Christmas before Thanksgiving

And the stockings were hung . . . before Thanksgiving. LOL This is the first year EVER that we have put up our decorations before Thanksgiving. The kids are soo excited and love this season. I do too.

We still have our pumpkins around from Halloween. Kohlton thought this was funny! It makes for quite the picture. Christmas and Halloween.

Kandis and Kurt have spent my last two birthday's buying me my nativity set. Kandis was soo exited to put it up today. I love it.

Kelsie really wanted lights on the house this year and she was able to "sweet talk" Kurt and I into putting them up. We are feeling very festive. We listened to Christmas Music all day today. We decorated the whole house. Maybe this year we can relax a little and enjoy the season. I will take some pictures at night for you all to see.

Where's the Beef?

Every year we raise a couple of Beef in Andy and Dad's Pasture out back. This year we got two Hefer's. But one really wasn't a Hefer it was a Martin. Soo, Andy named this year's beef Martin and Fartin'. If you don't know what a Martin is you can ask me or ask someone else because I am not going to tell you on this blog. Here is the first Beef after Kurt, Andy, Dad and Denis killed it. Kohlton watched the whole thing this year and is in the Red Coat and Andy is driving the 'ol John Deer. The boyz do an Awesome job!

Here is Kurt washing it down with Andy's qinked up hose. It was a little cold last weekend. This year we are taking our Beef to Jason Astle to cut up. This will be the first year that we haven't cut it up ourselves. The Beef is at Jason's curing right now, we will let you know how it turns out.

TAG 10 Years Ago

A tag from Jill:
**5 things I was doing 10 years ago**
1. Teaching SPED Preschool
2. Living in Burley
3. Had 2 Girls 3 and 11.
4. Young Women's
5. Turning 30. (Oh no does that give away my age today?)
**5 things to do on my list today** (we'll say tomorrow since today is practically over)
1. Teach School
2. Do Paperwork
3. Young Women's Combined and Pres. Meeting.
4. VOTE
5. Take Kohlton to Valley Voices
**5 snacks I enjoy**
1. Tomatoes (Plain, V-8, Salsa, Soup, you name it)
2. Rainbow Licorice
3. Extreme Sweet and Sour Patch Kids
4. Crystal Light
5. 5 Lush Gum
**5 things I would do if I were a millionare**
1. Pay off Bills and own everything I have.
2. Pay for my kids college and missions.
3. Build a Barn and have animals.
4. Give it away.
5. Buy new 4-Wheelers and Snowmachines for my family.
**5 places I've lived**
1. Torrington Wyoming
2. Fairview Wyoming
3. Logan Ut
4. Rexburg ID
5. Burley ID
**5 jobs I've had**
1. Waitressing
2. Regular Ed. Preschool Teacher
3. SPED Teacher
4. Austism Group Home
5. Bernina in Logan
**I Tag**
1. Melissa
2. Storme
3. Bridgette
4. Sherry
5. Millie
Rules: Each person answers the questions themselves. At the end, tag 5 people and post their names

Halloween Night

Halloween was Great! Kohlton ended up missing Halloween at School and the day prior due to an absessed tooth. The antibiotics kicked in Halloween afternoon and he will get into Dr. Hammond on Wednesday afternoon to have it pulled. Ouch! He has been a sick little boy. Kandis' missionary Chris entered the MTC on Wednesday and she has been a little lost with out e-mails and someone to go to lunch with. Needless to say she has been at home and leaning on me (her mother) and family. We went 4-Wheeling the other day and found these spooks at a bridge, I thought they looked eventful!

We went to the Box-H Trunk-R-Treat and Melissa brought all the decorations. This is the back of the van. There is Kenna, Kelsie and Kandis in the swivel seats facing backward and Kohlton and Austin. She is hiding her eyes because she didn't want her picture taken. We gave away over 500 pieces of candy and had to turn children away. Notice the bowl fulls of candy in the back that all the kids are chowing down on.

This is Kandis and Kohlton in their Halloween get-up. Kandis is the princess and Kohlton is her knight in shinning armour. He told her when Chris was getting ready to leave, "I will rescue you from your emotional 'imagination'." Ha, Ha we laughed and laughed. His face is a little swollen on the left side.

This is Kelsie, Kenna and Kandis on Halloween Night. Kelsie is a "Munchkin" from the Wizard of OZ. Kenna is Chris' little sister and has begun to hang out at our house since Chris left. She is a 50's girl. She is a year younger than Kelsie. Her name fits right into our family with the K.

Autumn Falls upon Star Valley.

Today we went for a Ranger ride up Dry Creek. Here is Kohlton at the lake with radiant beams from heaven coming down. It was neat to look upon. We ate lunch here.
We went further up than the lake, it was rough going and little nerve racking today. Here is more evidence that winter is not far off. Kohlton and Kelsie played in the snow while dad and Kurt scouted the road up further to see if the Ranger, Razor and 4-Wheeler could make it. I got to drive the Razor and enjoyed scaring mom to death!
This was just a fraction of what our views were all day. It is soo pretty with the red, gold and oranges. It was a eye-catching day.
Here we are posing for a partial family picture. Kurt, Kohlton, Gwen, Kelsie. Kandis went to Yellowstone with some friends.
I always enjoy getting mom and dad's vehicles as dirty as possible. Plus, the Razor hasn't been dirty enough yet! Mom wore capri's and I soaked her with mud! The Razor has holes in the bottom of the floor and it is a good thing as we had muddy, stinky, water sloshing all over.

Look At Us!!

This is a test and so Kohlton might not show up at the moment.

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Bear World with 1st Grade

There is Sunshine in my Heart!My favorite flower and color. Notice the bee in the middle.
I had the opportunity to travel to Bear World with my 1st graders last week. These are the baby cubs playing with each other. It was a super trip as all the bears were out roaming around and sniffing and eating the bugs off the bus.
Another baby bear playing in the water. These are black bears and actually come in all colors. The cinnamon color is my favorite. This is a great place to take your kids, but hurry because they will be hibernating soon.

Gwen turns ?????

Over the Hill? Well, not quite. My family threw a little party for me on my birthday! Ha, ha. Grandma is in the background and recovering well from her surgery. Mom and Dad gave me a frame for my sunflower picture and now I can complete my purple wall. Yea!

Campin' on Labor Day

Kurt and Kohlton on the Ranger workin' hard. The water in the trailer was not working so we had to get our five gallons of water every day. We love our Ranger!
This is the view looking onto the lake. What an awesome sight! We used the paddle boat and the canoe all day on Saturday. We were also able to pick wild raspberries and eat them. Delicious!
This is Grandma Sherry's new Razor Ranger. Look who gets to Drive! Wow, Kelsie was thrilled.
During one of our relaxing times, Grandpa Farrel got out the Banjo and played us several tunes. He has perfected his banjo playing and sounds fantastic.
Snow? Snow! It snowed on Monday and we were all cold and wet. This is us loading up and getting out of there. Kelsie is standing in the green rain coat and dad is up in the yellow. We had quite a train. We made great memories.

Twin Falls Youth Cultural Celebration

We had the opportunity to attend the Twin Falls Youth Cultural Celebration on August 24, 2008. What a awesome experience it was as the Twin Falls Temple was dedicated the next day. The whole Richard and Elsie Garrard Family was there. (Emily, Jaeli, Cassie, Julie, Jenny Marie, and Jake)
Christy and Kohlton enjoy a moment together while we are waiting for the performance to begin.
Our Beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson looks out over the youth, and talks to them. Wow, this was impressive. Elsie led the audience in "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet". Also another lifetime opportunity.
This is Elsie leading the Choir of angelic voices. These youth practiced and practiced for this event. I think there were over a thousand youth. Christy and Dave wrote the opening song called "The Living Waters". We were so thrilled to be a part of this celebration and family.
We also got to see a lot of our old friends from Burley. These are our neighbors from Oakley Ave. Everyone has grown up and it was wonderful to see them. It was like going home. We are so thankful for all our friends and family!

SLC Temple

We were very fortunate to attend our niece Jill's Wedding in the SLC Temple this last weekend. We spent two days in SLC. We swam in the pool at the hotel and spent time on temple square and posed for a couple of family pictures. It was nice to travel as a family together for once.
This is the East side of the Salt Lake City Temple steps. The wedding was excellent and the reception was absolutely beautiful in Christy and Daves backyard, that they have worked on all summer to prepare. They served Coldstone Icecream and everyone thought they were in Heaven. We are so grateful for families!

Other Fun Things

Kelsie found this Tim the skunk outside in the back behind the house. She was so thrilled. I was surprised that it didn't spray her. Only in SV.
This is Kandis with her Beau Chris. They danced together this last spring. They were a great dancing couple. They did ballroom and country! She also took him to Morp and they date at least twice a week.
Kandis and Chris on one of our outings with the 4-Wheelers. Chris is very cool and has hung out with the family on several occasions. He graduated from SVHS this year and is planning on going on a mission around September. Kandis spends all of her extra time with Chris, friends and family.

Kohlton's Swimming Lessons

Kohlton and his Swimming Teacher. He is getting good and realizing that water is not scary!
He is making a splash!
Kohlton and his classmates getting ready to race on the last day. Making cool moves, and having fun.
Kohlton tries to do a handstand but yet just can't quite get it yet.

Campin' and 4-Wheelin'

Campin' with Melissa and Kelsie. They are playin' games. Wow! Look at the fun they are having! Mom and Dad took their camper up to Well's along with Andy and Melissa's Family. We should have taken our family inheiratance up too but. . . .
Kurt and Mom not wanting to pose for a picture! Ha! Gotcha anyway!
Kurt and I together again. This is our campin' attire and even after leaving for four weeks I think he still likes me!
Kohlton loves to explore. This is at the top of . . . the world?? Once he found out there were ants in the log he was hoppin' off of there fast.
At the top. We rode our rangers and four wheeler over 67 miles that day. Mom usually gets tired and so Kurt escorts her around in the Ranger and I ride mom's 4-Wheeler. Kelsie and I love to ride together but for some reason that back end keeps slidin' around. I wonder Why? This is looking out over the mines where Andy works and Sage Valley and then beyond that is Smoot. It was really hazy that day.

Dreams Come True

After coming home for less then 24 hours to SV I picked up Kelsie and we traveled back to California for a week of Conferences and Fun! We are lookin' Good.
Okay, so we took one day and went to Disney Land, just the two of us! We rode Spash Mountain several times but the best one was this time. We got drenched! It was soo Fun! Whoo HOO!
Kelsie after Splash Mountain! You really can't see how wet she is but we were soaked all the way through!
Kelsie and I rented a car and drove it down to Newport Beach! We didn't have time to spend so we just walked! It was divine.
We found this guy at the beach. He had been working on this lizard for over 5 hours and was carving the detail with a seagull feather. We thought it was neat!