Trains

It seems that we've started another little Christmas tradition for our little family and that is trekking down to Union Station and checking out the Holiday Spirit Train, the model train exhibits, and this year we made a second trip to see the Holiday Express train that Santa brings to KC to check out the naughty and nice list. A couple of years ago we took Jonathon down to ride the train that used to be in the old Wards store downtown (at least that's what I'm told by my parents). We discovered that they also set up huge model train exhibits which really captured Jonathon and I's attention, and has drawn us back every year. The kids (and me) really dig it and we really recommend it to the rest of you. Just check it out.

Christmas Cookies

One of my favorite activities this time of year is decorating Christmas cookies and that ordeal is usually done at my mother's house with the rest of the family, but things were a little different this year. The plan was for us to go over to Mom's after a long day in "How to have a baby" refresher course, but during Jenni and I's class the beginning of the ice extravaganza moved over the city. So instead of letting the ice build up more Mom gave us the necessary supplies and we took it home and made our cookies. The kids really enjoyed themselves and I think they ate enough frosting, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and M&M's to keep out dentist busy for years to come. And of course, here are the photos.

Kids will be kids

Here is just a glimpse of life in this crazy little clan of ours.

Kayla discovered Jenni's makeup the other morning.




And the kids helped me mount my antlers last week as well. Although their version isn't quite as permanent as I'd like it.

Counting Down

Thanksgiving is officially over and we've started the countdown to Christmas and around our house we found the little ones were having a hard time understanding that Christmas was weeks away. So Jenni decided to sit down and make a countdown chain with the kids. Each link of the chain has the number of days left until Christmas and every night before bed the kids take turns cutting off a link. They are really digging it and they're really excited for Christmas day.

Deer Slayers

Opening weekend of deer season went pretty well for us this year, Dad, Dave and I all got up that Saturday morning and pursued those terrible menaces of nature called DEER. We all know how dangerous those creatures are and despite everything you learned by watching the movie Bambi, those animals are nothing but trouble.

Okay, I'm full of it, they aren't that bad....but they taste good. ANYWAY, i digress.

The three of us set out for Dave's acreage and sat through the cold windy morning and bagged two eight pointers and a cute little baby. Just look at the picture, I think Dad had the best catch.

That's the first antlered buck I've ever gotten (we won't talk about the other one) I thought it was pretty nice, here's a better picture, excuse the open mouth, his jaw was broken from my shot.

The only thing that didn't work out for me this year was that my brother Jonah called me early the next Saturday to inform me that he also got his first ever antlered buck (first ever deer) and it was only a ten pointer. JERK. I'll see if he'll give me his picture and we'll put it up here too.

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!

Walkin' the walk

Alright, we spend a lot of time talking about bull riding and this past weekend the kids and I finally walked the walk and climbed on the huge animal...kinda. Jenni and I took the kids to the American Royal Family Fun Day on Saturday and they had rodeo university for the kids where they could climb on replica horses and bulls and learn how to rope and ride. So Jonathon and Kayla took thier turns on the devices, it was kind of funny because the lady that was helping the kids learn to ride bulls was suprised when Jonny Robert hopped aboard, tied down and told her with a nod of the head, "Okay, let's go." And the kid looked like he was a champ. Kayla also showed off her abilities and made mommy and daddy proud that our little girl could conquer the big plastic beast.



Well the babies got thier rides in and it was time for Old Daddy to put up or shut up, so I was convinced by my lovely bride and two beautiful babies to give the mechanical beast the ride of it's life. Jenni, decided that just taking a picture of this momentus occasion wouldn't be good enough so she quickly used our camera to take a video. I'm going to try and share the last little bit with you all. I think you will all agree that I whipped that bull.



Although the next morning I sure didn't feel like I whipped it, I now understand the use of chaps.