Our Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day is snowed! This is a shock considering we live in a desert region. It was the most beautiful snow I have ever seen. The snowflakes were huge! About the size of my hand. The kids were excited and begged all day to play out in the snow. I told them I would let them later in the day when we went to my aunt's and uncle's to eat dinner. They live out in the country and have four children ranging in age from 9 to 18. I knew there would be plenty of time for the kids to play out there, plus they would have more people to play with. Besides that, I had some cooking to do.

After nap time, we headed out to their house. And the kids were not dissapointed to find my cousins pulling a sled behind a 4-wheeler. They had a couple of friends there, as well as my other aunt's three teenagers. One was driving and the rest would chase the sled and jump on in a huge dog pile until they would fall off. Then they would start chasing the sled again. The 4 wheeler was going in a large circle and did not stop to let on or off the riders.

My boys stood on the porch for a while watching. Soon, Landon was out in the middle of the circle. He would run towards the 4 wheeler, but by the time he got close, it had passed him by. Then he would start running across the circle to catch it on the other side, only to miss it again. I watched him do this for quite a while. Then finally, it was like the lightbulb went off. When he missed it, instead of running across the circle, he stopped there at the edge and waited for the 4-wheeler to make a lap and come around to him. He was standing in the exact right spot to catch the sled on the next lap. As the 4-wheeler makes the lap and is close to the house, it stops and all of the kids load off and come inside. It was time for dinner!

My heart hurt for Landon. I could see the disappointment in his posture and he made the long walk up towards the house. His face was red from the cold air. He said, "I didn't get to ride." "I know, Honey. I bet after dinner the kid's will go out again." My aunt suggested that I feed my kids first and then let them watch a movie in the bedroom while the rest of the family ate. I thought that was a good idea, because she had her nice dishes on the table (not the paperplates my children are accustomed to). Landon ate at lightening speed and then asked to go outside. I suggested he watch the movie and assured him I would get him when all the other kids finished eating and headed outside.

Once dinner was over, Landon and Cason came running, already with their socks, shoes, and coats on. They ran out the door. The big kids were still inside, taking their time to get ready to go back out. I looked out the window and watched as Landon and Cason sat on the sled, patiently waiting for someone to come out to drive the 4-wheeler. After a while, Luke and Sam made it out there and took them for a ride. They were so excited!

Beautiful Cows

Last Sunday Todd took the boys hunting with him. Todd got on a hunting lease this year with a couple of guys from work, including his boss Tim. Tim is from Ireland and has 3 children, the youngest of which is close in age to our boys. So, from time to time Todd and Tim will both take their sons hunting. Tim's inlaws have also been here visiting. On Sunday, Tim had also brought his father-in-law along for the hunting trip. The boys really seemed to like the father-in-law. He comes from an agricultural background and was talking to the boys about some cattle nearby. He said, "Those are some beautiful cows". Without missing a beat, Landon replied, "Their not women you know."

Superheroes

Landon's preschool class had a costume parade on Tuesday. As I took Landon to his class to drop him off I realized that all of the boys in the class were superheroes of some sort. Landon had decided to be Batman, he had been Spiderman earlier in the week. Last year he was Superman. There was another Batman along with two Spidermen. There was a cowboy and a military pilot, which are just a more real life version of a superhero. The girls were all dressed up as princesses. One of them was even dressed as a bride. Isn't that what we all really long to be...men: the hero who saves the world and women: the beautiful princess. The costume parade went off well. This picture is of Landon and two of his best buddies: Jack as Spiderman and Will as a cowboy (not Woody, just a cowboy)!