And now he is six!

It's so hard for me to believe he's already six. He has changed so much over the past year. He is turning into a independent young man. He can fry his own egg and toast his own toast (as long as I'm close by to ask a question or two of). He is reading like a champ. I was reading a Magic Tree House book to him the other day and from across the room he started reciting it with me. I asked him how he knew what it said and he said he had been reading it during nap. That boy reads anything he can get his hands on. He is still a boy though. Getting him to write anything is like giving a cat a bath. Nobody comes out unscathed. This is turning a bit into a brag rag, but I don't do it that often so please forgive me. I am just amazed at how fast he is learning and changing.

Dad, can we take a few pictures?

Just when you are sure they are going to kill each other....

I was sitting with my back to the kids when I heard Ethan say, "Look Mom, we figured it out by ourselves. Could you put on some music?" So we did.


There is a cute video, too. Unfortunately blogger seems to be having a hissy fit.

Oy Christmas Tree

Michael's sister Kristal invited us to go up tree hunting with her and her husband. They talked about how much they love going out and tramping around the mountains looking for the perfect tree and best of all it only costs $10 for a tree permit. We debated it and finally decided the kids would enjoy it and it would save us a fair amount of money.

Saturday morning we got everyone dressed in multiple layers and headed up above Idaho City. We managed to make it up there with very little excitement. Just the constant refrain from the backseat, "When are we going to get there?" They were eventually forbidden from asking.

We went up an icy forest service road and unloaded everyone. The dog was in heaven and my girls and I were freezing. I put Grace in a makeshift sling since I left the real one at home, we grabbed the kids and started looking. We hiked up and skidded down the sides of the mountain, all in the search of the perfect tree. Let me tell you there is no such thing. After about 1/2 hour Grace had enough and Libby quickly followed. I sat in the car with crying girls while Michael continued his quest with Ethan in tow. Eventually Michael started heading back to the car, but without a tree. We had hiked everywhere and he still didn't find a tree he liked. Kristal pointed out one that was 20 yards from the car. I pointed at it and asked nicely (or commanded from his point of view) that he just cut that tree down so we could go home. Michael obliged and we started home.

Seeing as we were all cold and hungry we stopped at a restaurant in Idaho City where I worked forever ago. We had a nice, but not as cheap as I remember, lunch. We came home and Michael set up the tree. It looked a lot better in the forest. Between lunch, a permit and gas I figure we spent about twice as much on half the tree we could have picked up in town.




The tree in all of its glory.

Gingerbread (or graham cracker) Houses

We decided it would be fun to make gingerbread houses with the kids this year. Neither Michael nor I have any experience making gingerbread houses so we went the easy route and used graham crackers. I'm thankful we did because I would hate to waste real gingerbread on these. Gingerbread is for eating. I have no such feelings for graham crackers.

The boys made one house while Libby and I made the other. Grace sat in her chair loudly cursing her lack of candy.


The girls finished house. Notice the sucker in Libby's hand? That was her 408th piece of candy. I am surprised any made it on the house.

Ethan showing off his and his Dad's masterpiece.


Grace finally getting close to the candy.