A new calling

 We drove home from a wonderful Thanksgiving, the weather was good, and we made decent time.  We only had Dallin and Alyssa in our car because Jackie and Brea were riding with Grandma & Grandpa Ricks.  It made for a really nice drive.  Grandma and Grandpa Ricks were coming later that day and staying overnight, we were planning on them getting to our house Sunday around noon. Well, Sunday morning around 8:00 the doorbell rang, to our GREAT SURPRISE Grandma & Grandpa Pirtle were there.  They had drove all night, let me repeat that, all night to get to our house Sunday morning.  Grandma was so kind and played marbles with Dallin even though she must have been extremely tired.  He really enjoyed the game and got quiet good at it.

 Grandma and Grandpa Ricks made it by about 11:00 and we headed to church together. What brought all the Grandparents to Colorado?  We found out at church as a new Bishop was called.  The surprise on our childrens faces was pricess.  Jackie was only one that realized it right when it happened and mouthed to me, "Dad, Bishop".  Then Dallin said he kept wondering why all the speakers were saying Bishop Cramer instead of Brother Cramer, when he looked up and saw his Dad in the Bishops seat he realized why.

 Brea was the oblivious to it all.  She was sitting on Grandmas lap and doodling.  After about two testimonies were given Grandma asked her if she knew that her ward got a new Bishop that day.  She responded that she didn't.  Grandma told her it was true and asked her if she knew who it was, again Brea responded that she did not.  So Grandma told her it was Bishop Cramer, and to that Brea simply said "Oh" and continued to doodle.  Then Grandma said "That is why he is sitting up there."  Brea looked up to see her Dad sitting in the Bishops seat.  She turned to Grandma and said bewildered, "My Dad is the Bishop" and Grandma nodded.  She repeated it a couple times until it sank in.

It was fun having Grandparents at our house and the extra attention the kids received.  My Dad was able to ordain Jeff to a High Priest. All of us were there to witness  the Stake President set him apart as the Bishop.  It was a very neat blessing with specific personal details.  I know that the Lord is aware of our family and am glad that my husband is able and willing to serve.  This has been a humbling transition for my dear Husband.  He feels inadequate in fulfilling this new role.  He has great counselors and I know with the Lord that they will do a great job.

Thanksgiving

 We got to go to Idaho for Thanksgiving this year thanks to my Sister.  We had a bridal shower for Elly the weekend before Thanksgiving, and I was able to come down for that, with my girls, and stay for Thanksgiving.  It was a fun shower and I am excited for Elly and Garen.

Jeff and Dallin had some good guy time together, they traveled to Arkansas to get some vending machines and had a few evenings girl free.  We were glad to meet back together and celebrate our many blessings.  We had a delicious dinner with all the trimmings.  Some of Ellys roomates joined us as well as Great Grandma and Grandpa Jensen.  We also got to visit Grandma and Grandpa Pirtle that evening and meet Calvins daughter and husband.
The next day we were able to go skiing as a family (all six of us) for FREE!  Jackson Hole was having a free ski day for Black Friday.  We were planning on doing some shopping, but when we heard about free skiing we quickly changed our plans.  We thought Brea and Alyssa would go into the childcare, but it ended up that they both skied all day (which was funner and cheaper).  Grandpa Ricks was sweet and took Alyssa first and tried to teach her on the flat bunny hill while we went up with the older three.  It took a few runs for Jackie and Dallin to remember, but then they both could make it down without falling and faster than we wanted them to.  In the afternoon all four of us skied together for 2 1/2 hours straight.  I couldn't believe it, I thought the little girls would get tired, but they loved it.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  Great memory!

 The best part of vacations is game time.  We seem to play games everywhere we go.  Jackie is really into games and this trip she stayed up until 2:00AM playing Risk with her cousin Connor. We also always enjoy Monopoly at Grandma Pirtles house, she is a great banker for us and the kids look forward to that game.

 What a great table setter.  It was a large table to set.  It was wonderful to be with extended family for Thanksgiving this year.

I was glad that my Grandparents could join us for Thanksgiving.  They are wonderful people that have been a large part of my life.  It is neat that my children are able to get to know them.

 We celebrated my Grandpas 85th birthday the same day, of course the girls were right there singing to him and helping him open his presents. I love the way he is looking at Alyssa and has his arm around her.

 Look at the beautiful weather to ski in.  In fact the grass was green at the bottom, but there was enough snow on the mountain to really enjoy it.

 The whole family right after we got off the lift.  The kids were able to get off without falling, what a triumph.

 It was fun to ski with family as well.  We didn't go on the sames runs as Corey, Elly, and Garen but we were able to see them a few times and eat lunch together.

 Grandma Ricks skied with us most of the day . She was a trooper trying to keep up with Dallin, which was not an easy task.  She is such a great Mom and Grandma.

 Going up the lift, she really enjoyed it, but coming down was definitely her favorite part.  She told me it was just like the Zoo, except no animals.  I was laughing at that comment.  We have a sky ride at our zoo which takes us up to the top.  So the ski lift was like the ski ride, but no animals.

 We were able to coax the kids into going in at 3:30 to get a hot chocolate with Grandpa.  Jeff and I wanted to take one last run up to the top, by ourselves.  Grandpa took three tired kids, with Alyssa crying for Mom into a little hut and got them a hot cocoa, he is AMAZING!  It didn't take long before this happened....

 No joke, all three of them fell asleep on this little counter in full ski gear.  They were exhausted.

These guys were still wide awake and smiling, although deep down they were exhausted too!  What a fun day, we couldn't have asked for a better day to ski together.  Thanks for all the help.

Jackies 10th Birthday

 Jackie has wanted to get her ears pierced for a few years now.  We decided that 10 was a good age, so the day finally came.  She was able to get her ears pierced on her actual birthday.  She was nervous, as you can see in her face, but excited at the same time.  Luckily, they had two ladies do it, so it was a one time deal.  She said it hurt for a bit, but it wasn't as bad as she thought it would.

 This picture does not do the earrings justice.  She chose the largest studs they had.  They are shiny and she loves them.

 We also went out to lunch on her birthday, Grandma & Grandpa took us all out to the Hickory.  Great Grandma and Grandpa Jensen joined us as well, which was a fun treat.  Brea and Alyssa talked with Grandpa and colored pictures for him, they really enjoyed sitting next to him.

 When it was time to go Alyssa and Brea insisted on pushing Grandpa.  They got their wish, with a slight assistance from Mom on the corners.

This was Jackies friend party.  They had a great time and were very well mannered.  They played lots of games, made crafts, had cake and ice cream, ate doughnuts off a string, and found a memorable treasure hunt put on by Dad.  She has good friends and it was fun to celebrate with them.

Jackie posing in front of her cake while Sophia pretends to snitch.  These two have been friends since Kindergarten.  They don't get to see each other as much this year because Jackie is home schooled, but they have a great time when they do get together.

  Jackie actually celebrated her 10th birthday 3 times this year - lucky girl eh.  We were in Idaho for Thanksgiving, which is when her birthday was.  We celebrated at home before we left, because Dad and Dallin were coming to Idaho later and wouldn't be there for her birthday.  She got to go out to Tucanos (if you don't know they give you a free meal on your birthday - awesome!).  Then we had cake and ice cream and presents at home.

 A new winter coat and fun winter hat, she is set for the cold and snow that have come.

 Alyssa helps Dad make Jackies cake, precious!

 The birthday dinner and cake for the special girl.

Everyone helped add sprinkles, candles, and a few toys to decorate her cake.
Jackie is a sweet girl that tries hard to do what is right.  She is a smart girl and can figure things out fast.  She has done great in home school this year and has enjoyed it very much . She started piano and picked it right up.  She as been doing Violin before this year, so she had a good base of music knowledge and is enjoying learning new things on the piano.  She feels grown up having in ears pierced now and likes to wear necklaces and bracelets especially to church. She refuses to let me do her hair, ever (which I guess is a good thing, but it is hard to let my little girl grow up).  She is a big help around home, unloading the dishwasher daily, staying with Brea when I run Dallin to scouts and playing with Alyssa during her "recess" time at home school.  I have to mention that she also has a young crush with a kid that is also home schooled.  They both go to a once a week home school academy together and make it a point to sit by each other and be in the same group.  We are so happy to have Jackie in our home, she is an amazing girl and I know she will be able to accomplish amazing things.

YMCA Estes Park

 We took the kids Fall Break and spent it in Estes Park.  We have lived in Colorado for almost 10 years now and have never been to Estes Park.  We had heard that the YMCA there is a lot of fun, so we checked it out.  The kids were excited to have two bunk beds in our room and fought over the top bunk, most of the time they all ended up on one together.

 They had staff there to do classed with the kids on all sorts of different nature subjects.

 Jackie, Dallin, and Brea all made these cute head wraps with stamps of different creatures footprints.  They learned about each footprint and were able to see quite a few outside.

 We also spent a lot of time in the craft room.  There were all sorts of crafts to choose from and all the kids enjoyed a little artwork.

 Our four YMCA kids we had just the right amount!

 Brea has been doing her back bend anywhere and everywhere she can, even in front of the YMCA sign.

 Alyssa couldn't do most of the classes but she hiked around with us, swam, and enjoyed yummy food from the cafeteria for FREE!

 We went on one last hike before heading home.  We had to literally pull the kids along, none of them wanted to hike, but Dad was persistent and made them.  We hiked right into this ropes course, and boy did that change their attitude.

Dallin and Jackie both made these really neat mosaics in the craft room.  It took a lot longer than I thought, but turned out really neat.
We will have great memories of our time at the YMCA.  One of the highlights was one of the class instructors. He was funny and a good teacher, he knew is nature and made it fun.  The neat thing was that he was blind, but he still led these classes with the kids.  They would hold his hand and help in along the path.  The night we left, he (Colt) told a story while the other staff acted it out.  It was so funny and he had so much detail.  He couldn't see and could barely hear what was going on, but he still kept going and entertaining a whole audience.  He was an inspiration to me and I don't know if the kids even realized the limitation he had because he was so fun and good.

Fun Fall

 Jeff and Dallin gathered up all our leaves in front yard and created a large pile for the kids to jump into.

 Even in Alyssa got in on the fun.  Although the first time Jeff dropped her a little too hard and she actually went all the way through the leaves and hit her little bottom on the hard cement.  She didn't let that stop her, she tried again and it was better the 2nd time.

 Then they decided to jump from the truck into the leaves, even more fun.

 We took a drive through beautiful Beuna Vistas in the fall and enjoyed the colored leaves.  This was at a hot springs were we walked around.

 They had used all these old cars as an edge along the bank of the river.  The kids wanted to explore....

 While the big kids explored with Jeff, I enjoyed the little girls playing in the leaves and feeling the warm water  come out of the ground.

Dallins Roman Feast

In 3rd grade they have a Roman Feast to celebrate the end of their unit study of Roman Civilization.  Jackie had it last year, and now Dallin got to enjoy the festivities.  He helped figure out his costume and told me exactly what Romas wore.  He had a fun day making crafts, eating ethnic food and playing roman games.