We Had A Merry Christmas!

Just a few pictures of what we've been up to lately. We hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Trip to San Diego

The annual Alfalfa Symposium was conveniently located in San Diego this year. We just got back from a wonderful time . . . Josh worked & played a little and the kids and I played a lot and got to see a few of my old friends.

The weather was wonderful - Summer Time in December (for us)!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We're Still Around

We just spent two weeks on the road and in WY & CO visiting Josh's family. As always, I didn't take enough pictures . . . but here are a few of the trip.

Popcorn Party!

Quiana found an egg!

Chicks at Great Grandma's

Quiana & her cousin (I think he's being somewhat tollerant)

Trapper absolutely loved carrying this poor kitty around.

Election Day

"Government of the people, for the people, by the people shall not perish from the Earth." Abraham Lincoln

Let us hope, pray and vote that this is true!

Trick or Treat

We had a fun night - we went Trick or Treating with Destiny & Co. and then went for Pizza afterwards . . . now I'm just wondering what to do with all that candy.

Our Pumpkin & Tinkerbell

The Kids with Destiny

Hannah Montana gone wrong?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

More on Shoes (from Quiana)

Quiana is into playing "mom" right now. Trapper is the boy, she is the mom and yes, I am the grandma. Today she found some shoes that someone had given us for Trapper in his closet - so she of course wanted him to wear them. Then she goes . . .

Quiana: "Ask me where I got those shoes for Trapper."
Ellen: "Those sure are cute shoes, where did you get them?"
Quiana: "Well, at Gymboree, they were 60% off and just happened to be the right size. And well, they're so cute, so I just had to buy them for him."

I'm afraid she's already a shopper - and even justifies it. I just don't know where she gets it from . . .

Pumpkins

Yesterday the kids and I took a trip to Papa's Pumpkin Patch with a couple of friends, it really was a fun little outing.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Potato Festival

We had a family outing to the Potato Festival today . . . a parade, music, food and people.


Friends at the parade!

Our favorite part of the parade.

Checking out the candy.

Thanks Mallory!

We had such a fun day yesterday - thanks for sharing all of your things and for keeping Quiana & Trapper busy.

Playing Barbies

. . . and I think Trapper has it figured out . . . his daddy might not even mind him playing if he's driving them around in a JD.

Quiana's thoughts on the Election 2008

This morning the news was on and apparently they were talking about Obama.

Quiana: "Mom, they just said OBAMA!"

Ellen: "Oh, honey, I'm sure they did, but we don't really like Obama that much."

Quiana: "Why?"

Ellen: "Well, he wants to be our next president and we would rather have McCain as President."

Quiana: "Umm, I think we should just have Jay Cutler instead!"

For those of you who don't know, Jay Cutler is the Quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Should football really rule that much? I guess what she was trying to say is that no matter what . . . GO BRONCOS!

Snow (ugh)

We woke up to a skiff of snow on the ground this morning - Quiana is all ready to go sledding and to make angels . . . does anyone want to join her? Hopefully we have a few more weeks until we can actually "play" in the snow. Right now, I think we had better focus on getting some firewood cut!

Cute Kids

and Yes, I think so!



How Trapper really feels about pictures.

I think they're going to escape - no more pictures!


Trapper did just fine with his surgery today and we are glad to have it over with. He is pretty mellow this afternoon, but that is actually a little nice for a change.

Nervous

Trapper is scheduled for a minor operation in the morning . . . mommy & daddy are of course a little nervous - wish us luck!

SHOES!

Quiana LOVES shoes - we went on a little shopping trip Tuesday and came home with 3 pairs - her favorite pair is pictured above. She is so disappointed with my collection, she goes through them and asks "Mommy, why don't you have shoes like Lynae's?" Well, there are lots of reasons
1. I have never really been a shoe person (I like shoes but I guess I just can't justify having one pair for every outfit)
2. I have kids and I know I can't carry & chase them in many of the shoes that are so fashionable (I know some of you Mommy's can & I'm jealous)
3. My husband thinks my shoe collection is already bad enough ;-)

However, I did notice that last night during the V.P. debate - Sarah Palin had on a pair of RED HIGH HEELS with her otherwise conservative black outfit. I was impressed and am now wondering. . . Do red high heels really make you feel more powerful & confident?

So I took a look at my collection - I have 19 pairs and that includes flip flops and winter boots. I was actually surprised at the number since I know that compared to many of you ladies out there, that doesn't come close. The sad thing . . . there isn't one pair of red high heels.

Hope all you ladies out there have a great weekend! Maybe I'll have to get Quiana to help me make a shoe purchase. In the meantime, I'm curious as to who of all my blog readers has the most shoes, lets see if we can find out.

He's Here!

Congratulations to Logan & Elissa! We're so happy to have another little boy in the family.

COY AARON BRAATEN
8 lbs. 8 oz.
10/02/2008
3:11 am

Looking forward to seeing pictures of the little cutie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!

Josh turned 30 today . . . does that mean I have an "old" husband now? He definitely hasn't changed because he worked all day. Here are a few pictures of the day - Quiana went to work with him and it looks like the girls got into a little mischief.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

1st Haircut

Yesterday, we went to get Trapper his 1st haircut.
What a patient little boy.



What Happened to My Hair?

TRACTORS

I don't know how many of you have little farm boys . . . but mine, by instinct is "In Love" with JD Tractors. For some reason, I have very few pictures to prove it, but that will change that soon!

He can say "tractor" and spot one at any distance - Yes, he is in love - and at such a young age . . .


Just cleaning off a few spots

Sister, trying to keep up with her bike - and both dreaming of toys to come! Josh brought them each home a little JD catalog and it keeps Trapper very occupied.

A typical day

Sorry to our blog readers who have been wondering what we have been up to . . . not much just busy, busy days with these 2 kiddos of ours.

Most mornings I have MORE THAN ENOUGH help making breakfast.



Trapper starts the morning running (or climbing) and doesn't slow down except for one little nap. Not sure how he got up here - but the camera was close so I snapped a picture before I helped him down.

We have good friends here and lots of play dates.

Well Checks

We had well checks yesterday too . . . and don't feel bad Carmen, I got in trouble for my boy being so small.

At 16 months Trapper is 22 lbs. and 32 inches tall - happy and healthy, just a little petite. We also shopped for a "big" bed for him yesterday. It will be here in a week so we'll see if that helps with his sleeping habits or not.

Quiana is 31 lbs. and 39 inches tall (tall enough to go on the rides at the fair next week). She too is happy and healthy which we couldn't be more thankful for.

We went to the lake today with a couple of Quiana & Trapper's little friends - we're cherishing every bit of summer that we have left!

Strawberries

Tis the season again for those wonderful Red Ripe Strawberries.

Reunion

We just spent a fun 3 days with the Braatens . . . lots of kids and catching up! Here are a few pictures, but as always, I regret that I didn't take more.

Make a Smilebox slideshow