The lesser of two evils.

This year our circumstances left us with two less than ideal choices for a Christmas tree.  1- We could go get our own tree as tradition would have it, but it would have to be a juniper (gasp) or 2- We could go and BUY a tree (double gasp)!

We decided the memories of cutting down the tree would make it worth having a juniper and I think we chose the right idea.  Besides as Daniel put it " a juniper tree is no worse than a pinyon (the kind I grew up with)." And I felt the same about the Charlie Brown tree (or Blue Spruce as he calls them :) that he grew up with.  (Love you babe :)

We forgot Chase's gloves and he just couldn't resist playing in the snow, so we had to make do.

 It was an incredibly muddy road out the the area.  There were huge puddles of water to drive through and we slid off to the side of the road more times than I can count, but this ole' truck just gets us wherever we need to go.

 In front of the tree we picked.

Yep, we definitely made the right choice.

Snow Day

 After 5 years of living in the snow during the winter you might think I would be used to it by now, but every year I'm still surprised how long the snow can just sit there without melting away immediately like it did when I was younger.

I guess if the snow won't go away, we have no choice but to take advantage of it.

 And there just happens to be one perfect hill in Stansbury Park for sledding.

Uh oh...

Here comes trouble.  This kid is even more busy than Chase was at this age.  Anyone who knows Chase knows we are in for some fun :)

Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's

 The Christmas tree that Porter found.

Grandpa's baby bunnies.

and playing on the horse swing

San Juan Hill

Thanksgiving weekend


I finally read Undaunted, all 802 pages in half a week, and now I have to do it all over again.  I have to go back the craziest 4-wheeling trail to the Hole in the Rock.  I have to see it all again now that I know a little better what really happened there.  I need to go back to the top of Slick Rock hill and look down at amazement that they were able to follow a mountain sheep to the one spot that could lead them down.  I want to see San Juan hill again and just stare and marvel at the miracle they went through.  I plan on reading this book to my kids and taking them to all these amazing places that so few get to see.  This book immediately made it's way to my favorite books list.

                                                     (Just a part of San Juan Hill)
Over Thanksgiving weekend we made our way down just past Bluff to San Juan Hill.  This was the final push the Hole in the Rock pioneers made before finally reaching their destination.

We love adventures like this.  It creates many picture taking opportunities for me, and lots of outdoor adventure for each of my boys.

 A little cave along the path.

Plenty of dirt to keep a 3 year old boy happy.

 

 

 If you look really hard in this picture you can see the words, "WE THANK THEE OH GOD"  It isn't known for sure who carved these words, but is believed that the pioneers did it as they reached the top of the hill.

Family picture under "WE THANK THEE OH GOD"  Can you see it?

Grandma has these boys wrapped around her finger.

 Porter and Chase finding the perfect rocks the throw.  This is the best picture I got before rocks came flying my way.

 A group shot (minus my dad who headed off to find the highway).

 Once again, hard to tell, but we believe these are markings where the wagon wheels dug into the rock.   One things for sure.  This place definitely had a neat spirit there.

Happy birthday Chase!

 Can it really be possible that I have a 3 year old?!?!

I think that means he has fully exited toddler stage and is now a big boy and I can't stand it :(

He kept telling me on the days leading up to his birthday that he was going to "Make a wish and blow out the candles so that he could eat some cake!"  He had it all figured out.

This was his face while we all sang to him.  (There really are three candles.  One is white and hard to see.)

Eating the cake.

He was pretty excited about what a birthday meant and that he was going to have one so we tried to make it special for him.  We got some balloons and a pinata and had a little party with his cousins.

 I continually play catch up and fall behind on this blog.  I wish it wasn't so, but I guess I will just have to admit defeat on this one because there never seems to be more time.

 Daniel went hunting with his brothers in October.   Chase was really excited to go, even though he didn't actually go out with them, he thought he was hunting.  I gotta admit he made a pretty cute hunter driving around looking for deer.