My Star

Words can't express how proud I am of Gabriel.  He was the North Star in our Christmas program at church and he did such a good job.  This is a another moment that makes my heart melt.

Here is my star shining for the whole church!

Christmas Tree

You can't have Christmas without a Christmas tree.  We knew the boys had to have a Christmas tree this year.  The only problem was that our tree, ornaments, and everything Christmas is in Sheridan.

So we came up with a plan.  I went to Target and Goodwill in search of lights and Christmas ornaments.  Bryan went and picked up a tree from our local Christmas tree lot.  We may not have had our Christmas ornaments but we ended up with a beautiful tree. 

Hunting in eastern colorado

On Friday night, Gabe said "Daddy is going to take me and Bridger Pheasent hunting tomorrow".  I didn't think anything of it at the time but I knew that we didn't have plans to go hunting.  At 5:00 a.m. the next morning, Gabe was awake and ready for his dad to take him out hunting.  When we explained to him that we didn't know a place near here to take him hunting, he was crushed.  You would have thought that the world was going to come to an end.  He cried and cried.  Bryan finally broke down after a couple of hours and asked me to call Pop and see if he would know anyplace we could hunt in Ft Morgan .  My dad told us to call his old friend, Mark Christensen, who has a family ranch near Fort Morgan. After talking with him we were all set to go out hunting on Sunday afternoon.  Gabe was satisfied with this and finally stopped pouting.

On Sunday, we loaded the kids and the dog in the car and headed to Ft. Morgan, which is about an hour and a half from Thornton.  We all had a great time being out on Mark's ranch.  The boys and the dog got to run and enjoy the fresh air.  Bridger found two birds but they both got away.  We didn't mind.  We had a great time with some really nice people on a beautiful ranch in Eastern Colorado.

I love Tuesdays

Tuesdays are the best.  On Tuesdays my two best buddies and I get to have a play date together.  Every Tuesday, Nate, Jake, and I get together and do really fun stuff. 

Here are some pictures of our play date last week.  We played games, played with play dough, and had a snack.

Thanksgiving

It is a Dahl family tradition to spend Thanksgiving in Spearfish with Bryan's family.  It is a special time because it's when everyone gets together and the boys hunt.  Uncle Brett, Aunt Cindy, Tyler, and Jackson flew in from Arizona.   Uncle Jim, Aunt Shanna, and Tyler and Austin drove over from Laramie, and Grammy and Gramps came in from Buffalo.  We all met in Spearfish on Wednesday night at a house that Grammy and Gramps had rented for us.

The boys spent three days hunting and loved every minute of it.  When they weren't hunting they hung out at the house.  Here are a few moments from our weekend.

Eli's 1st birthday cake

Some games we play

This is our boat in the middle of the ocean.  We had to row and row and row to get to the shore.

This is Eli's favorite game.  The stairs.  Up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down.

While we are waiting for mommy to cook dinner we play ball with Eli.  He loves to play ball.

Sometimes we play keep away and Eli screams because he doesn't like it.

cherished moments

There are moments in this life that will always be remembered.  Those moments that make the rest of the world disappear because you are overwhelmed with love.  I love having these moments as a mother.  It makes everything worth it.

I had one of those moments today and I was able to capture a picture.

The boys were playing with play dough at the kitchen table while I folded laundry in the living room.  The house was very quiet as Eli was napping.  I looked up from my work and there stood two boys with big smiles on their faces.  "Mommy here is some flowers" they said in unison.  Those two angels had made me flowers out of their play dough.  This is one of those cherished moments that melts a heart!

The Lake

I've always wanted to live on a lake.  When we moved to Thornton, I got my wish.  We live on a beautiful little lake called Hunter's Glen.  The view from my dining room table is amazing.  Everyday I look out at the lake with the mountains in the background.  But, this lake is much more then just a beautiful place to look at.  It has also been our entertainment since we have lived here.

The boys and I walk Bridger around the lake at least once a day.  On our walks we always see lots of wildlife including ducks, geese, muskrats, and kingfishers.   There are several small beaches where we can throw rocks for Bridger and there is also a small park on the other side of lake.  The boys always stop to go down the slide and swing for a few minutes.

Gabriel learned to ride his two wheeler around our lake.  Owen also loves to ride his bike and sometimes he rides his scooter.  Eli loves our walks also.  He sits in the stroller and enjoys the view.

Here are the boys playing outside our condo.

Here we are on our morning walk.

I am thankful and blessed that we have such a wonderful place to live.  And as I look out at our lake as I'm writing this I'm filled with this thankfulness.

1 year old

Today my baby boy turned one.  Happy Birthday to my precious Eli. 

Last year at this time I was a pregnant mom with a 5 and a 3 year old.  Today, I have three amazing little boys who have grown and changed so much in the last year.  I look back at who we were a year ago and I'm amazed beyond words.  We have all grown in so many ways.  Gabe goes to school.  Owen is no longer a toddler.   And, Eli has grown into his own little person.

Bryan and I have also grown and changed.  Bryan started his new job in Denver that has changed our lives in many ways.  And, I have taken on the role of staying at home with these three little boys in the "big" city.   Last year as I was laying in my hospital bed with a newborn in my arms I would never have imagined our life the way it is today.  But, I wouldn't change a thing.  I am smiling with pure joy and contentment on my babies first birthday.  Even though it hasn't been easy, it has been worth it. 

Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby boy!

bright orange

Hunting.  It means to chase or search for (game or other wild animals) for the purpose of catching or killing.  Before I married a Dahl, I didn't truly understand the meaning of the word.  After 7 years of marriage, I am just starting to understand what it means to be a hunter.

Gabe has helped me appreciate hunting as a sport and a way of life.  His passion amazes me. This little boy loves hunting.  He is a Dahl through and through.  Nothing excites him more then getting up super early to go out hunting with his Dad and Gramps.  While I am still laying in bed barely opening an eye, Gabe is jumping around getting all his hunting clothes together for the day.  Nobody has to wake him up, nobody has to ask him 3 or 4 times to get dressed, nobody has to nag him about anything.  He jumps out of bed and is ready to go.  At 4:30 no less. 

Over the weekend, we went to Spearfish, SD, deer hunting.  We arrived late on Friday night and early Sat. morning the boys went out to hunt.  Gabe was up and ready to go and I hate to admit it but he didn't take off his hunting clothes the entire 3 days.  Yep, he slept in them and everything. The boys left at 5:00 every morning and I didn't see them until it got dark.  Gabe loved every moment.  On Sunday night when his dad carried him in the house at 6:00 he was so exhausted he went straight to bed.  And, he was up and ready again on Monday.  Crazy kid. 

I shouldn't leave Owen out of this story either.  Owen hunted for two of the three days.  He also loves going hunting with his Dad and Gramps.  I suspect one of the best parts of hunting for Owen is the donuts.  I'm not sure how many donuts he ate over those two days because I was afraid to ask. 

While the boys are out hunting, Eli, Grammy, and I got to spend some time together.  Eli had a great time climbing up and down the stairs. This is his new favorite thing to do.  Boy, will I be glad when the stair stage is over.  Until then, I will be perched on the stairs making sure he doesn't fall.

This is a picture of Gabe's cousin Jade and his deer.

4 year old perspective

Owen got hold of the camera.  Here is our Saturday through Owen's eyes.

Just relaxing on the couch.

Mommy making lunch

 Daddy on his phone

A little Wyoming football.

 

Me and my dad.

 

tongue

It's a Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting in my living room looking out at the lake. Why in the world am I just sitting around looking at the lake? This doesn't happen very often.

Gabe and Owen are eating popcorn, watching cartoons. Eli is taking his nap. He fell asleep on the way home from the Children's Hospital and I decided to just let him take his nap in the car. I love long car naps. Sometimes they don't always work out but sometimes Eli will sleep for a couple of hours in his car seat.

Our afternoon was spent in the Chrildren's Hospital because of a small cut in Owen's chin. He was getting out of the tub, slipped and cut is chin. Not a big deal but enough of a cut to warrant a little skin superglue at the hospital. He is such a tough little guy. He didn't cry very much when it happened or at the hospital. When Owen cries, you know it hurts.

Besides the little side trip to the hospital this weekend has been relaxing and uneventful. I have been sick so I spent most of yesterday getting better. My wonderful husband took over yesterday afternoon while I rested. It seems to have helped because I am back to normal today.

I am leaving this post with a few funny faces by our littlest Dahl. Man is he cute. He always has this tongue thing going on. He spents a lot of time with his little tongue hanging out.

4 years old

Happy Birthday to Owen, Happy Birthday to Owen, Happy Birthday sweet Owen, Happy Birthday to you. Four years ago, you were born.

I think you had the best 4 year old birthday party that anyone could ever have. Those in attendance were friends Jake, Lauren, Natalie, and Allison. Gabe also invited his friend, Owen. Seven kids and one FUN party!! You guys had pizza, played upstairs, opened presents, and ate cake and ice cream.

Everyone had a good time, even the adults.