Merry Grinchmas

All the little Who's

The bad Who's, okay maybe just one

The Grinch

The Grinch's heart

The beautiful Who's

The Grinch and her husband

Mid-December all the Wheeler's gathered for a Christmas party in St. George, we laughed, ate and mingled.  It was a very lovely Grinchmas.

THE NFR

Wendy invited me to go to the NFR this year, it was awesome!

I love rodeo, Wendy is an actual rodeo'r and barrel races, I just like boots and spurs, dust and mud.  (sorry-couldn't help it)  Another bucket list check mark.

Still Got It

The Wheeler's and the Walker's teamed up to dominate the old man basketball tournament this Thanksgiving.  They still got it.  Just getting better.  Oh and the short guy is Eric, he's brave and sneaky in the land of giants.  Watching Jed play is always a fun time, the competitiveness, the skills, the sheer beauty of such a tall guy being coordinated.  Live on basketball!

Thanksgiving Workout

One of our favorite hikes.  Everyone had a good time.

Sliding down hills, 

Building with dried mud,

and especially throwing and crumbling dried mud.  

My girls build things, my boys chuck it.,

O'Christmas Tree

Last year Renn was little and we traveled for Thanksgiving and there just wasn't a moment for tree hunting.  We had to put up the pathetic, fake tree, I didn't realize how sad it was.  This year the kids had the entire week off of school so Jed took the day off before Thanksgiving and we went in search of the WHEELER FAMILY TREE.

"It's not going in our yard, son, it's going in our living room."

Two trees in one?  "Lots of sap."

Renn wreaked havoc on the tree.  He really loved all the shiny, breakable ornaments.  I thought because they weren't glass they would be safe.  

Elise helped rearrange after Renn's wake of destruction.

Grateful

Thanksgiving shootout

I am grateful for family..

For winterish weather, even though we planned an outdoors Thanksgiving (of course)..

For snuggles...

For pumpkin targets!  

Jack and I have deadly aim with the BB gun.

Scouting

Jed received the On My Honor award for his service in scouting.  

He is a good leader, the boys he was with over a year ago still keep in touch with him.  

He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to young men's/scouting and loves every minute of it.  I'm proud of him and I will try to stop complaining about camp-outs now.  

Jack is FAST

Jack took first place out of four schools in this year's speed meet.  

The boy is fast.  He loves running and he flies.  

I love watching him.  

Hunting

Jed, Jack, Grandpa Wheeler, Devin and one of Jed's work buddies, Lee, were able to hunt down these beauties.  Jed has now got a bull elk, horned mule deer (buck-whatever), antelope and a cow elk in the last three years, so state of Nevada you can let him stop drawing tags now.  Thank you.

What Brings Us Together Today

 Jesse and Dulce were married in October and all the Wheeler siblings and parents were able to celebrate with them.  It was a lovely occasion and very fun to spend time sans children.  It was kinda like being kids ourselves again.  Plus we lived like millionaires, it might have something to do with Jesse's profession.

Pre-wedding sunset cruise.

Wendy and I have been friends since before we ever knew Wheeler boys.  

Wendy too bad we didn't have a certain Suvvi's white get-up for the all white cruise. hehe 

My hair!  It was it's own entity.

All the big Wheeler's

At the reception, Jed and I were melting, MELTING, Cabo is hot.  Muy calor.  Muy humedad.  We went on a stroll, where I took the opportunity to name all the flora and fauna for Jed.  I know a surprisingly many plants, and if I don't, I invent.  

The last morning we decided to go to breakfast.  Maps led us astray.  Well it led us to a private, gated place, where they thought we looked non-threatening enough to let us in and charge us good money for churros!  BUT they were pretty amazing.  I would now like to eat churros from Aqua every morning for breakfast please.  I would also like the waiter who would tell me "eet ees my plezzzure" after I would tell him thank you.  I told Jed he should use that line and accent as well.  

Last Lake Day

Our last lake day was October 22.  The temperatures were warm enough, but the water was freezing.  Everyone was a little numb.  We like our lake water in the bath water range of August temperatures.  

Cold water didn't stop us from wakeboarding though.  Here Jack is getting up for his first time.  He wanted to try all summer but then would change his mind and stick to the ski trainer but he didn't want the lake season to end without saying he wakeboarded, so we got both him and Jara up but they couldn't keep going because they were shivering so bad from the cold.   

Towel cuddling is necessary when you're freezing.

A great way to end our favorite past time.  

Veteran's Day

My country tis' of thee, you are too hot for me,

so we are traveling to your purple mountain majesties 

Normally about this time of the year I'm fed up with the heat and after I sweated through the veteran's day parade I told Jed we needed to get out of town before for the weekend!  Pine Valley is perfect.  Close, not too cold or hot and lovely mountain air.

I even dragged everyone to the little, old white chapel on Sunday.  Renn enjoyed the acoustics a little too much so we had to return him to the wilderness.

EIght is Great

Jack is eight!  He is a great eight-year-old.  He is kind, he helps others and he tries to do his best to be obedient.  I will often see him pause and think about what he is about to do and then sometimes I will see him chuck something with no thought for what might explode, break or otherwise occur, I'm going to assume this is typical in regards to what most little boys/wheeler men do?

His baptism was a great day. We were able to have almost of our family here.  During the program I played the piano, Jed baptized and confirmed Jack, Grandma Wheeler spoke and Grandpa Alderete gave the closing prayer.  Renn also contributed by throwing a ball in the font before the water which Jed later threw to the crowd in a maybe not so spiritual moment. (see)  Afterwards, we had a soup dinner at the stake center with our family and everyone went crazy.  I would like a basketball court for my dining room please.

Happy Birthday/Baptism Day Jack!

We love you!  

A Decade

Jara is 10! 

Happy Birthday to my oldest. 

The one who made me a mother.  I love her.  I love her gentle, thoughtful ways, small people and animals flock to her.   I love to see her many, beautiful artistic creations. 

You make the world complete Jara!