Old-fashioned Christmas/Chopping down a tree

Back in August, Laurel and Savannah told me they wanted us to have an Old-fashioned Christmas this year.  After some more discussions, we determined that they wanted to go out into the woods and cut the tree down.  They wanted to make all of the ornaments.  They wanted to make a gift for someone.  I was so excited about this Old- fashioned Christmas idea!
Last Friday, we picked the girls up from school and headed to Old Baker's Farm to find our perfect tree.
I always dream that these outings will be perfect and fun.  Sometimes they are, sometimes not so much.  This evening was absolutely perfect.

 Seth had to take Sawyer to the bathroom, so while he was gone, we had a photo shoot among the Christmas Trees.

 Drinking Hot Apple Cider:

Dirt Bike Season/Race 7/Tallassee

  Seth, Laurel, Landon and Sawyer left bright and early for the seventh dirt bike race of the season.  The race was held at a place called Monster Mountain. There was a wedding shower and a surprise 40th birthday party for friends that I wanted to attend, so Savannah and I sat this race out.  This was the first time that Sawyer has gone to a race without me and honestly, I was a nervous wreck all day.  I knew that Papa could probably handle him, with Laurel's help, but that boy is fast and does not like to hold your hand.  He is so independent.  I got a text later in the day from my sister-in-law, Jamie.  She was at the race, which made me breathe a sigh of relief.  She sent me a text saying,  Sawyer was fine and that papa had kept his eye on him the whole time!  Then she said that Laurel was a little mommy too.
Seth brought them all home happy, fed and in one piece!  And they were all holding trophies!  I had sent Laurel with her camera and told her to take lots of pictures.  I asked her to show me the pictures she took and she said, "hmmm.... I didn't get any pictures.  It's a little hard watching boys and taking pictures too!"  Yeah, I guess the safety of your brothers is more important, Laurel! :)

Here are a few pictures that Seth and Jamie took from the day:

Uncle Roger sent this picture to Seth that one of the photographers took.

I don't know why I have never thought of this before, but I'm going to let Laurel tell us about her race experience.  She is always so funny telling us about all the things that she encounters in the woods.
So take it away Laurel:

OK so my mom asked me to type about my race if I remember anything.   I said of course since  my mom is making this blog into a book I want to remember I rode a dirt bike. I want to say hey I rode a dirt bike and it was cool. So you know me I always have to tell all the details that happens. Savannah said you could  be a author and tell every detail. so sit back relax and enjoy the story of all the details. So here goes we all took off and I was in 1st place but I realized I was In 1st gear. OK this might be a little complicated to understand I have four gears 1st gear makes you get up a steep hill. 2nd gear is the one I like riding in. 2nd gear and up  makes you go faster. Anyway lets get back to the story.  I was only in first place for about 3 seconds and two people passed me. I'm  competing against four girls so that put me in 3rd place. Then we had to go up two  hills. I  guess  I was carrying so much speed in the middle of no where out comes a mud puddle!  I had know choice but to dive right into it. My leg got stuck right underneath me. It did not hurt.   Well maybe just a little bit. ANYWAY A GIRL PASSED ME THAT PUT ME IN FOURTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But it gets better.   Someone  finally finally got me out of the mud puddle and I was back on my dirt bike . I caught her in the woods and finally passed her and I was third again.  Now your probably thinking, well you have  two girls ahead of you why don't you try to pass them. Let me tell you those two girls are impossible to pass. So I passed the scoring tent and I was done with the race. So  I got THIRD PLACE!   LETS GIVE IT UP FOR A WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!!!!  THE END!

Bales of Fun!

Seth had some bales of hay delivered to spread on the hill slopes around the house.  They provided so much entertainment for the boys before Seth started breaking them down.

Awww...... the life of boys.
We had hay from one end of the house to the other!

Thanksgiving 2014

We had a great Thanksgiving Day with Seth's family. We truly have a lot to be grateful for.  Here are some pictures from the day: