The Christmas Eve Party Is Always A Hit

Grandpa Kay set up this Christmas Village over the stairs.

Super cool.

After dinner (ham, potato casserole, green salad, jello)

we had a manger scene/story.

This family came to see the manger scene. We had musical entertainment.

(Maybe it was entertainment, maybe it was torture?)The kids rolled the dice...

...put on hat, gloves, and scarf ...

...and tried to open a package.

Santa made a special appearance as always.

He handed out gifts to all the good boys and girls.

Grandma Ann was a very good girl... Santa always spoils her.

This year he gave her a watch that matches Grandpa Kay's.

He enjoyed many hugs and pictures.

Uncle Stan pretended he was good on the drums.

While we were playing inside, outside -it was snowing

then raining then snowing.

which made for a VERY slippery driveway.

My kids were so excited and hyper, especially

watching Carl back down/slide down the big driveway

without even having the tires turn.

We had a smallish crowd with most of Stan's, half of Brian's,

half of Steve's, and Carl's families.

We missed all who were not there.

T-Day 08

Let me start by saying everything was FABULOUS,

but the potatoes and gravy were to DIE for.

Holly's potatoes were yummy as usual,

and Sean and Kristin opened up the spice cabinet and played scientists.

They used an old tried and true secret spice for the gravy in the end.

It was called taco seasoning.

Ann discovered it about 4 years ago when she used it in the gravy by mistake.

Instead of napping right away, most of the adults drove

over to the ranch to see if the rumors were true.

It is no longer a "Sunset Ridge".

It is more than likely to be called a "Sunset Resort" now.

This is looking south toward the barn.

This is looking towards the gate to Ann's property.


The stage underwent some minor changes also: the canopy and the stairs on the left.

We played Nerts with 14 people- same with spoons.

It was a smaller crowd than ever before (Stan, Carl, & Sean), but we had a good time.

We are anxiously waiting for some news from up north......

Gas is $1.77 today at Costco

Ann planted sod this week. We haven't been up to see it, but we'll try to soon, so we can get some pictures.

Guess What He's Up To.....

He's obviously getting into something.....

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STINKER!!!!!

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My little 6-yr-old MONKEY!!!

These Two

made their separate high school swim teams.Danny is a Sophomore, and he's very fast.


Kyson is a Freshman, and he's pretty fast also.
Both of their schools practice together every morning at 5:15 a.m. at the same place.

This Is A Bit of What We Do

each year for Halloween.

This is after the first day of decorating.

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This is a week later.

We usually put Frankenstein on the garage,

but this year we opted for the Hot Rod full of monsters up there...and Frankie in the doorway.

The pumpkin stack got voted out of the doorway, and this is our "lawn mower."

Carl makes a ghost track for ghosts to fly around our yard.

One of the bicycle wheels has a motor attached to it that spins the string and makes the ghosts fly. We put out black lights on Halloween to make them glow.

On Halloween night we also add a fog machine, strobe light, motion-sensor noise-makers,

a witch face in the window, etc. Carl dresses up, and passes out candy.

I dress up and take the kids around the neighborhood.

Not much.

But our neighbors love it.

What Deer Hunt?

We went to the ranch on Sat. Oct 18th. We, being non-hunters,

didn't realize that it was the deer hunt until we got up there.

There was no missing the deer hunters and deer campers.

They were everywhere.

Most of the day was spent digging holes, laying pipes, burying pipes,

and fixing the pipes a certain back hoe operator forgot about and dug into.

Grandma Ann would have been proud to see so many of her grandsons digging holes at the same time.
Looking north toward the fire pit and bathroom.

Kaden took Kyson and his friend on a ride in the Ranger down to the Reservoir. They went through some mud, sank, and were stuck for over an hour.

Everyone that tried to help them out got stuck also.

Andrea's Avery and one of Holly's babies.Holly is trying to strip Kaden so we can see his ripped abs. He's being shy.
Now he's not.
How many teenage boys does it take to light a fire?

Only one, as long as he has a gas can.

POOF!!