It just gets better...

Are you tired of reading posts about the good times we have up at the cabin? TOO BAD! Cuz' here comes another one. That place just gets better and better! I can't decide which I love more: the long, warm summer days by the river or the short, cozy winter days by the fireplace. I guess it's ultimately not really about the place itself - just the people that we love to spend time with while we're there.

We kicked off our week-long Thanksgiving break with two days at the cabin. From the minute we got there - which was LATE on Sunday night - Valerie started doing the happy dance. Tradition dictates that we must do certain things while at the cabin, so we popped some corn and watched "the sillies" (Funniest Home Videos) before collapsing into bed that night.

Tradition number 2 is eating Grandpa's pancakes for breakfast.

Then there's the trip to town in Grandpa's truck.

Next, in a traditional cabin day comes pizza making with Grandma. Valerie's creation was beautiful, but I had to scoop up a whole dustpan full of flour off of the floor by the time she was done.

The rest of our time was filled with coloring, games, fort building, puzzles, books and movies.

Oh! And the girls made their first two snowmen of the season. It was getting dark by the time they finished it, so I don't have any good pictures of the final product.

Unfortunately, I also don't have pictures of: early morning story time on Grandpa's lap, sledding down Thunderbolt Road with Grandma, the 7 mule deer that walked right in front of our dining room window, or my three sleeping beauties all snuggled under down comforters for a winter nap. But, I'm sure that you get the picture...

One night while we were all up in the loft for a movie, Valerie turned to Grandpa and blurted out, "You best my friend." Her syntax may be a little off, but I love the sentiment that even a two year old can express. And I am so very, very thankful for the wonderful memories that the girls will have of this happy place.

Eleven on 11-11-11

Somewhere between home schooling and my general mommy duties, blogging has slipped a few notches in the degree of priorities. But - since today is a special day (11-11-11) I have decided to choose 11 pictures from the last few weeks to bring you up to date with our goings-on.


1. Cursive penmanship practice is much more manageable when you're allowed to hold a special friend.

2. Miss Val-Val likes to chime in during calendar time and wants us to name the days of the week for her.

3. Ally was able to take two months of ballet/tap classes again this fall and loved every minute of it!

4. Because I didn't have quite enough on my plate, I decided it was time to tackle potty-training too!

5. We enjoyed an evening of fun at Linder Farms in mid-October. Annie and Ally loved the bumpy hay ride!

6. Sierra looked long and hard for the perfect pumpkin!

7. Valerie liked all the "baby punkies."

8. We had some help with the carving! Ally didn't have to get her hands too dirty with Ben around.

9. Is this girl 7 or 17?!?!

10. Uncle Chuck usually leaves Family Nights dripping with sweat and with some rather sore muscles. He's always the center of attention with the kids.

11. I got a kick from reading this list of house rules that had been posted on the easel during a play date with some friends:

(Rules: 1. Do not give Valerie any scissors or markers or glue. 2. Don't wake up Valerie when she is sleeping. 3. Do not go in Sierra's mom or dad's room. 4. Don't feed the fish. 5. Do not run in the house. 6. Do not climb on Sierra's bed. 7. Do not got in the garden. Have fun at the house!)