Christmas Time!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It was nice to be around family and awesome food!


The kids woke up earlier than normal, of course. Skylar was working, so I snapped a picture of their excited faces first thing in the morning so he wouldn't miss it.


Doing "thumbs up". They were so thrilled to see those gifts under the tree. We obviously had a small, but very nice Christmas this year :) As you can see, they are not in their Christmas pj's. I forgot to do laundry in time for them to wear them to bed, but they were ready to be worn in the morning!


It has been a tradition to go to my parents house Christmas morning for breakfast and more gifts. Because Skylar didn't get off work until 8am, we met him at my parents house and did our own family Christmas later that morning.


I promise he was excited about his helicopter. He has his father's personality!!


Daisy became quite the professional gift opener! She loved every moment of it!

She received a doll and kept squealing with delight! It was so funny! She was so impatient while I tried to pry that thing out of its package.

Back at home, the kids received more toys! I love this picture because of Daisy's face! She just saw that she got another baby doll! Slade got the awesome Mr. Potato Head!

Of course Daisy got a new cell phone. What is a girl to do without her phone?!? Plus, it came with a super cute little purse to put it in.

Slade LOVES his new tractor! He hauls everything around that will stay on the trailer, including a monster truck that he also received.

Daisy stole Mr. Potato Head's glasses. She wears them around the house as if they are hers and she always puts them on, just like that!



CHRISTMAS EVE

Because Skylar had to work Christmas Eve, we went and visited him at the station! Because he's in his probationary year, he gets placed at three different stations within the year. It's fun to meet his new crew and see a different station every few months.

Daisy the Engineer!

Slade the Engineer! He absolutely loves sitting in the firetrucks and never wants to get down.

Skylar giving Slade a quick lesson on what all the different gauges do. Slade wouldn't leave those things alone and would try to turn a few knobs when we weren't watching.

Daisy standing in front of Skylar's seat on the firetruck. They keep their turnout jackets hanging up inside the truck.

It was so much fun visiting the station. While we were there, the engine truck got a call, so we got to watch them leave. Just a few minutes later, the ladder truck, which Skylar is on, got a call too, so we watched how fast everyone rushes to the truck and waved goodbye to Skylar. If you look hard, you can see him waving to us. It was a little weird because I don't remember seeing everyone jump on the truck! It happens all too quickly!

After Skylar left on a call, we decided to head home. As I was buckling Daisy into her car seat, I told Slade to jump in his seat as well. He ran to his side of the car, but didn't get in! I walked around the car to find him doing this!!! I had just asked him a few minutes earlier if he needed to go potty and he said no. He must have seen the bushes earlier and decided that would be a fun place to pee.

DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE

Yes, this is my husbands truck. He went scouting for Javelina east of Florence early Wednesday morning all by himself. It had been raining, so of course the dirt roads were muddy... He was headed back home when the tail end of his truck slid out, turned him 180 degrees, then flipped him on the side. He said the road was curvy, slippery and down hill which are all bad news. Like I mentioned before, he left the house early and I started to get a little concerned around 4pm. He doesn't usually stay out so long when he is scouting or hunting close to home, but I thought that maybe he hasn't seen anything and he wants to make the most of the trip. He finally calls me at 4:30pm and says that he is on his way home. I said jokingly, "So you're still alive, huh?" His reply, "Barely." I asked if he was really okay, not knowing what happened, and he said yes and that he will see me soon. He gets home just after 5pm and I hear the garage door open. The kids and I wait for him to come inside the house, but he never does! I look out the window and see that his truck is very muddy and he has the hood up. I go outside to see what's the matter and I comment on how dirty the truck is. He said, "Wait 'till you see the other side!" Instantly I knew something was up, so walked around to the other side and see that it is full of scratches, dents and the side view mirror is missing!! Finally, the story came out...

Hand prints from trying to get out of his truck!

Ruined tire. He later realized he ruined another tire as well!

Hard to see, but this shows all the dents and scratches AND the wet spots are transmission fluid that leaked.

All in all, I'm happy that he wasn't hurt. His cell phone didn't work out there, so he ended up having to walk 5 or 6 miles to the nearest house to find help. I told him he is NOT allowed to go by himself anymore. I always think of the "what ifs" and knowing that he had someone with him would make me feel so much better. I commented on how his new truck (new to him) is now damaged. His reply, "It's my huntin' truck, babe!" Yeah, it is now! :)