Winter Wonderland!

We woke up to a beautiful winter day of falling snow and many, many inches on the ground just waiting for someone to walk in it, sled on it, and build with it!
We were pleasantly suprised with a "Snow Day" off from school.  Why is it that children can sense that and are up at 7 am anyways......I am somewhat looking forward to those stay in bed until noon teenage days!  Oh how I miss them myself.
My biggest kid or as we call him Dad was maybe the most excited.  He promptly got out the shovel and did the walks and the driveway then readied the Acadia for some Hookie Bobbin'.  Maddie and Mia had a BLAST and I must say that my first experience was great as well!
Carrie quickly got tired of the snow and was ready to come in.  She spent most of her time laying in the snow because she couldn't walk in it.  It was too deep!  So she and I brought Callie in and decided that we really liked the warm inside.
Ryan, Maddie and Mia then continued to shovel snow into a giant pile and made a cool snow fort.  What cute eskimos they all are.
Mia willingly came in but Maddie was all about the "5 more minutes".  I was finally able to lure her in with some hot chocolate.  The girls enjoyed their hot cocoa and Carrie enjoyed some "ICED SPIDER".
So, we have enjoyed our snow day and we are hoping that the rest of the day it only falls on the grassy areas....one can dream!

Boise Idaho Cutlers

Just a few pictures from the past few weeks.   We have been busy playing, coloring, Halloweening, and just being really cute!

Ryan and I went to Hawaii and had a lovely time.  So fun to go on vacation.....I love these kids, but they aren't always the best traveling companions.

We hope that you are all well and happy!  We are looking forward to the fast approaching holidays.

Take care everyone!
Ryan, Andrea, Maddie, Mia, Carrie and Callie

Nate, Laura, Jack, Lilly and Hallie

Life sure is busy!  I kept thinking that things would be a little slower and easier to keep up on once school started - I was wrong! 
We had a nice summer with friends and family.  Lots of backyard sprinkler, slip and slide, hose on the slide, and lots and lots of campfires with marshmallows.  We had several days of making memories in the mud.  We did not plant a garden which left a huge spot at the end of the lawn with lots of opportunity for the kids to make mud.  They sure take advantage of mom not being able to see that part of the yard from the house!  

They don't look very happy because I was standing there ready to spray them with the hose!
One night we put up our tent in the backyard and had a fun family campout.  We love our fire pit - thanks Nate for keeping it up for us.

Nate got his fill of camping and hiking this summer.  He went on on a 4 mile hike and a 17 mile hike in the mountains near McCall with the Varsity and Venture scouts.  He is so good with those boys and they sure love his dutch oven cooking skills. 


I just got called to be the 2nd counselor in the primary.  I did not know that you had to write your own primary program!  I had to learn quick because I was only in my calling for a month before I had to have it all written, hand out parts and make all the necessary arrangements.  Our program will be on Halloween this year - a perfect birthday for me.

Jack is doing so great in 1st grade.  He is doing well reading and keeping up with all his teacher asks him to do.  He is also in karate learning lots of defense and building character - not as much combat as I thought - thank goodness.  We have a little phrase that we tell each other every morning after family prayer.  "I will work with my heart and my hands."  I draw a little heart on everyone's hands (including mine) with a sharpie, and when we forget how to work hard and be kind, we look at our heart on our hand and remember that we are all working on this goal together.  Jack's teacher noticed a difference in him immediately after we started this.  He loves that I am held to the same promise that he is held to.

I will work with my Heart and my Hands

Lilly still loves all things pink.  She is such a sweet fun girl to have around.  She says the funniest things everyday.  She asks every night if she can "frost" her own teeth - we just smile and let her frost and frost.

Hallie is our little purple girl.  She never lets us forget to say prayers, read scriptures or sing our bedtime songs.  She loves a good routine and she never lets us down.
The girls are loving preschool and I am still wondering how to fill a few hours every morning when I have no kids at home.  Sometimes a nap does the trick!

I think that is good for now.  There is so much going on this time of year, hopefully I can capture it all and give you a glimpse into our little family.  We love you.

Boise Cutlers

I seriously just heard Mia say to Carrie:

"WATCH AND LEARN SISTA!"

Too stinkin' funny!

~AJ

Hi From Germany

Out our kitchen window

 Andrea has patiently tried to teach me how to navigate this page, so this will be a short first attempt.   I am excited to share some fun things on this Cutler Family Page with you.   I will still continue with the email reports, but my plan for this is to each week share three things with you.....#1 my favorite picture of the week, #2 something interesting or fun I learned about the country or the culture or the people, and #3 something spiritual that has happened to us during the week.   So give me a chance to get a little more instruction and a little more practice, and we will be good to go.

Thank you Andrea for setting this up.   Now come on everyone, get the spirit of this whole thing.   It doesn't have to be a discourse or a piece of art, just let us know what is happening.   Until I can work on this tomorrow, enjoy the view down Taunusstrasse.   I love you all!    Mom

Boise Idaho Cutlers

We have been busy with school for Maddie, she is enjoying 2nd grade and loves her class and teacher Mr. Purdy.
Mia starts her preschool tomorrow and can hardly wait!!!  When you ask her about it her face looks much the same as this photo!
Carrie keeps us on our toes...we have been potty training, need I say more!?  She is wild and crazy and sweet and loving all at the same time.  I think she is the boy we will never have.  Thank goodness for tom-boys who love to wear dresses EVERY day...even if they are her older sisters'!
Callie is a steam rolling machine and is getting cuter by the day!  She is a Mia "mini-me" and we are all enjoying her sweet smile and disposition.
Ryan is a mountain biking fool and busy with work and church.  He is loving that Maddie can ride her bike now without training wheels....maybe he'll have a new trail buddy next summer! :)
I have been working on a lot of craft projects, repurposing, and refinishing furniture.  I am admittedly sad to see the summer weather go.  I am pretty sure that this is the first summer I have actually enjoyed since I was a carefree teenager.  Maybe that had something to do with the readily available rectangle of water in the back yard, but it was great!  Can't wait for next summer!

We are off to host a BSU vs Virginia party this evening.....no, it was NOT Ryan's idea but when you are the only one in your group of friends that has ESPN and a 100 inch screen, you get nominated for such adventures! 

Welcome to The Cutler Family Update!

Hello family!  Here is our stay connected and updated blog.  Please feel free to write about your family and your recent happenings....post pictures and brag about all of  your children's latest accomplishments.  (Adults can brag, too!)

We miss all of you and hope that this will be a fun way to see eachother through pictures and keep up on all of our happenings.

Happy blogging to all!
Andrea