Trip down memory lane

As I was looking through my photobucket account I ran across this picture.



Boy that was a trip down memory lane. How long ago do you think this was?

Big Buck

Brandon finally got this big buck this year during bow season (yes he actually used a bow). He was so happy (as you can see from the picture) and of course he’s getting it mounted. **rolls eyes** I keep asking him if anything has “grown” since he shot him but he just ignores me as he doesn’t find my smart ass comments too amusing.

I think he has hope in taking the mounted deer to the Iowa Deer Classic in March for the “Big Buck Contest”.

Christmas, Christmas, Time for Cheer

Christmas Eve we celebrated our family Christmas with my family and our wonderful friends Val & Phyllis. We had lots of food and presents were plenty. The children (us included) were all spoiled and had a wonderful time!

The grandkids with Val & Phyllis



Top: Phyllis, Val, Brady
Middle: Lily, Ty
Bottom: Shari, Guage, Chase, Mason



Ty was “tooting” his horn



His annual Christmas Ornament from Grandma & Grandpa. They get the kids an ornament every year to symbolize something that happened to them throughout the year. Ty got a pacifier ornament because he loves his binki. Mom tried to get one that wasn’t too real looking so he wouldn’t try to use it but he still did.



Chase got a 4-H ornament with a cow on it which is very fitting since he joined 4-H this year and hopes to show a bottle calf next year.

We had a great time


(Brandon was working so he is not in the family photo)

A Super Star is Born!

Well as many of you probably already know Chase is a “super star” (so he thinks). He was featured in Clinton Anderson’s No Worries Club Winter Journal and he was very excited about it.

Clinton Anderson is a world redound clinician that I started following a few years back. Chase started watching him with me and picked up on the techniques. Everyone thinks he looks like a young Clinton but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Here he is at a show last year.



And here is Clinton with Chase at the Des Moines Wahl Walkabout Tour last year.



Here is the article. I know it is kind of hard to read because it is so small but if you would like to read it let me know and I will try to send you an e-mailed version of the article.



These pictures might help explain why Chase is standing on Nikki’s back. It is a “signature” move of Clintons. He can usually do this after just a few hours of work with a young horse. These are from the Road to the Horse competition that he won.





So if you see Chase don’t ask for his autograph. He’s already gotten a big head out of the deal! He informed Grandma Candy and Grandma Janet that HE made their horses famous.

Guard Christmas

The boys had a wonderful time at the Guard Christmas. Chase seems to be getting a little “older” so some of the things that would typically be fun weren’t any fun for him because they were meant for “little” kids.

Ty wasn’t sure what to think but when he saw the plane he became speechless! His face looked like this pretty much the entire night.



There weren’t a lot of people there so they didn’t have to wait too long for their presents (I almost missed the photo op because it usually takes longer).



Chase got an Airhog helicopter and Ty got a truck and trailer. Both were very pleased.

Here Comes Santa!

Well it’s that time of year again. Tonight we’ll take the boys to see Santa fly in on an F16. Due to wrestling commitments last year we didn’t go (first year to not go) so this will be Ty’s first Guard Christmas. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees the plane come in and then again when he sits on Santa’s lap.

I doubt too many pictures turn out tonight but if they do I will post them tomorrow.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Saturday we got our first snow of the year. I couldn’t figure out why Ty was being so goofy and then it dawned on me. This was the first time he’d really “seen” snow. Last year he was just a baby and had no clue what it was but this year it was a new and exciting experience for him.

He was even more excited when he realized it was snowing out the front window just like it was the back window. I got a chuckle out of him and his excitement.

Chase was ready to go build a snowman and sled. I told him unfortunately that wasn’t the type of snow he needed for that.

We did get enough for my truck to slide out of the drive and into the road. Luckily my neighbor was nice enough to let me know what happened.

This morning Ty had another 1st! Those of you who have been around him know what a little purse digger he is. If he sees a purse he likes to rifle through it to see what he can find (right Aunt Heather). Well this morning while I was getting ready for work he snuck downstairs without me hearing him (he usually plays in his room) when I heard my cell phone alarm go off (a calendar reminder).

The next thing I know I hear it coming up the stairs. Ty was very sweet and brought it up to me. I was surprised he hadn’t messed with it but he hadn’t. As he handed it to me I noticed something red in his mouth. I thought to myself “oh no, he found a piece of cereal on the floor”. I asked him to spit it out and reluctantly he did. Was it cereal? Nope. It was Stride cinnamon gum.

Can you believe he was chewing cinnamon gum? Chase won’t even chew it because it’s too “spicy” for him.

Needless to say when I got downstairs the insides of my purse were all over the couch. It looked like he had fun.