A Real Live One.

We did it. We got our Christmas Tree this year. We went and cut a live one down. The whole family went tromping through the snow to find the perfect one. We sawed it down, dragged it out of the woods and we strapped it on top of the Subie. It was fun to decorate it with lights and ornaments made by our children in years past. Cassidy was quite the task master keeping everyone focused on decorating it. Easily visible in this photo is Cantus, Catheryn and Cassidy. Not quite so easily recognizable is Cayden hiding behind the tree. Can you find him?

Daddy and Catheryn.

GF Snickerdoodles

Carolyn made some cookies tonight that our whole family could eat. In fact, the whole family did eat them. Here they are in all their glory. They are delicious enough to even be presented to the baby Jesus. Gluten Free, dairy free, and egg free snickerdoodles.

Cassidy ate them and enjoyed them.

Canyon crumbled them up and then ate them.

Catheryn even ate them.

Carolyn makes the effort often to bake things that Cathery and Canyon are able to eat. Dissapointingly though, they don't usually like the results. This time however they ate them up. These are a hit. Good job Carolyn.

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. My father came up for a visit. On Thanksgiving day, Carolyn made pizza dough and while it rose we went for a hike to the North Fork of Eagle River. That is the body of water you see behind us in the family picture. Canyon is with us too, she is just hiding behind her daddy. She didn't want her photo taken at this time.

Here is Grandpa Townsend with his grandson Cayden. It was good to have my father come up.

Here is a nice picture of Cassidy admiring the beautiful new snow around us.

Canyon finally agreed to a photo. After our hike we returned home to finish decorating our pizzas with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, kalamato olives, broccoli, green peppers, romas. The choice of cheese was from dairy or rice cheese depending on what your body could handle. We then sat down in front of the TV and watched a holiday movie. It was a great time.

We went up to the DeKay house for dessert later in the afternoon. Eldon, my father, and I climbed Baldy Mtn. That was a great time.

Canyon, age 11 months

Here is our precious little Canyon. In one month she will be a whole year old. She is modeling the hat that her grandpa Townsend gave her. She is a marvelous child to have in our family. She is quick to smile. She points to people when she wants their attention. If she is on the ground and wants to be picked up, she will start flapping her arms like a bird trying to take flight. You had better pick her up or she will let you know of her unhappiness. She is patient with her siblings. She is very observant. She likes to watch what is going on around her. She has become quite the good crawler. She now is pulling herself up in her crib and she can pull herself up against the couch. She will be walking before long. She is such a joy to have in our home. Her brother calls her "funny bunny." She kids all enjoy her. Her parents enjoy her. I could go on and on about this little one.

We love you Canyon.

Bathroom Remodeling Party

You all missed out on the awesome party in the bathroom. I missed out too. (This is Curtis writing.) One of the bathrooms in our house had previously been wallpapered. Sometime in the past that wallpaper had been painted over. It has started to peel. Of course this causes Carolyn to lose sleep at night and to not enjoy going into the bathroom. So she has tackled the remodeling of it with the help of our children. Cantus has even pitched in and worked hard.

Yes those are food spatulas being employed in the stripping of the wallpaper. Don't worry they will be cleaned and you can all feel safe coming to our house for dinner still.

The mirror is foggy because it was most effective to have hot water coming out of the shower head to loosen the paper.

For comparison, on the left the paper has been removed. On the right the paper is still in place. Just you wait till this is all done.