We started our pilgrimage to Idaho on Saturday before Thanksgiving. There was a big storm coming in and we didn't want to drive in it. The kids are very good travelers, as long as there are plenty of snacks and lots of movies to watch. The storm hit Sunday. Sunday afternoon, Clint's nephews and niece came over asking for Clint's dad to send Clint out. It was just like he was a kid their age instead of their 30 something year old uncle. They were all waiting to ambush him. Clint sneaked out the back door and surprised them. After several attacks, most of which ended in retreat, (Clint would pile them on top of each other as they attacked), they gave up and came inside for hot chocolate.
Regan & Haden helped Grandpa and Clint feed and move the cows. Apparently, a few calves were going the wrong way and Clint had to go pretty fast on the four wheeler to catch them. He drove through a mud puddle and covered both kids in mud. Neither one of them appreciated it and still occasionally complain that dad is a bad driver.
Clint got to help pull a breach calf. Thankfully, they brought the kids home first. I am not ready for that conversation! The kids earned their trip to the Blue Goose candy store by collecting the bailing twine in the field.
Haden is always very excited to go the Blue Goose. He's usually a pretty shy kid when it comes to talking to people he doesn't know very well. Clarence, the store keeper, for some reason, is an exception. Haden ran up to the door, enthusiastically waving to Clarence as he went before bolting inside and back to the penny candy.
Haden was upset that we left all of his tools at home. Luckily, Grandpa had some he let Haden borrow. A week or so before we left for Idaho, Haden noticed that one of his figurines of Bob the Builder had a pipe wrench on his toolbelt. Haden decided that he needed a pipe wrench. We didn't have one, so Haden called Grandpa to see if he had one. Clint's dad told him that he would get him a pipe wrench when we came to visit. Since we surprised everyone by showing up earlier than expected, Grandpa didn't have the pipe wrench yet and couldn't get it until Monday. Haden asked regularly if it was Monday yet, so he could get his pipe wrench. Finally, Monday morning, Haden groggily walked into the kitchen and asked if he could now have his pipe wrench? That kid has the memory of an elephant! Haden is now the proud owner of a real pipe wrench and a few pipes.
Thanksgiving, 4 of my siblings and 3 nieces came for dinner. It was fun to see everyone! My kids love their aunts and uncle.
Gemma and Lila (Lila is 5 weeks older and about 3 inches shorter.)
Veta, Regan, and Hazel
Suzanne and Dale, my 2 youngest siblings. Dale has never been able to have his picture taken without making a doofy face.
Savannah and Dale. We were teasing Dale that we were going to post this picture on Facebook and all his friends would wonder who the hot, older girl was!
My little boy is 3!! Where does the time go? Haden has been counting down to his birthday for some time now. He occasionally would ask me, "Mommy, can you believe that it is almost my birthday?" He woke up that morning and bounded into our room. His pile of presents that I had stayed up late wrapping were on the floor. Haden persuaded Clint to let him open "just one" before breakfast and the rest were quickly ripped open immediately after breakfast. We went with a Bob the Builder theme for his presents. Craigslist is the best!
Haden and Regan played fabulously well together all day long. Haden would dress up in his knight costume from Halloween last year and pretend to be the "Nutcracker" while Regan was a fairy. They ran around, Haden fighting the Mouse King with his sword and Regan was frantically waving her magic wand at the invisible enemy. Clint set up the tent as their refuge. 
They were pretending to take a nap before their next fighting round.
The crib mattress came out, I am pretty sure Clint was the instigator, and the kids had fun sliding down the stairs on it. 
We still had plenty of birthday cake leftover from his party, but he needed to be sang to, so I used the same truck mold and he got a Rice Crispy Treat cake. Haden insisted that we add chocolate chips for the garbage.
And then, of course, he had to roast marshmallows on his candle flame. It didn't work, but he was happy. After shoving a piece of treat in his mouth he and Regan ran off so they could keep fighting. That night, Haden said that his favorite part of the whole day was opening all of his presents! Surprise, surprise. Happy birthday little guy!
