Klondike Derby

Mason and Brandon (Asst. Scoutmaster) went to Cascade Idaho and camped in 3 feet of snow and 13 degree weather. Part of the campout (Friday Night) was showing the scouts how to build snow shelters and survive out in the cold. On Saturday, the boys raced around and participated in various activities. They built a klondike sled weeks before and raced it around with survival gear on it.


Out of 555 scouts that participated, only 12 scouts could tie the 7 Scouting knots within a 1 minute time. Mason came in 6th place with 49 seconds. Nice job Mason!

Artists!

Two little artists learning how to paint and draw in the kitchen! I love my little boys, if they could stay little forever... they grow too fast!

Bridger's Big Boy Hair Cut!

Grandma usually comes over to cut the boys hair. Everytime she tries to cut Bridger's hair, he is a pain to get to sit still. He whines and cries. This time was different he saw Mason and Keaton do it and decided he was big enough to do it as well. He sat there so sweet for the first time! We love you Bridger!

Keaton is the muffin man!

Lately Keaton is loving to eat muffins, He is now the one who insists that we make muffins! He's so cute as a helper. We love you Keaton!

Nothing like a New Year's Swim!

On New Years day, We got invited to go swimming with Chris and Shauna at the natural hot springs pool. Everyone had fun, It was freezing cold outside, but the pool felt great! Thanks for the invite Chris and Shauna!

Christmas Eve Jammies!

Every year we allow the kids to open one gift on Christmas Eve! and every year it is magically a new pair of pajamas... Yeah!

Building of an Igloo...

How do you build an Igloo?... you roll snow into giant snowballs and then stack them up so high you can crawl underneath it and then fill in the cracks.

Bridger wants to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Dad and Bridger were messing around with the video camera and wanted to wish you all a merry Christmas! We sure love you little Bridger! (mute the music on the player at the bottom of the page to hear the video better)

Santa's Helpers make a Gingerbread Train

Brooklyn, Keaton, Bridger, Mason and Dad... (but mostly Brooklyn because she has more patience than the boys)... made a Gingerbread Train. It was from a kit that our friend gave to us for Christmas.

The Christmas Spirit! (I think Keaton found it)

Hey this is Brandon, Jill usually does the blogging or at least directs what is and isn't posted. I just sometimes interject with my random thoughts from time to time.
This is another one of those thoughts.
It's about the Christmas Spirit, and what exactly it is? I think I understand it a little better now, please bare with me while I share a little.
Last year watching my girl Brooklyn, she was fired up about Christmas, she was the first to push me to get the lights up on the house. She was the first to be so excited about delivering treats and such to neighbors.
Most everyone catches the spirit, some just quicker than others, this year as I observe, I see it in Keaton first. He was the first one to get after me to get the lights up on the house. (Me being my lazy self) I told him I needed help to do it this year. He then replied "I can help you Dad... I'm a great helper" Although he was more of a supervisor than a helper. It's that excitement for Christmas they feel.
I think the thing that hit me is when I took him out to go Christmas shopping for his mom, He (being 5 and big now!) knew exactly what he wanted... cost didn't matter, it took some convincing from Dad that Mom didn't want the $3,000 item(at least that it wasn't in the budget)... in the end, he has happy with what he picked out. On the way home, he kept telling me how she was going to love it and how he couldn't wait to wrap it. So he(or we because Dad needed to help a little) wrapped it all nice for Mom when we got home.
...I see the spirit of Christmas in him, "It's that feeling of joy you get when you are getting ready to give a gift to someone you love. The gift is something you know they are going to like, and you anticipate how they will feel. You get excited for them and feel that spirit... The gift can be big, small, or even a simple treat or even something of service. It's just that feeling you feel knowing you are helping them or making them feel good."
Keaton has found it and he has helped me start to find it as well... Thanks Keaton!
...I continually learn from my children, how blessed I am.