What kids from Wyoming do on a Saturday

One Saturday the boys and I left dad all day. Dad needed to get some things done so I planned a day out....First we went to watch the snake and turtle feeding. The snake ate a mouse and the turtle ate worms. It was cool to see and the boys loved it. Jake also had to take his pet rock on a field trip. It was fun to take him with us. His name is Rocky. Anyways after the snake feeding we went to a Teddy Bear parade and had pictures with Santa Clause. The batteries to my camera ran out, dang it. Then we went to the Extreme Rush up at the Rec Center. This is a big inflatable playground that my kids really like going on. It is good exercise. I just walked the track above them and waved at them each time it was their turn to do the obstacle course. Then we went home to hang out with dad. We had a fun, busy day.

Jake's Birthday Party at home

We didn't have a big birthday party this year. We invited Cade and Brinkley over for dinner and cake. They had a good time playing and hanging out. Mac and Cheese was the dinner of choice.

Happy 6th Birthday to you....

Mrs. Barnard has a little birthday party for each kid. Jake was excited to celebrate his birthday at school. Luke, Cole and I went to help. We had a good time. I can't believe Jake is 6.

Cold Day...But the fun goes on

I love it when the boys get excited for snow. It makes me appreciate the cold weather. I don't love being out there in it...but sometimes I go out with them. They like to be outside and if there is snow then all the more fun. They will sled for hours. I am happy that Jake likes to go out because then Cole will and then Luke does because that is what the other 2 are doing. Luke normally likes to stay inside. Cole will do whatever Luke wants during the day and loves it when Jake gets home so he has a buddy to play with.

Snowman toast

My good friend Jody told me about cooking an egg with toast, so I did. The coys loved it. I cut out snowmen in the middle and cracked an egg in the middle and cooked it on the griddle. The boys liked it. The snowmen that I cut out was on the plate so the boys could eat him up too.

Jake's Gingerbread house

Jake made a cute Gingerbread house at school it was super cute and he was pumped. He didn't want to eat anything off of it. He saved it all for dad.

Getting ready for Christmas

We had a fun time decorating the tree. I wish Troy could have been here to shake the ladder under Travis's scared feet. He was nervous and yelling at the kids to be careful. He had to stake the tree up so if wouldn't fall over. Personally I think if the tree was 4 feet smaller we could have enjoyed putting it up and not stressing out that the tree was going to topple over on us. This was kind of a stress the whole time, until Tanner and Chelsey came to take it down. Thanks to them we could run in our front room without worrying about it falling on us:) Not really...but it was leaning again marsh mellow roasters. A contraption that Travis put together.
The kids had fun bringing the decorations out and putting them up. I was fat and it was hard to move around. I did the best I could. We also started the tradition of sleeping under the tree the night after we put it up and get it decorated. It was beautiful. I layed with the boys until about 11pm and then I had to go in my bed. Then around 1 a.m. the labor pains began.
All moms know that December is a busy month. I love it. But this year it was harder than normal. I was still helping out in Jake's room. I also helped out with the Christmas party and Jake's birthday party. Then they had a fun movie for the kids on the last day. Little did I know that I was doing too much and that night I would go into labor. I was not ready for Christmas or a baby. I was taking it one day at a time by this point. We were going to get our Christmas gift early.

Yukon Cornelius

Yup this is Yukon Cornelius. I don't know if this is how you spell it but Travis looks like the little mountain man character on Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Yukon Cornelius. The little gold hunter guy with the red bushy beard. I laughed so hard when we took this picture. Travis had a, "grow your beard out" contest with two departments at school. The history department lost. I don't know how, look at all that hair. He said it felt good to shave it all off.

Tree Hunting

Going up to the mountains to get a Christmas tree has to be one of the best family traditions that we have. Every year since we have lived here is Evanston we have gone up to the mountains to get a tree. Travis loves it. As a kid I would go up with my family and cut down trees too. My dad would cut one for the upstairs, downstairs and for each of our teachers. It was neat.
This year though we went to a new location. Tanner and Chelsey had spotted a new spot that seemed to be better than the old one. We were excited. Off we went and it was kinda cold. Actually, so cold that my camera batteries wouldn't work. We walked and walked and walked around looking for trees. Travis was waiting to find that perfect Griswald tree. Meanwhile, Tuck was driving Tanner's truck away and sissy was cold. We found cool bear tracks and finally found THE tree. We tried to build a fire with a lighter from the truck and some paper. Is that safe? We didn't succeed. Next year though we are going to have a better plan, pack dinner build a fire and eat while Travis scouts for the perfect tree. This tree, by the way, was huge. Until next year, Feliz Navidad.

Turkey Time

Happy Thanksgiving. We went down to Uncle Shem and Aunt Tami's. We had a good time. Tami brought Paizley home from the Hospital. I was a little nervous coming down, but Tami was okay with all of us being there. She is awesome. Little Paizley is beautiful. Thanks to Uncle Shem and Papa for entertaining my children. They sure do love spending time with them. Papa also came up to help Travis with some tile work that he was trying to get finished. Thanks again to Papa for saving the day. Jake loved hanging out and helping them.

Turkey Trot

Every year principal Brown holds a, "Turkey Trot." It is a fun event. Around Thanksgiving each grade level runs around the school on the ice and in the snow. It was great to see Jake do this. Whoever wins wins a Turkey, second place a ham, and third a pumpkin pie. Travis told Jake that if he didn't win that we wouldn't have Thanksgiving dinner. Thinking nothing of this comment the race began and ended with Jake placing somewhere towards 13th or 14th. He fell twice due to the snow and ice...but he didn't stop. After he crossed the finish line Travis and I ran to give him a squeeze. He was crying, but he said,"Mom we won't be able to have turkey for Thanksgiving because I didn't win." I gave him a HUGE hug and told him that we would for sure have dinner. Travis felt terrible. He didn't think that he took him serious....but he did. Jake ran a good race and I was proud of him for not giving up. His buddy Jax took first and we were happy for him. Maybe we'll win next year. :)

Mom can I go to Hayley's?

"Mom can I go to Hayley's"? This is something that my kids ask alot! The path between the Francom's and the Robinette's is well worn. One day Luke asked me if he could go and I said, "yes, but you need a coat." So,he grabbed his coat and put it on. He came to give me a kiss goodbye and I laughed and grabbed my camera. It was so cute to see him march across the street with his coat on upside down. Luke you are wonderful.

We get to relive our childhood when we have kids.

Nanu, Nanu. Do you remember as a kid all the tricks that you learn at school? This one is one that I still have trouble with. I can't get my fingers to separate like that. One morning at breakfast Jake was doing a trick for me. I had to grab my camera...it made me laugh.