Our life this December...

I kept trying to get around to doing a post...and then I'd get busy, always telling myself that "If you get this done, THEN I can go and post". Doing this blog gets me out of doing things I should be :) You'd think with all the time Mark and I are spending together, hanging out that there would be plenty of time...but somehow those hours fill up (and most the time I couldn't tell you with what!) Anyhoo, here's a few of the things that still make the title true..." our crazy-upside-downways life".

This is Sierra...with a round brush tangled all the way up to her scalp. It happened 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave to school...2 hours 15 minutes, clipping all the tines on the brush, using various household objects(ie. a paperclip) and 1/2 a bottle of pantene conditioner later, she was free!





The night before Josh's birthday, we went and bought 40 EXTRA LARGE cupcakes to take to his class(when we only needed 20, but Mark thought they might need extras of course). The next morning, Josh had an unspecific rash, oozing...and so he was ordered by the doc to stay home for the next few days. :( It was on his lip, nose, neck, stomach, legs, and under his eye which made it swell shut (FUN!) And to make it even MORE fun, he apparently developed a staff infection in it. The final guess of the rash is poison oak...NO MORE HUNTING!!





We finally decorated our "Charlie Brown" tree...sort of. We pulled out one box of ornaments, kids started to argue, we started to do it ourselves, got tired, and so it ended with some shiny balls, some lights and a star that was finally put on top 2 days before Christmas. Mark and I win the award for lazy parents! Hey, at least we got the tree early this year rather than the week before like last year!





Josh celebrated his 8th birthday on December 19th! He picked Johns Incredible Pizza for his celebration with the fam. We had a GREAT time! The pic below shows 4 of HUGE wonderful cupcakes! (we took the rest into his class the next day)





We also got enjoy some great reunions and visits with old friends! It's been great to have some time to enjoy the Christmas season with people we love!















And we topped it off with a visit to the Oakland Temple to see the beautiful lights!








And that about sums up the rest of our 2007 year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

A Hunting We Will Go...

Since we have returned to California, we have been doing some hunting. First, Mark had to fulfill a "promise" he made to the kids (which Josh wouldn't let him forget about, of course). He said he would take them out each by themselves for a hunt. I thought it was a great way to return, spending individual time with each kid after the long absence...during the next few Saturdays. Oh no, Mark couldn't wait! We returned from Pittsburgh on Friday(Nov. 30th) Mark took Sierra pheasant hunting on Tuesday. And they did pretty well...(so did Scout!)




Then he took Joshua duck hunting on Wednesday. They sat...and sat....and sat! Mark got about 13 shots and didn't hit anything. But JUST as they were about to leave, Mark took ONE last shot and got a golden eye. For Josh, it was all worth it.



And THEN we went hunting for our CHRISTMAS TREE! Saturday morning we set out for Apple Hill(Placerville). We thought we'd go for an "experience" this year rather than going to Target like we do every year. Not that there is anything wrong with Target, heck, we'll probably do that next year. But we thought it would be fun to go tromping through a big forest, looking for the PERFECT tree because you know, only the "perfect ones" are still out there in their original spots all nice and fresh, right? So we stopped at the first tree farm we saw that said "$35 dollars, any tree!" Who can beat that?! We all jumped out of the truck, dog and kids running through the mud, up the hills, down the hills. The guy gave us quick advice and a saw and we were one our way.

His advice was to look at the top 10 feet of the tree (the 40-50 foot trees that is!) and cut it down and chop off the bottom. It sounded so easy! 45 minutes later in 35 degree weather, getting headaches from looking up at trees with the sun in our eyes, we started to see why the trees were so cheap! You can't REALLY tell how good they are when you are staring straight up at them! You had to tromp up the hill to try and get a "level eye'd" look, but it's only from one side. After Josh slipping down a hillside in mud on his rear(Picture below bearing Josh's embarrassed stance with a mudbum), Scout running off after another dog over and over, Sierra trying to go pee in the cold because there wasn't a bathroom anywhere within miles(sorry, no picture!), we were laughing hysterically and having the adventure we usually have, CRAZINESS! :) But we got our tree! And after sawing it down let's just say it's fit to be a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. We like it anyways...because why? IT WAS ALL FOR THE EXPERIENCE!






I'll save the decorating pics for tomorrow...the finished product needs some fine pruning...although I think it's hopeless! :)