*Owen*

This kid never changes.  Remember all those posts I have done in the past about him dressing inappropriately for winter.  Still a problem.  Now he has taken it to the next level.

Owen is on the year round swim team and practices 3 times a week.  This is how he goes to practice.  No shoes or coat.  He has no problem tip-toeing around the ice in the parking lot and driveways.  And this is when he is dry.  I can't imagine how cold it would be coming outside after you have been exercising in a pool for an hour and a half.  

It was 33 degrees out and this is how he dressed for his last swim meet.  Seriously, this child.  

Thankful

Each year I cut off branches from my dogwood bushes, bring them inside and turn them into small trees.  I cut out some circles, tie some ribbon on each one and put them in bowls by the tree.  Every day each family member writes 1 thing we are thankful for and hangs it on the tree.  By the time Thanksgiving rolls around the trees are loaded.  These were some of the things we are Thankful for this year.

Thanksgiving

This year, Scott and I hosted Thanksgiving at our cabin.  These were the main events.

1) Hot tubbing

 2) Man Challenges - Which included jumping out of the hot tub and rolling in the snow.  Who did this?  Not me of course, but even the little kids were on board.  Crazy!

 3) Eating really good food and gallons of hot chocolate.

4) Sledding - Long sledding hills (aka empty roads with not a car in sight) followed by a Razor ride back up to the top.  All of the fun and none of the work!

5) Christmas Tree - Finding just the right tree for our house!

2 Cabin Projects

Every time we go up to the cabin we leave with a list of things that we need to bring the next time we go up.  About a month ago we went up and realized we didn't have a single hook to hang coats on. So, I immediately got on Pinterest and found 2 rustic coat racks to make.   Both use railroad spikes for the hooks.  I am very pleased with how they both turned out.

The first coat rack now sits on the entry way.  Scott cut it out and put it together and I  distressed, painted and waxed it.  

The 2nd one is made out of a piece of reclaimed pine wood.  It was the perfect size.  I stained and waxed it and my Dad helped drill the holes in the spikes and attach them to the wood.  Right now it is hung up by the back door.  A perfect spot for the hot tub towels!

Owen's Lastest Project

One of Owen's favorite past times is to go on Youtube, look up projects that he can make, build, or construct and immediately start to work on them.  There is little thought in the planning phase and a bit more as he starts working on it.  

He started with this project (taking the gears from his broken scooter and wheels from a penny board) to make another motorized toy out of a piece of wood.  What he didn't think through is that this new vehicle uses a drill to make it move.  Something he does not own personally, nor does he have the money to purchase.   He hasn't finished it yet, but Scott and I have learned that it's best just to let him do his thing as long as it isn't dangerous, he cleans up his mess and asks permission to use things that aren't his.  

Meet Watson

Our delightful and oh so soft irishgolden doodle.

there is nothing more manly than chopping wood for the winter

Now if he could only grow a beard and put on a buffalo check shirt, he would look the part.