Happy Birthday Rawhide!

Today is my sweethearts 34th birthday! It was really a mellow night of Chinese food (Rod's request) singing happy b-day eating a yummy chocolate cake and opening presents.

Cassidy and her friends were planning a surprise party, however, one of them was using the potty when he got home so we had to send him out side for a redo so they could 'surprise' him.. The funny thing is, they really didn't seem to realize it wasn't a surprise anymore. I think they just enjoyed yelling "surprise!" It was really cute..

Cassidy was concerned about the candles.."whoa, uh..be careful so our house doesn't catch on fire!" Of course we can always live with Cole & Rhett if it did.. which is her plan ever since they had fire safety in preschool!

He got all of the candles out in one breath with no help from sis!

Cody enjoyed a Gerber Cookie instead of chocolate (yummy) cake. He was quite the party animal! He was really fascinated with the balloons. It is the first time he has ever seen them and he really didn't know WHAT to think of them!

Cassidy was a great help in unwrapping the presents for Rod.

I asked her what she wanted to get her dad for his birthday and she said with out even hesitating.. "a gun.." I told her that was a little out of our price range this year was there something else she would like to get him? And she said, again with out hesitating.. "how 'bout bullets". SO there you go.. She was so excited she made him name them.. ALL of them..

Rod gave his balloons to Sis, and she had SO much fun with them! Cody STILL wasn't sure if balloons were a good thing or not..

So goes another year way to quickly.. Happy Birthday Rawhide.. ;)- I am WAY glad you were born!
XOXO

FINALLY! .. We got some SNOW!

As soon as she saw the snow this morning it was all she could do to inhale her breakfast, get dressed and get outside!

She has been waiting all winter to get enough snow to use our sled! And even though it is all mostly melted now, she got to go zooming around the pasture with her dad!

She said her favorite part was catching air off of the mule poop hills! They had alot of fun!

Happy 2010!!

We were lucky to be surrounded by our good friends this year for New Years. I wish I would have taken more pics, these are thanks to Brittany! It was awesome food, and even better company. Happy New Year!

Christmas 2009

Christmas eve Cassidy could not get into bed fast enough, she was concerned on the way home that the star we could see through the windshield was Santa, and he was on his way to our house, and if we weren't in bed we would miss him. Then, after she was in bed, she would call out to us telling us that if we didn't go to sleep Santa wouldn't come and please just go to bed!

We waited all morning for Cassidy to wake up. I sat with the camcorder focused down the hall, we banged doors, turned on music, built a fire.. Still no sis.. Finally Rod went in and told her Santa had come, and boy she was a rocket that shot out of her bed!

Christmas parties, pajamas, presents and family.. Who could ask for more! It was one of my all time favorite Christmas's. I loved the excitement that radiated off of Sis, and how selfless she was this Christmas. It makes me think maybe we are doing something right?

First REAL snow ..

We got about 18" in a day and a half! Cassidy was so excited to get all bundled up and outside! First thing she asked me to do was take a picture of her 'traps' (tracks).. She loves snow.. Unfortunately it hasn't really snowed since then, and we have a sled that is ACHING to be pulled around the pasture!

AFS Christmas Party..

Cassidy's grandma invited the whole herd of grand kids to her company Christmas party this year. It was really fun for the kids, there were rides, Santa and a movie.

As we were leaving it started to snow, just in time to get us in the Christmas mood!
Well, once we were home safe from driving in it!

Oh Christmas Tree..

We joined Rod's siblings in their tradition of going to Nates property and cutting down a Christmas Tree. It was the first time I have ever done anything like this and I really didn't know what to expect.

Everyone wandered the property to find their perfect tree..

After the tree's were tied and secure, the kids went sledding down a little hill, their sleds being whatever we could find in our trucks, like a windshield sun cover and a plastic thingy for muddy boots!

Although I am typically a fake tree fan, it was so worth not having the 'perfect' tree to have this adventure with our family. I hope we can do it again next year!

Shooting Pumpkins..

Rod and I have had a tradition since the first year we were married.. Some people think it is kind of violent, but it is SO FUN and an activity I really look forward to every fall!

We collect as many pumpkins as we can (it is usually the day after Thanksgiving so they are no longer needed as decoration). We set them up and then fire away! We did not do as much destruction as we normally do because the price of ammo was so high.. But we definitely did some damage!

My personal favorite is the shot gun blasts, but the rifle is alot of fun to shoot too! Cassidy got to shoot her 22 that grandma & grandpa gave her! One of these years there will be a gigantic pumpkin patch in the middle of nowhere and everyone who drives by will wonder how it got there! ;-)

Thanksgiving..

We can't have Thanksgiving at the Carter's without the gum drop turkey! Cassidy worked hard on hers, but as soon as she was done she was eating it!

It was a busy night with the feast, gingerbread houses and turkey's! It was alot of fun, and Cassidy fell asleep the second we were in the car! We are very thankful for our families and the great life we have together! I couldn't ask for more than my awesome husband, sweet baby and my little girl who is my best buddy!

Deer Hunting 2009

Rod was disappointed that I didn't post a picture of this years deer, since it is his FAVORITE time of the year.. so here ya go! It had a HUGE body, with a decent 3 pts. Me and the kids spent one afternoon with him and his brothers and he took Cassidy for a little hunt.. It was fun, she enjoys hunting with her daddy, even if it is only on the Wii or shooting at the pigeons nesting on the barn.

November 2009- Happy Anniversary!

It has been a very short 9 years! I think every day I do not know what I would do with out my sweetheart! He is my world for sure.. Happy Anniversary!

October, Country Festival 2009

Slowly but surely I am getting caught up!

I try to think of fun activities to do with Sis that has to do with the season. My friend heard of this little fair and instead of our annual Thanksgiving Point trip we decided to try it out. It was pretty small, but there were a couple of activities to do with the kids and there were some booths set up for food and shopping etc. Cassidy's favorite one was the face painting booth! She HAD to have a snake!

I could only wash her face around the snake for 2 Days, finally I told her it had to come off for church, and she replied with "but Jesus wants to see my snake, he really likes them!" What do you say to that? No he doesn't?? It doesn't match your dress? seriously..

Can't go to a fair without the cotton candy! YUMMY!

They had a couple of activities, like a petting zoo, hay ride and maze. You can see Sis & Jack peeking over the edge. They also made a witch craft out of an egg carton!

There were plenty of picture opportunities! Cassidy had to pose for all of them!

Cody slept through most of it, but liked the Hay ride. All in all it was a fun afternoon!

Halloween..

And so the tradition continues.. going to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!

It was really cold this year! But it was as fun as always!

Cassidy & Jack seemed to be more excited about the stems of the pumpkins!

This was Cassidy's first year of actually carving the pumpkin herself! She did a really good job too! I was very proud of her! This is the first year she didn't enjoy taking out the guts though, and she didn't eat them either.. Thankfully!

Jack decided his needed an extra.. something..

From Left to Right: Cassidy's, Jennie's, Lori's, Jacks

Cody was the cutest chick ever for Halloween. He slept the whole time, but it was fun to dress him up anyway!

I know this is surprising.. But Cassidy wanted to be a tiger.. Our neighbors loaned us this darling WARM costume. I had to convince her she couldn't wear it 24/7 but it was perfect for Halloween and she LOVED it!