James’s First Haircut

Tonight was haircutting night, and as James’s hair was getting a little long in the front and around his ears, I decided to add him to the long list of haircuts to do.  He was actually so good while we cut it, only moving around a little as he was curious and trying to see what I was doing on his head.  I love how serious he looks in the first two shots.  Landon was our photographer as Shane and I were both occupied with the haircut, so we have him to thank for these pictures.

 

While I was cutting Landon and Davis’s hair, James waited patiently in the living room, playing with his new favorite toy.  He learned how to pull himself up to the couch a week or so ago, and today, I just remembered that I needed to add the legs to his activity table.  He has been excited to use it all day, standing next to it and pushing all of the buttons.  Here are a few pictures pre-haircut:

      

I love his big smile in the first one, and the second pictures shows how James, like his brothers, always has his tongue out when he’s concentrating.

Pictures of the Boys

When we were in Ashland last weekend, I got to take advantage of having Stacey and her amazing photography skills around, and she once again took some fun pictures of the boys.  I mainly wanted some of James at 6 months (really 7 months since I was a little late doing this), and some of Davis at 3.  She did a great job as always (despite it being freezing cold outside, and Davis was jumping all over the place and James got a little frustrated of the cold after about 30 seconds!).  She took fun pictures that really captured the boys at this stage.  Here are a few of my favorites:
Davis – 3 years old:
             
              
James – 7 months old:
              
    
She also took a few of Landon for fun.  These are my two favorites:
          
While we were out there taking pictures, the three cousins were having so much fun together.  They continued to play outside even after we were done, and it was so cold!  They were pretty funny together (again, these great pictures are by Stacey)
                

Kallie and Davis playing dominos

Three crazy kids!

By the way, if you live in Southern Oregon, you should check out Stacey’s photography blog at:  staceyphotography.blogspot.com.  She’s amazing!

Some Sledding Video

Here are a few sledding videos of our trip to the snow.  I didn’t think to take any until the end, when Davis and Landon went down by themselves a few times while we packed up to go, but I will put them on here anyway.

Davis does a sled run down the hill.

Landon does a sled run down the hill

Camp Esther Applegate

Growing up, Girls Camp each summer was one of the best experiences ever.  I have many fond memories of spending the week up in Lake of the Woods at Camp Esther Applegate.  We were lucky to have rustic cabins to stay in instead of tents, and staying up in the beautiful tall pine trees with so many girls with the same beliefs and standards as me was always a great escape.

Last weekend, my mom and dad rented one of the cabins up there for the night, and we met them and Jake and Stacey’s family there.  Because it is winter, there is snow pack along the road in, so we had to hike about half a mile to get to the cabins.  The men carried packs with our clothes, and we pulled sleds with our bedding and food.  My mom and Dad, Jake, Stacey, and their kids got there before us, and they had quite the trek in as Kallie wasn’t too thrilled with the snow, and they had most of the stuff.  When we got there an hour or so later, we had a nice walk in, even though it was dark by then.  Jake and my dad met us out at the road, so they could help pull stuff in, and Jake pulled Landon and Davis on a sled.

 

When we got to the cabin and finally got the fire going, things were great.  Here we are all eating taco soup for dinner (the lens got foggy from the cold).  Landon and Davis wanted to try out the sled after dinner, so my mom took them out for a few short sled runs before we got ready for bed.

The night sleep was a bit rough.  We are all sleeping in the same one-room cabin with six adults, three small kids, and two babies, so you can imagine how it could be.  In addition, it was about 1,000 degrees in there when we went to sleep because the fire had finally got going and warmed up the cabin.  We all thought the rest of us were asleep, so we were lying in our beds with our windows cracked open just a tiny bit so no one else would notice, and we had our faces pressed up against it for some fresh air.  We all thought it was pretty funny in the morning that we were all awake and didn’t realize that everyone else was suffocating from the heat too!  Of course, by 4 a.m., it was pretty close to freezing cold again in the cabin, but my dad got up and built another fire, so that warmed us up just right.

Even though we had a long night, some warm instant oatmeal, muffins, and hot chocolate for breakfast got us all going again, and we bundled up and headed out to the snow.  The kids all had a blast going down our little sled run, and we did too!  I don’t even remember the last time that I went sledding, but it was tons of fun. 

The spectators enjoying the show (and some lollipops)

I like how Davis has his tongue sticking out in this one on the right. 

Davis hitching a ride up the hill from Grandpa.

I love Kallie’s little pose in this middle shot – she is so cute!

Landon and Davis wanted to be buried in the snow, and Stacey pulling Kallie and Landon on the sled.

These two cousins are quite the buddies – and could pass for twins they look so much alike!

Jake taking a spill and then rolling over into a pose for the camera.

Our He-Men all loaded up and ready to trek out, and the sleds all lined up with our stuff for the trek out.

Although the night was a bit rough, the trip overall was a success, mainly because it was fun to see the kids having so much fun in the snow.  We’ll have to see if we’re brave enough to try it again next year!