Thanksgiving

 We have had a stellar Thanksgiving week.  It was nice to spend some extra time with Jeff.  He makes going places about a hundred times easier.  We went to see the deer on the peninsula's wildlife reserve, we saw some rutting with antlers locked.  We also threw rocks and walked around with sticks, you know, as you do when you are 3.  Maybelle just ate rocks.

 I know this looks like a small Thanksgiving feast, our table is small and it is best to keep the food, utensils, and drinks out of reach.  But we roasted a 15 lb turkey, potatoes, beans, stuffing, rolls, and a can of cranberry sauce (which cut my finger).  Our best effort was in an assortment of 3 pies.  Jeff and I cooked for a couple of hours and ate within 15 minutes of our estimated time!  There wasn't a toy left in the toy box after the kids were finished entertaining themselves.

 The pies were the best part of the meal, glad we focus our efforts there.  We have been enjoying pie for breakfast each morning since.  At our house it is a breakfast food.

 Jeff at Garfield Bay, I must have said something funny to get such a genuine smile out of him.  I am sure it was my sense of humor :)

 Porter sitting on a stump, he like to make me make everything talk to him, so the trees, rocks, even his food has a voice through me.  It is kinda funny the things he shares with a nice tree stump.

Maybelle again eats rocks and smiles, she never stops moving, she is a bit wild.  She is some fun company.

A Photo Montage

 It rained and rained all day at our house, so we finally got smart, and drove up the hill to play outside in the snow.  We were all elated at the first snow, especially these two!

 Maybelle was a bit "put out" at her lack of dexterity, but I think she enjoyed her first time sledding. 

 It warmed right up for Halloween, and so did we.  I took Porter to the "Mall" for a trick-or-treat preview.  Sears and the Movie Theater gave out full sizers this year.  It worked, cause Porter had his game face on at the trunk-or-treat.  It only took a week for Porter to consume all his candy.  Maybelle has also helped out a bit, if she finds it she eats it.  She has Porter trained to give her a lick of his sucker each time that cute ballerina whines. (credit to my friend Candice for Porter's costume idea)

 Maybelle...... she is always so pleased.

Porter enjoys raking leaves more than anyone else in the family.  Don't think that we buy our kids quads, our neighbor gave this to us and the battery doesn't work.  I am too cheap to replace a $40 battery so Porter has to push it around.  Builds strength and character:)

 This is our documented leaf fight, also to be entered into the "Mother Boy" contest, it looks a bit like an engagement picture.

Although the lake is now gathering ice, it is still magnificent to look at.

Our Trip To Utah

 Our trip to Utah started out with a fairly smooth 12 hour road trip.  We drove through the night, I say we, but Jeff completed about 10/12 hours.  I take a crucial 2 hours, I do.  Here is Porter and Grandma Pam hiking, those 2 are good buddies, perhaps because they both prefer to play as much of the day as possible.

 We also were able to spend much of our vacation time with Jeff's sister Carrie and her cute, cute, Lincoln.  We seem to be a bit selfish with the camera and only take pictures of ourselves though.  Note to self: take pictures with all group members. The colors were so vibrant.

 Alpine Loop near Aspen Grove, with Timp. in the background.

 Hogle Zoo was a hit for a few hours, then we ate Greek...yummy Greek.

 My highlight of the trip was "Jump on it" or "Get Air" or as Jeff calls it "Get High".  Whatever the name is, we can never remember.  But Porter and Maybelle mainly loved hanging with Grandparents.  Grandpa Meyer reading to Porter and Maybelle.

 Another Zoo picture thrown in there.

And after a miserable 112 hour car trip home, that's right 112 hours is what it felt like.  We resumed life with painting pumpkins rather than carving this year for some more toddler friendly fun. 

A few more things

Jeff and Maybelle at Dog Beach in Sandpoint on one of our many bike rides during the summer.  Porter plays in the sand and Maybelle eats sand.  She is usually pretty excited when she sees the water because she wants to swim.  She swam in the water much later this year than Porter or I.



 We have tons of amazing photos from Glacier, I had to share a few more.  Here is a photo of somewhere is Glacier NP from the roadway on our way home.  It was really nice the day we left, it was about 30 degrees the day before when we were hiking.


Jeff, Porter and Maybelle relaxing in Glacier NP.  Our new large family tent is in the background.  The large tent is much more spacious than the backpacking tent and our kids enjoy it more.

The first week of September we went to Priest Lake which is about 2 hours from our house.  It is a large lake.  We water skied a bunch and camped out for a couple of days.  We had incredible weather for early September.

 The beach were we camped at Priest Lake.  This was my favorite vacation of the year.  I loved this view of our boat,  we were about the only people water skiing.  Porter spent his time right here, the entire time we were on land, that is where he was planted.

 Jeff's Dad and brothers Ray and Todd came for a visit in September.  They went water skiing every day and went on a hike to Lake Darling.  I have to comment on Jeff's water skiing hair do, or rather hair don't.

 Cute Maybelle on the rocks at Grouse Creek Falls.  She likes to eat them.

Porter at Grouse Creek Falls, his favorite hike.

Pardon the interuption; Ahhhem, where were we?

 Yes, it was in May.... It began with Jeff working harder than he ought to.  Yes that is our two children asleep as we scaled the mountain side on skis.

 In June we took a round of chicken pox from Idaho to San Diego, where still managed to have a great time.  We were not contagious at this stage, just in case I look back at this years later thinking about my absent minded parenting skills. (that is for you mom).

 One of the crazier things we managed to pull off this summer was a backpacking overnighter to Cliff Lake. 

 Maybelle smiles even after a nearly sleepless night, oh wait, that is me that had the sleepless night.  As I remember it, the skeeters were thick and Maybelle awoke with two bites under her eye.  As we exited the tent we were greeted by a half dozen mountain goats just hanging around our camp site.  It was awesome.

 Porter turned 3 years old in July and started dressing himself apparently.  I still just laugh at this picture.  He came inside to go to the bathroom and left looking like this.  He calls himself Daddio, when he wears his Daddios work shoes.  And notice the upside-down jacket, donned all on his own!

Glacier National Park:  Honestly, I loved and hated this trip.  Breathtaking views, but some brutal weather and one night that I swore I would never camp with my children again.  I look back at these photos with only fondness and sweet memories.

Especially this one, Porter was elated over these restored motor coaches.  He swore that he was going to buy himself one of these.  They have 5 doors, a convertible top, and they are bright red.  The cutest thing was that after all the chat about buying one he changed his mind to buy his mother a motor home.

Finally we ate much produce out of our awesome garden this year.  We attribute the amazing tomato harvest to the large hornets nest in the eve of our house.  Maybelle is mad over the tomatoes and gets angry if she does not get all she wants.  But the only thing they gave her back was a monster diaper rash. 

The past 6 weeks.....a bit out of order, as we are.

Jeff blessed Maybelle

Porter, light as a feather Jensen, catching some sweet air

At Trestle Creek swinging in the trees.  Porter loves his dad to swing him as he sings "Three little monkeys"

We met the Bunny, and ate much of her chocolate

She becomes high centered

Coaxing Porter to agree to a family photo still in church clothes with "Chicken Rescue", a favorite library book.

Bike riding and playing at Spokane Riverfront Park, the slide was a huge Radio Flyer wagon.

A big smile and some crazy pants in the background

the skinny one gives the plump one a ride.

First hike of the year...summer will arrive, I hope

2 babies--A whole new ball game

My Porter boy, always in pretend land--his fire hat.

Grandma Meyer actually got porter to kiss his sister on week 1

Around week 2, a crazy family photo--taken by the crazy man in red.

beautiful grandma pam with maybelle

she smiles

....and smiles.  Our lives the past 6wks have been full of smiles and tears.