Dec 21st - 23rd - Alena's house

Darren had some time off around Christmas this year so we snuck away for a few days to visit my sister Alena and her family. Her husband had had a pretty bad injury a few months back and we promised a visit. Darren packed the van and then put his bike on his bike rack hoping to get a chance to ride while down there.

We had a bonus visitor as well. Alena and I worked on my sister Melissa and she slipped down from mom and dad's house during her break to spend some time with us.

Something you should know about my son Parker is that he embraced his inner country boy along time ago. Uncle Andrew and Aunt Alena provide the means of expressing it. As we were driving down the road just before getting to their house a voice comes from the back of the van...

Mom?

What Parker?

Why can't we be country folks?

This little boy has been asking me for a horse since he was three years old. When we were building our house he wanted to know if there was enough room in the backyard for a barn. He told me that Elijah could live in the office (now the baby's room) and his horse could live in his room. He has informed me that when he grows up he will still live close to me, but that he needs a house that he can have horse at so he might not be next door.

He gets on his Uncle Andrew's horse every chance he can get (picture from last February). One time when he was 3, Bo threw him off. Parker got up, told Bo that that wasn't a very nice thing to do, and then asked Uncle Andrew to put him back on. This visit did not disappoint. Andrew's brother Preston helped out with the logistics of it this time since Andrew was still walking with a cane.Even Alexia got in on the action. Look at those storm clouds. While the kids were bundled up and braving the weather on the horse, Darren was out on his bike. Cuh-ray-zee! He loves it though.
A storm settled in and we made the best of our time together. Alena was on dish duty. Darren was on dinner duty.
Melissa was on kid/gingerbread house duty, and it looks like I put Andrew on baby duty. (Hey at least it wasn't on baby doodie.) Sorry couldn't help myself with that one. So what was I doing? Looks like I was told I had to take pictures with Alena's camera.

We had such a great time while we were there. The sun finally came out just as we were getting ready to come home. Before I could leave though I wanted to try something. Cowboy boots are so colorful. I wanted to photograph their family's boots since we never got around to that family picture she wanted. So it's a boot family picture instead.