Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

Today we got to have fun cutting down our Christmas tree.  Every year the US Forest Service allows people to come in and cut down a tree for Christmas.  We got to go and find our tree.  The kids had fun hiking in the woods in search of the perfect tree.  Just one of the things we look forward to each year.  Nothing beats the smell of a fresh cut tree in the home!

Happy Halloween

The kids all had fun this year for Halloween.  We got to go to a church party where Hyrum won first place in the 5 and under category with his Scarecrow costume.  Our family took 3rd place in the family category.  Then the kids got to play games and go Trunk-or-Treating.  And as if that wasn't enough candy, we got to go through our neighborhood Halloween night and loaded up on the candy.

Add caption

Wagon ride at Anderson Farm

Picking pumpkins

Carving pumpkins with Aunt Kate

Hyrum's First Pumpkin

Tinker fairy Eliza

Pirate Gideon

Pirate Bat Heber

Scarecrow Hyrum

Renaissance Erin

Our mythical family

Natter Family Reunion 2014

This summer the Natter family got together for a family reunion at Deer Creek State Park, Utah.  It turned out to be quite the week.  The weather was nice and clear and sunny with temps in the 100's.  We went from two days of that to cold and rainy for the next two days and then the temps mellowed in the high 80's.  The kids loved swimming when it was hot, and staying dry when it rained.  Our tents got a little soaked so we had to do some fancy rearranging to accommodate everyone.  The highlights of the trip were the variety of meals prepared, rock climbing, Hogwarts Express, and hiking.

Hyrum all smiles

Daddy, Syl, and Gideon following Grandpa and Teddy

Eliza walking with her cousins Aliyah and Rylie

Grandpa and Grandma Natter with the grandkids

Scott and Gideon on our hike in Sundance

Eliza playing at the water park

Heber chasing Gideon at the indoor water park

Hyrum with his farmers tanned Daddy

Nap time

Watching the fish at Bridal Veil Falls

Ever explorers Gideon, Eliza, and Heber

At the Hogwarts Express in Heber, Utah

Better be...Gryffindor!

The sorting hat said for Heber, "Better be...Ravenclaw!"

 

For Gideon the sorting hat said, "Better be...Ravenclaw!"

Fun, Birthday, and Camping

Aside from fun that we have had, Eliza got to celebrate being an Academic All-Star.  She received all Outstanding marks and wasn't absent or sent to the principle's office.  There were only about 20 kids from Kindergarten to 5th grade who earned this award for the third trimester.  We are very proud of our girl!

Then over Memorial Day Weekend, we decided to go for a little camping trip to Vedauwoo park in Wyoming.  We left for the park after church on Sunday and had to try and set up camp between thunder storms with marble sized hail.  That was fun.  The campers next to us were nice enough to give us firewood and coals to get a fire started since we didn't have dry wood or a way to start a fire.  Yup, we were definitely NOT prepared.  The kids slept in their tent and managed to stay dry and warm.  I had Hyrum with me in another tent and I tried to stay dry and warm.  Hyrum did just fine.  Scott, of course, had his hammock tent so he was set.  After surviving the night and warming up to a fire in the morning, we then went on a hike, Scott went fishing, and then we broke down camp and headed home.  It was really fun and we can't wait to go back again.

Eliza's castle cake.  It was delicious!

Happy Birthday, Eliza!

Asleep sucking his thumb with his eyes partially open.

This is just how Hyrum likes to sleep

Eliza's Academic All-Star award

Playing at the park

Having fun together

Climbing the rocks at Vedauwoo, Wyoming

Peek-a-boo!

Amazing rocks.  Can't wait to to climb them!

On the trail

Eliza and Syl asleep in the car.  Too cute!