Priceless

The kids gave Luke some photos for Christmas. I love that Becky caught them smiling at each other like this...they do it all the time, and I love having it captured on film.

Charlie Brown Tree

Dylan told me he didn't like this tree, because you can see the middle. But we got it anyway, because I like Charlie Brown trees. And Dylan wasn't paying. So there.

The Manger

This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Each good deed or kind word earns a piece of straw for the manger. It's nice to see Izzy and Dylan being especially well behaved; not because elves are watching, but because they want baby Jesus to have a soft place to lay his head on Christmas morning. Perhaps I should leave the manger out all year long...

Desert Day

Each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, our family heads out to the desert for some fun. We roast hot dogs and marshmallows, gather cedar to decorate our houses for Christmas, and shoot guns. Not an average family tradition, I know, but tons of fun nonetheless.
Dylan got in on the action this year. Desert day is no longer a spectator sport for Bucky...he is official. His friend Camden let him borrow his Crickett rifle, which ended up being the perfect size. Dylan was able to load and shoot on his own, and burned through an entire box of ammo in no time at all. He had a blast!


Izzy helped Luke send a clay pigeon or two flying for the big boys, shot for a little while,


then decided to hang out by the fire with me. I took a picture of her looking all grown up


and she took one of me hanging out by the truck.


We had a chance to hang out and chat while the boys went out looking for rabbits.


Bucky was hot on the trail of a couple, but didn't have any luck finding one. No complaints, though. We got our fill of sunshine, fresh air, and quality time together. The hot dogs weren't bad, either. Yippie for desert day!