February 22

Winter has definitely been here lately, making it difficult to get outdoors. Over the last few weeks we have had some cold weather with rain and even some snow. Today's high was only 42 degrees but the sun was shining so what better time to get outside and enjoy it. We found a nature trail in Ringgold and took the dogs with us for a walk along Chickamauga Creek.

We were not far from the car when Xander was already trying to walk Steve.

With the temperature Xander surprised us all when he jumped into the creek.

Nicole and Coney

Steve, Xander, Nicole and Coney

Mac, Tots, Nicole and Coney

Nicole with Tots and Coney

Jacob looked "thrilled" to be out with us...

...now we're talking!

Nicole and Jacob

He couldn't even stop the music long enough for a picture!

Mac and Tots

This is one moment that Mac actually had control of Tots. The two were all over the trail, getting caught on the other dogs' leashes because Tots was the one in control most of the time.

Mac and Tots

Nicole and Coney

Steve and Xander

Jacob, Steve, Mac and the dogs

On the way home, Tots was taking it all in. He kept jumping from one window to the next, barking at cars and trying to "chase" them.

As he sat looking out the back window,

it was like he was remembering where we had already been.

Mac and Tots

Trip home from CO

After a week in Colorado, it was time to go home...Thanks to Aunt Jean we spent a night in St. Louis. It was already dark when we arrived so we were not able to see the wonderful view we had.

St Louis Gateway Arch as the sun was coming up

Another view of the Arch from outside the hotel

Another view from the

hotel room...

The Old St Louis

County Court-

house

The hotel lobby

Everyone is always talking about the mountains in Tennessee. I am sorry to say that they do not even come close to those in Colorado. Here are a few shots from the road home....Nice shots but still. What kind of mountain isn't even 2000 feet above sea level??

Schaffers

A trip to Colorado would not have been complete without a visit to the Schaffer's.









Nicole

Michael

Danielle

Mac and Mikey

Nicole and Jacob

Metropolis, IL

There was no way we could pass through Metropolis, IL and not stop! Steve tried to pick up Superman but he was not able to make him budge a bit!

Colorado

New Year's Eve was as eventful as normal in our house...

Some of us did not even make it 'til midnight!

Unfortunatley on New Year's Day Steve's Grandma

passed away and off to Colorado we go.

Mac doesn't seem to mind the long car trip.

Kansas was cold!!

Jake on the other hand could not wait to get out of the car.
At least he had some entertainment for the ride.

Now these are REAL mountains,
not like the ones everyone talks about in Tennessee!

Christmas morning

This year we decided to have some fun with Jacob. Instead of just wrapping up his new phone and putting it under the tree, we put a clue in the box that started his search for the real gift. Here is his journey...

Unfortunately the camera was not going for the first clue, so I added it to beginning of the video for all to see.

While Mac did not have clues to find his gifts, he did get help from Xander.

And then there is Tots...He thought all the gifts were for him. While we missed it for the camera at one point he was laying on one bed with another one in his mouth, and toys surrounding him. Maybe one day he will learn to share.

Christmas

Christmas morning came very early in our house this year. the boys actually got up with the dogs for the first time, well before 6am!! But I guess theyfigured we were probably not ready to get up yet so instead of coming into the room , they spent a little while talking very load in the living room hoping we would get up. When that didn't work, they sent in the dogs to get us up. Well, Steve and I were not falling for that one. Wee knew the dogs were not checking out the gifts under the tree...they were happy just laying in bed with us! We did finally get up at around 6:45.

Jake was ready to go... I would say that he didn't even bother to brush his hair but that is how it looks all the time! Check out all those curls!

We spent most of the day playing Mario Kart on the Wii..it was so much fun! It was hard getting it away from Coney. He really wanted to play and was not giving up the wheel.

Xander wanted to help open presents too! It wasn't that Santa forgot him or anything.

Tots was being a punk and does not share well with others. He tried hard to keep the new beds and toys to himself.

Once Xander finally got a bed away from Tots, he tried to get in on the action. He wanted to help Mac open presents.

Here is our tree, all ready for presents to be placed under it.

Check out the tree skirt I made!

Can you believe it is finally done?!?!

The new Advent Santa Steve got last year.

The picture was taken November 1. Steve wanted to decorate the house and outside already and I was not going to let that happen! Talk about too early!! I was able to put him off until Thanksgiving by letting him check out the new Santa train he bought last year but never opened.

Twas the Night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And MaMa in her kerchief and I in my cap had
just settled down for a long winters' nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old drive so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the proch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St, Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled!
His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses,
his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Getting the inside ready for Christmas

It took some time getting the inside ready for Christmas, and it still seems like we did not get everything out of the box. It is amazing sometimes how much you accumulate over the years! Jake and Mac were not the only ones helping with the decorating...the dogs and cats tried to lend a paw as well.

(Sorry some of the video gets dark at times...you would think that after a year I would have figured out the camera but I wasn't using it as much until more recently...)

Mac joined the 6th grade band

Two months after school started, Mac came home and told us that he joined the 6th grade band. This was a bit surprising considering he did not have an instrument. But he has been playing the barton since then. Here is a little but from their first concert.

Getting ready for Christmas

The outside is now decorated for Christmas.

When Steve mentioned he needed to get a bigger ladder to hang up lights, a neighbor laughed telling him he had everything he needed -- a couple of trash cans would do the trick! Steve was not sure that was a good idea but ook the suggestion of his truck instead! The large green wreath above the carport Steve made...Isn't it cool?!

Football

I know it's been a while since I posted on here... Things have been hectic, but what else is new? The boys were enjoying the fall weather the beginning of November, before the cold spells and rain we keep getting. Here is some video of that.

With the leaves falling it was time to clean up the yard. Raking the leaves would have taken days so Steve decided to take care of a final mowing of the grass and the leaves at the same time... And he even found time to play a little football as well.

Halloween

The boys decided not to dress up this year, but I did get them show their holiday spirit for a moment.

The kids weren't the only ones wanting candy. After being pushed out of the candy bowl numerous times, we finally gave in and let Tots have a piece...

Fun on the Trail

Throughout the trails we found many trees and slick spots. As Steve soon found out the two did not mix very well. At first when he asked for help all I had to offer was a camera to capture the moment for everyone else to see...

Then the boys tried to help out...




Unfortunately the tree was a little more than they could handle...

Please note...

No trees or widelife were hurt during this process.

And neither was Steve!

Today we went to Fall Creek Falls State Park. When the park’s website called it “one of the most scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation areas in America” it was no exaggeration. Cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams…it had it all. The park’s name-sake is 256 feet, the highest waterfall in the eastern US.

Along the trail to the falls, you must go across a cable bridge. Even on a calm day like today was, you can feel the bridge move with every step you and everyone else makes along the way.

Some parts of the trail are level easy ground.

Unfortunately that is not always the case!

On our way back to the car, we came across some wildlife. Three deer were right off the main trail. They seemed to check us out as much as we were checking them out. The deer walked within a few feet of where we were standing.