Snow sliding smiles

You want a piece of me?

Just having fun jumping into the drifts. If you look really close you can see that Cassidy has horns.

Angel?!?

Heidi had great fun playing in the snow too.

This is how we started sledding until the tube popped! Then.......

Kansas style kayaking.

Redneck sledding at its finest. Uncle Dennis' kayak works for more than just flowing water. Thanks, Uncle Dennis.

Look out Cassidy! This is just before Brooke nailed her with that huge snowball.

Nice shot Brooke!

Not sure how much snow we got but it's still coming down. We haven't seen drifts like this since we were the kid's ages. This was taken on our way home from Paxico. The drifts went all the way across the road. The snow was blowing so hard it was almost creepy to see as it traveled down the highway like an erie ghost.

Christmas 2009

Wines' Christmas Eve Dinner 2009

Brisket, Texas Hashbrowns, Corn, Homemade Dinner Rolls, yum, yum!

Guess who is tiptoeing?

Christmas morning, love the cheesy smile.

Fun was had by all. Thanks, Santa!

Holiday Happenings

The weather had delayed our Christmas tree hunt until last weekend. Sunday morning, we made our way to Harveyville to the Converse Tree Farm. This years tree is much better than last years. It only took us about 15 minutes to find the charming little tannenbaum. Brooke also found several trees that she tried talking her Mom and Dad into letting her get just for her bedroom....but it didn't work. I wonder if she was thinking that she may catch the jolly old man in the process of his crafty works by having another tree right where she sleeps. Perhaps more loads of loot was the incentive. Most likely she was just filled with the spirit of the season. I have to admit, last years tree looked like Charlie Browns tree. Cassidy was sitting at the computer when the screen saver displayed a picture of last years Christmas tree. She asked, "Is that what our tree looked like last year?" "Unfortunately, yes." I said.

Little Miss Brooke was baking cookies. She wanted to help me out, so I told her to make cookies. She did all the measuring except for the peanut butter. Cassidy helped her out. She really felt special using the hot pads to put the cookies in the oven AND taking them out all by herself. As you can see she meticulously arranged them perfectly on the wax paper.
Bakers pride, a gift from Mom. Some things are just plain hereditary.

Cassidy got in on the fun as well.

Our second snow fall of the year. As you can see it was so beautiful. We received about 5 to 6 inches of the white wintery wonderland fluff. Then moved in the typical Kansas cold. This actually allowed the snow to stay for a few school free snow days of super sledding.

Big Buck for Bubba D, Baby

Dylan and Tim, along with our friend Jack, have been deer hunting since December 2nd. The first day, Dylan and Jack each shot little ones. The third day into it, I get a phone call from Dylan stating he got a 9 pointer and a big doe. Wow, was he excited. Not only did he get two big ones but he outdid his Dad. That made it even better. The first deer season ended December 12th. They are already talking about the 2nd season.

Christmas Programs

The girls each had their own night for Christmas programs. The first night is Pre-K through 4th grade, second night is 5th through 8th.

Brooke sang a song about "Snow day, playing in the white stuff". They have a very good music teacher that choreographs motion with singing. The kids really get into it and it makes the program really fun to watch. Very cute.

Try to hard to see if you can detect any attitude from these 7th and 8th grade girls.

Cassidy not only sang, but she played her flute in the band.

Teenagers Turkey Treats

Tim and I decided we wanted to have our own quiet Thanksgiving meal in our own home. Saturday we got a bird out of the freezer. This morning we went into town to do some quick shopping, came home and put the bird in the oven. Little did we know that this beautiful chef had decided to prepare all the trimmings HERSELF. She quietly asked her brother and her sister what their favorite side dish was. Fortunately, they both said the same thing - Green Bean Casserole. She made candied yams, mashed taters, green bean casserole, crescents and here she is stirring the gravy to put the final touch on things. Not only did she not ask for help she was refusing help.

Brooke lit the candles and we had a beautiful family dinner together.

I hope everyone had as wonderful of a time as we did.

Howdy, Heidi!

Ten p0unds later, this lazy little brat is slowly stealing our hearts. She actually drags her pillow to her food dish to lay down while she is eating. Hard to believe she is the runt of the litter. Picking up new tricks in no time at all, she is really proving how smart she is. She is somewhat unsure of her occasional shower with Mommy and Brooke but we sure appreciate them. Dylan has decided she sleeps in her room and he doesn't complain about the 2:00 AM potty break.

Heidi and Brooke are still discussing dominance. Brooke made lots of headway today. She was teaching her to lay and stay. She also worked with shake, something Dylan taught her a couple days ago. It takes her no time at all to figure out what you want from her. Making her want to comply is what we must learn ourselves.

The prefect combination of insanity and serenity.