WHOA....What a Weekend!

We had a crazy busy weekend! We started off the weekend by heading out for some camping on Friday afternoon.  This was the kids' first camping trip, so we only planned to be out for one night and also planned to go somewhere fairly close to home, just in case.  Well, camping was a HUGE hit with them!  They loved every part of it and wanted to stay longer, but we didn't really come prepared, so we had to just promise that we would do it again very soon.  We wound up finding a place along the river outside of Crouch. Here are some photos:

We got home Saturday in the mid-afternoon.  We had originally planned to go to the drag races, but with Braison having over sensitive sensory issues, we bagged that idea (even though they both said that they wanted to go).  Instead, we met my dad and step-mom in Emmett for the Cherry Festival parade and carnival.  I only got a photo of grandpa, Braison, grandma, and Lilian waiting for the parade:

The kids really enjoyed it and walked away with a ton of candy!  We then went and perused the carnival and vendors.  The kids and Ron enjoyed Pronto Pup corn dogs and I an elephant ear.  It was a nice evening, even though we got home late and the kids were cranky :o)

Then, on Sunday we got up and got to all of our chores that needed to be done around the house.  We got the laundry done, house cleaned, camper cleaned, and the car cleaned.  It was a productive morning.  Then, we headed off to the circus.  We met up there with Ron's sister, Jen.  The kids really enjoyed themselves.  They wanted to ride the elephant, get a photo with the python, and go down the big slide, but I squashed all of those hopes.  Not because I don't want them to do the things that they want to, but because all of these things were outrageously expensive and I knew (I just knew) that once they got up the ladder to the top of that elephant, once they laid that python on their necks, and once they realized how high up that slide really was....they would change their minds.  So, I promised them that next year they could do all of those things, if they still wanted too.  Here is a photo from the circus, celebrating Father's Day:

After the circus we went out to dinner with Aunt Jen and she gave the kids each a little gift (Braison a Mickey Mouse shirt and Lilian a new dress).  She sure does spoil them, and they sure do love it!

All in all we had a wonderful, eventful, fun-filled weekend....but, I was okay to go back to work today, as I really needed a break! :o)

Update...Photo Style

Helping mommy shop...you know it would be really handy if more grocery stores had Costco sized shopping carts.

Visiting Mr. Doug's fire truck...

Last weekend we went to the Caldwell air show, I haven't got the photos off of my camera yet, but here are the photos I took with my phone while we were riding in the helicopter.

Here is Lake Lowell from the sky:

We had a few nice days, we were able to get out and fly kites for the first time. (Again, photos taken with the phone, so not the best quality)

I will post a few more photos from the air show tomorrow, since we finally got a new computer!! Yay!

Happy Birthday Grandma Barbara!

Yesterday, my great-grandmother celebrated her 90th birthday....

We celebrated by having a wonderful dinner with all of the family that could be there.  Then, we surprised her by bringing in my brother (Tyler) via webcam to visit and help us sing to her....

She was pretty amazed with how the technology works.  We of course had to get some group photos while we were all together.

Here we are with Grandma.

Here is a photo of the 5 generations of females.  Lilian, myself, my mom, her mom, and her mom.

And, here is a group shot of everyone who was able to celebrate with us!
Top row from left: John (my step-dad), Lisa (my mom), Sharon (my grandmother), Dick (my grandfather), myself, Ron
Bottom Row from left: Doug (my 3rd cousin), Grandma Barbara (my great-grandmother), Lilian, Tammy (my great-great aunt), Braison, and Alfred (my great-great uncle, also my grandma Barbara's older brother)
Alfred, Tammy, and Doug traveled from the Tri-Cities to be here and we are so glad they were able to do so! We wish them a safe trip home.
Happy Birthday Grandma Barbara!
~Ashley

Carnival

We were out running errands this past weekend and happen to drive by a little carnival being held a few miles from our house.  We couldn't stop right then, but told the kids that we would come back.  Well, we decided to head back after dinner that night.  The wind was blowing about a hundred miles an hour, so we only got to ride on the merry-go-round, but we had a blast.  Seems how we were the only people at the whole carnival, we got an extra long ride, and the kids loved it!  Thank you Mr. Carnie for making our kids' evening :o)

It was...

...an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini that she wore for the first time today...

Happy Birthday Dad!

My (Ashley's) dad turned the big 5-0 this past weekend! His wife threw him a surprise party and a little bar in Boise called "Shorty's"

Everyone had a wonderful time....

My dad and his wife, Sue.

Leni helping test out his new "hearing aid" while also wearing his new glasses and fancy hat.

Some of the girls having a good time.

A bunch of friends showed up to help celebrate the occasion, it was really a wonderful night out!  Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa, we love you!

Easter

We had a very eventful Easter this year.  We started off the week by doing a craft project (crosses) and learning a little about Jesus and Easter.  Then we colored eggs...

And our final products...

Then on Easter morning the Easter Bunny came and left a few things..

We got ready for church after checking out the loot from him.  The kids were so adorable in their new Easter clothes!

Then we came home and got things ready to have some of the family over for an Easter dinner.  Here are some of the goodies that we made...

We had a wonderful dinner, then braved the chilly outdoors for an Easter egg hunt and to play with the new bubbles that we got.

All in all, we had a very wonderful holiday.  We are so blessed to have wonderful family around to celebrate with.  And, we are forever grateful for the sacrifice that our Savior made and what Easter truly means.

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... 

Bangs, Beaters, Rags, and Librarians...

So, we didn't think the day would come for Lilian to need a haircut for, oh, about 20 years, but that day came on March 25, 2010!  No, we didn't cut much, just her bangs as they were getting into her eyes...

Poor little girls wasn't wearing her glasses, so her eyes crossed pretty bad, but you can see what an improvement a trim of the bangs made! And, now she will talk your ear off about her pretty new bangs :o)

While making cupcakes for a dinner that we were having the kids were excited to get involved...

By licking the beater, of course!  They were quite enthralled with them for close to an hour, they were the cleanest beaters you ever saw by the time they were done with them!

Ron made Braison quite the dew rag, out of a piece of an old Halloween costume, he loved it....

And, I think we just might have a future librarian on our hands....

Don't you think?!?

Out of the mouths of babes

Daddy: Braison, who gave you your belly button?

Braison: Grandma Barbara.

Hiding in the grass

I got a call from my mother this morning, she watches Braison and Lilian while Ron and I work, to ask about a snake in our yard.  The kids were telling her about the snake that they found in the backyard yesterday, how it was in the grass, how they held it and pet it, and telling her the "sssssss" noise that snakes make.
Anyway, she called me to ask about the snake that we had found.  I asked her what she was talking about, and she relayed to me what the kids were telling her, while standing at the back door, reliving their experience.
That is when my laughter began, why you ask?  Because the "snake" that they were telling their Nana about was actually a 1/2" worm that we had found in the dirt.

Ponytails!

 

That is right...Lilian FINALLY has enough hair to put into a "ponytail" or two even today! It is a wonderful day!

CHEEEESE!

Lilian - (Holding her hands up around her eyes like she is looking through binoculars, or a make believe camera in this case) "Mommy! Look Here!
Mommy - Looks over to her
Lilian - "Say CHEEEESE!!"
Mommy - "Cheese!"
Lilian - "OH! Good one Mommy! One more picture."

Kids say the silliest things! Well, I guess grown-ups say the silliest things, we just don't realize how silly they are until they are mimicked by our children!

These Boots Are Made For Walking

 

What a couple of goofs, playing in their daddy's boots!