Splitting Wood take one!

On a freezing cold day we started chopping/splitting wood early in the morning.  Here is Tim, Caleb and Brent Black Working on a pile...but from the looks of it I'm thinking this isn't take one...but what do I know

 Caleb braving the cold

 Tabitha (pregnant) and David braving the cold!!! I don't know how Tab did it since she just had the job of sitting and running the splitter.   She had to be frozen, she did have hand warmers but still!

 She could still muster a little smile

 David working hard!

 Austin thinking it is way to cold out here!  Not sure if he wants to help or not!

 Hey Caleb crawl on this log and lets see how big it is compared to you!  Caleb 7 years old!

 TJ wanted a turn too...TJ 29 years old!

 Hollie and Gavin giving their support

 Hollie trying to get Gavin to look at the snow but he was having none of it...he wanted the big toy!  The splitter

 A view from the nice warm inside!

 Trying to get the wood that was frozen to the ground to move

 Caleb hauling wood to the wood pile! It was not easy because the snow was frozen and hard to get across.

 Hollie (pregnant) and Austin stacking wood!

 Austin helping Caleb 

 Hollie and Caleb

 Don't know which was easier pushing or pulling!

 Another view from inside

 It was freezing but every one worked really hard!

 Roy Atkinson giving Brent some advice on how to split the wood!  Hollie giving Tabitha a break at the controls

 Wow...the sun is setting and they are still out there working hard!  

 Gavin wishing he was out there!

 Grandma takes the kids on a sled ride!

 Hollie didn't want to lay on the log but took a standing on the log picture!

We worked from 8 am-7 pm and still did not get done!  But we all had fun doing it!  Thanks everyone who came over and helped!!  You're the best!

Splitting wood take two....

Ok this post is out of order!  It is the second or third time chopping splitting wood.  Sorry but I didn't want to delete it all and start over again.  So here we go.

Well on a freezing cold day, I'm not kidding it was like 10 degrees out there, we had a wood splitting party. Some of the Missionaries in our district joined us bright and early, a couple of them didn't think it was too cold out, so they didn't bring coats!  Unhooking the splitter.

 It is heavier than it looks and the little slope at the end of our driveway didn't help, but there was lots of words of encouragement and wisdom!!!

 Hey I have an idea!!!

 Yep they all liked the idea!  Funny boys!   I wished I could remember all their names it's been so long ago that I can only remember Elder Stapley and Elder Smith.  Elder Pett from our Ward was not able to be there because he was a zone leader and had to go to Emmett or somewhere like that!  No fun!

 Now how are we going to get that wood on there?

 Piece of cake we all can lift it at once!

 Success!

Saying goodbye to a big part of our life's!

The time came...which we knew it would for one of our big trees to come down.  Day time view

 Night time view

 It was a big process and the tree cutter's worked really hard!

 Look how tiny Daisy and Tim look next to it!

 It did leave a couple of big dents in the yard ;o)

 Tim and the tree

 The bottom of the tree

 Doesn't look to bad

 But it takes up almost the whole front side yard! It even makes that little crane look little

 Me sitting on it to give an idea just how big it was...

 Tim doing the same thing, and we are closer to the top of it than the bottom~ 

 

More tree pictures to come!   I'm working on Mads quilt, (and Ethan's, Tatem's and Isabella's too), so I can only post a little here and there!  Just got a little over a week left before I have to go back to work so need to work on those quilts!!!  

We miss the shade from our tree but will enjoy the warmth this winter!!

Madeleine Christina Gans

Ready for the big moment! They picked the right day because even though she went in to be induced she went into labor that morning before they got there!!!!  I love how excited they look.

I love this look!   Are we ready for this!!!  Of course you are!  They are great parents!

The one and only time she cried!  Ha,ha,ha!  just kidding but she doesn't cry much!  She is a really good baby!  Kinda like all mine were/are ;o)

Proud Grandpa!

Proud Auntie!!!

Proud Uncle...is it my turn to hold her yet????/

Yep grandpa got her again!  With the size our family is getting it is hard to get in that baby snuggle time!

First Easter Egg hunt...look she found an egg!

What I have to hunt eggs too??  Yep the kids hid them for all the parents!   Sorry David!!! ( he got called into work and didn't get to hunt them!)

 

First trip to Vegas and Coke world

 
 I wasn't fast enough on the camera but I think the bear had Tabitha's head in his mouth the picture before they is why she is laughing I could be wrong though.

 Mads loves her water!!  And the crinkly bottle is an added bonus.

 Proud crazy grandpa with three of his 8 grand kids in Vegas

 Proud grandma hops in for a picture also!

I have a ton more pictures of Mads and the rest of the grand kids some really good ones too, but once again they are on my phone and I can't get them downloaded so keep checking back cuz one day I will have them.

Welcome to the family Mads!

Catch up!

Well it's been a while since I've been on here and a lot has been going on.  We have 3 big things almost 4 happen since I was on here last so I will post a couple of pictures just to get caught up!  I know you don't think I can do just a couple but believe me I can!  Ha,ha,ha!

The first big thing was John left for Japan on March 1st, 2014

 The second  big thing was Madeleine Christina Gans joined our family  on March 5, 2014

The first Cousins picture

The first cousin goofy picture

Grandpa and Mads!  So cute

The third big thing was TerrieBeth, John the Thrid (Trip), and Tatem left for Japan for 8 months.  I have pictures but they are on my phone and I can't seem to get them downloaded to the computer.  Ughhhh..
The almost 4th thing is Isabella Joy Sturges should be joining the family sometime in the next 2 weeks or so!  That puts us up to 8 grand kids!   I wonder when we got so old!  Ha,ha,ha!   We did a ton more things in the last 7 months, I'll try to post a few more pictures but this is for Ethan!!  He said it's been forever since I posted.  So since I know someone is checking out my posts I'll have to be better at it!  ( I still haven't finished our Boston trip!)

Happy Sunday All!!! 

Capturing December

Ok so I'm a little behind but here is December 31'st picture! Hanging up pictures of a few of our favorite things!!!