Emma's birthday/Cabin Time

Happy birthday Emma!

Emma got some wonderful presents: cute necklaces, games, books, clothes, etc. Thank you everyone!

I couldn't pass up this darling umbrella. Too cute!


Our good friends invited us to join them for a few days at a rental cabin in Morgan. We couldn't wait to go! We headed up Friday afternoon and enjoyed Emma's birthday dinner and cake at the cabin. The kids all had tons of fun running around, shrieking, coloring, playing games, playing hair salon, watching movies, eating, and petting the stray cat and her darling baby kittens that camped out on the back deck.

The awesome cougar skin. The kids were amazed and terrified all in one.


Rachel and Kaitlyn jumping on the floor mattress

We thoroughly enjoyed the ping-pong table. We're such fans of ping pong!

Bill and the boys--aren't they adorable? (Yes, Bill, you're adorable too.)

Fooz-ball--is that how you spell it? Luke loved retrieving the ball each time it rolled down into the slot.

Lauren instructing Emma in the ways of a new Leapster game

Emma wanted to watch Tom & Jerry after dinner while munching on "Dad's famous popcorn."

It was a way fun 24 hours! We will most definitely have to do it again!

six.

Happy birthday Emma!!
This sweet baby girl is now six years old! I really can't believe she'll be going to school ALL DAY LONG in just four months. Man, I'm going to miss her!


Some facts about six-year-old Emma:
**She loves to write her own stories.
**She is so creative and is always inventing new games, projects, experiments, etc. (this can be quite messy for her mom).
**She is a huge helper with her brother and sister. She loves to help entertain them and take care of them.
**She loves reading chapter books (Junie B. Jones are her faves).
**She loves to be jumped HIGH on the trampoline.
**She is so affectionate with all relatives and family members. So cute.
**When she does something wrong and we scold her, it's like the end of the world for her. She gets all mopey and sad and it's hard to snap her out of it. Thank goodness this doesn't happen often.
**She loves to be outside and wants to go fishing a lot with her dad this summer.
**She is learning to play so many two-handed songs on the piano--and many times she practices without me even reminding her!!
**She can pack in the food and loves to eat anything and everything.
**She's lost four bottom teeth and one of her top teeth is wiggly.
**She doesn't really play with toys much anymore, only if Rachel or another friend is playing too.
**She loves to be fancy and likes using her play makeup.



We love this kid so much! She makes all of us so happy!

Easter 2010

We had a wonderful Easter this year. We hosted the dinner and it was fun to have family over to watch the kids hunt for eggs. Ben grilled burgers and chicken and we had lots of yummy side dishes. Wish the weather was better so we didn't have to crowd into our tiny house. Can't wait for summer living!!

Cameron helped hide the eggs for the egg hunt. The kids had SOOOOO much fun!

It was fun to have Grandma with us for the egg hunt.

And Aunt Susie.

After finding about 5 eggs, all Rachel wanted to do was sit down in the grass and munch on the candy.

The loot

Luke didn't know what was going on yet, but he sure looked cute with his basket.

Luke also enjoyed putting his basket around his neck. What a goofball!


Hope everyone had a nice Easter!

Random Shots

Here are some random cute photos of the kids and our happenings over the past few months.

Reading with Aunt Sue

Could these kids look any more stoned? The ugly power of TV....

Long chilly days inside = many craft projects. The girls loved tracing and decorating their bodies!


Luke can't wait for the moments I accidentally leave the pantry open--access!!! He lives for getting into stuff and making messes.

St. Patty's Day--thought this was a cute one of all the kids.

Love this green shirt on Luke.

Dads are great for horsie rides.

Emma and her best buddy

The library had a Fancy Nancy party in February. So much fun to dress up and look fancy for a day. We were sad Rachel wasn't old enough to go.

Emma is such a great big sister. She loves to read to Luke and help him color.

Fish Fever

Ben had another short, but successful, fishing trip on Saturday. He caught numerous trout in the 10 to 16" range and hooked what he thought was going to be the wall hanger he's always wanted to catch. It turned out to be huge carp! Man, those suckers are ugly (bad pun, I know).

Dinosaur Museum

We had a great time at the Thanksgiving Point dinosaur museum a week ago Saturday.



Rachel loved exploring the cave -- even when a little boy pretended to be a triceratops and tried to head butt her out of the cave.







The sand and water play area was a big hit.



The shark made Luke a little nervous, but he went right up to it when he saw his sisters weren't afraid.



The woolly mammoth hunting exhibit seemed a bit violent for kids and turned into an impromptu object lesson on where meat comes from.





Every little boy's dream: dirt, tools and nobody around to say "no."

Fishergirl

Dad took the day off on Friday and took Emma fishing in the afternoon. They went to a secret spot to catch rainbow trout that have just begun their spawning run out of a local reservoir and up a small stream.

Emma caught this beautiful 16" rainbow all by herself using her Barbie fishing pole! The biggest fish Dad caught was only 14".



When they got home, Mom told Emma what a good fisherman she is. Emma corrected her and said, "You mean fisherGIRL."





Rachel liked the slippery, slimy feel of the trout. Dad and Emma kept 4 fish (the limit) in all and mostly kept small ones because they are better to eat. The trout made a delicious dinner!