Adventures of the Carter Clan 1

I know it has been a LONG time since I posted so I wanted to tell our adventure during the snow storm.

A few weeks ago, we were to have a snow storm. We went to church as we always do and it started to snow before church got out. It usually doesn't get that bad around here. Ken, being from CO, can drive in the snow so I wasn't worried. We had planned an afterglow after church with the young married class so we went ahead and had a quick time of fellowship before going home. While we were there it dropped about 3 more inches of snow. It was falling fast! We tried to get out of the parking lot and almost didn't make it. We finally got out and were headed home very slowly. The road was pretty bad. We got about a mile from the church and got stuck on a hill. We just could not get up the hill toward home. We weren't going to make it home. We called Joel and Daniel who had 4 wheel drives that could possibly make it to us. Daniel lives not far from church, so he was home already and coming to get us. But he had never driven in this much snow and the visibility was almost nothing. So we were going to have to walk up the hill to meet him when he got closer. I was in my high heels, and Ken was in his dress shoes, Naomi and Abigail in their dress shoes and stocking. We would have to carry the little ones because the snow was already way over their little feet. Luckily Chey had cowboy boots on so at least her feet were covered. Ken had left a pair of his sneakers in the van from going to someones house, so I tied them as tight as I could on my feet. There was thunder and lightning with this snow storm! I have never seen that before. We started walking up the hill and the girls were saying "Daddy I'm scared." And Abigail was crying "I teered." Ken took a nose dive with Naomi in the snow. They were both OK. Ken only had his suit coat on and was getting very wet. We walked about half way up the hill and some very nice strangers stopped in a 4 wheel drive and took us to the top of the hill. Poor Daniel got to us and was hanging out the door to see. The defrost wasn't working in his Durango. No one had anything to wipe the window with. Daniel had just cleaned out his car. Ken's suit coat would not work and my leather one wouldn't either. All I had in the diaper bag was pull ups. So, we used pull ups to wipe the windshield. Finally we made it to their house and decided not to take the Durango to our house, afraid it wouldn't make it. We got all settled in with the kids on the floor and got in bed around 11:00. And the power went out! Meaghan and Daniel are only in this house temporarily so they didn't have any heater or candles. We only had tea lights. We were going around with tea lights trying to find clothes and shoes for all the kids. We knew the heat wouldn't last long in a single wide trailer. Been there, Done that, Didn't want to be without heat with 9 kids! And we knew the power would be out for a long time. We decided to make the trek to Joel and Pam's, who had power and a fireplace. We all packed into the Durango and headed off with all the blankets.

We finally got to Pam's house and the whole drive was blocked with trees bent over with snow. So Daniel and Ken got out shacking off the snow enough to get through.

Daniel shook one off and hit Ken when it sprang up.

We were so glad to be somewhere warm! The kids were still wide awake! They played for a while. I went down to get the girls in bed and they could barely keep their eyes open.

The next morning we lost power about 5:30 in the morning. It was beautiful outside though.

The guys went to "play" in the snow. They got the van out and the house to get clothes. They had to pull the van up our drive.

The roads were were OK in a 4 wheel drive, so we loaded up in the 4 wheel drive vehicles and went to lunch at the Asian, American buffet. They were not prepared to open but seeing they had customers and power they opened for us. They did great getting things out and it was so good.

Later we bundled all the kids up to play in the snow. Putting bags on there feet in their sneakers because we didn't want to buy boots that they would only wear one time. They didn't even stay outside for an hour. But we did have fun. Naomi threw snowballs at me.

We went to try to find sleds for the kids but no store in our town had any sleds! The one place that did was a farm supply store and theirs was a petal kind that cost $59 for one, and it wouldn't have worked in this kind of snow. And we had 11 kids! Sooooo Joel pulled out the tractor and pulled the old boat from their back yard behind it.

This way there was no fighting over sleds either! Everyone loved it. Chey and Nicole took too long inside getting ready so they didn't get to ride around the yard. They road around until the tractor started tearing up the yard. Then it was time to stop.

Caleb bringing up the rear.

Abigail is laughing having so much fun!

Uh Oh! Under a tree and the rope got stuck.

The kids really loved the boat ride!

Joseph was so funny throwing snow at Ethan and laughing.

Abigail and Alanna warming by the fire.

The guys all talking and Daniel knocked over Haili's snowman and she was heartbroken! No one would help her put it back :( Mean ole Daddy!

Malachi

Isaac and Joseph

Before all that...
A few weeks ago when we all were sick and passing around a virus, Ken sent us out to McDonald's. He couldn't stand the thoughts of food and didn't want to smell any either. So we went down the road to eat and have fun. Daddy got some peace and quiet.

Chey shooting hoops. Posing in a ball hoop.

Big Birthday Party!

Last week we went to Tim's house for a combined birthday party for Ken, Abigail, Tim, and Jamie. We had so much fun. Mom was reading the old Dick and Tom books to Abigail. We enjoyed listening to it too. LOL!

Abigail got this really cute Pluto puppy and she loves to play with it!

Abigail loves Naomi's baby ring and they would fight over it. SO I told Dad that it would be a good birthday present. When all the gifts were opened and Abigail had her last one to open, Dad gave her the box. If you watched real close, she pulls out the ring, throws it in the floor and continues to search the box for I don't know what. LOL!She did have it in her hand just long enough to look at it.

Jamie and Emily played the Wii boxing game and he was knocked out by a 5 year old! Funny! I didn't record the whole thing, but she beat him in the game too.

Daddy's little girls get earrings

Naomi has been asking to get her ears pierced for over a year. She had just enough money from Christmas to get it done. SO, Today we went to Walmart and got them done. She did so good. She said it didn't even hurt! We forgot to get pics of when they were doing it.

Abigail wanted hers done too. She was so good. Until the sound of the gun. She cried for just a little bit.

They look so cute! They love them and keep looking in the mirror.

Sweet treats

A few weeks ago I received a gingerbread house from our ladies meeting. The girls have been begging to put it together ever since. So, Monday night, I let them put their sweet treat together. Abigail did so good on the trees. She was concentrating so hard on putting the candy on the frosting I had put on the tree.

Cheyenne is the one that decided they would divide the parts in half and they would each do one side, one front, and one side of the roof. Abigail was in charge of the trees in front.

Naomi chasing a little ball candy.

Look what I did!

The house didn't last until Wednesday. The girls started eating it already. On Wednesday, my friend April went to get her hair done, so we had the treat of watching Ella and picking up Logon and Aubrey. They were so funny:) Ella and Naomi watched Hello Kitty. (Thank you Mrs. Kelly. Naomi LOVES the movies!)

Aubrey was playing in Naomi's room.
Logon was doing homework.

Aubrey being crazy!

Ella went to sleep and slept until Mommy came back. She was reaching for April until she saw her hair and then hesitated until April spoke. She still wanted Mommy. They were all good. They wanted to stay longer but April had plans to meet someone before church. That made the older two mad. They didn't want to leave. I'm sure they will be back soon. By the way, I like April's hair too.