Out For Some Pictures

It was a beautiful November day...unbelievable...64 today here! Tuesday is going to be 69!! Anyhow (getting side-tracked in marvel of the nice weather in NOVEMBER)...we went out today and took some family pictures. Okay, one of my major PET PEEVES in life is going to get family portraits done...or even for just one kid. Waiting for the photographer to be ready (and I have an appointment!), keeping the kids calm, keeping the kids clean, getting them to like some total stranger and actually smile for them....not my happy day. But I do love having nice portraits of the kids.

About this time of year (Christmas card time) I know I need a good family photo. Have any of you ever gotten (or sent) cards that have just pictures of kids on them, and you're thinking...who are these kids?! You really need to put your pictures on there too--so we know who is sending these to us (reading the name on the card is not enough)--I want to visually see how my friends are getting older too, after all! =) I digress again. We went out on this beautiful day, to a canyon that is mere steps away from our house (although we drove over there as to keep the kids from dilly-dallying). My friend Natalie and I worked out a trade...I put all her Christmas Card addresses into a spreadsheet so she can send out her cards this year (without having to hand-address her cards), and she take some pictures of our family with her talented eye and fabulous camera. **I love trades** We got some great photos of the family together and I wanted to share some of the fun ones with all of you. So here you go. So much better than going to a studio!!

Memory Making

I have been SO busy for SO long now, I really haven't taken much time to scrap...in fact, it's been MONTHS. For something I enjoy SO much, it makes me sad that I haven't done it in so long. I've almost ignored the urge--because I'm too overwhelmed (with other stuff) to think about it.
Last night, I was putting some Girl Scout newsletters that I've been doing for her troop, in her scrapbook. I sat and looked through my past work and realized how very much I miss it.
Tonight, I took to it! I had no meetings and didn't have to run the kids anywhere. Yay! So, after dinner, I locked myself in my office and sat down and digi-scrapped. I love doing it this way. Look below, the same layout, but I can throw them in each of my kids' books and they'll never know how much easier it was for me (and quicker) to do it this way, than to do it with actual paper. I still do miss the hands-on, cutting, gluing, etc....but this way is practical for me right now. Plus, I can get a kit of digi-scrap files, and I know that they match and that the embellishments will "work" on the page.
It felt really good to do a little "memory-making" again tonight.

Our Halloween Tribe

We had a great Halloween. It was excellent trick-or-treating (probably the best we'll EVER EVER have). The day was in the mid-70s and the evening didn't even require a jacket. Last year...2 sets of underclothes, winter coats, hats, etc. We loved it this year! Yay!
Thank you to Grandma Mac for the making of the costumes...they were so much fun and we. Thanks Auntie Marcie for letting me borrow your get-up this year...it was awesome! We had a lot of fun and a great night.

A Day in Estes

Yesterday, after our Primary Program, we went up to Estes Park for the rest of the day to do a little geo-caching and to spend some family fun time. It was a GORGEOUS day...70-degree weather on October 25th!! The elk were out in their glory. We could have reached out and pet a few of them...truly. It was so exciting to see them and hear their mating calls. They are amazing animals--the kids were thrilled to see so many of them. We are so lucky to live so close to so much beauty and variety.

4 Little Indians

Halloween is coming and Grandma Mac really came through for us! What a fabulous seamstress and creator she is. The kids just loved being dressed up in their indian costumes. I love that they all matched. There wont be many years where they can have the same theme and matching costumes...so yes, I'm enjoying it now! Thank you --AGAIN THIS YEAR-- Grandma Mac! We love you.
Trick or Treat!

My lil' Pumpkin

I love Autumn! I love Kyle. The two go great together. I couldn't resist taking some snap-shots of my little guy the other day while we were out enjoying the weather, collecting leaves and getting some fresh air before it gets too crisp out. Kyle is so irresistible. p.s.--he HAS had a hair cut since these pictures ;)

A fun weekend of Camping

Ah, Autumn is upon us. We knew that this would probably be our last weekend to go camping, so we took advantage of the trailer we just bought last Tuesday, and went before the weather was too cold. It was borderline while we were there. I have to say that the furnace in our trailer was very helpful! I LOVE MY TRAILER (excellent Craig's List find)!

We had such a good time. Jim's cousin's family were camping this weekend too, so we coordinated with them so we could all have fun together (Aaron & Megan and their kid) and my friend Shauna, her kids, and her two sisters and their kids. Okay...a lot of kids...but what a great place to just set them free and let them have fun--hiking, climbing big boulder-type-rocks, and just playing around. They kept themselves rather entertained. Tess (our puppy) had so much fun too--the kids loved taking her on walks and she was in heaven with all the attention.

We ladies were entertained too. Our favorite time: in the trailer playing board games and eating licorice. It was great!

We dutch oven cooked, sat around the campfire and sang silly and fun camp songs, and just had a good-ole'-time. The fall colors were awesome and I'm so glad we went before it was too late. This upcoming weekend is going to be in the 40's--good thing we went while we could!! What a great time we had!