Going on a Tree Hunt

We are kind of serious about our Christmas Tree hunting...  This is the first year we have taken Calder and Lincoln.  Calder has just been too sickly and the snow has been too high, blah, blah, blah.  We went for it this year and it was a success!

 

 

  Also, I am not a big fan of dressing kids alike.  I think it is suuuper dorky.  But, these coats were on sale at Costco.  And I could not pass up the hats because they are awesome.  These poor boys will hate these pictures in a few years.

 It is difficult to see but Lincoln and Shane were about to cross a little stream.  Lincoln was completely focused on crossing. 

 I told you we were serious.  The big kids climbed this steep hill to look for more tree options.

 

 Lincoln and I stayed off the big hill and played with some sticks.  He was fascinated by all the young trees we could weave in and out of.

Success!

One of my favorite photos.  We are all looking at the camera!  T is holding the tree!  and Look at how cute Lincoln and Calder are holding hands...Calder was helping him...it was a Christmas miracle. 

Tayler's Birthday

15 Years!
Whew.  That is old.
This year will be full of many firsts.  First, high school football game, first high school dance (gag me), drivers ed, to name a few. 

T had a few friends over and a costume party.  She has a great, small group of friends and it was so fun.

This picture is a little wonky but LOOK shane dressed up.  He is Clark Kent.  Tayler is Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter.  She has always been a good character from Harry Potter but this year she was evil. I don't even know what to say about that.

 

All the friends/siblings at the party

Swimming Lessons

 

 

Calder was, by far, the littlest little guy in his swim lessons.  It was for 3-5 year olds and he was just three (and really should not have been three yet).  He loved it.  But he was so cold!  We had to go buy him this special suit after the first few days because he was shivering so badly.  He is a little tippy and the first day went under for a minute.  Shane nearly jumped into get him but the teacher grabbed him first.  If you ask him anything about swim lessons he can tell you exactly what he did and exactly which days he had a substitute teacher and what his name was.  I can't wait to sign him up for winter lessons.  Right now he tells us a few times a week that "we should go to family swim sometime!"  One of his favorite things is on Friday night when they open the pool for family swim and the hot tub is also open (and cooled down) so the whole family can go in.  His favorite part about family swim is the big, dark, tunnel slide.

 

 

Fishing

Shane and his Dad or Shane and Tayler (depending on the day) went fishing a few times this summer/fall.  The boys were fascinated with the fish and Calder had fun helping Shane clean the fish.

Four Westby Fishermem

Sweet Sweaty Baby

The cute thing about camping was Lincoln was so sweaty his hair just went crazy.  This is him in bed for the night with crazy curly hair.  And chubby cheeks reminiscent of Tayler when she was a babe.

Also...

Gary and Ludie brought their cute little puppy to visit one day while we were camping.  The boys kept calling it a kitty.  Ha!  They had just never seen a dog so little (smaller than our cats!).  Tayler was cracking up at Lincoln who kept saying, "meow".  Seriously, the cutest little dog and I love when they visit because their puppies just make themselves right at home in our house.  It is pretty fun.

We Went Camping

I would like to say it was awesome.  But that would be a lie.  It kind of sucked.  This was waaay back in August.  Yes, I am that slow.  The fun part was Shane's family up in our neck of the woods at Scenic Beach Campground.  The not so fun part was pretty much everything else.  The boys just don't do well without naps and without vegetables.  Also, Calder and I suck at snuggling.  The problem is he has (pretty much) always fallen asleep in his crib by himself.  So, when forced to fall asleep while laying next to me he can't take it and I am not very patient with him wrestling all over the place.  Calder woke up one night at 4am WHALING at the top of his lungs.  Shane had to take him for a drive so as not to wake the other campers.  It was a little ridiculous.  I wish I could say it was awesome and in a few years it will be but this year was kind of a disaster.  Tayler had fun and stayed almost five days with Grandma and Grandpa Westby.  So, there were a few good side!!  Tayler had fun and we got to hang out with the Westby/Kincade family.

 Brother Love

 I included this picture because of the bunny crackers.  This kid would eat them all day long.

 Camo pants, Bull dozer shirt, curly hair.  This kid!

And some of the Westby men.  Missing Shane's brother Karl.  But, we have Gary Robert Sr., Gary Robert Jr.  and Lincoln Nicholas Robert.  Plus Shane and Calder.