Carter Family Christmas Party

This year our Christmas party was in Wendover. Clayton and Brenda were in charge and did a fabulous job! We helped with the food. Here's the breakdown of our activities:
Dodgeball and street hockey
Made gingerbread sleighs
Dinner
Family quiz - who knew, well, maybe it's better you didn't!
Counting games
White elephant gift exchange with the "Carter Family Story"
Pinata
Frosty the Snowman

Some of the highlights:

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Our annual pictures once we have decorated the Christmas tree. We are excited for the Christmas season! We will be hosting the Carter family Christmas party this year so we're trying to get everything ready. We are also paiting the upstairs. Crazy - yes!

Ryker's 7th Birthday

We celebrated Ryker's birthday twice this year. The first time was in Logan at Grandma's house. Ryker's birthday fell the day after Thanksgiving, so we celebrated Thanksgiving, shopped the black Friday sales and then celebrated his birthday. It was a whirlwind! He was able to have almost all his aunts and uncles there and we had a great time! Jared was even able to come with us this year. Most years he has to work, but because he was still scheduled to be Elk hunting, and his Elk hunt went quick, he came with us!

Ultimately for his birthday he really wanted to go to California but then decided it would be okay if he had a party instead. We decided that he had never had an actual birthday party so we figured it would be good - then he then started to invite everyone. We were sitting at a basketball game and he started inviting everyone around us. It was quite cute. We managed to keep it to just kids. We ate pizza, played a few games, wished the weather was warmer outside, tried to control the crowd, ate cake and opened presents and then, breathed a sigh of relief when all the friends went home.




Ryker loves to play video games and play with his friends. He was super excited to get an electric scooter like Gunnar! And he loved having a party. Some pictures from his baby days!

Jared's Elk Hunt

Every year since we moved to Nevada, Jared has put in for an Elk.... and every past year, nothing. This year was his lucky year. The opening day of the hunt Jared bagged this beauty! It's a 6x6 (which means nothing to me) although now that I've had it explained, it means how many points the horns (aka rack) has. I feel like I'm turning in to quite the hunting wife. Now the only thing that would make it so much better was if I was willing to go out in the cold and participate. Um, no. I like staying at home in my warm bed, have I mentioned how much I love having a furnace and a flushing toilet? Well, if not, consider it mentioned!

Okay, back to the real success of this! Jared had some amazing help from a father and son that love to scope out Elk and participate in other's hunts. They were a big reason Jared's hunt was quick and successful.

Fishing at Bear Lake

No, I didn't go fishing - Jared did. He went with my dad and brother. It is a yearly trek to the freezing cold lake in November. Really, who thinks this is a good idea? Obviously, it holds no interest for me. Mostly due to the bathroom facilities that are not located on the boat. And maybe freezing cold weather. :)

This year they had only two catches. One was an accidental catch. The lore was cast, the fish didn't get a chance, the seagull dove down and thought he was getting a little morsel. Luckily he was agreeable and allowed the lore to be pulled out of his mouth and flew away.

When Jared told me about this I couldn't stop laughing and wishing I had been a little more adventurous to be on 'this' fishing trip. Makes for great memories - and incredible pictures.

Funny Sayings

We always have interesting things going on at our house. Today, the boys argued about the word 'gooder'. They were sure it was a 'real' word. When I told them instead of saying gooder, they would say best. Instead of thinking I was the master of words, they said, "okay mom" - like it really didn't even matter.

The best saying is Rykers! He says, "You froked me out!" Yes, that is the past tense word of freak. We keep correcting him, but he still says it and everytime he does, I have a good laugh. Just say it to yourself. You'll smile. Then just picturing Ryker saying it will make your smile even bigger. He's quite the character.

Halloween

Halloween has turned from cute to scary at our house. The kids are trying to find the scariest costumes. The loved going trick-or-treating, but had a better time scaring people. The neighborhood 'super scary' house has now been deemed - 'not that scary'.

Monica helped out at trick or treat street so she wasn't around when we took pictures! When she came home she took Cannon around trick-or-treating. Once the kids had decided they had enough of trick-or-treating, they had a great time answering the door!

School Dress-Up Day

For homecoming week at the High School, each day is a dress up day. One of the days the kids dressed up as zombies. We had a great time helping them get ready.

Cannon's Birthday

Cannon has turned 3! He had a great birthday. We celebrated with cake and ice cream. Cannon's favorite treats! His favorite present was the Wii baseball game. He loves to play the Wii, the I-pod, and can navigate netflix way too good for his age. He still loves to cuddle and watch t.v. - his favorites are still Dora and Little Einsteins! He loves to eat macaroni and cheese and play outside. He also loves hanging around with the neighbor kids. He likes to disappear and give his mother stress - since he thinks he's big enough to roam the neighborhood.

Wendover Airbase

Saturday we spent a day on an inside tour of the airbase. Wendover airbase was the place chosen by Paul Tibbets back in the 1940's for the secret training of the Enola Gay mission. We were able to see several places that have never been opened up to the public since the decommission of the airbase. It was a great tour. If you're interested in the history of the airbase check out their website:
http://www.wendoverairbase.com

Past and Present

My mom has always commented how much Cannon looks like my grandpa - her dad. It is amazing how much they look alike. Another interesting aspect is that Cannon was born just 1/2 a day past what would have been my great grandpa's 100th birthday. The great-grandpa that is the father to my grandpa that he looks so much like..... I think there is an amazing connection that time can't touch.

And the last and most interesting part of this story is that Cannon has insisted being called Billy Bob. My grandpa's name was William, but as a child was called Billy. This grandpa died in 2003, long before Cannon was born. I think they must have knew each other in Heaven.