Christmas Festivities

I love Christmastime and all the fun activities that are going on. Here are a couple of things that we have been up to the last couple of weeks.

We went and cut down our tree. This is a tradition that we do every year. The snow was so deep that Logan had to crawl on his knees to stay on top. He did an awesome job. McCray got to pick out his own tree for his room.

The boys and I made sugar cookies. It was really messy, but really fun and the finished product was really delicious. Just what we had been craving.

We also have a tradition of going over to Grandma and Grandpa Larsen's house and making gingerbread houses. This is the one that Logan and I made. Cahl was supposed to help us, but his attention span was about 2 minutes and then he wanted to go and play.

Jordan, McCray and Kella made this gingerbread barn. It is really awesome. It comes complete with horses and a fishing pond. McCray helped out as much as he could, then he wanted to go play.

I love this time of year and it just gets better with each passing year. I treasure every memory that I have with family and can't wait for more to come!!

Santa Comes to Sanford

Every year the town of Sanford has a fun Christmas tradition of lighting the lights in the town park. They sometimes have kids from the elementary choir sing and have a slide show of Christ. It is a fun tradition that we have started going to. We like to play and have hot chocolate with our friends. Then Santa comes to visit courtesy of the Sanford Fire Dept. The kids then get to sit on his lap and get some goodies from him.

This year they handed out jingle bells to the kids and they got to ring them to let Santa know that they were ready for him to come. McCray rang his for about a minute and then went and wrestled with his friends.
We were really excited to have Chera down this year. Cahl and Chera ringing the bell for Santa to come.

Cahl told Santa that he just wanted a toy. No specifications, just a toy. Good luck Santa. I was suprised that he didn't cry. He just sat right down and told Santa what he wanted and then wanted his goodies.

McCray told Santa that he wanted a bronco toy horse and that he had been a really good boy. It was really cold this year, but fun. Logan unfortunately was out on the truck, so we missed him. But now the countdown begins until Christmas.

Happy Turkey Day!!

This year for Thanksgiving we went out to Utah for a couple of days. We had a DELICIOUS dinner at my Mom's. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the focus on being together as a family and being thankful for all that we have. Our family is truly blessed!!
Cahl enjoying dinner with Aunt Jenn-Jenn. The boys loved this dinner, especially the mashed potoatoes and green bean casserole!!

Cahl, Makaylee, McCray and Noah all loved playing together. This was taken after the disappointing U game. They were playing Makaylee's Webkins. We are grateful for cousins and that we were able to spend lots of time with them. McCray and Makaylee were inseperable.

Halloween

The boys all ready for trick-or-treating.

Cahl was a pirate. He would go around saying " ARRR matey." It was really cute!! His pumpkin was of the Broncos.

McCray loved being Batman. He even got to watch a little bit of the movie. His pumpkin is, what else, Batman. Logan did a really good carving of the pumpkins. We hit 5 houses in 2 hours. Trick-or-treating here is just mainly going to relative houses and eating there. We had a good Halloween and are already sick of candy!!! :)

Happy Birthday Logan

October 28th was Logan's golden birthday. He turned 28 on the 28th. We love you Logan and appreciate all that you do for us. The boys were a little excited for Halloween, so we let them wear their costumes.

Our pumpkin family

Today McCray, Cahl and I made our family out of pumpkins. McCray did most of them, except for Cahl, he did his own. It was really fun to get McCray's perspective on how we each look!!

Logan, (note the goatee)

Cyndi. ( I always wondered how I would look with blue hair!)

McCray, with green spikey hair, because that is his favorite color!!

Cahl

Sadie and Snow

So, about a year ago in August of 2008, I lost my little dog Sadie. She is a Schweenie, 1/2 shitzu 1/2 mini daschund. One day she was gone, and we looked all over Sanford for her and never found her. We thought either someone found her and kept her or the vultures got her. No joke, we really have vultures. For the last year we thought she was gone forever, and I was so sad. She is the best dog ever. Today as I was driving to pick-up McCray from preschool, I was driving down Main Street in Sanford and noticed a little dog along the side of the road. Ever since she disappeared last year, I have always kept my eye out, just in case. I looked again at this dog and I thought " that looks like my Sadie." I went a block and decided to turn around and get another look at this dog. I saw her playing in the snow and definitely decided it was her. I pulled over and opened by car door and called her and she came running over. It was my Sadie!! She was scraggly and dirty, and she had a collar on, so I am assuming that someone has been taken care of her for me. She came home with us and I gave her a bath and a haircut and she hasn't left my side since!! I truly can't believe it, after a year she is back again.

Yesterday it snowed all day. Logan didn't have to work so he built a snowman with the boys. It really was like winter yesterday, the first snow of the season, (sigh). It was a cozy day, we had a fire burning all day and we made chocolate chip cookies and had hot chocolate.

McCray making snow angels.

Cahl eating his first snow of the season, YUMMY!!! When McCray woke up he was so excited that it was snowing, he couldn't wait to get home from preschool and go out and eat it!! I don't know what it is about being a kid and eating snow. Seriously, I tried some yesterday, and it really wasn't that great. Just part of being a kid I guess.

What we do all day

Sometimes I get asked what I do all day being at home. Yes, sometimes I do get bored, but most of the time I am chasing around my boys and their toys, wiping tears or refereeing wrestling matches. Boys are a lot of fun and have TONZ of energy. But we have fun and I wouldn't trade any of the moments I have with my boys for the world!!

One of the favorite games to play is cowboys. The boys dress up in their vests and hats and run around the house with Cahl yelling " Cowboys, Cowboys" and McCray swinging a rope trying to rope anything he can. We also love horses. McCray built this "horse" out of blankets and pillows. They rode it for hours. I had to get the hay to feed the horse.

My boys love to wrestle each other and their dad. Sometimes that results in a lot of tears and the phrase " Be tough" always winds up being used somehow. Cahl is the king of fat lips. He has fallen off the kitchen table numerous times and luckily Mom and big brother are always there to kiss it better.
We also love to be outside. The boys love to put the hose in the sandbox and play. Now with it being too cold for that, we have had to find other ways to dirty up the tractors. We also love to go on walks. I push Cahl in the stroller and McCray rides his bike. We go around and try to find all the neighbor's horses we can and pet them. Our days are fun!!

McCray's Field Trip

I love being at home and being able to do fun things with my kids. McCray's preschool went on a field trip and I got to go with. We rode the train from La Jara to Antonito. From there the school bus picked us up and we drove up to see some Alpacas. The kids loved that. They were able to feed them and pet them and chase them around the corral. It was fun to see McCray with his friends and be able to share that time with him. He is just growing up too FAST!!! McCray said his favorite part of the day was riding on the school bus, go figure!!!

Cahl Turns Two

On October 7th, my little Cahl turned two. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He was just getting over a case of food poisoning, but luckily he was better for his big day. He is a pure delight to have in our family. He is my sunshine!! He loves motorcycles and tractors and I love to watch him make the sounds and push them around the floor. McCray is his hero and Cahl wants to do everything that he does. I love when he comes in from playing outside he always comes up to me and says " Hi Mama" with a big hug and kiss. He is an absolute bottomless pit and can eat anything and everything and still want more in 10 minutes!! With McCray in preschool now, we have a fun time playing and reading stories, just us, Mom and Cahl.

Sweet Peas and Ladybugs

We have lived in our house 3 years. This year is the first year that I have actually planted flowers. I am quite proud of the way they turned out. I have learned some things, so that next year they will be even better! :)

I love sweet peas and I planted them along our fence. It was definitely a learning experience, hopefully next year they can be even better. They smell really good!

Every morning the boys come out and help me water my flowers. There have been a lot of lady bugs lately. On Thursday it started out with just one for McCray. Today we found 6.

Everyone loves ladybugs!! I don't know if bags are the best way to catch them, but it is working for now.

Utah

Last Wednesday we got back from spending a week out in Utah. My favorite brother Scott and his two girls, Ellie and Cora flew in. Morgan Sophia was born July 21st. So, we went out to see Scott and Morgan. We also got to see Morgan blessed. It was a really fun week and we had a lot of fun playing with cousins.


We went swimming one day at Cottonwood Heights. Ellie was really awesome and took Cahl around and helped watch him. He loved it!!

McCray loved going down the slide.

McCray, Maddie, Cahl, Ellie and Cora playing in the water at the pool. I think this was the hottest day that we were there and the kids had tons of fun.

McCray, Ellie, Cora and Cahl. This was up at "This is the Place" monument. The bigger kids understood what the monument is there for, but I don't think McCray really got why we were there. He liked looking at the horses and the bulls.

McCray in the fountain at Gateway. The day started out cold, but by the time we got there it was warm enough to play.

Ellie was brave and stood in the middle of the fountain. Amazingly, she didn't get wet.

Cahl loved the fountain and thought it was hilarious when the water would get him and loved to play in the steam.

Uncle Scott blessed Morgan. She looked so cute in her blessing dress. Scott gave her a really awesome blessing. She was good during the blessing and didn't cry. She is really beautiful and we are glad that she is in our extended family. We can't wait for her to get bigger so that all the cousins can play.

Cahl loved holding "baby Organ." I was worried that he would get jealous when I was holding her, but he didn't. He just got mad that he couldn't hold her. He loved holding her. She is so sweet and cute, we just loved seeing her.

Camille and Kelly were the perfect host and hostesses. Thanks you guys for putting up with my kids and treating us like royalty. Thanks for letting us stay at your house and letting us eat all your cereal. We miss you and Harley-girl!We love you!!

Lasagna Recipe

I made this recipe today and love it and can't stop eating it. It makes a TON, I am not joking, but is really good and pretty easy. I am a huge fan of the crockpot. I got it from my mom's ward cookbook it's from Bethne Hickox. Thought I would share.
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground Italian sausage ( I used regular and it is still super yummy)
2 lb. 13 oz. spaghetti sauce
2, 15 oz. cans tomato sauce
32 0z. Ricotta cheese
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1, 8 oz. package of oven ready lasagne noodles
1, 16 oz. block mozarella cheese shredded

In a skillet, cooke meat until browned; remove from heat and drain any excess oil. Stir in spagetti and tomato sauces. In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, basil and oregano. In the crock-pot, layer the following: meat sauce, uncooked lasagne noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, mozarella cheese. Repeat the layers until the ingredients have been used. Cook on low for approximately 4 hours.

I did this before we went to church and when we got back it was yummy and helped me not be so grumpy after church! :)

Update

Here is the update I know that you have all been waiting for. I will do it in the order that the pictures downloaded.
We celebrate the 24th here. It is a big weekend celebration. Sanford has their celebration on Thursday and Manassa has a big celebration on Friday and Saturday around or on the 24th. Manassa has a carnival and rodeo and Moto X races and a parade on Fri and Sat morning. It is really fun!!

McCray and Cash riding the carousel in Manassa. They were really cute they would yell " Yee Haw" and whip the horses to go faster. True cowboys!!

Cahl and Ireland on the carousel. Cahl loved riding the rides and nothing scared him.

McCray running in the foot races in Sanford. Sanford's celebration is really family oriented and fun. In the morning they have a parade followed by a bbq and then footraces in the afternoon and then a family dance in the evening.

McCray and Cash riding their bikes in the parade in Sanford. They loved riding their bikes and can't until next year when they can ride again.

McCray and Cahl got matching cowboy shirts for the big pioneer celebration. McCray picked them out. My boys are so handsome!!

In May my sisters Mere and Camille came to visit. It was really fun to have them here and we were sad to see them go. Here we are at the gator farm. Totally random to have a gator farm in the middle of southern colorado, I know!!

While my sisters were here we also went to the sand dunes. This was fun, it is like a beach. The kids had a lot of fun splashing and playing in the water. Here is Cahl and Noah at the " Dunes."

McCray and Makaylee loved the sand dunes. They pretended they were surfing. The water really came in waves and they loved it!! So, anyone who comes to visit, this is one place we will go. It is like a beach and the kids played for hours!

Last but not least, on May 2nd I ran the Shiprock 1/2 marathon, 13.1 miles. Shiprock is in New Mexico and is about 10 miles from the Arizona border. It is a Navajo reservation. It was a really fun race and the weather conditions were just perfect. My time was 2:13. I was happy with my time, I wanted to finish in under 2:15, so I met my goal. I think that I could have finished a lot quicker, but Mother Nature called a lot. Not my best race, but one I am definitely glad I ran. I also ran the BolderBoulder race on Memorial day. I don't have any pictures, but I finished in 57 minutes. This is also a very fun race and one I hope to run every year that I am able.