First Camping Trip of the Season

Ashamed. It's been over 2 months since I last blogged. You must forgive me, but honestly I don't ever know if anyone even reads this thing but I try telling myself to do it despite the fact so that I can turn all our memories into a book since I seem to never scrapbook and my children's baby-books are non-existent. :(
I'm not even sure where to start, but I think I'll just skip the last few months of our lives (sadly nothing exciting has happened) and just start with the now...what's happening now.

Kyle is back working with Peak 7 as a raft guide. he is excited as the season is slowly getting underway. This week they were going to take Kyle out to the Lochsa River and do some training with him to improve his skill level. We were all packed up ready to go when they called and said that the river wasn't high enough for what they wanted. They said they would still go if he wanted, but why bother if it wasn't at the level they were seeking. They boys were not letting us off the hook that easily as we had been telling them we were going camping. So instead we just stayed packed, loaded up the boys and headed to Indian Creek up here at the lake. We found a nice spot along the creek, set up camp, and camped. There was only one catch...we had planned on borrowing a bigger tent from Peak 7 (we had a bigger one and after we used it last summer didn't like it and returned it, and have yet to replace it), but since we didn't go down that way all we had was our 2 person backpacking tent. So we camped with 2 adults, 2 toddlers, a baby, and a dog in a little 2 person tent,  it was snug and cozy and not the most comfortable, but we stayed warm and all slept pretty well. I wish I had gotten a picture, but anytime I walked away from the tent my two youngest would scream their lungs off as if I was leaving them forever, so Kyle said I couldn't go back to the car to get the camera.  Throughout our entire trip Gunnar kept enthusiastically yelling "Ryker, We're Camping!!!!" but when we all finally got settled in the tent and were trying to go to sleep Gunnar would keep shouting out "It's a party in here, we're camping!!!!"
The boys did great and were sad when we left and said they all want to camp again soon. Gunnar did ask to go home in the morning because he got a little cold while we were making breakfast. Once we got him dressed he was warm and ready to keep going. They did do great as it was considerably cold, about 30 degrees during the night and in the 40s during the day.
Overall it was a successful camping trip, we each may have a couple gray hairs from the trip, but it really was great. Our first camping trip with all three kids.
Here are some pictures from our adventure...

 We realized we needed an ax to shop firewood, so we had to go with the playskool version. Haha.

 Gunnar being an ant.

 Maverick was literally a happy camper. This kid loves being outside.

 Turning the baked chimichangas. A delicious camping meal that everyone enjoyed.

 Silly boys.

 Getting ready for smores.

 We ate way to many marshmallows.

 Although we each only had one official S'more, we tried practicing self-control.

 Ryker insisted on roasting his own. He still needs practice.

 Man making fire.

 Kids being silly.

 We called Ryker our camp destroyer. Seriously, if there was something he was't suppose to do, he did it. He makes being naughty so cute.

 Stick Gun. Our boys find the best sticks to use as guns, they crack me up. They were entertained the entire time with silly sticks.

 Notice Gunnar and Ryker each carrying a stick gun on our little hike.

 Me and Gunnar and Ryker. Such crack ups.

 Kyle and baby Maverick.

 We camped near this bridge and creek.

 It is so nice to sleep next to the creek, love the peacefulness of it.

 Indian Creek, near Priest Lake, ID.

Pooping in the "woods" never looked so cute.

My 3 boys @ 6months

Somehow I have remembered to take a picture of the boys all around 6 months of age. Maverick will be 6 month on the 25th. I can hardly believe it. He is one lovable little boy. We couldn't be happier to have him as part of our family. He really is one sweet and special little boy.
Here are my three cutie pies.

Gunnar Max (Oct. 2009)

Ryker Thomas (Feb. 2011)

 Maverick Albert (Jan. 2013)

Christmas 2012

This year we spent Christmas with my (Beth's) family. It was a fun year having everyone to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We came down on the Saturday before Christmas. My boys have been in heaven since we arrived with all the love and attention, and playing time they get with their Poppa, Grandma, Auntie J, Uncle Paul, Aunt Jen, and especially their cousins. They will be sad when we head home and don't have them around to play with.
Christmas morning started out with just our little family opening one gift which we brought from home. We realized our kids don't have much in the way of stuffed animals, especially with most of our stuff in storage, so we got them each a teddy bear and a little toy to go with it. Their big presents are still at home waiting to be opened. Paul and his boys came in later that morning and we did stockings and our gift exchange. It got a little rowdy during the gift exchange when Kyle was accused of not being excited enough about his gift. So he ask for a redo. He put the gift back in the bag and pulled it out with more excitement that any other tackle box has ever gotten I am sure. My bother said he was going to put Kyle to shame and he got quite emotional over a sweatshirt. It was a great laugh.
My siblings and I then cleaned up and did the finishing touches on getting things ready for dinner while my mom and dad went over to the hospital to get my grandma and bring her back to the house to enjoy Christmas dinner with us all. We were a little worried the kids might get wild but they were perfect! Everyone minded their manners and ate one of the most quite meals we have had our entire time here at my parents. That afternoon we spent time together as a family enjoying each other and playing games.
Paul's birthday was the following day and we celebrated with an ice cream cake, dinner, and gifts. The following night Jen took Paul out to dinner for his birthday while Zane stayed at my parents house with us and played hard with my boys.
Jen went to the doctor on Paul's birthday and found out she was dilated to a 2 1/2. She has since been having contractions off and on. She even went to the hospital with very painful contractions and they told her it was labor day and that evening they sent her back home and since (2 days later) the contractions have pretty much subsided. She is taking it easy. Her due date isn't until Jan. 20, so the Peyton could use some more time, but if she was to come she would be fine.
To bring in the New Year, Kyle, Jami, her boyfriend Dustin, and I went out for dessert, went bowling, then came back to the house for some rounds of Apples to Apples with my parents. We had a fun night and all stayed up until midnight. I am almost postive this is the first time I have done this in like 5+ years. I am exhausted today! I am hoping to get to bed early. However, little Maverick has had a bit of a mind of his own on when bedtime is, and has been napping since about 4:30. My mom and sister have been enjoying the sleepy little head cuddling with him and I imagine this means that I will be up late with him tonight. Oh well, life as a mom!
As I look back on this year I feel like it should have been one of our more relaxing and stress free. Kyle got out of the Army in February, we live in paradise, we see our family often, we don't have to worry about jobs, etc. But seriously this has been one of our hardest years. We have spent much of the year seeking, praying, and doing our best to stay patient and positive as we discover what God has planned for us next. We don't know exactly what 2013 will bring, but we are trusting God. I remind myself each day that God is in charge and I have to let Him be and stop trying to control everything on my own. I do pray that within a few months we know the answers to 2 questions we have been praying about most...1)What house we should live in and 2)What God wants us to do. Seriously, we are forever grateful for the roof that has been over our head the last year, but I am done living the life in a small run-down trailer with 3 small kids. I'm excited about some possible job opportunities Kyle and I am pursing and will keep you updated as they come along. The one thing I know that is certain for 2013 and has been certain from the beginning of time is that God has it under control! Whew, thank goodness because I know I sure don't, but ready or not here I come 2013!
Mom and Gunnar making Christmas cookies

 My dad had to play Santa for a Christmas party...the kids were excited about taking a picture with him. Haha.

 Maverick even got into opening the gifts.

 This is what happens when my brother's boys come in the door. Dog pile!

 Gunnar opening a gift.

 Ryker opening a gift.

 My brother getting a little pumped about his new sweatshirt.

 The oldest Ezra and baby Maverick (the youngest at least for now)

 My grandma and I with Maverick.

 Mom, Grandma, and Dad at dinner.

 Baby Maverick had his first cereal.

 Bowling! Mom with Maverick, Dad, Ryker, Kyle, Dustin (aka the Dust man according to Gunnar), mad Gunnar, and Jami.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

November seems to have flown by. Seriously...where did it go? We had a pretty low-key month. Kyle has been super busy with doctor appointments in Sandpoint and Newport both.We did go on a hike over Veterans Day to Mount Spokane with the Wounded Warrior Project and Peak 7. We took baby Maverick along and had a good time. The hike wasn't long, but it was beautiful and a great way to enjoy the first snow of the season.

Thanksgiving was low-key. Mike, Laura, Shawn, and Caleb came up to the trailer and we enjoyed a great dinner. The men hunted most of the day, so it was a bit later than usual, but it was still just as delicious. Kyle did get his first deer, about a week earlier which was a very exciting time.Maverick turned 4 months old. FOUR MONTHS. Time, needs to hold still. My babies are getting old.  He's weighing in at 14 lbs. 7 oz. and 24 in. long. A very average 4 month old. Here are a couple picture of him with his brothers.
He didn't think shots were so great...Gunnar hates when Mav cries, Ryker could care less.

 Taking a bath with his brothers. He loves bath time.

The month of December had been fun for me. I decided I would do a Spouse Count Down to Christmas. Everyday Kyle gets to open a card that either has a compliment (these take up most the cards), activity, or service (like a back rub, or make a dessert of his choice.) Our activities have included taking the kids to look at the stars and make smores, a hockey game (just the two of us, plus our third wheel Maverick),and we took the kids to the holiday light cruise on Lake Couer D'Alene. It has been fun.

Our kids got an extra special treat this year and Santa came to visit them at Grandpa and Nana's house. We had a fun day, took the kids to Riverfront Park to ride the carousel, we went to Wreck-It Ralph (we were planning on going to an IMAX movie but they were having sound problems), and ended the day with Santa. 

Gunnar also had a Christmas concert. His little class sang two songs at the all school concert. It was a fun time. Gunnar was a little naughty during the program (we will post a video soon), but was looking quite dashing, so he got by with it. 
Gunnar and his beautiful friend Maci.

But, the most exciting news this month....drum roll please....we got the internet installed!!! We are paying an outrageous amount for it, but it is so nice to be siting in the comfort of our home online again. Hopefully this means I will be better at keeping the blog updated. 
But don't get to excited we do have tons of snow (like 18 inches the last 24 hours, a total of about 3 feet) so we have a lot fun adventures ahead which could leave little time for blogging.

A test

A test. Posting from my phone.