Last Week

Various ones of our family have been sick for the last two weeks, so blogging and taking pictures just hasn't been terribly inspiring. But we got some pictures of Thanksgiving from Grandpa and took a couple yesterday/today, so here we go.

Uncle M is patiently playing Trouble with the more rambunctious nephews.

Geology Corner

Auntie Beef picked up Tirzah to comfort her and got her earring stuck in her hair. After she was freed, I took T and promptly got MY earring stuck in her hair! Ha!

Skyping with Mom and Dad

Anne was a big help this year- with pumpkin muffins, guacamole, etc.!

Escaping to quieter regions for a serious game of Risk

Auntie Aimee has to wait patiently (and apparently quietly) for her turn to hold Corin. :)

Hanging around, not enjoying the fireplace- too warm of a day. Boo.

The Feast

 Playground Time

Wow, I didn't notice those bags under her eyes until I saw this picture! They finally got a good night's sleep last night, at least.

Aw, snuggles with Grandma. Judah's been sick, too.

Moonset over the Peaks this morning.

Elijah's big day

Here are some shots of Elijah's (and sort-of Uncle Cooper's) "Nerf Gun" party...

Nephew!

 Corin Boaz Vaughan was born yesterday morning at 3:18am (after only 4 hours of labor!) He was 6lb 13oz and 19" long. And has the darkest hair of the 3 Vaughan boys!

"Nom, nom, nom...this sleeve is tasty..."

The favorite auntie! :) 

(with another favorite auntie in the background)

 Beautiful Mama

And THIS favorite auntie is providing me with another nephew or niece in April, so I have to be nice to her. ;) It was a very happy surprise to get to see her and her belly. :)

Random happenings

So here are a few catch up pictures before the fun of E's b-day party tomorrow and (hopefully) pictures of my new nephew, born this morning!!! In the mean time...

A couple weeks ago (the day Tribble had her babies, actually) Christian took a group of friends on a "tour" to the Canyon, giving them a lot of geologic formation theory. Incidentally he's going to be doing a seminar on it in a few weeks. It's pretty fascinating stuff. Anyway, they hiked down a ways and it was pretty smoky (controlled burns on the rim, I think).

As they were almost done with the hike, they came across some mountain goats!

 I've been working (slowly) on making some advent calendars for a few friends. It tells the story of Jesus, starting in the Garden of Eden. It's a compilation of ideas from the Jesse Tree, the Jesus Storybook Bible, and any old advent calendar.

A copy of the initial sketch, with dimensions, etc.

 Starting to cut it out

The main part is done- now I just need to make all the symbols and paint the dowels that it hangs from! The OT symbols will be placed on the green border, while the NT symbols will make a nativity scene on the blue/green part in the top center. The numbers are pockets that will each hold a symbol.

 Even though it's winter, tutus still abound!

 I could only catch this smile from B because she had been sticking out her tongue and thought she was pretty silly. Which she is. :)

Elijah is SIX! We got him a few small tools and a tool bag to help him be excited about more "productive" things, shall we say. It worked. He got up at 5:30 this morning to find something to work on.

Builder brothers

I don't foresee a career in construction for this one...

But she did finally lose her first top tooth!

Silly Nora

Watching these antics helps make the not-so-fun parts of goat-raising worth it!

I'm Glad I'm Not a Goat (and you're glad you're not me)

Since it is the season of giving thanks, here are some (not exhaustive) reasons I'm glad I'm not a goat:
1. Goats regularly have twins or more, often once a year.
2. Goats have to chew what comes up when they burp.
3. Goats lick birth-goo off of their babies. And lick. And lick. And lick...
4. And then bite the umbilical cord off.
5. A goats' idea of flirting involves pee.
6. When a pregnant, female goat is around another female in heat, the prego one acts like a buck (see #5)
7. I'm sure there are many more, but these are what come to mind. :)  Go and enjoy your day not being a goat.

Life (and death)

The fog is slowly wearing off from a practical all-nighter with Tribble...the amazing Andy and Grace have the kids at the park and I got a nap! I think I'll make my way back to the couch when I'm done, but I'm too excited to show the pictures... But first things first. Halloween- C. took the 3 older kids to a church harvest festival while the twins and I stayed home and watched Sweet Pea Beauty and had a marshmallow hunt (our new version of 'hot and cold')...

 Queen Anne

 Vader, dressed down

One of the smartest things I ever did- I paid Peter to teach Elijah how to tie his shoes-it was GREAT!

Silly monkey

 R and J have been coming over so R can bulk up a little...

Certifiable proof that Judah can smile at my house.

And nooow... meet Nick and Nora (we like The Thin Man series)

Nick is trying to nap after a long night! The kids were born sometime between 1 and 2 and I crawled back into bed sometime after 3 (half frozen), before getting up at 5:30. Poor Anne went out to see the babies before I did and she discovered that Tribble had a 3rd baby after I had left her that was either still born or died shortly after birth- another buckling. :( Nothing quite like burying a sweet little critter that I might have been able to save. And then having to go milk Nellie. Oy. What a start. But we still have these two sweet babies to love on!

And here's Nora getting yet another lick-down from mama Tribble! I think they both have blue eyes! Anyhoo, sorry if my ramblings don't make sense and stay tuned for some more cute pictures!