Pinewood Derby time!

We got to experience our first pinewood derby tonight for scouts. Carson and Christian worked lots on his car last week in order to make sure it was pretty much all ready to go before Christian had to leave out of town for a few days. Christian even cut a car out for Travis so he could work with them. Carson did a really good job of knowing exactly what he wanted and doing what work he could do.

The first night consisted of deciding on a shape and then cutting it out. Our good friend (and home teacher) Michael Hendershot let us come to his cabinet shop and use his saws and sander, making it so much easier.

Drawing out his design on the block.

The next night, he did a little bit more sanding on some spots...

...and got to spray paint it himself. Here the car looks bright orange, but it was actually red. I guess that's what happens when you use cheap spray paint!

Travis cracked me up when it was his turn. He came out in shorts, cowboy boots and safety goggles! He is always prepared!!

 Carson and Christian did a little more sanding and did another couple of coats of paint. He said he wanted flames on it, so I cut some vinyl flames out with my cricut and helped him put them on. Christian got it all weighted and the wheels on before he left. Last night we took the car out and had Grandpa Asay help us put some graphite on it so make it super fast! Carson was super excited when it was all ready to be raced. It was hard for him to not play with it and just let it sit on the shelf until race day!

Carson's hot rod.

When we got to the church gym and weighed in, we ended up having to take off half the weights we had on because it was almost an ounce over! Luckily, it wasn't hard to do! Carson's car ended up winning his first race, and then lost the next two. He was so excited when his won the first one. I'm so glad that he won at least one race!

Getting his car up for the first race.

Headed down!

Almost there.

Winner!

Travis and Landon did a pretty good job of watching the first few races. I was so glad to have grandpa and grandma Asay there to help watch kids while I was watching Carson.

Travis had lots of fun checking out everyone's cars.

Carson's second race. He lost to the bullet car (it was shaped like a bullet) that went on to take second place.

Waiting anxiously!

All the scouts.

Each kid got a certificate. Carson won the best detail award.

School Pictures

We finally got the boys' school pictures back a couple of weeks ago. Treena at TJ's Portrait Studio took them and did a great job!

Three handsome guys!

VIP preschool 2013

They did a funny picture too!

Moving cows.

Our Saturday consisted of helping Grandpa Asay move his cows from one pasture to another corn field. The boys were so excited to finally get to wear their new chaps and such! The day started out really nice at  45* but the wind picked up and was blowing like crazy, turning it not so warm. Those that were riding were covered in dirt!

Holding the cows at the gate.

Christian and Carson riding along.

Getting ready to head through the hills.

Grandma and the two younger boys hanging out in the back seat watching a movie.

Christian, Carson and Grandpa Asay (on the 4 wheeler).

Travis getting to ride his portion of the trek. They boys have to take turns riding by themselves on  Mike since he is the only horse they trust with the kids.

Grandpa and Grandma Asay ready to head back to the house on the 4 wheeler.

Mustaches!

I have never been good at recording funny things my kids say, but I'm going to try to be better at it this year. I thought I would start by sharing a funny from Travis.

Last Friday, Carson got to have a shopping day in Billings with grandma Foulger and spend his "credit cards" (gift cards) he got for his birthday. The other two boys and I tagged along for the day to shop too. We were done shopping for the day and stopped to grab some pizza for dinner on our way out of the mall. As we were sitting there finishing up, we were talking about a friend that is going to have a baby any time now. Carson was asking if she was going to have a boy or a girl and we told him boy. He then asked how they could tell it was a boy and we explained that they can take pictures of the baby inside the mom's tummy and see if it has boy parts or not. He seemed to understand how that worked by saying, "Right, they have the part that boys have and girls don't." Travis, who had been listening the whole time, pipes in, "Yeah...a mustache!" Oh, Travis, how you made us laugh! When I asked him if he was born with a mustache he said yep! I love this kid!

What we've been up to and New Year's

Christian went ice fishing with a guy he works with and caught some nice sauger. Here are two of their frozen prizes!

After Christmas, we got to go to Grandma Dorothy's house for dinner and white elephant gifts. It was fun to be together with everyone again.

Part of the group passing their gifts.

Landon and his present he got  in the game.

All three boys and their fun presents from grandma Dorothy.

 We had a great New Year's. We started the day out by taking the kids out sledding with Daniel and Kasi. There wasn't a ton of snow, but it was fun to be pulled behind the 4 wheeler and then enjoy hot chocolate.

Christian taking Carson out.

Uncle Daniel's turn.

Carson about to come off the sled.

Landon even went for a ride by himself.

After sledding, we came home, had some lunch and then Carson went sledding with some friends (at a hill we didn't even know existed for sledding and will definitely try when we get some more snow), Christian worked on the basement while I baked some goodies for his birthday.

Carson and his group of friends (Braxton F., Jared M., Jacob B., some twins I don't know, and Carson)

That evening, we celebrated Christian's birthday with some of our family. We had cherry pie, blueberry cheesecake and some apple strudel and ice cream to celebrate him turning 32!

Blowing out candles with some help.

Kasi and the two little boys enjoying dessert.

Opening presents.

Happy about something!

Ten years later!

Today, I celebrate my ten year anniversary with Christian. I am thankful everyday for him and all he does for me and our family. He is an amazing husband and father and best friend! It's fun to look at how our lives have evolved together over the last decade together. We started out as this:

And over the years, went through all of this:

1 summer of living in a camper down by the river

2 er visits...one for Carson's nose we thought was broke and once when Travis slammed his finger in the door)

3 beautiful/crazy boys

4 different towns we have lived in (Lovell, Laramie, Curtis, NE, and McCook, NE)

5 cars we have owned

6 tropical vacations we have been on

7  "homes" we have lived in (4 we rented and 2 we have owned and one camper for the summer)

8 years of being parents!

9 pets that have had names (2 dogs, 4 cats and three fish all named Tutter)

10 years of marital bliss!

...To become a beautiful forever family!

Here's to many more happy years!