Christmas!!

Christmas was spent with The Erickson side.  It was fun to be there for Christmas. Lydia was six month since the last time we had been over there for Christmas.

Lydia and Eli had a hoot of a time.  Eli came home and would pray for James for about a week. The kids got to play in the snow, eat Grandma's great cinnamon rolls.

Lydia did all she could to find dress up clothes at Grandma's.  This dress actually came home with us.  It was mine when I was little.

Eli sporting the cowboy gun and cowboy hat that he found at Grandma's house.

Getting a horsey ride from Grandpa.

Oh the snow

We need to get a keyboard for Lydia.  She love to pretend to play the piano. 

Lydia and Eli built a carriage.  She was pretending she was a fairy good mother.

Snow Angels

Lydia opening an early present from Grandma.  New black Sunday shoes.

This was a Christmas Eve activity.  Everyone built a huge two room fort with stairs.

After the fort was built we went sledding.

Ah the love of sledding

Christmas Morning

 On Christmas morning Lydia and Eli came down and were so excited to see their stick horses.  If that is all that they had got then they would have been completely happy.

The second thing that Eli as most excited for was his candy.  He pulled it out of his stocking and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness!"

James got a Nerf gun and bullets for the Nerf wars that happen at the house.

Lydia gave Eli a sword and Eli gave Lydia a basket.  It was cute to watch them exchange gifts. She also helped me wrap some gifts. She was more excited to give the gifts we had wrapped for my mom than to open the gifts with her name on it. 

And don't forget mom's wonderful cinnamon rolls.

Bird Hunting

Back in November just before bird season closed,  we all went hunting. It was fun for the kids to go and Eli loved it.  It was a bit cold and we probably could have dressed warmer.  Through it all Eli didn't want to stop.  That boy would freeze before he came back inside. Especially if it involved guns. He likes to sleep with his toys at times.  He will often pick one of his guns out when going to sleep.  One night he asked for Dad's big gun.  The gun in picture.  Needless to say, I did say no.

Eli was asleep in the car, so Lydia got some just her and Dad hunting time.  Here is Bird number 1.

Bird number two.  

Walking ahead with Dad to check out more birds.

Getting cold and waiting for Dad to finish up.

In the Car waiting for Dad.

Thanksgiving!!

I need to take a trip back in time to talk about the holidays and then I will update for the year 2013.  As time as gone by, I realize all the great memories we have made. Some of them I have taken pictures of but I haven't written about most of them.
Thanksgiving was spent this year for us with the Dalton side and we spent it in Idaho Falls.  All the cousins were together.  I was fun to see all 7 girls and Eli play.  Eli loved playing outside with Lauren and Papa.  Lydia started to learn how to ride a bike. We had a wonderful meal that Lauren and Lindsey had put together with help here and there from everyone.  Everything was delicious.  We also had a little early Christmas gift opening.  Grandma and Papa spoiled us all.

Matching Pj night.  Fun Pig pajamas from Grandma

Playing outside. Eli was outside for 5 hours straight that day. Without snacks or anything.  ( I guess I did help him take one potty break.)

Playing T ball with Papa

Waiting for her turn

Still waiting for her turn. She didn't like that.

Getting a branch ride from Papa.

Lydia riding a bike for the first time.

She was so happy that she could get ride.

Of course Eli wanted to ride something too.

Ben playing the piano while Lydia  and Aubrey dance. Aubrey kept wanting to sing a song for her wedding.  After we had visited, Lydia want to sing "Never Ever get back together" by Taylor Swift. She said she wanted to sing that with Aubrey for the wedding.  That brought a laugh to me. Not a song that you would usual pick for a wedding, but for some reason she really likes it.

Opening Presents.  They both go pretty jackets.  Thanks Grandma and Papa.