Spring "shower"...

This spring Mom and I had a shower for my new cousin-in-law here at my place! It was supposed to be in Feb. but the snow put an end to that...so the spring "shower" was more fun anyway...the flowers were blooming and the sun was shining. As you can see from the pic, I introdcued the bride to a tool that every gal must have --THE PERSUADER. I find it quite useful. Mom and I bought these "tools" in Highlands one year and hers is called the "MAN TAMER"...they are funny decorations and converational pieces that can actually be used!

















Caleb LOVES to climb fences...the pic is him at the top!
The Zipline is back in action.
Jeb has a new do! It has been fun and we think he looks adorable...but it is hard to be different at school...I am sure everyone can remember those days.
Cay loves to pick me flowers--see pic-so cute.
We had a fun day with Carson last week. She loves to swing!
The cousins came over and found a worm--they were mesmorized.
Caleb is obsessed with Aunt Ash. He asks about her more everyday and wants her to come to his house or he wants to go to her house. It is really strange how much he thinks about her--but sweet too.

Horsin' Around

The horses have had a long winter (like all of us!). We have been working getting them ship shape...manes, feet, coats, meds, etc. Patty (our pony--pic coming soon) has had to be segregated from all the others (too much of a good thing is NOT a good thing-green grass!) and the other equine species out there (our donkey included) take turns standing by her pen and keeping her company--too cute! We got her brushed up, her mane combed out (thanks to WD-40--works like conditioner) and she is sparkling for her spring rides! Speaking of...

I was grading research projects one Sunday when I looked out the window and thought I saw two horses--not one--coming my way with Jeb and Jonas on them! I was so proud of Jeb for riding like a big boy with Daddy.

PJ is thrilled that we are back to eating one cantalope a day! He sees me coming with the walmart bag and calling his name and he comes running. Jonas built me a composting bin and I am quickly realizing that I dont' need it very much. Between the horses, goats, and dogs not much goes to waste anyway! The only thing that Bailey won't eat is banana peels. I have never known a dog that eats fruit and veggies--how odd.






We started our garden and due to the fact that we down so much cantalope we put in 9 cantalope plants, a few watermelons, and then other things like tomatoes and peppers and squash. Jonas did a stellar job this year with the garden. Our blackberries and blueberries don't look like much right now (we planted them in the fall) but I am hopeful for their future and they are all ALIVE! More affordable smoothies here I come! The boys enjoyed digging and helping Daddy make the mounds and such for the garden.

We have 2 new goats--welcome Tulip and Daisy. We traded some of our boys (meat) that we had last kidding for these two flower girls. The purple feet are cute-huh? That is some stylish foot germ-X for goats!

Horsin'

Jeb's Fan Club...

We had so much fun last night when most of Jeb's aunts and uncles and cousins (on both sides) came to watch him play soccer! He did a great job playing and giving it his all out there for the Black Knights! Then, the aunts and uncles and us braved Pizza Hut with 7 kids (I had JJ, which is like another cousin)...it was a WILD time! They were good, but they were kids ya know. Jonas had major indigestion...there were a few flipped chairs, dropped plates, hitting, spitting (for fun), going to the bathroom, and I need this or that's...if you are parent you know what it was like! As you can see, I had fun taking pictures of the folks I love with Jill's nice lens!

The new toy...

This past month we got a trampoline...yes, yes, I know they are very dangerous...BUT I grew up with one (WITHOUT A NET) and some of my best memories in our neighborhood are on that old yellow rectangle trampoline. The boys and I and Jonas, too, have had the best laughs since this trampoline arrived. All the neighbor kids can come over and jump for a LONG time, just like I did with my buds as a kid. The only thing that would make it more authentic would be if they had a jam box (tapes and all) playing with songs like "What's Love Got to Do With It?," MC Hammer, Wilson Phillips, the Pointer Sisters, and other good stuff from the 70s and 80s.

We have made up about 10,000 games to play on the trampoline...here are a sampling:

1. Rolling log--where Jonas rolls around and the kids jump over him...
2. Sock bomb--where I try to throw dirty sock bombs at them and hit them..
3. Dodge ball--we keep a large orange ball on it...
4. soccer--where we go one direction around the perimeter and try to steal it and kick it the other way.
5. some old favs like duck, duck goose-CAy's favorite!
6. Ring around the rosie
7. Popcorn--of course..
8. Pop goes the weasel...
9. who can jump the highest?
10. chase...tag...
and then of course we just jump till we are exhausted!

Other pics here: Cay loves to be funny and put his pants on his head while he does his business...

My favorite tree--the weeping cherry! So sweeeeeet!

Easter Sunday...

I love Easter! Without it what hope do we have??? It is a really sweet day that has not been TOO ruined by materialism...which is why I prefer Thanksgiving as well!

The boys were in baby blue this Easter...I thought they were so sweet I could eat them.

The bunny went to Bass Pro to do most of his shopping so that was a hoot. They enjoyed their punching bag, new caps, and their new Connect 4 game (Jeb is a game fanatic), as well as stuffing as many Reeces as humanly possibe in their mouths.

We had a great camping trip to a park nearby where we live with friends...the mountains were refreshing after a long, miserable winter! I am renewed with hope and vigor--hee hee! We had the most perfect weather ...cool enough in the mornings for a fire and in the evenings for smores and warm enough all day for shorts and tees and even some fun in the water! We are blessed to have great friend to spend the weekend with and to take our Cuz Bradley with us, too. The kids ate a bag and a half of marshmallows our first night out and I think Caleb almost turned into a marshmallow that evening. They enjoyed digging, unloading our firewood, building fires, throwing things in the fire, standing beside the fire, talking about the fire, and roasting marshmallows over the fire! They were little piro-maniacs...I think all boys are! The bike riding was great b/c now that we are training wheel free this season there is no stopping us! I am also amazed at how stressful camping can be when a 2-year-old is involved...I was heart-attacking many times trying to keep tabs on him and do things around the camp site...they need pens for kids at some sites-ha! We did some hiking as a family on Sat and went to some great rocky areas where there were caverns and caves to explore. Then, we went up this rock to a HUGE mountain overlook...it was awesome and the breeze blowing was fabulous...Caleb felt like he was flying in the pic! Next, we headed to the river b/c I just CAN'T come home without putting my toes in and smelling the river and we ended up staying for about an hour...and letting the boys play...well, despite the frigid water they got down to nothing and almost nothing and had running through the water, building castles and digging holes. For the record, the river beats the heck out of going to the beach ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. Every time I go to the mountains I am reminded that I would rather have a mtn/river home than a beach house!
We had yummy eats while we camped...B-Squeak cooked a good bfast each am and it was a great treat to have REAL bacon! Also, we ate some great BBQ and went to the Mac Daddy of playlands one evening...and trotted to a waterfall with our buddies. Fun stuff...hope to do it again soon now that I have caught up on my sleep!