Christmas Time Pictures

Shane and his dog Sadie, aka "Sader Tater". She is half yellow lab, half golden retriever. She is a sweet dog --- only when she is sleeping :) When she is awake she is a terror!! But we enjoy having her here as she makes for some good conversations. Devin and Grandpa Kim watching presents being opened.

Shane and Boo being silly in front of Boo's new TV. We had a DVD in that played a fireplace with Christmas music, the silly boys that they are decided they should roast some marshmellow's.

Having fondue for Christmas Dinner -- chicken, steak, shrimp, mushrooms, lil smokies, and meatballs. Devin and Damen decided that it just takes too long so they went to do something else. We had alot of fun and enjoyed visiting. Boo, Shane, Dillon, Grandpa Kim, and Grandma Renee still sitting at the table.

Christmas Presents

Damen and his lego. The only things he asked for were Lego's and Bakugan! Kinda a difficult kid to shop for this year. We did end up getting him an iPod Shuffle as he LOVES to sing and dance. I will have to get a video clip of him listening, singing, and dancing.

Devin and his cordless drill. Not quite sure what I was thinking here. He is already looking for things to take apart. We have taken apart a scale, a VCR, an old watch, and are still looking for more things to destroy!

Dillon opening some new headphones for his iPod. He also got some books that he was super excited about. Don't see to many kids get excited over opening books on Christmas but he was!

Christmas Lights

Tonight we took our annual drive to look at Christmas lights. This picture is of a small park across from the hospital in town. Unfortunately, the picture does not do justice to how beautiful all the trees are. A must see in person. We did a quick jump out of the car, into 50 mile per hour winds with a temp of about 6 degrees. The boys were NOT impressed!! :) But they did it anyways..... Here is my smiling trio!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Dillon - 12, Damen - 6, Devin - 8

Christmas Program

This year both Devin and Damen were in the same Christmas Program. They did a great job on their songs. Devin's class sung "Dame, Get up and Bake your Pies", a song I had never heard before and Damen's class did "Up on a Housetop" with fantastic movements! Devin right in the front row, white shirt.

Damen (back row, white shirt) performing "Up on a Housetop"

Annual Gingerbread Houses

The challenge was issued. Who could build the better GingerBread House? Devin and Damen were taking on Quinn and Dillon.

Devin is working on putting Santa's Sleigh on the roof, two mini candy canes with a hersey bar rectangle. Damen is busy adding "lights" to the icing on the roof. Here is Devin and Damen's finished house. I was wondering if less really is more or is "more, really MORE". We finally had to tell them to STOP as the sides and roof were caving in from too much weight (uh candy). They had a great time decorating and eating the goodies.

Dillon and Quinn did much planning. They had to figure out where they would put all the goodies before actually committing to it, whereas, Devin and Damen just went for it.

Dillon and Quinn's finished house. They took FOREVER, but it turned out great. Not sure if you can tell or not but the two gingerbread men in the front are having a snowball (marshmellow) fight. I thought that was very creative.

They are both displayed and believe it or not still have all the candy attached!!

If I was a turkey...

Damen's story that he wrote on Monday. If I was a turkey.... Below the picture is the translated version!I will get a tree cutter and chop down the fence. I will run and run to the mall. I will go in the toy section and pretend like I am a toy.

The creativity it what I enjoy the most!

This Thanksgiving it will be me, Boo, Dillon, Devin, Damen, Uncle Shane, Grandma Renee, and Grandpa Kim.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Trick or Treating

Grandma and I could not be left out of the fun! No we did not collect candy, we helped carry the bags as they got quite full rather quickly. About 5 minutes around the neighborhood Dillon ran into a group of friends from school and ditched us. However, he actually got home before we did so they must not have been much fun :) Boo, Grandpa Kim, and Uncle Shane stayed home and handed out candy. Uncle Shane came and picked up Damen after only a couple of blocks of Trick-or-Treating, guess his bag was full enough. Devin wanted to keep on going until his bag was full to the top. It was a beautiful night, no wind, and little chill factor so we were able to keep on going, about 1 1/2 hours worth. We didn't make it to a completely full bag before it was time to call it a night. Believe me he got plenty of candy. Damen is a little Devil (pretty fitting), Dillon is an Old Man, and Devin is the Grim Reaper. Quinn decided against going...must be an age thing? I thought I went when I was in high school??

Day 1 - Teton Science School

The first day we spent some time in Jackson Hole before heading to the Science School. Here is my group of 4 boys under the Elk Antler Arch. They were not much fun to shop with unless we were in the candy store or the toy store!

In front of Wyoming's Largest Totem pole.

We had a long day that day as we left Casper at 5 a.m. Monday was pretty much a relaxing day and getting to know the instructors. Everyday started with wake-up call at 6:30 a.m., breakfast at 7:30, meet our guide at 9 a.m. to head out. We usually returned between 4 and 4:30, supper at 5:30 and then a final class at 7:00 - 8:45. We had some free time which was either spent in the dorms or playing outside. The weather was fabulous, in the 50's! Each day the kids had to clean up after either the breakfast or dinner meal as the Science School does not employ janitors. This really taught the kids about leaving a mess. They got the chance to use the big kitchen dishwashing system, sweep floors, wipe tables, etc. There is a private school for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, tuition is only $15,000 a year!! The program includes lots of field work in the outdoors, what an experience.

Day 2 Teton Science School

Day 2 started with a 6 mile hike in the Brider-Teton National Forest. Got to stop and see lots of Bison crossing the road. The spectacular Tetons

Dillon taking a break from the exhausting hike. The background captures much of the scenery.

Finally we reached the top. Sat and had a very quiet lunch as the kids were not into much talking. They were told by Chris, our guide, that there possibly was a Dairy Queen at the top. This put "pep" into some of the kiddos steps. I think we need to work on the gullibility phase.

Dillon and a friend taking a water break.

Day 3 of Teton Science School

On the way to Taggart Lake North of Jackson Hole. The kids studied decomposing trees at the burn site. They had to figure out how many years ago the fire happened by "reading" the whorls on the pine trees that were still there. They did pretty good, most guessed 30 years ago, it was actually in 1985. Dillon trying on the bear hide at the museum in Moose, WY.

Just finished eating lunch at Taggart Lake. Me and one other parent had half of the class, a group of 9, plus the guide.

As we were hiking back from the lake a couple of people on horseback warned us of a bear on the path. He was maybe about 30 yards away, too close. The kids did a great job of staying calm and staying close in their group. They were pretty excited that they were the only group that got to see a bear. A memory that will not be forgotten for awhile.

Pumpkin Carvin'

The annual tradition of pumpkin carving. Ideas always start BIG and then they go to the traditional face of a pumpkin. Dillon digging in! Quinn cleaning out his pumpkin.

Pumpkin guts no longer bug Devin.

On the other hand Damen CAN'T STAND the feel of the guts. However, I think this face was a little exaggerated!! He is our little actor.

More Sledding

Devin FLYING down the hill. He is a little dare devil. Everytime he went up a little higher and got a little faster. Of course I had to try it out. Mom can't let the kids have all the fun! Those kids really are brave as you don't realize how fast you get going until you go down yourself.
About 3/4 of the way down the hill someone built a little jump for you to take your sled off. Here Boo and Quinn are trying to make the jump a little bit bigger.
Damen needed a little help from someone to hold his sled still while he got on. Then he needed a little push so he could go FASTER!

Sledding

The kids were out of school on Friday so Boo and I decided to take them up Casper Mountain to go sledding. It was so nice out that they eventually had to take off their coats.

Damen enjoying the sunshine and snow.

Dillon after a crash at the bottom of the hill!
Devin working his way up the hill.
Quinn thinking he needs to climb higher up the hill to get more SPEED!
A view from the bottom of the hill. We had it all to ourselves for about an hour. This really is a great spot.

Denver Bronco Game

On Sunday Boo and I drove to Denver to watch the Bronco/Jags game. We left Casper with about 7 inches of snow and were unsure of what was south of us. We got about 30 miles out of Casper and had great roads! We got to the stadium about 12:30, had a bite to eat, and then up to the seats to make sure we didn't miss any of the warm-up! :) It was CHILLY! It started to mist (like a light rain/snow) with a breeze. BRRR Our seats are off to the right of where the fireworks come out everytime the Bronco's score, giving a blast of heat. However, we did not get enough of the heat, hence Bronco's just couldn't score :(

We had a great time despite the loss and the taunting from the Jags fans!

A couple guys sitting in front of us. Wonder if they were still friends after the game? haha
The stadium starting to fill up.
The Bronco's entering the field.

September Birthday's

September was a busy month for Birthday's. Quinn celebrated his 15th B-day on Sept 9. His choice was to stay home, have hamburgers on the grill, and play some volleyball in the back yard. Dillon turned 12 on Sept 26. He decided we should go out to eat Friday night and then Saturday we went bowling for both their birthday's. Dillon invited Chris and Quinn decided he was fine with no one. Could it be an age thing??? Both of them picked Oreo Bizzard cake from Dairy Queen, so we got it twice, once at the beginning of the month and then again at the end.