so and we were so in love.

Who would have thought what the years would have brought us, 12 children, 5 children in-love. We have lived in 14 different houses in 6 different states, who said life is not an adventure? We have walked through many different circumstances, the birth of 12 children, the death of my parents, the death of a child, moving, moving, moving, the marriage of 5 children, moving, pastoring in 6 different churches and did I mention moving?

Wow, I'm glad God did not give me His plan before hand or I would have never embarked on this journey. Thankfully I have had an incredible man to walk it with me, through my ups and downs and all the inbetweens. I think we are both more of what God created us to be because of all our expeiences and I really would not change even the tough times.

My baby roses for my hair turned into a Mother Nature crown!

Me in my homemade wedding dress. Steve

helped make the buttons all 30 of them.

Two of my nephews Mathew and Christopher.

They are so cute. They all have kids of their own now!

We could not choose between the nieces and nephews as to which would be in the wedding so we put them all in! There were 8 in all. Aren't they so cute? The twins, Matt and Meegan on the right, already called Steve "Uncle Teeban". They loved him!

My parents on the left and Steve's on the right.

My parents and my siblings.

I am the youngest of 8.

The wedding party.

This is my whole family, or what was my whole family at the time.

Our numbers are in the 90s now!!

The cake

The going away outfits! Steve's was a jean suit!

You don't see those everyday!!

In the car ready to go. I know I look like I was 15 but really I was 19!

And check out that studly man next to me!

Thank you Steve for all the adventures, for all the love and support

YOU are the best!

"I know I'll love you all of my days"

October

October

Wow, I love October! Not because it holds my birthday but because it is Fall! Fall is so beautiful! I love all the seasons but Fall is my favorite. The colors,

the cool air,

the smells,

warm blankets,

sweaters!

Drew celebrated his 9th birthday with a very rich ice cream cake!
We were joined for dessert by Linn and Big Jim, what a treat!

Yes, cowboy boots from the Stumps to complete his outfit!

Check out the size difference between Big Jim and Drew!!

Transformers from Lorissa and Vince!

His dad took him out to lunch and then to pick out a skate board and helmet from us and his grandparents. Of course he had to try it out first thing!!

My Birthday!!

Of course October is Rebekah's birthday too!

While we celebrate her short life it always comes with just a touch of sadness, knowing she would be 12 this year and wondering just what she would be like.

Flowers to celebrate her life from Lorissa and Vince.

Most of all,

I am thankful that God brought this little guy into our lives to give us a reason to celebrate in October once again. We love you Drew!!

Field Trip to Silverton

Our homeschool group took a trip to Silverton, Colorado, a mining town 50 miles north of Durango on the road to Ouray, to visit the museum and cemeteries there. James was our docent and made up a good scavenger hunt just for us. We learned a lot! Do you know what a Tommy Knocker is? We do!!! We learned that they tried lots of different drills to get the silver out of the mines. But most of all we learned that mining was a very dangerous and underpaid job.

Did you know that they had potty cars in the mines?

Miners waiting in line!

The Palmer family in the mineral room.

We took a walk through the Cemetery as well to see what we could find. Here is a body (Kayla) ready to be buried!! We did a scavenger hunt up here as well. This was a huge cemetery and we scattered all over it hunting for unique tombstones.

Some of our group.

Some beautiful scenery!

The drive home was made very interesting by some great kids!

The Three Stooges - Adam (above), Steven & KC (below).