Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We were able to spend a little time at home, as well as in California visiting with my family. Hoyt loved opening his presents, and after he opened one he wanted to open all of them (including the presents that weren't his)! He loves his new basketball hoop, John Deere tractor, and especially his vacuum that is just like the real thing. (Sorry Ryon!) I think he vacuumed my mom and dad's house at least three times Christmas morning.



Now it's on to a brand new year...2009 - I can't believe it!

Feliz Navidad!

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Winter Wonderland!

I have been secretly wishing for a "little bit" of snow to make it really feel like Christmas. My wish was granted and we got a taste of the white stuff this week. On Monday morning Hoyt ran to the big window in the kitchen and said "No...No" which in translation means "SNOW!" How can you not be excited for Christmas when there is snow on the ground? I love it!!

Thirty Something...

It was Ryon's birthday last Saturday, but it turned into a birthday weekend with celebrating going on both Saturday and Sunday. We had our ward Christmas party on Saturday morning, so we had to do his birthday breakfast on Sunday. All of his favorites were served - waffles with fruit and whipped topping, eggs over easy, hash browns, and extremely crisp bacon (just how he likes it!).

Ryon in his PJ's on Sunday morning. I didn't make him a cake this year (sorry babe) so we did candles on the waffles - I think it works! Notice the beard he decided to grow the week before his birthday. I think he may be going through a mid-life crisis - GREAT!

Hoyt thoroughly enjoyed Ryon's birthday breakfast as well, and was begging to have his picture taken too!

O' Christmas Tree....O' Christmas Tree

We had a fun-filled family activity last week of going out to find the "perfect Christmas tree". I have always told Ryon that I would rather have a Christmas tree (it has to be a noble fur) than presents....and there have been years when he has told me that the tree should be my present. He can't stand how much they cost!

I have been contemplating the idea of buying an artificial tree for the past few years, because it never fails that something goes wrong when we get the tree. Last year we forgot to have the guys at the Christmas tree lot give the tree a fresh cut so it would be sure to drink water. We had it in the house with water in the tree stand when I remembered that we "had to have a fresh cut"! We proceeded to dump the water from the stand into a bucket, (however, some ended up on the carpet) took the tree back outside, and Ryon gave the tree a fresh cut with a very dull saw. Seriously....I can be a bit of a fanatic about the tree, but that tree drank water up until we took it down in January. So, I think the fresh cut worked!

This year I was sure that I had remembered everything. We had the guys give our tree a fresh cut, and put the tree stand on for us. Then we hopped in the truck and headed for home with our "oh so perfect" Christmas tree. We got home, set the tree up in the living room, and as I started pouring the water in the tree stand I commented to Ryon, "I hope the guys at the lot made sure the tree stand was sealed so the water doesn't leak out." Hmmmm, why was I not surprised when water began leaking everywhere?

I yelled, Ryon came running, and we began the lovely task of dumping the water into a bucket, heading outside with the tree, putting it back in the bed of the truck so we could easily see the tree stand, and secured the seal so it wouldn't leak. We did all this while Hoyt joyfully ran around outside with wet socks (he had found his way through the tree water) and pulled Christmas lights off the front porch! Ryon swore he was going to get pneumonia. The end of this very long story is that we finally got the tree back in the house, tree stand firmly sealed, Hoyt in dry socks, with Ryon and I sitting on the couch with a sigh.

Perhaps we will have an artificial tree next year!!

Giving Thanks

We had a fun Thanksgiving week visiting Ryon's family, my sister, as well as some good friends from college. We have been reminded over the past week of all the many blessings we have to be thankful for: the gospel, family, friends, health, freedom, food on our table, a warm and comfortable home, love, a smiling one-year-old...the list could go on and on. I read a talk last week by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin and loved the quote "live in Thanksgiving daily". Somehow life is always brighter when we focus on being thankful, daily, for what we have.

Afternoon at the Park

While we were in Idaho this past week, Ryon and I took Hoyt to the park. It was a little chilly, but Hoyt wasn't phased. He wanted to slide down and climb up as many things as possible. After an hour mom and dad wanted to go, but I'm sure Hoyt could have stayed until dark!

Ridin' the Quad

I guess boys will be boys! This is all Hoyt wants to do when he is out in the garage...climb on dad's quad and pretend to drive, all while making "quad sounds". You know, Vrrooom...Vrroom.

Weekend Fun

Hoyt wanting to sit "in the booth"!

He knows when the camera is out

With grandma before church...pretty serious

He finally decides to smile!

This past weekend my mom, grandma, and sister Marissa came up from Sacramento for a quick visit. We had a fun-filled Saturday of eating out, shopping, and looking at model homes - can it get any better? I think not!

Little Daredevil!

The "climbing on top of anything he can" has started! The other day he was trying to climb up the bookshelf in his room....gotta love it!!

Cutest Halloween Cowboy!

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2007

Our little cowboy has definitely grown up a bit. He was a cowboy sheriff for Halloween when he was two months old, and then a cowboy again this year. (We may be starting a tradition - he just looks so cute dressed up as a cowboy!) When we were out trick-or-treating two people asked if they could take his picture because he was so cute - so I guess I'm not the only person who thinks so.

Where Has October Gone?

Hammin' it up with Ryon at the roping.

Ryon waiting patiently for his turn.

Hoyt at the piano...he thinks he's so big!

Notice the concentration!

Ryon and Hoyt in front of the moose at Scheel's

Hoyt's new favorite toy (Thanks Melanie, Eric and Christian!)

October has been a pretty busy month. Ryon entered his first "real roping" and had a great time. He and Matt were able to rope together and caught a few steers. Hoyt and I were in attendance - I was the videographer and Hoyt just loved running around the events center. By the end of the day everyone needed a bath!!

Hoyt is certainly his own "little man" these days - into absolutely everything and also wanting to do everything the big people do. Whenever I sit to play the piano he has to be on the bench beside me playing as well. He wants to eat exactly what Ryon and I eat - yesterday he ate half a taco and loved it. He also loves his new slide (thanks Sorensons!) and insists on sliding down at least 50 times a day.

Pumpkins...Pumpkins and more Pumpkins!

Sitting with the pumpkins - oh what fun!

Trying desperately to pick up the pumpkin ("ball")

With his favorite people!!

Taking a ride in the "pumpkin cart"

Look at those big blue eyes!

This was Hoyt's first year at the pumpkin patch, and he loved every minute of it. He couldn't get enough of those big orange "balls" and once he was in the little pumpkin wagon he didn't want to get out. He wandered all over - making sure he had touched or picked up as many pumpkins as possible. He was also with his favorite people (the Bigler kids) so his afternoon could not have been any better!

Indecent Exposure

After a bath last week, Hoyt was adamant about riding his rocking horse in the buff. Seconds after this picture was taken the horse was mysteriously wet. Need I say more?

Mr. Mischief!

Climbing in the dishwasher - notice the cheesy grin!

Opening all the doors in the house...

Especially the bathrooms!!

Well, Hoyt has turned into "Mr. Mischief" as of late. He has recently taught himself how to open all the doors in the house. One morning when I was in the bathroom instead of just banging on the door and yelling (like he usually does) he let himself in! I have walked in twice to find toilet paper strewn all over the bathroom floor - I guess it's time for some kind of childproof door gadget. Consequently...his favorite thing to say is "no, no, no!" I wonder where he's heard that??

Ode to a Cowboy Hat

Oh, a cowboy loves his cowboy hat...

Even when he's off to bed...

And what's a hat without a horse?

To be brushed and combed and fed...

They say a hat likes to be outside...

Ridin' in the wind...

With a trusty rope, and a pair of boots...

It's down the trail again.

Family Home Evening?

Hoyt watching Ryon in the arena.

Getting tired of standing outside the fence.

Finally...he gets what he wants!!

This is Ryon and Hoyt's idea of a great Family Home Evening activity. I'm sure we will be spending many Monday evenings in the future just like this!