The Great Christmas Tree. . .

Since we have moved back to Wyoming we have decied to cut down our Christmas tree every year. This years Christmas Tree hunt took a long road with a lot of BUMPS along the way. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving I went to the BLM to get the permits so we could cut our tree down on Friday on the way home from Utah. Well to our dismay, the play BLM was closed on Wednesday due to Thanksgiving. (I would think this would be a busy day for getting permits). So then we had to change the plans for Friday (we did Chuckee E. Cheese instead) but the sad news was than our boys would be in school when we cut down the tree. We gave them the choice to uses the fake one or have mom, dad and Madison cut it down on Wednesday. The boys still wanted a real on so on Wednesday morning after dropping the boys off at the bus stop we headed out to find the perfect Christmas tree. With the permit in hand and some simple instructions from Papa (my dad) we were on our way.

Instructions from Papa: Take 191 South after you plato go down steep hill and threw some switch backs and you will come upon a ranch (we new there was a few on the way to the Gorge, as we had been this way a few times this year) turn as you are turning into the ranch and the road goes just around the ranch. We found the ranch but not a road going around it. We were looking for little mountain. We could see some trees behind the ranch. We decieded to drive on to the next ranch. The next ranch had a road pretty close to it that had a sign stating little mountain 24 miles ahead. Score we thought. After taking some fun roads we went our 24 miles to large sign with map on it stating Little mountain. One problem no trees in sight. Just a lot of sage brush. So we looked at the map found county road 34 on it and decided to take it as someone (not papa) had mentioned it would be off of 34. 51 miles latter we were back about 1/2 mile up the road from the first ranch. Once again we could see the trees as pictured above but could not find a decent road to them. Poor Madison had finally gave out and feel asleep. After taking 3 4-wheeler trails that looked like the lead to the trees only to dead end well before them. We drove into the 1st ranch like we had once been instructed to see if we had missed a road. Nope no road. With the trees in sight we were so close but could not find the way to the trees. After some tears and many slighent prayers we decieded to take 34 back a little bit and see if there was a road that might lead us to the top of the mountains.

We saw many wild horses off of county road 34, even joked about hoping on them and asking them to take us to the trees. But I don't think they would have taken us anywere.

Wallahh, we found the road. Jim did not want to take the road thinking it would dead end again. but after a few miles on it my hopes were once again high. I felt like just maybe we had found the right road only 5 hours latter. We even found snow that we had only seen a dusting of before. So happy, you would think someone had handed me a million dollar check. I was excited to be able to come home with a tree.

In some spots the snow was 3 feet deep and it was hard for Madison to follow in Daddy's foot prints. Mom forgot her snow boots so my feet froze. But it was all worth it. After walking around for 30 minutes we found the perfect tree for our family. Not to big, not to small and not a sage brush like we had joked about during our extra, extra long drive.

So very happy to have a tree, now time to hurry home because our boys are to be home from school soon. Thank you for our prayers answered. We are happy to have the Great Moffat Christmas tree 2009

Next it is time to decorate. After the lights were hung and the kids did another day of school. Thursday after they got home from school mom and dad surprised them with a few gifts under the tree and with the ornaments ready to hang. The final picture of the tree. Yes we let the kids do it 100% but if they happen to fall off I am sure we will place the ornaments in a well needed spot.

All had a different way and plan on were to put the ornaments. Miles was high and spread out. Thank you Miles for the few ornaments that are on the back side of the tree.

Mason went anywhere he wanted. Some times standing on a tote or daddy's recliner.

Madison was a sweet heart. She would sometimes give the boys her's to hang. She loved to stand on dad's chair too.

Some wanted to see how many they could get on one branch so we have 8 on one branch and 5 on the branch above.

That person would be Marcus. I love seeing the kids personalities when they decorate.

Of course daddy gets to hang the star. The kids had fun playing peek a boo threw his legs. All in all we have a wonderful Moffat Christmas tree. The lights may be sparse (as 4 strands would not work from last year and I am too cheep to buy them at the price they are right now) and we could not find our family ornaments (the price you pay for having a storage shed and storage unit. )

Thanksgiving and the big 5-0

It has taken sometime to get these pictures posted. We have been busy and I was really not in the mood to be on the computer. On November 25, 2009 Teresa Marie Hungerford (Nana, mom) celebrated her 50th birthday. The kids had fun asking her how old was 50. To celebrate we got her a cake like a tree stump to symbolize her age.

Not sure what the kids were on that night but they were bouncing off the walls. I hope Nana did not mind.

Early, Thursday morning we left to have a great Thanksgiving dinner at Joyce and Rick Anderson's house. This was our first Thanksgiving there since Jim and I were engaged 11 years ago. Madison was ecstatic to find great grandma Cox there. She really loves her.

The kids had a blast playing in the basement on the Wii and with their cousins. All in all it was a great day with great food and wonderful family. Nice to see people we don't get to see to often.

Friday morning instead of hitting the malls for Black Friday shopping we hit, Chuckee E Cheese. It was nice and empty for the first hour we were there. The kids had fun and it was nice family time together. Madison and Daddy really love to ride the thrill ride and so does Mason

Most of the day you could find Miles hanging out on the hunting game. It only took one token and would last up to 10 minutes. I think he is ready to be a hunter. Miles joined him for the last game of the day.

This is the kids singing happy birthday to Nana.

Weekend at Grandma's + Snow

After a long week of trailer sell/ not sell stuff, it was nice to get away for 2 days and go to Jim's mom's house. We were able to hunt a little (with out luck) and eat lots of yummy food (since we are going to Utah for Thanksgiving) try out the new bowling alley and even celebrate Madison's 4th birthday with her cousins. Above is Marcus bowling

I loved this alligator. It made bowing so much fun. This place just opened at the end of the summer so it was nice to see all the new stuff just like the bumpers that come up and down for those who need them and those who don't.

Miles being 9 did not want bumpers. He did good considering he did not have bumpers. Mason started out with a alligator and then decided he wanted to do it like the big people. He had the cutest dance.

With Madison's 4th birthday having been on Sunday. She was able to have a friend's birthday party since this was her even year. I am so glad that she loves her cousins so much as when I asked her if she wanted her party to be with her cousins she jumped up and down so excited. I had orginally planned on doing a princess party, but with morning sickness an all it was nice when she went along with what was easiest for mom.

Mason and Madison have been into doing lots of floor puzzles so when aunt Shelia gave her a giant Dora puzzle, it made her day and even Mason's. I think in the last 4 days she has put it together more than a 12 times. So glad she got it.

Finally. The kids have been asking when it was going to snow again. Finally Sunday night it started to snow. So as soon as they came home from school they all bundled up and headed out to play in the snow.

Some were a little disappointed that it was not good snowman snow but they all still had fun with what they had. Sliding into a pile of snow was a big hit and even mom made a snow angel.

Family home evening tonight was supposed to be on service but we ended up playing in the snow a little long so we were unable to make it out to deliver bags of cookies. Maybe I will have to bring some to my sisters on my visiting teaching list.

All and all we all the the white fluffy snow that came,but wish sometimes it would only fall on the lawns and miss the roads. Wouldn't that be nice.

Newspaper Suprise

It is always fun when you look at the news paper and find a cute picture of a kids you know. Late last night I went to our local newspapers website to check on swimming lesson sign up times and to my pleasant surprise my dear lovely Madison's picture was on the cover. So of course as a proud mom I went and bought 2 copies of the paper. One for me and one her scrapbook. To bad she is not looking at the camera but she is still so cute. She is with her best friend Brayden Erickson. Took place during Story-time on Wednesday morning.

Crazy Last Week in a Nut Shell.

Marcus is built to wrestle. He loves everything about it. He still has never been pinned

This was Mason's first year wrestling. I am not so sure it is his thing. But he sure was cute to watch. He did not even care that he was pinned over and over again. This was on our crazy Wendnesday 11. 2 kids wrestling and Miles last Basketball Game. All on the same night at the same time.

It is so hard to get great pictures of Basketball. Miles has really come far this year in Basketball. Scoring as much as 12 points in a game. I think we found his fave.

Saturday Night we celebrated Madison's 4th birthday. She wanted a princess cake. This was the best mom could do with all that was going on Saturday.

Ready for the primary program.

All dressed in white ready to go and preform at the primary program. They all did great. Mason even gave a little side show. I always love watching my kids on stage.

On Tuesday I had another doctor's appointment to check on the baby. Looks like all is fine with our little bouncing M&M. S/he stretches and rolls. It is always nice to see your baby. I think I could watch the DVD over and over again. Very reassuring that the baby is healthy and doing good.

Marcus wrestling a kid who was a great match for him. This kid wrestles on the traveling team. We don't have the time or money for that team. Mason trying his best. He was wrestling kids weighing up to 20 pounds more than him. They had mistakenly put him in the wrong weight group. The kids could carry him on their backs. He was a good sport. I don't think he really understands the whole concept of it. This is a quick clip of our little bouncing M&M

Fall fun

After a super busy October, we had to cancel our family pictures. So on Friday with the kids out of school, I decided to see how I would do at taking their pictures at a local park. These pictures are Jim's all time favorites. Marcus is on the rock. He made up his own pose.

Sweet Madison was a little scared due to her big brother telling her their were coyotes out there. But she did great on this one.

Mason is one of the hardest to get his smile to look kinda normal. But he is so cute any ways.

Miles on the fence. The kids had fun taking pictures here.

All in all it took me almost a hour and we had some fun. They may not be professional but I think they will do. Maybe next year with a new baby and all we will finally get a family one done. If you want to check out all the poses they are in my photo album on facebook.

Basketball Mini Camp

One thing our family has enjoyed about living in Green River is all the small mini camps they have for the younger Elementary kids. Marcus is not old enough for Junior Jazz Basketball. But they get the High School teams involved in it. Marcus was able to attend 3 nights of a Basketball skills camp for 1st and 2nd graders. They worked on the fundamentals of basketball and then scrimmaged in the end. He loved it.

Marcus just stoled the ball and is taking it down. Will he make a basket?

Close but not quite in. He had fun and that is all that matters. I think is is our budding wrestler in the family. Can not wait until next Wednesday when we have Miles final Basketball game and Marcus and Mason's wrestling tournament all in the same night. At least they are both at the High School.