Christmas Morning

patiently waiting for the "all clear"

"YES! Yes! Santa came! Wahoo!!!"

the fam

Dad helps with transformers

Lander & the human jungle gym

isn't Uncle Alan the best?

Axis & Allies

Alan got the new version of Axis & Allies for Christmas. He let Dixie participate in its maiden voyage, and guess who almost won after a mere 3 hours?

a date with daddy

Josh took Jake on a...gasp...date. Some might call it a father & son outing, but it was a "date" to Jake. They went out for pizza & then went bowling. When I asked Jake that night about his favorite memory for that day, he said "my date with dad"...awww

Aren't these kids cute?

Devin, Jake, Lander & Bri having fun in St. George

Brush Your Teeth

Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to gather more medical supplies to send to Tonga. This got me thinking about my trip last year. We were able to teach more than 500 Tongan students about brushing their teeth. It was an amazing experience! However, I think that Jake & Lander (with Heather's help) would have done a much better job. Take a peek at what they have to say about it...

Little Achiever

I went to Jake's school today and noticed that his picture was on the wall for academic excellence. When I asked him why it was there, he said "I don't know. They just took my picture." So, in honor of his unknown award, here is a tribute to Jake:

Disc Golf Idaho

Josh & Jarrod threw in a round of disc golf or two over Thanksgiving. Here is Jarrod's latest go for an Ace (that's a hole in one for those less familiar with disc golf). Listen closely....How many aces would that have been Jarrod?

Travel Genie

Due to popular demand, with a slight twist, here is a list of places that I plan on visiting in next 10 years (Sorry Tiff, no Iraq or Ethiopia here):

1. Cartagena, Colombia
2. Niuatoputapu Island, Tonga http://www.tongaholiday.com/tonga/export/sites/TVB/experience/islands/niua.html
3. Florida
4. Alaska
5. Costa Rica
6. Belize
7. Dominican Republic
8. St. Lucia
9. Barbados
10. Antigua
11. British Virgin Islands

Okay, so the last 5 places are kind of cheating...we will be visiting them in January while on a cruise. Other places that I plan on visiting, once the kids have flown the coop:

1. Scotland
2. Montenegro http://www.visit-montenegro.com/photo-montenegro.htm
3. Norway
4. Santiago & the lake district in southern, Chile
5. New Zealand
6. Riding the Euro through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Greece
7. New England
8. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia
   

Caramel Cookies

I learned one thing in nursing school, that Jesser makes AWESOME cookies! You all need to try them. And, yes, they do take a pound of butter. No wonder they are so good!


Caramel Cookie Bars

• 2 C Butter, softened
• 1 1/4 C Brown Sugar
• 3 C Flour
• 3 C Oats
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 bottle Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel
• 1 bag milk chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, oats, salt and soda. Press 3/4 of the mixture into the bottom of a large cookie sheet. Bak at 350 for 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Top evenly with caramel. Sprinkle on chocolate chips & the remaining cookie mixture. Bake at 350 for 10-12 more minutes. Let cool.

Got Milk?

Josh's newest DI purchase...

Feliz Cumpleanos Lander!

Caleb, Lander, Nate, Brian, Brady & Jake after "digging" for treasure

Make a wish!

Did you know....

A few things you may not know about Tiffany!!!

1. She signed up for FFA & raised a sheep. It’s name was “Sheep” & it would follow Tiff around the yard as she mowed the lawn for exercise. Sheep was so tame, she would wander around & not leave. She even opened our front door a few times. Mom hated that!

2. Tiffany rolled our gold minivan into a ditch while driving with our cousin, Lindsay. I think she was about 14. When one of the Wheelers pulled it out with a tractor, there wasn’t even a scratch! He was….ticked!

3. Tiff & I stole our cousin’s bike flag and hid it behind our couch. He had been trying to make Alan wreck by sticking it in his rims. I don’t know what ever happened to it.

4. She made Dustin & Mike eat bagels that had been thrown in the horse’s trough.

5. She got in a few girls’ faces who were trying to bully me at school after Mom & Dad told her she would get in trouble because I wouldn’t do it myself. They left me alone soon after that! Way to go Tiff!

6. Tiff & I used to practice batting with a 1 ½ inch iron pipe, even though we had bats at the house.

7. Tiff & I got in a few dirt clod fights with our cousins. Hey! We were only defending ourselves!!!

8. Tiff used to swap out cars. I remember coming out of the mall to find that I didn't have the new truck, but the "Black Beater" instead!

9. She had nearly 50 pairs of pants in high school. Wranglers rock!

10. Remember Smoky? Tiff’s kitten that we brought home from Utah.

11. Tiff & I zip lined from a tree on a cliff into the San Juan River…and we weren’t afraid!

Adventures at Mesa Falls

Caught ya Mommy!

Move over squirrels! These pinecones are ours!

Views from the Midwest

Check out the sunset in Manteno, Illinois! Josh took this picture while visiting Manteno for work a couple of weeks ago.

Romantics need only apply!

Okay girls. For those of you who love A&E's "Pride & Prejudice", you HAVE to watch the BBC's version of Elizabeth Gaskell's "North & South". It is one of my new favorites!

A trillion thanks to Emily for introducing me to this great movie!

It's Official

Everyday is like Halloween at our house, it is just official on October 31st!

Meowww!

I couldn't resist adding this picture. This was taken at Josh's birthday party last month. What happened to the cake? :)

World's Most Expensive Potatoes

I took the little boys to "glean" potatoes from a farmer's field. I thought that we might as well get in to the local culture after 4 years in Idaho. Well, I told the boys I would pay them 10 cents for each potato. Jake earned $10 and Lander earned $6! The potatoes are tiny! Now we will have to start eating them. Mashed potatoes anyone?

"Living the Dream"

Josh occasionally makes the comment "living the dream". It is usually as a joke. Sometimes it is his sarcasm speaking. Other times optimism. Our life is hardly idyllic, but we are working to live and enjoy the dream.