Getting wood or playtime?

We recently put in a woodburning stove in the living room area off the kitchen. So we went up to Mick's parent's cabin and got a truckload of wood for the winter. We've used it every day since we got the wood and it sure is nice, especially at night after the kids go to bed to curl up on the couch in front of it.
Mick really gets into his wood cutting. Apparently the chainsaw made him feel well.... I'm not sure. He's a nut!

Little Lucious was such a good helper to carry her logs over to the truck. I think it's really good for them to learn to work when they're young. I'm really glad my parents made me work as hard as I did when I was younger. I sure didn't like it at the time, but it has stuck with me now in the real world. Thanks mom and dad.

Bethany was stacking the wood at first in the truck. But it got all crazy in there after a while. She did her best though.

Ty and Bet would carry a couple of loads over to the truck and then they would announce they needed a "break". There was a rope swing right by where we were cutting that would tempt them beyond their limits. How convenient for them. Pretty soon they were over there playing on that instead of working. Eventually it would turn into a fight over whose turn lasted the longest on the swing. It just wasn't FAIR.

It was fun to watch these two play on the swing. It was so cute to listen to Hana and Emma giggling while they tried to hang onto it. Emma landed on her rear a couple of times and they would both just laugh and laugh.

Bowling on Turkey Night

When I was little, my grandparents would have all the cousins come for a sleepover at their house on Thanksgiving night. When we got older, they took us bowling. We've done it every year for a long time. This year grandma and grandpa invited the whole family, not just grandkids and that was a blast.



The kids were so excited to go all day long. I think Bethany did more dropping the ball than actually rolling it.
Gotta have a shot with me and my little sis. I think we have way too much fun together!

Ty was so good to help his little sister. It was fun to watch them. I was surprised that no one got their little fingers smashed in between the balls this year. It seems like one of the kids always does.




Bethany took some pictures with my camera. I think she actually did a pretty good job. I think she had more fun taking pictures than bowling.


I think it is so cool that we have stayed as close as we have as a family. Grandma and Grandpa are so good about getting us together to do fun things.

Holiday Bingo

My grandma Johansen started a tradition when I was little to play bingo after Thanksgiving dinner. A few years ago, Mom and I made up our own game. After someone won, they got to pick out a wrapped prize, the next winner could steal one of the others that had been won or pick their own. You would think that only the little kids would want to play, but all the adults get into it too. Mark was getting all bent this year because he wasn't getting bingo. He would say he got it every time. Mama Jo didn't believe him when he finally did.


Poor Bethany didn't win until the very end. She was so patient. Good thing Grandma Jacki rigged it or I don't think it would have happened at all.

I don't think Mick was quite as excited as it appears over his winnings. The kids were his best buddy because it was filled with candy.


Emma was the first one to win. She was so excited with her prize. How perfect for her. Good thing no one had the heart to "steal" it from her.


Hana just loves her cousin Sammy. He loves to be involved with whatever the kids are doing.

Turkey Day

Our family went to my mom's for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Everyone was there except my little bro Brian and his wife Maribel - we sure missed having them there!




It was so much fun to get together and pig out. For once I didn't eat so much I felt sick. I think I did more laughing than actual eating which is highly unusual for me! The best part was that Kristen set the kids down at the other end of the table by her and Mark so they had to get the kids plates ready. I got to sit at the other end and enjoy the feast. Thanks Kristen!

Mama Jo was the true chef, but Mark did help cut up the turkey. The rest of us were goofing off so bad I think she was ready to pop us one! Alan started throwing pieces of roll and of course they had to be thrown back.

The kids were more interested in the candy in the nutcups. Emilie made really cute place setting cards. Even little Sammy got one! The best part was that mom dug out my old plate that I made when I was 7 and put that in my place while everyone else got the china. It was so funny.

Such concentration!

If ONLY she had this kind of concentration to help clean up her room and the hundreds of toys she delivers to every room in the house. Don't look now Mick, but she's got your phone and it will never be the same when you get it back!

It's Santa!

The girls got to see Santa at the store. They were SO excited. They get so shy when they get up there on his lap and don't have a whole lot to say. Highly unusual for them!

Vegas Endurocross

Mick and I went down to watch the Endurocross in Las Vegas. It was such a cool event. They had made the track with tires, rock beds, logs and other things. The riders were so impressive. I would have been whining big time to have to ride something like that. Justin, Lara and Ella rode down with us. That made it a lot of fun. Ella was such a good little girl. I couldn't believe that she rode all that way down and back without crying. We watched the qualifying races on Saturday and met up with some other friends there. We hit the buffet for lunch - wahoo! All you can eat food and dessert. I think I saved more room for all the dessert. The main event Sat. night was so much fun. I was excited to come back to see the kids. It was great to have a break, but I missed them a bunch. They got to go to Mick's parents and stay. Vacations go by so fast.