Christmas Tree Hunt

This last Sunday we did our annual Christmas tree hunt in the mountains.  I have to say it was one of our better trees that we have found, thanks to my father-in-law who found it in about 20 minutes.  We were a little worried that we weren't going to have snow, but as we got higher in the mountains we were blessed with a winter wonderland at our destination.  Josiah and Jeshua had one thing on their mind and that was to sled, throw snowballs at one another and of course eat...

So while we hunted they played and they had fun.

Jonah however had one thing in mind and that was looking for a tree for their bedroom.  He managed to find a beautiful little tree, which is in their bedroom and their night light is there star at the top of it.  It is so neat to see them get into the spirit of Christmas, oh the joys of being a child at Christmas.

Our final product, we went, we found and we conquered.

Christmas Festivities

Last weekend Patrick kicked off the holidays by taking the boys and our nephew Jonathan to a parade to welcome Santa to one of our beautiful hotels in town.  They were able to sit on his lap and get a candy cane and cocoa.  Although they have figured out the whole Santa thing, they managed to have a great time anyways.  My wonderful husband took pictures for me while I was at a craft fair with all the girls. I am so excited for the holidays, I love all the decorations and festivities that come with it.

Thanksgiving Fun

Silly Boys

Josiah's Dead Fish 

Eagle Lookout Point

November Birthday Party/Thanksgiving 

We had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend with family. Chris and Kevin came to town so we had a little bit of testosterone running through the house.  My boys loved every moment of it, they sure do have amazing uncles.  All of the Cwiks and there families came over and the house was full.  We ate a whole lot, played games and we even got some snow. 

We also enjoyed going over to Couer D' Alene to watch the eagles feed on all the fish.  It was amazing to watch them fly right over you and it truly looks like they are trying to show off for you.  The boys managed to find a few dead fish and Patrick and his brothers enjoyed teasing one another. 

 I hope that everyone enjoyed there holiday and truly realize how blessed each and everyone of us are.  I know that we are blessed by family and friends and thank God for all the blessings in our lives.

All of my angels

I experienced the cutest thing the other night.  I went into check on the boys after they had fallen asleep and Josiah and Jeshua had fallen asleep on their oversized chairs. Their cat(Angel) decided to curl up with them and join the sleepfest and I was able to capture the adorable moment. Moments like these I am so thankful for getting them Angel, however most of the time she is torturing one of us, and she should not be named Angel.

School Fun

Our Indoor Wonderland

Josiah doing Spelling and Poetry

Josiah's picture taking skills

Jonah doing Spanish

Taking a break with Jesh

Say Cheese

The boys decided they were going to decorate our classroom/family room the other day with snowflakes that they personally made.  Each of them cut and hung their own snowflakes and I must say it is a sight to see.  They also thought we all needed a crown for school so they put their little brains together and made one for each of us. I love their little artistic minds they have. 

The boys are also accelerating in there Spanish course they are taking, I highly recommend Rosetta Stone for teaching yourself a second language.  It is amazing and  all of the boys and I are doing well with it. Jonah has decided he was going to leave us all in the dust,  so guess who is teaching us when we get stuck? Jonah!  It is awesome to see them grow and learn each day, I am so blessed. All of there other subjects are going great, we just take one day at a time, and it is going very well. We are looking forward to Thanskgiving and spending time with family.  Sure wish I could see all of you in Cali, I miss you all very much.

No More October

Collecting Rocks 

Rock Climbing

Green Bluff Maze

Cousins

Flash Gordon

Dark Spy

I am sad to say that all the festivities that come with October are gone. We did one last trip to Green Bluff with the whole family. The boys and their cousins did the Safari maze, enjoyed some apple sundaes and I was sad that I didn't get my apple dumpling. On the same day they got to go to a Halloween party which they enjoyed dressing up and seeing all the other people dressed up too. Lastly, this past weekend they went to a haunted house at the Calvary Chapel and they did an amazing job at bringing Christ into the whole event. We finished with trick or treating and to be honest the boys did not want to do that for very long. I think they were so excited to each have there own bucket of candy and the ability to each so much of it in one night. The night was topped off with a movie and a crash from the sugar high. Halloween is so much fun when you are a child, it sure brings back a lot of memories when I was one.

This last weekend we also took a drive up to Mt. Spokane to see all the leaves changing and check out some trails for hiking and skiing, we ended up walking to the top of the mountain due road closures. The boys managed to collect more rocks and Patrick and I enjoyed the stroll. Boy the weather is changing and I don't know if I am ready for it to be really cold again. We were definitely cold and sure enough there was snow in those mountains today. I don't know if I'm quite ready for the snow and all the things it brings, but do I have a say in any of it? No!!! So until weather permits we will continue to hike and be in the outdoors, I draw the line at snow. But I guess we will then be skiing....

Blessings to you all and enjoy the short days and long nights.

Still Hiking

Well I'm hoping that this last Sunday wasn't our last hiking trip, but I think that it may have been.  We took the boys to what they call the beaver park(a beaver lives there), but it is this gorgeous park that the Spokane river runs through and it was so beautiful.  The boys did some rock climbing, stick and rock collecting and Josiah even managed to get in the water.  It was tempting him and he gave in and got wet.  We hiked a few miles and really enjoyed looking at all the leaves turning.  It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon, I sure am going to miss hiking and being outdoors.

Loving Fall

We made our first trip to Green Bluff this last weekend and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  We ended up getting 10 pumpkins(white, green, red and orange).  We also got 10 pounds of apples that we attempted to make apple dumplings with. Thanks to my baking soda/powder mix-up they were the most disgusting dumplings ever!!!!  Sorry guys, I tried. However, we did have fun making them and that is all that matters, right. 

 The pumpkin carving was a better success. Jonathan, Joey, Patrick and the boys each carved one.  I think Joey won the award for the most creative, after all his pumpkin's brains were coming out of his head.  We had a great time, I just love all the things that come with fall.  We hopefully will make a few more trips up to Green Bluff for Octoberfest, it truly is an amazing place to go during this time of year.  There are apple orchards, pumpkin patches, cider houses, corn mazes, every farm has something different. On top of all that, all the trees are changing colors and it is so awesome to see the bright colors they all change into.  Then they'll all fall off and we'll be raking leaves soon. Oh, I just love it!!!!

Football Fun

I Love Family Pictures

All The Big Boys

Jeshie and Uncle Chris

Jonah, Josiah and Jonathan

Jonah and Mommy

Congratulations Uncle Joey!!!

  We celebrated a very special event a couple of weeks ago. Joey, Patrick's brother was honored at the football program for Eastern Washington University where he played for four years. They were celebrating 100 years in football and Joey was honored as the top linebacker in the last 100 years.  We attended the events that honored him and it was pretty amazing to see all he accomplished while playing for them. Congratulations Joey!!!! What an honor. 

This last weekend we were able to see Chris, Patrick's other brother, at the EWU-Montana game. Eastern lost but it was fun to visit with everyone and even though  I froze we still had a great time.