MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We are getting ready to head out of town tomorrow and we just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you all enjoy this special time of year!

Oh, What do you do in the Winter-time...

...Carson plays in the SNOW. We got a little bit of snow last night and Carson could hardly wait to go out and play in it and to build a snowman! He had so much fun!

I think I'm the last...

...one to fill out this survey! The husband survey, that is!
5 Things he loves
*his boys
*me...for some strange reason
*the rest of his family
*being outside
*westerns

5 Things on his to do list
*finish Carson's corrals (by tomorrow nite...we're having Christmas early)
*fill out the address labels for our Christmas cards to send to his farmers
*get as much soil sampling done as possible before the ground freezes (but he might already be too late)
*Go to a live Nativity
*get his 4-wheeler battery repaired

5 Foods he enjoys
*steak
*any drink, namely milkshakes...especially as a treat at night
*China Buffet in Powell
*anything his mom makes
*death by chocolate

5 things you may not know about him
*as soon as he gets home he changes into comfy shorts
*he hates softened ice cream
*he's just as addicted to blogging as I am
*he would rather sleep on the ground
*he talks in his sleep...bad! (one time he yelled You damn Betty Crocker)

5 quirky things about him
*he gags after brushing his teeth in the morning but only in the morning...not a night
*he only picks his nose with his left hand because he says he can't get the right angle with the other one
*he sleeps with his arms behind his head and one leg crossed over the other one
*he's quite good at making up songs to sing to his boys & they are pretty creative and funny!
*he consistantly gives himself manicures and pedicures...sort of -he's pretty particular about how long his finger/toenails get

Sneaky little elves!

This year, we never got around to putting up lights on our house for 3 reasons:

1. We have a pretty tall house and don't own a ladder

2. I've had a hard time really getting excited for Christmas this year ( I still can't believe that it's just over a week away)...I didn't even put the lights up on our deck that we put on there last year...they are still sitting in a closet upstairs, and...

3. Christian is pretty much a scrooge about the whole lights thing. He always helps me put the tree up...and that's enough for him.

Well, we ran to North Platte, the closest "big" town to us, yesturday to finish our Christmas shopping and when we returned, a little elf had put lights on our house! I was so surprised when I got home. We had it narrowed down to two families on our branch that would have done it for us because they were the only ones that new we were going to be out of town. Come to find out, it was the family that Carson had stayed with while we were gone. They had taken two strands of lights that they didn't use and hung them on the house (I had told them that Christian wasn't going to put up any for me)! We are loving having lights (well, at least Carson and I are) and are greatful to have such thoughtful friends!!

Tent time!

When my grandma was here for Travis' blessing, I asked her if she would be willing to make me a tent for Carson. She had made one for my brother and sister each when they were kids out of material to fit over a card table and we always had so much fun playing with them and I thought it would be fun for Carson to play in. Well, it arrived a couple of days ago and Carson has been having fun in in since. The tent came with a pillow and a bed-role, and when you look out the windows you see horses and deer. He actually calls it his cave. Thanks g-ma for sharing your talent with us. He loves the tent!

Woo Hoo!

Ever since I can remember, my mom has made Christmas candy some time during the month of December. She would make enough to take around to our neighbors, friends, and family. As kids, it was our job to decorate the sugar cookies and we always looked forward to it. As I got older, I actually got to help my mom in the candy making process. We would pick one day and spend most of it baking while we listened to Christmas music. It's a tradition that I have always loved. The first year we were married, I went to Powell (we only lived in Lovell) and helped her. The next year, I had just had Carson and she was staying with us, so she was there to help me. Last year, was the first year that I didn't make the candy. This year, I decided I was going to do it by myself and hope for the best! You would think that after as many years as I had helped/watched my mom I could just do it, but no. I had to call my mom when I was making just about each of them and ask her a question. But, they turned out great! I started Monday and we packaged them up last night and delivered them. We made 9 plates and even had some to have at home to snack on. I'm so glad for my mom making this a tradition in our family and for her always letting me participate some way when I was younger. It's one I hope to carry on!

Christian's project

One of Carson's favorite things to play with at his Gramma Asay's house is a hand made set of corrals. He loves setting them up and filling it full of as many animals as he can or filling it with himself. So...Christian decided he was going to make a set for Carson for Christmas this year. They turned out really good and I think he will be really excited.Working away...

Varnishing them...

Seeing how they work...

The finished project (actually this is before they were sanded or varnished.

Elves!

I saw the link to this site on my cousin's blog. It's pretty fun. You upload pictures of yourself and can even make the elves do a dance! I though it was pretty hilarious!

Birthday fun!

Last night was Carson's little birthday party with his friends. We decided to have a bug themed party where we had dirt cups instead of cake. Once everyone arrived, we let the kids play together for a while and then we had the kids play pin the stinger on the bee. Only two out of the 5 wanted to do it with their eyes covered, but it was still cute to watch them. After this, we ventured outside to the deck where they got to do a spider pinata. They seemed to like this a lot better...must have something to do with the fact that there were mostly boys and you know how boys are with sticks...! After the pinata we had dirt cups and opened gifts and then the kids played together some more. It was a fun little party...not too big...just the right size!

The decorations

Playing pin the stinger on the bee

Pinata Fun

Dirt time!

Travis...partied out...

Happy Birthday, Carson!!

Three years ago today at 4:30 p.m. Carson joined our family and we haven't been the same since! He's such a loving, fun, energetic boy and we love every minute we get to spend with him! He's definately our little sunshine!!

Here are 3 things you might not know about Carson:

1. He has a birthmark in his hairline right above his right ear.

2. He has my maiden name (Foulger) as his middle name.

3. His favorite foods include spahgetti, rice and beans, pop, and popcorn.

3 Things Carson loves:

1. He Loves, loves, LOVES pretending to be different characters such as a ninja turtle, knight, and pirate!

2. He loves being outside.

3. He loves animals of all sorts!

Happy Birthday, Carson! WE LOVE YOU!!

Here's an example of Carson pretending to be a different character. I caught him last night in the tub with his goggles on saying "Nemo, Nemo!" He was pretending to be the scuba diver from Finding Nemo! He has such a great imagination! Oh, yeah...he found Nemo...an orange teething fish that's in the tub.

Some Holiday Happenings!

Tuesday night, Carson and I went to Santa's workshop at the college. They had games, crafts, and of course...Santa. I wasn't too sure how Carson would react to him this year, but he sat right down with him. When I asked him what he told Santa he wanted for Christmas he told me tractors and a truck. This is news to me...he's never told us anything he has wanted!

We finally got our tree up...yeah! Christian, Carson and I put it up last night and started to decorate it. I got was stringing the lights and found that I was 2 strands too short, so I had to run and get more lights today. Carson and I couldn't wait until we were totally done with the lights to decorate, so we decorated the tree anyways last night (plus I knew I was going to be doing a little rearranging of the ornaments due to my good little helper :))! Carson was so excited about putting it up this year. He kept telling me the the tree was awesome and the lights were beautiful. His favorite ornaments are the silver tractors Christian gave me for my birthday the first year we were married and a snow globe that plays music. He loves to turn it on and listen to the music. It's going to be such a fun Christmas with him this year...I can hardly wait!

Thanksgiving Travel Log

Well, we are back from our trip to Wyoming. We left Tuesday afternoon to head home for Thanksgiving. We spent Tuesday night at Matthew and Charlene's house. It's always fun to go out to dinner with them and Michael and Emily and visit with everyone. Wednesday morning, Matthew got up and went to feed the animals at the State Vet Lab and took Carson and Christian with him. Carson had been so excited to see the sheep and buffalo, but when he actually got to see them, he was kind of freaked out. After they returned and we ate a yummy breakfast, everyone took off for home.

We made a pit-stop in Thermopolis. My dad and his brother purchased an existing grocery store last month and have transitioned it into another Blair's. So, we stopped to check it out.


Wednesday night and Thursday night we spent with Christian's family. Our Thanksgiving day was great. We started out at Mildred's (Christian's grandma) house for lunch, then ran to Jan's dad's for pie, and then to my families house for dinner. We ate way TOO much, but everything was too good not to!

Friday was the annual Asay family preg. testing day...always fun! Carson had the time of his life helping his dad with the cows. He loves being outside at the farm. After Christian was done helping, we packed up our stuff and headed to my mom's house for the rest of the weekend.

putting out the vibe!

Saturday night, we decided to celebrate Carson's birthday with the family. He will be 3 on Friday, but I thought it would be fun to have a party with all the family there. We had pizza and pop for dinner and cake and cheese cake for dessert. When I would ask Carson what he wanted for his birthday, all he would ever say is a tractor cake. Since I made him one last year, I found some cute farm candles and used those instead. He had a great b-day and was truely spoiled!

Sunday, we decided to only go half way and stayed in Cheyenne with our friends Greg and Janell. It was so much fun to visit and catch up with them. We had so much fun and were so sad to leave. It's hard to believe that we will be back again in 3 weeks for Christmas...my how time flies when you are having fun!