Climbing and cousins...

Eric's sister and family were here for a few days after Christmas. We took them all to the indoor climbing gym. Sierra and Mason have gone with Eric before but this was the first time I got to see them climb. The girls team loved climbing! Kara(5) and Sierra(6) both climbed to the top of the 40 foot wall more than once. The boys team, Dylan and Mason(4), liked staying closer to the ground. They had some help from Uncle Garrett who was here too.

When we finished Grandpa took everyone to their most favorite place for a treat!

Lots and lots of Allie...

Allie had her 3rd birthday on December 28th. She is our most sassy girl and that must come naturally being the third child.

She loves to play with her baby, we change the babies diaper and clothes many times a day, she likes to dress-up, "talk" with Little People with Mom and Dad, dance to kids songs, draw pictures to give to Mom and Dad (many times a day), push chairs up to the counter so she can watch me make dinner, and play with Sierra and Mason. Three years seems to go awfully fast!

Allie Noel...

Stay on target...

Sierra couldn't resist throwing snowballs at Mom and Dad, but her aim was off and Allie got one right in the face. Ooops!

Snow Hike...

Saturday we headed up the road to take a hike in the snow. I knew Allie wouldn't last as long as the others so we brought the backpack along. I don't think it was built for a three year old. There is more snow coming down today, maybe we will have a white Christmas after all!

Mason, better known as Mase...

His sisters still love him, even if he hasn't brushed his teeth for awhile.

Baby Butterfly...

Here is our first photo of Martin baby #4. The fourth ultrasound was just as amazing as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. There is a little baby, that looks like a baby, growing right inside of me. It's pretty amazing!

We have never found out the gender of the baby until the delivery. I was tempted this time but I love waiting until the end. Mason wants a brother of course and Allie wants a sister named Butterfly. Originally Sierra said it should be a boy but maybe that has changed by now. We'll find out in early May!

Peace...

My favorite time of day in December is when the kids are in bed, there is a fire in the wood stove, the Christmas lights are on, all is quiet, no TV and Eric and I are sitting and reading. Peace!

Let it snow!

We woke up to snow Sunday morning and Sierra and Mason were out the door by 8:15am. Then again at 7:15pm, I allowed them three minutes because it was freezing! There has been no school for two days but I think tomorrow everything will be back on track. It feels like Christmas!

Merry Christmas

This picture is my brother and sister-in-law at their Ward Christmas Party. Enjoy the spirit of the season! Happy Holidays!

Night Runner...

Eric goes mountain biking when it is completely dark with some other night riding friends. They use some powerful bike lights and Eric claims it is the most wonderful biking activity on the earth....next to a sucessful cyclocross race. He did a night run in the forest with his headgear the other night that reminds me of Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He thinks it's as wonderful as his night rides. Alone, and scared to death by three sleeping peacocks that make a very scary screaming noise when awakened by a night runner. Or so I hear--I don't like to walk to the mailbox in the dark so you won't find me on any night runs with the Night Runner. I would rather let the peacocks sleep.

And no, he doesn't always look like a mountain man.

If I were three..

I would wear a "ballet", as Allie calls her skirt, and purple moccasins too.

The Trees...

The first picture is the Tree House we stayed in, more like a cabin and more to my liking. The other picture of the tree house at the end of the swinging bridge is 35 feet in the air. I was worried enough with the kids walking on the bridge, sleeping up there is an idea I will have to warm up to.

The kids got into the spirit of things pretty fast. They climbed trees, climbed across bridges, went on the zip line for hours(there are no lines in November), played on the Tarzan Swing (it gets an entry of its own), made tie-dye shirts, drank lots of hot chocolate and adopted the residence dog "Ginger."

It was a memorable place to be and very unique! When I get braver maybe we will go back and sleep up high, maybe.

In the Trees...

We took a week off for Thanksgiving and drove down to California to be with my family for the holiday. We made a few stops along the way.

Stop#1-The Treesort in Southern Oregon (more details to come)
Stop#2-The Redwoods
Stop #3-Fort Bragg on the California Coast
Part #4-Grandma and Grandpa Chittocks in Rough and Ready, CA

It was a long trip and a lot of fun. Each place had a new exciting adventure for all of us. We created a lot of memories!

Stop 2...

The Redwoods