Buddy returns.....

Buddy the Elf returned this year!! Carlie was worried he wasn't going to come this year because Cayden has been struggling to be on the "nice list" and he was a couple days late!! He even brought a note for Carlie that said "Dear Carlie, don't worry, Santa knows your being good and Cayden, you need to work a little harder"! It makes me sad to think that one day Carlie won't "believe" but for now we are taking advantage of it and enjoying every moment!!:) I am a little worried that Cayden is going to stop believing before Carlie!! He is asking questions like "why does he not have real hair" and "how did he get out of the box"? He is our deep thinker while Carlie doesn't seem to think about any of that:)

31

Happy Birthday Lance!!

A few of his favorite things:)

Biking

Utes Football

Mexican Food

Coke

Cayden loves the snow!!

Over the weekend......

We played at the park as much as we could, watched the Utes win and ate lots of unhealthy food at our favorite place...... St. George (before we had to come home to a foot of snow)!!!

I am Thankful for.....

I am THANKFUL for my Mom

I am THANKFUL for my Dad

I am THANKFUL for my Sister

I am THANKFUL for my Trains

Getting ready for Christmas!!

Once again Lance risked his life so the kids could enjoy Christmas lights on the house!! Every year he says he isn't going to put them up and every year I end up praying he doesn't fall off!!:)

We put our tree up!! Cayden could not wait because of the special new thing that is underneath this year!! He had to sleep with the train set next to his bed the night before so he could look at it all night!!:) If you know Cayden you know where you can find him for the next month:)

In Memory.........

Dec. 12, 1951 - Nov. 2, 2010

Richard Eugene “Rick” Darland Jr., 58, Senoia, Ga., formerly of Peru, went home to be with his Lord Tuesday evening, Nov. 2, 2010, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Tulsa, Okla., surrounded by his loving family.

Born Dec. 12, 1951, in Kokomo, he was the son of Richard Eugene Sr. and Betty Zane (Griffey) Darland. He is survived by his wife, Amy L. Hammond. They were united in marriage on April 13, 1973, in Galveston.

Rick was a United States Army Veteran stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. His service extended to his community beyond his military duty. He was a compassionate man and always willing to lend a helping hand — especially to those in need.

Rick owned and operated Darland Construction for many years — building and remodeling many homes in Miami County. He was also an avid fisherman and belonged to the Isaak Walton League, Bass Club and Brown Reservoir in Georgia. Rick attended Grace Community Church in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Rick leaves behind his wife Amy; three children, Danielle Winters and husband Phil, Senoia, Ga., Richard Darland III and wife Amy, Heath Williamson and wife Heather; two grandchildren, Mason and Sydney Winters; two brothers, Mike (Carrie) Darland, Vince (Gayle) Darland; one sister, Vickie (Vern) Wilde; two brothers-in-law, Jerry (Brenda) Hammond; and Richard (Susan) Hammond, both of Peru; three sisters-in law, Nancy Siders, Peru, Patricia Hunkler, Cincinnati, and Teresa (Gary) Oliver, Peru; 26 nieces and nephews; and close family friends, Rich and Pam Tucker and family, Phil and Stephanie VanBaalen and family, Mike and Carolyn Murphy and family, and Rob and Amy Cheek and family.

Funeral services is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Skinner Worship Chapel near Twelve Mile with Pastor Tom Robbins officiating. The Miami County Military Rites team will present honors following the service. Visitation is 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McClain Funeral Home, DenverMemorial contributions may be made to Cancer Treatment Center of America Family Assistance Fund. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.mcclainfh.com.

Halloween 2010

It is tradition at our house that Lance helps carve the pumpkins!! It has been that way ever since Carlie's 1st Halloween. Someone has to take pictures:)

My kids do not like to have messy hands (that is my fault, I always kept them too clean as babies)!!:)

Finished just in time to go "Trick or Treating" in the pouring rain!!

The kids had fun "Trunk or Treating" with there cousins on Friday night

Snow is falling.....

Cayden is so excited for the snow this year!! This is the second morning we have woken up to snow on the ground. Cayden asks me all day if there is enough snow yet to go sledding!!:)

A Temple and a Farm........

Carlie's 2nd grade class has been learning about Hinduism so today they went to the Hindu Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah.

They got to feed the Llama's

and walk the Llama's which they all thought was so exciting!!

They even did a little bit of yoga (a Hindu ritual)

Then we went to Hee Haw Farms for lunch and some playtime

They got to play and hold the animals, it took Carlie quite a while to gain enough courage to hold this baby chicken:)

Each kid got to pick out a pumpkin at the end.

Pumpkins

Cayden has been asking every day when we were going to go pick out a pumpkin and sit on the tractors!! He was very particular about what pumpkin he wanted this year and was trying to decide between 10 different ones:)

Carlie was going for the BIGGEST pumpkin this year and had to settle for one that she could actually pick up:)

Uncle Matt

Uncle Matt came and watched Cayden's soccer game today before he headed back to Arizona. He got a job and moved down there. We hope he moves back soon:)