Christmas Cards!

Just in case I miss someone! Here is our Christmas Card! I hope everyone has a great holiday season and a Happy New Year! We love everyone and miss our family and friends who we won't get to see this year. I look forward to everyone else's cards and seeing your pictures, your blogs, and facebooks, etc. Keep in touch and we love you!!!

Taking family pics

We took a couple pictures after church on Sunday. It was really pretty outside and felt nice and warm-now that our freezing weather has passed. Of course we only got a few good pictures before Carson had enough. Even though he was being a stinker I still took pictures! Holly took pictures of Chris and me and then Carson wanted a turn taking pictures too. This is some of what we got. I would like to get nice professional pictures soon-but until then these will have to do!

Early Christmas

We had a gift exchange or an "early Christmas" with Chris' family since Amy and Rusty will be in Utah for Christmas. Everyone came over to my house and we had an Italian dinner and the presents. Amy and Rusty gave the kids presents they got them and then we exchanged and did stockings. I told Holly and Carson-"now Santa doesn't need to come!" They didn't like that-HAHA!

Christmas Ward Party

On Sat. 12th we had our Ward Christmas party and we were the entertainment. We did a skit where we went caroling to three houses. We had door with a frame and Chris put it on some plywood where it would stand up on its own. The skit was pretty fun. Members of our ward called us the "Von-Hickman Family." We took some family pictures in the foyer while we were waiting for our turn to eat and then Santa came! Holly and Carson were excited to get candy!

Getting our Tree

We went last Mon. for FHE and got our tree and then decorated it that night. Holly and Carson had fun picking out the tree and putting on the ornaments!

Thanksgiving week

We went to Rexburg to visit my family for the week. Holly and Carson got to hang out with their cousins. My sisters and I had a GNO and saw New Moon-my mom got us matching shirts. We played in the snow and had a lazy week. Chris and I went shopping on Black Friday down in Idaho Falls-that was crazy! My dad took us ice fishing up at Henry's lake-we didn't have any luck, but it was a neat experience. Overall we had a fun, restful, and cold week with my family.

Curry Night-oh what a night!

We had a dinner get-together at John and Soozee's and did all Curry dishes. I forgot to take a picture until the end when some of the party had left. Chris made a Coconut-curry-chicken-thai soup and I made a Mango-curry dip served with Crackers for an appetizer. It was pot-luck and everyone made some really good meals. It was great food, great company, and a great time. Very spicy though! My mouth was on fire with a couple dishes!

Halloween

This year we had the ward Trunk-or-treat on the 30th do to Stake Conference. We passed out candy and played Thriller since Chris dressed up like Michael Jackson. One of the girls in the ward dressed up as a Thriller zombie (wasn't planned) it was so funny! I didn't get a picture of them though. I was going to be Madonna-but couldn't find the right look for cheap-so I just dressed up as a 40s model. We invited Holly's friend from pre-school to the trunk-or-treat and then went trick or treating with them on Sat. The Fireman were passing out candy and glow bracelets around the neighborhoods. The kids loved seeing the fireman and the fire-truck.

Pumpkin Carving

Soozee planted pumpkins in her garden this year and she got 11 pumpkins. So we got to carve home grown pumpkins for FHE. I took on the task of carving the Frankenstein in the BIG pumpkin. Chris did Mooneyes, John did a Harley Davidson skull, Holly and Amy did a Princess, Rusty did Igore!

Pumpkin Patch

Holly had a field trip with her Kindergarten class to go to the Pumpkin Patch. They got to go on a hay ride and each got to pick out a pumpkin that the school paid for. Chris was able to go with and bring Carson. The kids had lots of fun.

Temple Trip

This last weekend a couple from our ward were getting married and we had the opportunity to go to their sealing in Portland. I'm glad we had a chance to go. This was my first time going through the Portland temple. It's so beautiful.

I took these pictures about a month ago and forgot to post them. So-we got a new dog. She is a 10mo. old Border Collie Mix and we got her from the Saving Grace shelter here. We named her Page. She is doing well- loves to chase the cat, but hasn't killed him yet. Holly and Carson love to run with her. Holly and Carson got a new swing set as well. I've been wanting to get them one and a guy that Chris works with was getting rid of his-so he gave it to us. That worked out well!

Our Trip to the Redwoods and Redding!

I wanted to see the Redwoods so we planned a trip and went to the Avenue of the Giants in Northern CA. That was so neat to see such huge ancient trees and to learn the history of the area. Carson kept saying, "Big Trees". The Avenue of the Giants is about 31-miles of many stops and sights to see-we saved the drive-thru tree for last-the kids really liked that! So-we spent a day looking at trees and then drove back up the coast and walked around Eureka a bit and ate dinner. We had to see the Carson Mansion-Holly really liked the Mansion. Then we drove to Redding and went to the Waterworks Park there. The kids had so much fun and since Holly was tall enough she even went on the bigger slides. We went on the roaring rapids slide-Carson didnt' like that! They enjoyed the kiddy park area the best. And since we were in Redding (the closest In-N-Out to us)-we had to go there and pig out before driving home! We had lots of fun-only 2 1/2 days, but that was enough-the kids were so tired and Carson got car sick on the way to the Redwoods and to Redding-yuck!

Blackberry Festival/Car show

This last Sat. (Aug. 15th) was the Blackberry car show we have each year in Sutherlin. Chris and I took the kids to the car show after I got home from work. Holly had to get her face painted. The cruise was that night and we cruised in the Buick. Chris just painted it on Sat. and we got to show it off. It didn't turn out exactly like he planned, but I think it still looked good. It was fun to hang out with friends and family and see the cool cars.

Rusty's Birthday party

We celebrated Rusty's Birthday Hawaiian style with friends and family and good food!

Douglas County Fair

The fair was Aug. 4th-8th and I went on Tues. to see Gretchen Wilson sing "Redneck Woman" and we went Wed. to see Huey Lewis and the News and then we went Sat. to take the kids for some rides and see the animals. I only took pic. of our day Sat. with the kids. Carson didn't like the train ride-it was a little fast. They stopped the ride so we could get him off. He did better with the helicopter ride since he was with Holly.