... last stop: The Gustafson's of Astoria (and then some)

Last stop was the Gustafson's on Christmas day. We stayed there for two nights and had a great time. We ate and played some awesome games of Pictionary (Tyler and I are awesome!) we dabbled in WII bowling, Tyler and I got to go get coffee, ALONE, and the same night we made it out to the local watering holes for some drinks with his buddies from high school. I actually got to meet Jessie Browning from Discovery's "Ax-Men". Tyler is pretty good friends (or was) with his younger brother Jared... who is a very happy drunk person.

Above is the Gustafson clan, including Aunt Hayley (we had to wake her before we left, so she wasn't exactly ready for picture taking). Ayla was constantly staring at her Aunt, and thought she was funny! Below is little Ayla being silly in Aunt Hayley's old time out chair!

Grandma Colleen with Ayla in her new jacket... I got one just like it and only slightly larger!

Great-Grandma June and Colton picking their noses (June is not really picking her nose! Just pretending because Colton wouldn't get his finger out of there!)
This is just a great picture of Colton below that I thought I would share... shows his spirit!

Here are some pictures from throughout the trip that I wanted to share... I learned how to add more than five to one blog!

Ayla and myself totally passed out during a nap time at Papa and Granna's house... aren't we cute? Below is a picture of Ayla and her Papa...
Bath time at Grammy Roxy's and Pat's house... they have an awesome clawfoot tub.. a little cold out there, but the kids had a good time and Grammy even heated up some towels for them for afterwards!

All in all, even weather considering, we had a great trip and really enjoyed seeing everyone we could. For those of you that we were not able to see... Sorry, and hopefully we will see you soon!

... and to Grammy's house we go! (and Grandpa Pat, too)

Here is the part of our week at Grammy Roxanne and Grandpa Pat's! We had a great relaxing time of it and there were too many cute pictures so I might have to add more later (I can only figure out how to add 5 at a time!) We spent the time making cookies and watching the snow fall. It actually snowed on Christmas morning so that was nice. The power thankfully came on the night we got there, but they were prepared with the trusty generator! I love this picture of the kids!

Above is the greatest picture of Ayla and her Great Grandma Loretta! How sweet is that!? Below is Ayla looking out at all the "white stuff" as Colton insists on calling snow! Just thought it was a beautiful shot!

Cute picture of the kids rocking out on the piano with the kids... they loved the piano! And then them and Grammy on Christmas Eve with the cookies they had just made set out for Santa Claus, and them in their Xmas pajamas.... how sweet! More later....

Over at the Aamot's (actually Templeton's) before Xmas

So here is a continuation of our Christmas week. I guess I will start with the beginning... we first stopped in at my sisters', Leecia's, and stayed there. My dad and brother, Kirk, came over when we got there and we all shared some pizza and stories about our trip there. (My mom hadn't been feeling well). The next day, we were supposed to have other people over to the house for a late lunch get together, but because of the weather, it was just us. But we had a good time. My parents came over and then my brother again. Later we had dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. All in all, a fabulous time that ended way too soon. Here are some pictures of that segment:

My dad, Leon, looking grumpy, but actually not. Below, the family opening gifts... I am actually sitting there, knitting every chance I could, and I still didn't get what I wanted done!

Thought this was a cute picture of Ayla and me... Of course she wasn't smiling, though! And below the kids reading with Aunt Cece (as they call her!)

Last, but not least.... Colton in another set of goggles and his hard hat, so he could be like Bob the Builder! He just loves that show! Ok... more tomorrow!

Christmas in Oregon part one: Grandparents

Our trip to Oregon went quite well; we got to see most of our families and we had a nice relaxing time with each. The weather was another story! We went through some blizzard-esqe weather coming through the gorge where we couldn't see barely 20 feet in front of us it seemed. Once we made it to Dundee, it was better. Although we must admit that Oregon really isn't equipped for snow removal, AT ALL!! But we made it there and back so it wasn't all bad!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of the kids and Grammy Roxanne and Grandpa Pat, and Great Grandma Carol. This was taken on Christmas day at Roxanne and Pat's place in Astoria.

This is Grampy Richard and Grandma Colleen with Ayla right before we were leaving to head back to Montana. The kids seemed to warm up to all the Grandparents pretty quickly and they had a great time. Tyler and I even got to go out on Friday night and see some of his buddies from Astoria... I even had some beers and we had a nice happy time.

I absolutely love this picture of my mom and Ayla! I thought it was just perfect. We had a great time with my parents in Dundee. We stayed with my sister and her husband Tim, and they graciously put up with us yet again! Love you guys!

I added these pictures because they are adorable... Colton with his new safety goggles that go with a chainsaw.. and Ayla checking the toys out of course! And then in the last picture is the kids with their new kitchen. It was really all that we got for the kids, and they seem to like it alot. Well, I will put more up from our trip later today or tomorrow. Hope you enjoy.

Gingerbread cookies and finishing touches

Colton helped out with the gingerbread men by helping put candy on them... they turned out really cute, and the kids wanted to eat all of them!
The night before, Colton SELL ASLEEP at the dinner table! How funny is that? I had turned around to do something, and he was the last one at the table, because he was refusing to eat just 3 bites... so since he was awfully quiet, I looked over, and sure enough, his head was almost in the chili! He didn't even wake up for the flash.. so cute.

While Colton and I were decorated cookies... Ms. Ayla was filling up the potty chair with juice... she is obsessed with dumping things out, Yeah! But at least it is easy to clean up! We are leaving for vacation, as most of you know, so it will be sometime before I write again. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Ten things...

So I have been inspired by both Soulemama and my friend Jill to write about 10 things that I love right now. It really is hard to choose only 10, but here it goes:
1~ I absolutely love these little hand print ornaments we made yesterday out of some plaster of Paris... aren't they so adorable?

2~ The smell of freshly baked gingerbread... mmmm!

3~ The feeling you get after working out of being strong and healthy.
4~ Colton's uncontrollable love of tractors! This kid is a fiend!

5~The excitement of getting ready to go on a trip... I am so excited to see everyone!
6~ I love, love, love the way Ayla says "Mom-my!" What a sweetheart!

7~ Finding new projects to work on... right now I am working on diapers for the trip, a sleep sack for a gift, and some cute leg warmers for Ayla... we'll see how they turn out!
8~ My new snowboots that arrived today! Aren't they so cute? I am very happy with them, and glad that I took the other ones back to Costco.

9~ My wonderful husband who works very hard and always make sure to let me know how much he loves and appreciates me.
10~ The beautiful snow outside... it is so peaceful (although I am not excited to be driving in it!)

What are you loving right now? Happy Wednesday!

Just some random stuff...

Colton is obsessed with hide and seek these days, and we must play I would say, everyday! He is a funny little boy with some great sayings already. Today he said "Mees (which stands for "I") wear one tractor boot and one croc... that would be crazy! "



Our before bedtime books, Tyler is the one who usually does this and I sit in the chair in their room and take it all in. They make it a habit to climb over Tyler and almost fall off the bed every night! What little rascals!
Where's your belly button, Ayla?! There it is! Can't wait to go to Oregon this weekend and see everyone! The drive won't be the best, but at least there is an end in sight when you have a destination. Happy trails!

Woolies, Trains, and Snow, OH MY!

We woke up this morning to a couple inches of snow, but last night we had a little bit, and Ayla thought it was fun... in this picture she is pointing to the lights.






Yesterday, Colton had some fun painting an ornament he picked out at the store. He was very careful and kept the paint on the plexi glass, and he hardly got any on his hands either! The train ended up completely colored... first yellow, then green, then blue, and then a mix of all. Very pretty!



I just love this picture! He is so cute when we ask him to smile he gives this cheesy grin almost every time! And I love the star in the background!


Ta-da! These are the two different versions of the woolie pants that I made... Ayla is modeling the shorts, and Colton the pants (his pants!) I think they are adorable, and they work great! They have not gotten wet since they have been wearing them! But, Tyler thinks they look really old fashioned... and a little silly! The kids like them, though; they keep them warm.


How cute is this girl!? They love this cupboard.. it is "theirs" and I told her to look at me and smile and this is what I got! Adorable!

So the kids are doing good. Colton has a goopy eye, which is his MO when he has a cold... and Ayla has a constant runny nose, but I guess it is the season for that! Other than that, they are their normal cute, rambunctious selves; constantly testing me and making me wonder why I want more kids!?

Another day, another reason to be happy!

So we are in the midst of getting ready for Christmas... here is my list of things to do...
~ Make 3 head props for the trip
~ Make 2 more sets of woolies for the kids and gifts (these are worn over cloth diapers to prevent wicking to clothes
~ Make a couple more diapers... I am thinking 3 or 4 (at least they are already cut out and waiting!)
~ Making 3-4 little girl skirts for gifts...
~ Make some gratitude wraps for gifts...
~ Make some food stuffs for gifts...
~ and... some color crayon pockets for the kids, and gifts... and

the list goes on! I am always thinking of more stuff I want to make... maybe.

So Colton has made it a habit of not taking a nap anymore (I do not suggest this to anyone! He is so cranky at night, but at least we don't really have trouble putting him to bed anymore!), and in order for me to get some quiet time... mostly to make things, we tape "Bob the Builder" and he watches 2-3 shoes and just quietly sits on the couch for the whole ordeal... what a cutie!

I just thought this was such a cute picture! Ayla is sucking on a piece of candy cane, so she looks like she as chipmunk cheeks! What a sweetie!


And here are some of the projects that I have been working on... I am really happy with how they are turning out!
Do you guys know how hard this is to type this all up with Ayla on my lap causing a ruckus? Well, it is... so ... until next time.

Getting ready for Christmas

So, we are getting ready for Christmas, and the kids seem to be excited! We went and got a Christmas tree about a week ago, and the kids insist that we turn the lights on every morning and then we have to keep them on all day. We also put lights up outside on our house, the kids tried to help as much as they could. Believe it or not, this is the first time EVER that I remember putting lights on the outside of our house. I guess in Boring, we put some on the deck, but never a big production or anything, so anyways, it was kind of special.
We are excited about coming to Oregon to spend the holidays with our families! We tell the kids how many days it is and they seem to know that something is coming... we are spending a couple days with my parents and siblings in Dundee first, and then we are heading to Astoria to spend Christmas with Roxanne and Pat first and then Dick and Colleen last. I am glad that we decided to do this, but the trip has not happened, and we usually have something go wrong on our trips! Maybe this one will be different?!
Sorry that I have been slacking a little on this blog. My intentions were to write in it almost everyday, but I have been pretty busy making Xmas presents for family/friends and Ayla has been VERY needy! Right now, she is in my lap and laying her head on the keyboard... oh, wait, she is up and demanding her coat be put on ! That girl!





So these are the most delicious scones I have ever had.. let alone made! They are actually the first scones I have ever made, because I had an idea in my head that scones were hard to make, but these were soooo easy! I got the recipe from the bread and honey blog under pumpkin recipes! I think they are fabulous! You should try them!


Ayla thought it was really fun to climb the ladder anytime she got the chance (when we weren't looking, of course!) (oh, and I hate the word "ladder", because at a spelling bee in grade school, I was so nervous that I misspelled it! Can you believe it, L-A-D-D-E-R!!!!!!!) Anyways, we had a good time putting up the xmas lights, and the kids love turning them on every night.

Here, we are reading a book, and Colton insisted that I wear "Daddy's santa hat"! It was hilarious. Guess you had to be there! We are reading "Monsters on Machines" which is such a cute book for any little kid who love tractors and construction.

Well, just so you guys who follow this know, I would really love some comments! I think that would motivate me to write more often... I just want to know that someone is reading!! Love you guys!

New and improved baby carrier

Here are some pictures of the newest baby carrier that I have made... and let me tell you... I want to keep it!! It is so pretty and I wore Ayla for quite some time (until she got tired of it) and my back was feeling awesome! I really like the hood to shade the babe or hold head up when they are tired... also the d-rings provide a place to hang toys or keychains or anything to amuse baby!
I love it, and I hope Marisa and Tera do also! (and baby Gavin)


And here is the deer Tyler waited until the last minute to get... it is so sad, but Tyler said when he went up to him after he shot him that he talked to him and calmed him down, made me feel a little better. Poor deer though! It was kind of funny that Tyler had to load him into the back of the minivan! That is why I included a pic. But I can't wait to eat some venison!