Turkey and a Deer?

This year I have a lot to be thankful for! Not only do I have our sweet baby girl (whose smile lights up her whole face) but also a handsome son (who has such a tender and loving heart) and wonderful loving husband (who loves me unconditionally) . Thank you Lord for all your blessings!!


You shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Deut. 26:11

Tanner and I made pumpkin pie and our dressing before we left home. I love it that he wants to be in the kitchen helping me cook.

You know what they say about eating turkey, don't you??

She kept laughing at Tanner....you should have seen the cornbread going everywhere.

Always wanting to help. Tanner and I in the kitchen with Great Ma working on Thanksgiving lunch.

He finally got one!!! No, not Tanner....Michael shot him a 8 point! Tanner didn't want to go out hunting this time....go figure. We got up at 5a (yes, all of us). Tanner and I laid in bed until we heard a shot. He got so excited he was nearly screaming. So much for Ainsley sleeping past 7:00. If you see Michael and he's wearing a smile...this is why! Just ask him about deer steak. ;)

Man, that boy loves him some tractors.

Great Pa built this turkey himself. We wanted to get Ainsley up there too...but it was way to cold to bring her out. Oh well, there's always next year.

Shield Party

We didn't tell him that Daddy was going to come. Somethings are left better as a surprise!

Before Thanksgiving Tanner had a Shield Party at school. Families were encouraged to come in and decorate a family shield. We had muffins and juice at school for breakfast. Was nervous about taking Ainsley in to a germ infested classroom (those of you who know me well aren't surprised by that)! Ha...she did great and we had fun! Always enjoy watching Tanner interact with his friends....especially when he doesn't know I'm watching. :)

Straight A's

We made a deal with Tanner. If he made straight A's on his report card we'd give him $10. He would have the choice on how to spend his money. We are hoping to 1. encourage (or bribe...ha!) him to do well in school and 2. teach him the value of money. He just finished the 1st nine weeks of school....so it was time for us to pay up! He decided that he wanted to use his money to buy a "Magic Treehouse" book. Who can argue with that?

Run Bambi Run!!

Opening weekend of deer season. We picked Tanner up from school on Friday afternoon and headed up to Dime Box.

Pure excitement....didn't stop talking the whole way! That's along 2 hour drive! ;)

Handsome hubby of mine!

Tanner getting all geared up for his first hunt with Daddy. Not sure who was more excited.

The shirt says it all!!

Michael has been itchin' to get Ainsley in camo. I flat refused to put her in it....until I found this cute dress with pink on it. Good compromise, don't ya think?

Jumping from one hay bale to another. He made it on this try.....not so lucky the next. Was sore for two days after!

Tanner, Hunter, Layton, Braely, Layton (he's hiding) and Uncle Rusty

Two dirty little pigs

Aunt Cathy holding Peanut

Lesson Learned

The last two days have been incredibly long and exhausting. Ainsley started running fever yesterday morning. Since our sweet girl is only 2 months our pediatrician took no chance. I took her temperature every 2 hours through out the night and gave her tylenol as needed. We went in this morning for a urine culture and flu test. After what seemed like an hour waiting.....both came back negative. Then we headed over to the hospital for blood work....nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. After signing all the consent forms they called for Ainsley. Here I was carrying her back... crying and telling her how sorry I was for what was about to happen. They tried but couldn't find a vein to draw blood out of. So they called the NICU nurse down. Here I was holding her down and trying to comfort her when I realized this is how our Heavenly Father feels when we are in pain. There are no words to describe the hurt I felt in my heart....but knowing that He understood and felt my pain made it bearable.

We have received half of the results on her blood work....so far all is ok. Praise God!!! We will know the rest by the end of the weekend.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield". Psalm 28:7

2 months

My sweet, easy going lovebug is 2 months! I know that days are flying by, but really how can she possibly be 2 months already? We have been incredibly blessed! We couldn't ask for anything more....how I LOVE our two children!
Ainsley is doing more every day. She is sleeping all night....usually from 9p-6a. How awesome is that? She eats 4-5 oz every 4-5 hours, LOVES her baths, LOVES her big brother....oh, you should see the way she smiles at him. Brings tears to my eyes everytime!

She is: 24 1/4" long (97%)
weighs 11lbs (50%)

"Children are a gift from the Lord". Psalm 127:3-5

Family Pictures

Tanner with Pa

Junior invited himself in on this one.

Pumpkin Patch

Oh, man! What happened to my little boy? He looks so big! Sniff, sniff!!!

Proud big brother

Daddy and his little girl! Oh, so sweet!!!

Not quite sure what he was doing! :)

Oh, how I love them boys!