MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We hope you all had a blessed Christmas day! We just arrived home this afternoon. The roads were so bad yesterday driving across Missouri and Kansas that we decided to spend the night in Denver rather than risk driving over the mountain passes late last night. Here are a few pictures of our afternoon Christmas here at home, and a picture of the Sayler cousins' Christmas in Missouri.

December Update

Sorry, I have been terrible about taking pictures lately! We had our church Christmas program, "A Christmas Carol" (Christian version) again this year. The young people and children did a fantastic job! I was so proud of them. And as I was one of the directors, and working part of the lights & sound, I did not get any photos. I'm hoping to get some from other people, and if I do I will post those. Hunter makes an adorable Tiny Tim, and Katie played Fan as well as one of the Cratchit children. Mike even played a couple of smaller parts for us, as we didn't have quite enough young people. We had a number of visitors to the program this year, so hopefully some of them will come back! We're headed to Missouri on Friday. Mike's going to whitetail hunt with a muzzleloader while we are there visiting his family. Have a Merry Christmas, if I don't get to talk to some of you before then. And as Tiny Tim observed, "God bless us, everyone!"

The Annual Thanksgiving Morning Hunt

Mike has a tradition of going on some kind of a hunt - ducks, pheasant, coyote, etc. - every Thanksgiving morning. This year he went coyote hunting with an older man from church, Doc. Doc is 79 years old, and still loves to get out to hunt or fish with anyone he can get to go with him! Mike had a great time, and ended up bringing home 2 coyotes.

Our Newest Remodel Project

We were not planning on starting this project right now, but things just seemed to work out for us to begin, so... Those of you that have been here know that part of our bedroom upstairs is supported by 4x4 posts. We have begun the process of moving the back of the house out 6-7 feet. When all is said and done, I will have a bigger kitchen, a bigger bathroom, a laundry room, a walk-in pantry, and a mud room! Sounds exciting - but as we are paying for things as we go, it will likely be a sslloooow process:) But, we will not incur any debt along the way! Here are a few photos of digging, pouring the footer, and forming up for the stem wall.

Watching the Tigers

 

 

 

Ready for a Dive:)

 

You could barely see Hunter. He had to stand on his tiptoes for me to get the picture!

Touching and Feeding Sting Rays

 

 

 

 

Face Painting at the Denver Aquarium

 

Denver Aquarium

We had a fantastic time at the Denver Aquarium today. The kids got to see and identify many of the animals we had studied in our Science unit - Daddy was impressed with their knowledge:) They especially loved touching and feeding the sting rays. They both got their face painted (of course, Hunter chose a dinosaur!). It was an especially great day because of the news that I, Kim, received from the ear doctor. He said my ear looks perfect and my hearing has really improved also. We truly thank the Lord for this!

Mike's Stag

I had a 2nd rifle buck tag. I hunted up high at first looking for a big buck. Couldn't find what I was looking for, so I hunted in the middle and down low. I went 2 days without seeing a buck at all. So, the last day I was willing to shoot anything. I saw a buck in velvet this morning, but I wasn't sure if he was on public land. So I figured out that he was on public land this afternoon, and went back after him. I found him bedded down at 50 yards, but only could see antlers. I couldn't even tell which way his body was. Finally, he jumped out of his bed and I shot him running. He has an extra main beam on one side. He turned out to be a stag.

 

 

 

 

1st Rifle Elk Hunt with Dad

Dad and I hunted very hard all season and only saw 2 cows. 2 years ago there was a bad winter kill in that area, so the unit was not nearly as good as it once was. Still had a great time with my dad. So everyone that was wanting to see how we did in Unit 66, I wouldn't recommend hunting it for several more years. My dad said it best, "You can't always measure a successful hunt by blood." It was still fun spending time with my dad.

Field Trip to the Dinosaur Museum

Our family took a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum in Fruita, CO yesterday. Mike had never been before, and Hunter can never get enough of dinosaurs. We especially enjoyed the interactive displays - the earthquake simulator, excavating dinosaur bones (reproductions, of course), and getting squirted by a robotic dinosaur were some of our favorite things.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Photos

 

Mike's Mountain Goat Hunt

I just returned from my Mountain goat hunt. It was the toughest hunt of my life. A couple of times I feared for my life and was praying all the way up (and back down!) that steep mountain. It took 4 hours to climb to the top where the goats were. On the backside of the mountain where I had to climb, there was snow. I had to lean on both my rifle and shooting stick to be able to lift my foot to take another step. I had to pick small rock out-croppings to get a foothold. It got so bad, I could not turn around and go back down, so I had to go up. When I finally reached the top, I spotted 6 goats bedded down, 258 yards away. I shot the only billy in the group. First shot was a double-lung hit. I was afraid he would fall 1,000 feet down the mountain, so I shot again hitting him in the shoulder. He fell and rolled a couple of times before stopping. Then the work continued. After skinning him, I put him in my pack. I wrapped the meat in a trash bag and my coat because I was not making another trip up the mountain. So, with about an extra 125 lbs. I found a wash, and slid down the other side of the mountain because it was impossible to stand up. And I feared for my life again. It was a hunt I will never forget. The pictures do not do these mountains justice. It was incredibly steep. (NOTE FROM WIFE: It's a good thing this was a once-in-a-lifetime hunt because I don't think I could let him do this again. Way to nerve-wracking!)

Here I am with the goat back at camp. I forgot to take the camera with me on the hunt.

The goats were in the saddle between the two peaks.

Here is a photo of where I was when I shot my Mountain Goat. I was at the very peak - 13,000+ feet.

Happy Autumn!

Today is the first day of Fall, and the weather has finally cooled down here in Colorado. Last night it got down into the 30's, and the kids and I are wearing sweaters today! We love to celebrate things - so, of course, we are celebrating the beginning of our favorite season. So far today we have made leaf pictures, caramel apples, and pear bread. (Sorry no pictures - I need to get new batteries for my camera:( After lunch, we're going to Big B's to get some freshly pressed apple cider - YUM! We are leaving this Friday to go camping/hunting for Mike's once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat hunt. Hopefully we'll be posting some pictures soon!

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Brad and Brenda - Anna is beautiful! And to Matt and Lyndi - I hope you'll bring your little guy to visit us in Colorado!

Mike's Bear

 

 

 

 

I filled my bear tag this morning on the mountain behind our house. I had to make a 500 yard shot. The bear weighed close to 300 pounds. My friend, Jamie, is here from Missouri with some friends to hunt, and he got to be with me for my bear hunt. A big thanks to Jamie and the guys for helping me get it out.