Spring Break in Montana

We had to go back! 
March 23-March 29

Visiting Cara and her family is a blast for us all!  Instead of the hot weather, swimming and fun in the sun we had spring weather and a bit more girlie time.  Carlos stayed busy with Tommy working the ranch.  Cara and I tackled a few projects ourselves with help from CJ and Zac.  We collected rocks, made lots of yummy food and visited with Jonwyn at her school...who was not on break with us...boo hoo. We shopped, talked and laughed and of course...played Spades.  I will say it to the public...I was the one who lost the game for us.  Ugh!  Ready to go back for more Montana fun!

 On the way there...through the snowy pass!

4-wheeling!  CJ had a blast on the 4-wheeler too!  He would drive it down their hill (one mile round trip) to pick Jonwyn up from the bus. 

Gorgeous!

Looking off their front porch!

Breakfast!

CJ with Hannah and Skippy

Enjoying our coffee and morning chats! 

 Everyday Cara and I would sit and chat over coffee...Zac would join us for parts of the time and chime in. 

Ayres Angus Ranch

 

December and January Updates

It was a very fun month.  Lots of family and friends to visit with and share good times.  We had a fabulous holiday season. 

My mom hosted a holiday party at her house on the 21st and I can report that we all survived the end of the world just fine.  It truly was a pleasure to talk with her friends (some of them in their 70's and 80's) and listen to their perspective on, well...pretty much everything!  Those ladies are such a wealth of knowledge and opinions!  I am very grateful to have had such a wonderful time with them all! 

My boys were forever in a state of where are we going now?  What do I need to be dressed for? Do we get to stay up late again?  I am not the type of mother that sets a bedtime for my children during vacation.  We all love to see, hear and experience things after 8 pm.  And of course when we stay up late we all get to sleep in!  The coziness of just being home and enjoying the warmth of our couch and blankets was equaling wonderful to all the parties and excitement of the season. 

Carlos kept working through six holiday parties and numerous outings.  He joined in where he could and where he wanted... sometimes just opting to stay home by himself.  He does work long hours and most weekends, so staying home here-and-there was exactly what he needed!

We had a nice visit from Cara in MT and spend the day in Corvallis with Audrey then topped off by dinner out with all the OSU girls for Beth's birthday.  An after the holiday party is always a welcome!

New Year's was fun with exchange-student-from-Peru Vanessa joining in on all the festivities.  She showed up how eating 12 grapes at midnight is a custome in her country.  So, at 10 pm Steve was out shopping for grapes!  Sleepovers topped the winter break!  CJ was out at a friend's house for many hours or we hosted boys...super fun times! 

All in all 2013 is welcomed with open arms and an open heart. 

Happy New Year! 

Halloween

We hosted the traditional homemade stew and bread at our house while the kids came and went...on this very wet night.  As I stayed behind with some great wives (as the menfolk took all the kids around the blocks...) and passed out candy, I was amazed at the fact that we really don't get very many trick-or-treaters anymore.  It makes me a bit sad, but still fun to host great friends and family.

Happy Halloween!

Zac is down in front as a bat...the same costume Stevie wore, then CJ, then Jake and now Zac! 
Jake in the back-left as a skeleton, CJ as himself, Xander as a ninja and then Stevie in Oregon wear. 

Zac and Taylor...Bellybutton and Eyes!



Duniway Football

CJ is playing 7th grade football for his middle-school team, the Duniway Dragons.  He has really enjoyed playing this year...and well he has really enjoyed all of 7th grade.  He is busy with homework everynight and hanging out with friends.  We are proud of what he is doing this year.  Way to go CJ!



Stevie and CJ

They wore pink socks for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Acting all goofy after a football game at Sonic.

Halloween Bash...Toddler Style

The Parkers threw a most fabulous Halloween Bash for all of Gwyn's friends and family's toddlers.  What a great day and of course Melissa was planned and prepared. 

As soon as the kids got there she had it all ready to go...Eyeball Toss, Snacks, Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin and general walking around and showing off their costumes!  Fabulous job Parker family!

Zac and Gracie...Bat and Rupunzel

Zac playing Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin...he ended up giving the pumpkin a nose!

Pete, Zac and Gracie

Jennifer, helping Zac out with pumpkin decorating.

Pumpkin decorating friends.

Gywn...the little Dutch girl.

The pumpkin creator's creation! Such a sad pumpkin.

The whole costumed crowd! 

One sad bat, one happy witch and one smiling Buzz Lightyear!

Fall Fun

Love this son of mine!  Pure joy!

So sweet and serious. 

So full of life and energy.

Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast

Every year our local fire department has a pancake breakfast fundraiser and every year that we go I take pictures of the kids and blog about it, so here are the boys enjoying firetruck rides after a great pancake breakfast.  I am not sure if CJ is going to handle another ride in the firetruck, but he went this year for his brother.  So sweet.  Thank you firefighters for all that you do for our community!