Turkey Weekend

What a great Thanksgiving weekend. Thursday morning Trent played in the Ward Turkey Bowl then we took off to north GA in Dawsonville to be with some of his cousins, The Mulberrys, and their families. They are such good company and fun, that it's hard to leave...food, fun, kids, games and conversation. Thanks to them for letting us come up every year!

Turkey dinner
Katie and Raegan inseparable

Traditional game of Rook

Saturday we got up early and drove down to Pine Mountain, GA. There are some great hiking trails we wanted to try. Driving down, we realized it was 35 degrees! But with a few layers we were fine. Despite a few tired legs...everyone wants to come back again. We loved the beautiful 2 mile hike!

View at the information center

Gosh I was very much missing my camera!!! But between Tarin's little point and shoot camera and Trent's phone, I was able to capture enough of the day.

Jarom looks like he has a bazooka

Trail Head

Bundled up

Many bridges along the way

Counting tree rings...about 20 years old!

Ammon holds Trent's ears for grip what cuties!

Trail blazers!

Water/snack break

Crossing a fallen tree over the creek

A Few Things...

...to update. First, Raegan finished out her soccer season really well. I think she has real talent to play...now if only I can get her to continue... She was ecstatic to finally have a trophy to call her own. I've had to glue it once already, because she likes to take it everywhere...

She also got a medal to go with the trophy!

Secondly, for the past few weeks we have been cat-sitting. At first I was a little worried...for the cats. But it's turning out to be a lot of fun. It's nice to have leverage when the kids come home from school "homework first, then you can go see the cats!" The basement has been a perfect playground for them...

Shadow & Killer

Next, we did "replace" our late 'Swimmy' with some new additions to the tank. I truly have never set a foot inside Petsmart oh those puppies are so adorable! But with a goal in mind, we were able to get 1 male Betta fish, Perry; 3 tiny neon fish, 3 Amigos; and 2 ity bitty shrimp, Phineas and Ferb. Let's hope we can beat our previous record of 6 months.

Finally, although Michigan had a terrible season, I have to hand it to Trent for still supporting his team. Yep the big rival game against Ohio State. Here are all the apparel he wore while watching it at his brothers house. A flag is underneath. They will get them next year!!

He Will Be Missed...

Swimmy has peacefully made his way to heaven. A few tears were shed as we revealed to our kids that swimmy was no longer wiggling around in his tank. We were glad to have him with us for a good 6 months. Between mirrors, food and bloating, we have learned a lot about Beta fish. We knew he was drawing to the end when we tried to help relieve his bloating through various tips from the internet, but to no avail. Soon we will replace the emptiness with more fish...Poor guy

Burial Box and tissue

Buried swimmy under the big tree out back with the rock to mark his memorial

The kids will visit you often.

My Favorite Season

I love this dock. Again, Line Creek Nature Preserve is a beautiful place, many have their pictures taken here. We had our first family picture of only 2 children taken here, so I've always loved this place.

Early morning steam is coming up off of the rain filled pond

Great scenic trails to hike

I think we lost a walkie talkie over that edge once...

My little blueberry bushes are fiery red

Neighbors yellow tree

Troy, Kristin and Brynly

This was my last family shoot for the year. I've officially turned in my camera to be fixed. I feel lost without my SLR. But I enjoyed learning more about my software from these pictures of my bro-in-law Troy and his wife and little girl. Just a preview.Line Creek Nature Preserve

Thought this was cute

He's Not A Baby Anymore...

Ammon is growing up! We broke out the toddler bed and broke down the crib. I was kind of sad to see the crib go away. No more babies. That crib and this bed have been through ALL 5 kiddos. Yep, they all have memories in this bed. Now let's see if I can prevent the jumping that happens on this bed.He absolutely loves HIS bed! Last night was his first night in it and although he got out 2 or 3 times, he did get back in when I told him to. Oh it was so cute to see my little boy grow up in one night.

Everyone else celebrated with him...reliving their toddler-hood...
For the next 4-6 weeks, Tarin has allowed me to use her point and shoot camera...mine is officially in the shop, I'm so sad.

The Bake Family

Here is another practice session for me. I'm learning a lot on my camera. But my camera is really having issues...I need to take it in, but I will feel lost w/o it for the 4-6 weeks!!!! One more session this week for someone and it will be turned in.

This family, The Bakes, are good friends of ours. We were going to do this on Saturday, but rain is in the forecast, so we did this yesterday morning at 8am. Big hand to them, because to get that many kids ready and make them sit in 33 degree chill...they were awesome... The sun coming up was real nice. I'm not 100% satisfied with this session, it really is my first real "session" and I was trying to be speedy with the cold and meetings for our husbands to get to...

Line Creek Nature Reserve

Alan and Andrea

This would have been my favorite, had I not chopped off Haley's foot!

Ethan, Tyler, Haley, Dillon

Birthday Conclusion

The anticipated birthday celebration has finally come to an end! With Halloween so close to Rian's birthday, she waited for this past weekend to have a sleepover with a few of her closest friends, Sydney Adams, and Chloe Pierson (sorry Isabelle Halliday was sick--we missed you). I took them on a very budget friendly night on the town. First a pizza buffet/arcade. After eating, I love how Syd put it "we are going to 'pretend' to play games" (I'm guessing she's been-there-done-that before). After eating, we went to the air mall Ashley Park to enjoy a bit of window shopping and select a few things along the way for Rian's real gifts from mom and dad. Finally we ended the night with Cold Stone Creamery. It was a fun filled night!

Mom's Notes: I have to say, Rian is really growing up super fast! Listening to these girls talk and giggle, I was realizing how close to a teen she is becoming...scary! But I'm glad she had some good social time and a I had a life sized check mark in "reality check"! I really did have a fun night with all of these girls!

This tooth has caused so much grief for us. For some reason we are "cursed" with teeth that come up in the wrong places. The permanent teeth seem to come in front or behind, but never under the baby tooth. So the natural dissolving of the root doesn't happen. With no dental insurance, we weren't about to fork over $300 a tooth (two total). A year and many attempts later, Trent was finally able to literally "pry" out the tooth with PLIERS! I would laugh at my dad when he said he did that, thinking he was joking, but I don't think he was...sorry baby girl, only one more to go for now! I'm glad the tooth fairy found it!

Rian did some cheerleading with Upward, through Sunrise Baptist Church. They cheered on the flag football team. She really enjoyed it. Ms. Simone was awesome! R-E-D H-O-T! RED HOT! Go Falcons!

Ammon right along side to support his big sis!

Treasures In Heaven

Here is a movie coming out in November that spotlights the life of my ancestor John Tanner, on my dads side. I hope to make this DVD part of my family history library. Growing up I would take excerpts from his life and share it in youth activities. He's an amazing man. My son Jarom Tannar Wardwell holds his middle name in his honor (with a small spelling variation, a few others in the family went for the same name too).

http://www.casttv.com/video/6we5gv/treasure-in-heaven-the-john-tanner-story-trailer-video

All Hallow's Eve

Halloween was fun and no less crazy then any other year! To start, last weekend the girls were invited to a friends Halloween party. They loved getting dressed for the first time...then we had our Ward Activity Friday night, the 30th (along with Jarom attending a friends Halloween Party). The only worth while pictures at the activity were Trent volunteering to be a victim in the pie throwing contest. Yep, lots of people lined up to smash the bishop...I think it was therapeutic...especially for our oldest daughter, Rian.

Poor Ammon was traumatized by the "violence" that was happening to his daddy!

The Duncan boy, Braiden was just as eager to get dirty!


Halloween Night
Little Raegan my evil witch!

Little Tarin, my ferocious Kangaroo!

Ammon, my pumpkin rearranger...he loves all of the pumpkins and poking out the Jack-o-lanterns' eyes...and watching the trail of ants and flies devouring the pumpkin...

Jarom, my scary scarecrow!

Rian, my diva vampire!

My Scary Bunch of Kiddos!

First house...

Ammon loved this night...even though it was rainy and cold...he marched on to many houses...he wouldn't let go of his first candy that was dropped in his bucket. It was a fun night! Afterward we drove over to the Swansboro Manor, like every year, to tour the Pirate ship in a front yard...