Thankgiving for the Annual Christmas Tree Excursion

It is a quiet cold evening and time to recap the last couple of weeks.  I guess when I say quiet, I mean relatively since we do have two small ones.  The oldest is quite the talker and many people agree that he asks why more than all of the other kids they have seen.  It really does make you think sometime as to why you do thing the way you do them, bust mostly the why questions do not make any sense and are best left unanswered.

This is far from what it looks like here now, but a couple of weeks ago is the last time our lawn was mowed for the year and Jim had some free time so he thought it would be good if he would do the honors.  You really could not ask for more than that from a friend.  The long hours at work are made a little easier when you don't have to come home and mow the lawn in the dark with a headlamp.

I have had a few more of my Saturdays free recently but still am working about 60-75 hours per week.  I got a chance the other Saturday to take care of the kiddos when Brenda went to her woman's group.  I loved watching them play and seeing them have fun with the trains.

Matthew's gentle touch with the trains is usually short lived and there is generally at least one or two high speed derailments that would require major cleanup if it was real life.

For about twenty minutes they played very nicely together without any conflicts.  I generally am a "work it out yourself" kind of guy, but James is so much bigger and Matthew barely stands a chance.

Sunday morning sweater time.  It has been getting colder and colder so it was time to break out the sweaters.  The river at my jobsite just froze over two weeks ago, but it was short lived and it open again.

We had our first snow of the year the other day and the kids had to get out into it.  James insisted on riding his bike, but crashed it about three times before he got to the end of the road and had to eventually call it quits.  They snow only lasted a couple of hours and it was really warm this past weekend (50) but we will brace for the next storm because it is sure to come.

Hmmm, should I suck my thumb or get a drink?  Why not do both....ahh yes there it is, perfection.

James likes to show how full he is after food and then Matthew follows suit.  Unfortunately for Matthew he was in a jumper and could not get to his belly.

The kids love to get on the counter and cook with us for breakfast and dinner.  Quite often you can find that certain ingredients have magically disappeared, but in this case I thought I smelled a rat.  Matthew did not have any other option but to just dig right in and take a bite, or a couple bites, right out of the block of cheese.

 

Brenda's parents came up and we had a great Thanksgiving.  The day before I was supposed to get off early and have a easy day, but right away in the morning I knew it was not going to be good.  We got a call for emergency response to a truck rollover which had mine tailing in it.  It was a quite serious accident where the dump truck pup had its tow bar snapped in half and then the axles separated from the box as well.  Note sure how, but the driver was unharmed.  Needless to say it was a mess and I did not get home till about 7 and will be going back to monitor the cleanup activities next week.

 

Today we headed out to the woods for the Great Christmas Tree Excursion.  This has been an annual event since we moved to Spokane and this year was no exception.  We were unable to pay for a permit since all of the USFS offices were closed(classic government workers), but I figured we could go get a tree anyway and if they were unable to man the office to give us a permit, they likely would not have the manpower to enforce the payment of the $5 fee.  I am note sure of the ethical implications of my decision, but I don't plan on contemplating it either and will enjoy the tree all the same.

Matthew was a trooper and although there was not much snow on the ground, it was quite slick out.

We finally spotted the perfect tree and by this time the snow was really starting to fall.  I know it is usually the guys job to haul the tree back to the car but I had to carry both of the boys so she dragged it half the way and then I finished it off.

All loaded and ready to go home.

Then it was time to decorate and the boys can actually help out doing it this year.  I was the one who broke one of the red balls and James reminded me that is was an accident and I should try to be careful.

Matthew is a typical kid and puts all of the ornaments on one branch so we had to help him spread them out.

Cue the music and here is the final product.

Happy Reformation Day and a trip to Montana

James has really been teaching Matthew some fun thing lately and I see that having a older brother makes the younger one much less apprehensive about doing crazy thing.  Although that is true in general it does not translate to all aspects of Matthews life.

James and Matthew love to play superheros and here they are jumping off of the couch onto the cushions showing mom and dad how far they can fly.  At some point James will likely talk Matthew into jumping off of the roof, but I think we are still a few years away from that.

For Reformation Day (Halloween) James dressed up as a sheriff and Matthew was a horse.  The boys really enjoyed going to the Fall Flair the church put on this year.

They even had  Plinko station at the fair.  Once I saw this it reminded me of the time I put on a full Price is Right show in high school and built a full size Plinko board.  That show is so enjoyable and I have never lost a love for it.  Hopefully this one Plinko game will stick in James mind and foster a love for the Price is Right.

Matthew had fun eating the cupcake in an ice cream cone. 

 

Two weeks ago I had to take some time off of work because I had maxed out my allotted vacation and needed to use it or loose it.  We decided it was time to go out to Montana and hang out there before the weather turned and made the trip more troublesome.

The weather was actually really nice and the days were in the 50's.  We had a chance to go out to the park and the public library in Bozeman where the kids had a great time.

I think my dad also had a blast with the kids.  How many times do you have an excuse to get on a teeter totter?  Not many when you started getting older, and I think each of us needs to take every opportunity we can.

Matthew can be such a cheeser sometimes.  Whenever he sees a camera he instinctively says cheese and smiles really big.

One day we went to Hylite Canyon and threw rocks in the water when we got to the reservoir.  That is always a fun past time as well and will likely occupy any child or immature adult(yours truly) for at lease a hour or two.

They had just redone some short walking path so we also checked that out.

James is left handed and Matthew is right.  Luckily no one got hit with any rocks during the entire time we were throwing them.  I actually kind of got concerned that Brenda may have one go awry.

Matthew tried to mix it up a bit and threw rocks with both hands.

James and Matthew (and Brenda and I) had a great time hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's.  We had some tough time sleeping with these children, but on the last night Grandpa laid the smack down and scarred the kids into submission. 

Ione Train for Fall Colors

Last weekend we just so happen to have tickets yet again for the Ione train ride.  We did this last year and we had so much fun that we thought it would be a good time and we should go again.  This time we also go tickets for our friends Jim and Jan so they would enjoy it as well.  The weather could not have been better and I think it was their last day where a T shirt would have sufficed. 

We got some good spots in the open air car.

The colors were just about at their peak and the Tamaracks all around us were glowing yellow.

Hello train hottie.  Nothing like a good looking woman and a big powerful engine to get your blood pumping and make you feel alive.

If this dam looks familiar to you, you likely need to get a life.  Yes, it was in a movie, but the movie was a flop.  If you remember the "Postman" movie with Kevin Costner you are likely one of the 10 people in America who watched it and have not tried to block that memory out of their mind.  It was filmed right in Metaline and some of it was filled in Ione and over this Dam as well.  We watched the movie this last year to see if any of it brought back any memories and it does really remind you of NE Washington.

Here is the ghost train.

Matthew loved to through the slats of the old railcar.

When you get to Metaline the engine has to disconnect, go on a siding, and then hook up on the back of the train for the ride back to Ione.

Matthew is such a cheeser.

James and Matthew have a good time together and nothing beats sitting on the railroad tracks and throwing rocks.

The train ride is a good time and even more fun if you have kids that are going to enjoy it like we do.  Nothing like a lazy day riding the train to rejuvenate you for another week of work.

Fall season is here

The fall season is officially here and the weather has turned.  You know it is fall when you have to blow your sprinklers out in preparation for the coming frost.  I thought it was a bit early for the sprinklers to be blown out, but when you neighbor does it for free, you don't really have time to pick and choose and kind of go with the flow.  During the process I found a couple of the sprinklers that were deficient and will need to be repaired before next year, but I will likely put it off as long as possible.  I hate....HATE... dealing with sprinklers.

James and Matthew went with Brenda on some kind of a MOPS outing to a pumpkin patch (although we have some already) and got a pumpkin.  James likes painting it.  Unfortunately it was left out during a little bit of a thunderstorm and it kind of got washed off.  I guess that means you can paint it again.

James can really be a ham sometimes.  When you look at this face you cant help but love him, but I will assure you it is a entirely different feeling and face at 1:30 in the morning when he refuses to go back to sleep.

James and Matthew had to try on their "Fall Flair" outfit for going to church.  Every Halloween the church has a reformation day fair and it is pretty fun for the kids.  James is bringing his trusty sidekick this year.

Here is James going crazy on his horse.

And Matthew is seen here trying to ride his horse, dressed as a horse.  He is always trying to sit on little trucks or this horse and it is so adorable it almost melts your heart.

Jana and Jason and Crew stopped by for a fun filled night on their way to the Midwest.  Brenda had so much fun she almost forgot about the fact she had kids that were going to wake her up in the middle of the night.

Yet another outing with mom where the boys got to go see a bunch of fire trucks and sit on some fire engines and a helicopter.  They loved it.  I have been working a ton lately and rarely have a Saturday off so it kind of stinks not being there to see the boys have such a good time.  I don't think I have had a whole weekend free since labor day.  I guess it is one of those things you put up with in the short term to win in the long term, but that rarely makes it any easier.

County Fair and James learning to ride his bike

The county fair was in town a couple of weeks ago so we had a chance to go.  We were stoked to be able to go and always enjoy a couple of hours at the fair and we also got to go to the Rodeo.  First of we had to go to all of the local animal and craft booths.

James and Matthew were amazed at the giant pumpkins, but when we got to look at the sunflowers I was a  little disappointed that I had a bigger sunflower at home...guess I should have entered it into the fair and I may have won a ribbon.

Jan and Jim  came with us and they got a chance to show James how to pig out at the fair.  He was not sure what to think when I asked him if he wanted an elephant  ear.  I think he got the idea when Jan started eating it and after that, there was no stopping him.

Matthew was all excited to see his brother riding a  couple of the  rides.

Brenda got a chance to go on the teacups and Jan said she took it easy on her.  Jan loves to spin all sorts of crazy.

Summer is coming to an end, but we have had a few days where it is still hot enough to get the old little blue pool out and go for a swim.  The boys have really got courage this summer when it comes to jumping in and out of the water.

Of course, when you get the pool out you also got to get the sprinklers. 

It is always a great sight on a summers night to look out over the valley and see the Spokane hot air balloon floating over the ridges.  Brenda of course would love to go, but I looked it up and it is quite expensive.  I don't think it is worth the money, but she assures me it is.  I will continue to stand my ground...I would rather actually go somewhere if I am going to spend that kind of money.

Nothing like running in the backyard to blow off some late afternoon energy.

I think James ran about 20 circles this night seeing how crazy he could act and if I would take a picture or two of him.  I of course obliged him.

Jim and Jan  were out of town for a couple weeks and found a couple of super hero sweatshirts for the boys.  Matthew likes to look through his mask that flips down over his head.

 

On another exciting note, a week or so ago we thought it was about time for James to get his training wheels off.  After some protest from him, we agreed that we would leave them on the bike but flip them up so they would be doing no good whatsoever.  The first time all I had to do was to get that kid going and off he was tearing around the neighborhood.  He drove all over in the past two weeks and has not really fallen even once.  He is quite the rider, going off road and now can go anywhere.

Here is the smiley boy himself.

This is a great picture.  I told his to go as fast as he could past me and this is the result.

Here is the quintessential Matthew pose...cute curly hair and thumb in his mouth.

 

Although his hair was so cute, Brenda thought it was about time to have his first hair cut. 

He is a little hesitant, but was a great kid on the chair...or so I am told.

He did appear to like having his hair cut, but maybe it was because he had two women doting over him.

I guess what I will end with is the dinnertime at the DeJong's house...all fun and games as always.