A very Merry Christmas to all!

Today started early with lots of excitement! We started with stockings and one gift, and then Grandma joined us for the rest of the gift opening!

We did capture a few pictures before the madness began!

 Our little Elsa with her Elsa doll!

 Then we had to try out the new sleds!

What a wonderful day; we were all entirely too spoiled! :) The only thing we missed was the rest of our family who could not be here with us!

Christmas Party and Programs

We actually went and got a real tree this year! We didn't venture into the forest because we got a bunch of snow, but it was still a fun adventure! :)

 The St. Thomas Christmas program was a hit, as usual! Here is Kimber during the counting song!

 Kimber and Grandma!

 Dane's excellent Christmas Program

The kids visiting with Santa!

When I asked Dane if he wanted to make a handprint wreath, he got very excited and made a beautiful handprint reef! :)

Another great weekend

Two weeks ago I was able to get an extra day off and Clint and I headed up North for an outstanding day in the Mountains. I had a special permit for a buck up there, but you have to wait until late in the season when the deer come out of the wilderness. However, we got up there, hiked back into the Mountains and saw no deer...  it was crazy! We did get into some elk and almost connected, but they were a little too far and then as we crept closer some shifting wind ruined it for us! However, we had an amazing time and then I was able to use my permit to harvest a doe with the kids and Clint along. It was a perfect, low stress hunt with a successful harvest at the end... doesn't get much better than that!

 Then the next day, Mom and I took the kids to a dinosaur event. They had an incredible time! They got to dig for bones...

 and ride lots of dinosaurs!

It was a lot of fun!

About a month behind! :)

Looking back about a month to a very fun Halloween! This year the kids got to carve their own pumpkins!

 Kimber got to wear the beautiful princess dress that Grammy made her... and she truly enjoyed modeling it!

 Dane decided to be batman...  I'm not sure why the book is significant, but apparently it was!

 We also decided to get an elliptical! Super exciting stuff!

Clint went hunting with a friend (without me!) it was a super cold, but very beautiful day! 

The Elusive Elk

This year Clint and I each drew some cow elk permits...  but they were only 1 week permits and the timing was super early in the season. So, we had a great time but always found the elk in the deep timber and were unable to connect. Of course we had an incredible time and here are some of the pictures from our trip.

 There were cool fossilized shells in the rocks!

 and rubs that were pretty darn tall! Those are some big critters! :)

 Wallows that had been used within the last day or so...

 Then the weather came in and it was super rainy and cold.

 

We have hunted a couple more times in areas that allow you to shoot an elk with a general permit, but the elk continue to elude us! Guess that's why we call it hunting!

Antelope Hunting

A couple weeks ago we headed out on opening day of antelope season. We got access to some great land that is owned by the Broken O ranch. There were some antelope and we had an outstanding hike with the kids. But, we weren't able to connect. So, then we found a buck and doe on some Hutterite land. After crawling forever I wasn't able to get close enough for a shot. So, I backed out and went at it from a different angle. Luckily, this time I was able to get close enough for a shot and harvested this beautiful buck! Clint was a sweetheart and kept he kiddos in the truck with him so as soon as this guy was down he brought the kids out.

 

 
 
 

 

Clint offered to pack it out, but it's all part of the fun and it wasn't too far to the truck so I decided to see what I could do! :)

 

 The kids even pitched in and helped cut up meat!