December 24, 2014 Wednesday

We cut a Christmas tree on our property in Montana before we came south, and I've had it in a bucket of water in the shade for the past month.  Today we "planted" it in a bucket of sand and water so we could decorate it.

The star made the top bend over so we put it down a ways.  Scott and I put garland and lights on the tree.  Then he put "his" decorations on the tree.  He got all the cool stuff, and I got the boring little ornament balls!

He put all of his on the same branch, despite my suggestions that he put some on other branches!

Scott decided he'd better put his light saber on his belt in case any unsavory droids or storm troopers came in the yard.

The finished tree.  I moved a few of Scott's snowmen and stuff because that poor branch on the bottom right was leaning on the ground from the weight of all his decorations.

Odie rested in the shade of the car while Scott and I worked in the hot sun.  :)

December 23, 2014 Tuesday

 

Some of the firewood we gathered this last time was big stump pieces and short trunks, and then gangly branches.  We brought some branches for campfires.

It was windy today.  You can't really tell but the wind turbine was really spinning, and

cooking out the electricity.  Our battery bank was full already before the sun ever hit the solar panels!

Scott had his toy wheel barrel on his head and said it was a robot helmet.  The handles sticking out forward were 'guns'.

This is along the North Shore road.  You can see the taller bushes leaning over in the wind.

We went to Henderson and Boulder City for some shopping today.

This is where Hwy. 95 splits from Hwy. 93 near Boulder City.

Fighting the glare of the sun.  In case people in Montana don't remember

what that is like....  :D  (Keep your fog and clouds!  lol)

December 22, 2014 Monday

We went for a hike along the shore today.

Scott likes doing his part to raise the lake level back up, by filling the lake

in with rocks.  The lake is around 140' below full pool.  :(

Another rock launched into the lake.

Odie and Steven

We went to the hot spring in the afternoon.

Scott eagerly ran ahead.  The pool is on the right, and the bridge over the outlet stream is just ahead of Scott.  Picnic tables under roof to left (out of picture).

There's the pool.  The water comes out of the hill on the back side near that palm tree.

Scott found a cup in the car and played with it in the water.

After the spring we ran into town to the grocery store.  Scott bought a pair of reindeer antlers.

In the car he had one of his floaties and was looking through it.  He backed up some by the time I got my camera up!

Then we ran into Santa again, so Scott was telling him about his antlers.

He also asked Scott where his motorcycle was, which had santa totally baffled.

Apparently Santa didn't remember seeing Scott in Boulder City a couple weeks ago, when

Santa pulled into the gas station on a motorcycle!  lol

We had dinner at McDonald's, which included a 20-piece pack of chicken nuggets and too many condiment packages of Sweet-and-Sour sauce.  When we got home, Scott was playing with Grandpa's reading glasses and did this with the packets.

Then he wanted to see himself in the mirror!  Yeah...  how does that work!

I showed him the pictures!

December 21, 2014 Sunday

Last year for Christmas the kids gave me a piano keyboard to bring down here, because I missed playing the piano while we're down here.  Scott likes to play along with me.  He usually 'sings' too!

I've been teaching him some simple things.  He has good finger control already.

A picture from farther back.

Steven and Scott, busy in their own worlds.

December 20, 2014 Saturday

Steven puts his target out every day and shoots a few arrows.

Scott loves to watch.

Retrieving the arrows.

Now Scott's turn.  He has a child's bow.

He can 'nock' his own arrow now (putting it on the string).

Aim.  Fire.

Then when it misses the target you keep moving closer until you DO hit the target!

Steven cuts firewood here and there when he has spare time too.  Only the bigger

stuff is worth getting the chainsaw out for.

Nearly every day we go for a bicycle ride up to the highway and back.

It's 6 miles round trip.

 

There's my shadow.

I took this picture of Scott on the back of my bicycle while I was riding, holding

the camera up over my shoulder.

I actually took a few pictures and managed to get him in this one!  lol!

Steven

Scenery along our way.

Our friend, Rusty's 5th-wheel camper and white pick-up truck.

We've camped near him for 3 winters now.

He came up to see us in Montana the summer of 2013.

A selfie at the top of the hill.

My super-fantastic husband, Steven, and you can see Odie on the other side of him.

The first mile off the highway is paved.  The rest is gravel.

Scott challenged Grandpa to a sword fight.

The duel is on!

Steven's sword is vertical behind Scott's head in this picture.

Scott prepares an intense offensive, which Grandpa puts on a growl to bluff Scott.

I like the sillouette aspect of this picture.

Scott likes to sit on this milk crate up between the front seats and pretend he's flying a rocket.

That gets him up where he can see out the windshield.  He has a pair of barbeque tongs shoved in behind him for a back rest.  He pushes all the buttons and turns knobs and levers and stuff on the dashboard.  Which is why Steven disconnects the battery whenever we park the motorhome!

December 19, 2014 Friday

Steven blowing on the coals in the woodstove.

The morning fire feels good on those mornings under 50 degrees.

Scott was playing by the couch.

We stopped at the park in town today.

 

If there are kids there for Scott to play with, then Steven and I sit on the swings and talk.

Today there weren't any kids, so Steven and I played with him.  Steven (Grandpa) was the "Grandpa-monster" and Scott and I had to run from him.

When we got home Scott crashed on the couch with one of his fleecies and went to sleep.

Steven shot a few arrows before dark.

You can see the target in this picture.

And there's our firepit in the foreground.