Who needs to buy basketball pictures...I'll take my own! Ha!

This year when basketball pictures came up I only purchased the team picture. I waited patiently for my studio lights and here's what we got! I'm pleased with them. I still have a lot to learn with my studio and will hopefully just get better and better from here!

Caleb Thuernagle- 6th grade, Age 11

Joshua Thuernagle- Grade 3, Age 9

1-2-3-4-5-6!!!

Several months before Andrew's birthday he decided he wanted to go sledding for his party. So that's what we did! We went to Bart's Field at ISU and the kids had a hoot! The snow was just right for sledding and the weather was perfect!

From left to right we have Caleb, Joshua, McKay, Jon in the back, Seth, Andrew, Maryn, and Reiley.

The energy these guys had to keep walking up the hill was amazing!



Jon gave the kids an extra boost to go faster and they kept asking for more! There's Andrew getting a big PUSH! And Caleb's getting the all out WHOOSH!



Clockwise from the top left: Andrew, Joshua, Seth, and Joshua watching Caleb.



You don't realize how amazing the view is from Bart's Field until you stop and take a look.
I love how Jon gets into the action with the kids!



Then back to our house we went where there was hot cocoa waiting for us and some yummy chocolate cake! It's nice to come back to a warm house after having fun sledding!

P.S. I had some really fun pictures of the cake but I can't find them so I'll just describe it a bit since this isn't the best view. It was a dragon cake. On the green hill I put a couple silly bands in the shape of dragons walking on the hill and then a dragon character from the movie How to Train Your Dragon flying in the sky. Andrew really wanted an Astro Boy cake but no luck finding stuff for that. He loves dragons though so I thought it would work too.

This is what makes the cold worth it!

One day I had a bunch of kids over and even though it was chilly outside we braved it and bundled up and played in the snow. And look at the awesome creation we made!

From left to right we have: Denver Peterson, Timothy Dickhaut, Kaci Peterson, Siera Dickhaut, and the one and only Andrew Thuernagle! (And of course Frosty in the middle)

It's Basketball season

The season has been off to a great start...Caleb and Joshua are loving basketball! This is Joshua's first season and he is on a great team. He is having so much fun!

I love Caleb's intensity sometimes when he plays...he means business!

I know this picture is blurry but I love it for some reason! It shows the action!

The kids line up at the beginning of their game and match up with an opponent that is similar in size. Joshua is in the right line in the middle.

Josh has a great coach that knows his stuff!

I love those moments that Josh gets right in there in the action! (He gets red-faced like me when he's active!)

Sweet Andrew is feeling a little left out. He so badly wants to play! Dad helped him out and made a hoop with his arms so Andrew could shoot some baskets. What a great dad!

Christmas with a Bang!

Every year we have good intentions in not going out of control for Christmas and every year we blow it! Ha! The presents never stopped! The boys were in heaven! We feel so blessed to have had such an abundant Christmas this year, especially while facing difficult times in the economy.


On the top of the list for great gifts for me was that my mom was able to come visit us! We hadn't seen each other in over 2 years! She took the Greyhound to get here and boy was it a crazy trip. The bus left her in Wendover, NV but she made it work and still got to Pocatello safely! We were so grateful!

I made this blanket for Jon to snuggle in! He loves it! I used jeans I collected for the last 13 years or so from Jon's old jeans. The little squares were from my old jeans.

I was glad my mom came prepared for the cold 'cause it was cold!

Our own Nativity

It's tradition every year on Christmas Eve to have the kids act out the Nativity story. We did it with the Petersons and it was darling! Those kids look so cute in their costumes!

Madalyn - Angel, Andrew and McKay - Wisemen, Joshua - Joseph, Maryn - Mary, Caleb - Shepherd

This was the closest we could find for baby Jesus...that's what happens when you have all boys!!

Thanksgiving Enjoyment

What a feast! It was awesome to see one gigantic table going from the living room to the kitchen. That's what we get for having an enormous family! It looked amazing though. And all the food was so delicious. A lot of work by a lot of people was put into this amazing occasion.

The whole clan. I was lucky to get this picture...I got this one shot and then my camera battery died. Love how everyone is smiling....except....my Andrew. Hahaha!

The great person who took on this big day at her house! Jon's sister Gretchen.

Before....

....after.......... My tired boy from a long day of fun.

The reason for it all! Mom Ruth in the middle surrounded by her 7 beautiful children.

I am so thankful for the family I have been blessed with and especially miss the family I wasn't able to be with.