Grateful Sunday

This is Parker just before he knocked it out of the park on Friday night. Well, kind of. He made it to first base! PS, we've been working on the batting stance. He does much better when you pitch it to him. Anyway, by the end of the game, Parker ended up with a bloody nose after an infield collision. This is hard core t-ball.

Audrey, Miles & Callie, spectators. Audrey had a fun sleepover with her BFF for her bday.
Read more about it here.

This Sunday, I'm grateful for:

• my cell phone. It would have been even more annoying to be locked out of my house on Thursday if I hadn't had my phone with me. I do have several friends within walking distance, but I hate to intrude.
• my husband, because I love him and he loves me. And he wanted me to say how grateful I am for him. :)
• Elliott and Ginger, who are using their spring break to come see us this week!! You guys up for the beach?!
  

Ring around the collar

Have a great weekend! May your shirt get as dirty and may you have as much fun as this little dude has every day. We'll be busy with sleepovers, t-ball, 2 birthday parties and some touch-up painting.

off to the rodeo

We went to the last day of the big city rodeo on Saturday. We had a great time, just like last year. Here's how a day at the rodeo goes for us.

1. Watch pig races. Cheer for pig number 1, "Kevin Bacon." He won the first race. Yay! We got a pooping piggie key chain to remember him by.
2. Watch 2 random kids do a demonstration of tribal African drum music. Thrilling, as you can see.
3. Apply sunscreen.
4. Ride a few rides until the evil mommy and daddy tell you the tickets have run out.
5. Get faces painted to ease the whining.

5. Go look at baby animals, and scary, ultra-blingy cowgirl attire in the arena. Watch Daddy look into a few trucks (hoping to see the hybrid Yukon).
6. Sit in a tractor or two.
7. Eat tamales, roasted corn, corn dogs, cherry lemonade, and a funnel cake. Still wish for more carnival food. Mmmmm.

8. Become completely surprised and thankful when a random stranger offers us his carnival fun pass with $50 of ride tickets on it. Go on more rides, just when Mama was about ready to go home.
9. Sit in the parking lot, completely pooped out with funnel cake lips, waiting for Daddy to bring the car around.

Ah, the rodeo. Good times, good times.

posed

On our trip, I made people pose for pictures.
They knew they'd end up on the blog, but did it anyway!

Mabel, looking precious.

Me and my Moe.

Steph, me & Stella.

Julianne & my dad, taking in the majestic sights.

Parker LOVED Charlotte's Roomba. We told him it was a droid and then he started thinking it was cute. This picture was his idea.

Me and my two sisters. Julianne is in Africa so she can't get mad at me for posting this. I kind of sprang the photo op idea on her right after she woke up. Such a good sport, Jooj!

Steph and me with our mom, post Foundry Grill lunch. Mmmmm . . .

K, I'm done with vacation photos. Thanks for bearing with me.

our pa

is celebrating his birthday today. We love you, Pa! We're all so lucky to have you in our lives. I don't think it's any wonder why our kids are all obsessed with you. You're the best!

Happy Birthday!

Birthday Girl

We celebrated Audrey's seventh birthday while we were away. It was convenient that nine of her cousins and a dozen or so aunts and uncles happened to be around! My mom got her a great horsie cake and everyone brought her wonderful gifts (thanks, everyone).

Pondering the wish before she blows out the candle. I love this picture.
(Jack & Parker on the left, Savannah [the other curly redhead cousin] on the right.)

L to R: Jackson H (nice face), Mabel, Annie, Parker, Jack,
Audrey, Savannah, Caroline, Emmaline and Oliver's cute cheeks.

From the loft.

We had lunch at Tucano's, where they sang to Audrey. (Eat there, make my dad happy.) My dad and sister, Julianne, are applauding in the background. Julianne came to see us between Oxford, Berkeley, & Niger. Yay!

Happy Birthday to Audrey!

More on her later.

Boardin'

Neal and Audrey, ready to snowboard on the snowiest day of the trip!

Parker and Jack, ready for the slopes . . .

Miles spectated. It was way too bright, though, so we had to leave.

Buckling up!

Off they go! Thank goodness Neal knows how to do this.
They learned so fast and loved every minute.

Love that red ponytail hanging out the back. . .

Snowboarding makes you tired.

Here's a video so you can see the kids in action. Uncle Matt was assistant coach and was cheering them on the whole time.

Easter at our house.

We had a lovely Easter day. For a weather report threatening rain all day, the sun was a pleasant surprise.

The sillies lookin' good. My grandma made Audrey's dress by hand for her birthday. It's positively gorgeous. She had loads of compliments and was so proud to tell people that her great-grandma made it for her.

Miles and me, taking in the sunshine.

The pre-hunt line-up at our friends' evening egg hunt.

Audrey and her BFF, Callie. Please note the Webkinz, who go everywhere these girls go.

Miles loved to find eggs. He had a lot of help from Neal, and the look on his face as you opened an egg for him was pure excitement.

I hope you had as much fun as we did yesterday!

Grateful Sunday

The Garden of Gethsemane. I took this picture on our trip to Israel in 2000. It's weird how vividly I remember walking through the little opening in the wall, seeing the sign for this holy place and stepping inside. Peaceful beyond words, and gratitude-inspiring unlike anything else.

This Easter Sunday, I'm grateful for:

• the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the chance I had to talk about it with my primary class today. I'll never forget the looks on their faces as they thought of the devastation at Christ's death and the incredible miracle that was witnessed when He came to life again. Such precious kids. I'm so lucky.
• the quick and near-to-church Emergency Center (mentioned here, too). Parker fell out of the back of our car in the church parking lot this afternoon. From standing in the back of the Yukon, he tumbled onto the concrete (when we unknowingly opened the door he was leaning on). He fell right onto his head and arm, with nothing to break his fall. No blood, but lots of screaming, and we all heard a big cracking sound, so we took him in. He had an exam and a CT scan and we were out of there in about an hour with instructions to watch him for weird or sleepy behavior. He was a lucky dude.
• a delicious Easter feast with our friends tonight in their lovely home and backyard. I'll post pictures soon. I feel like my blog is now a "family event and holiday recap blog." But, not to worry, by the end of the week, I'll have nothing to talk about again.

Happy Easter!

Read what my dad wrote here. True to form, he wrote a beautiful post about our Savior, Jesus Christ. And one more pretty picture from our trip years ago . . .

The River Jordan. What a beautiful place.

in the warm house

After we'd drag the kids in from the snow, they would come up with lots of ways to keep busy.

Miles fell in love with his favorite "beebee," Stella. He was so gentle and sweet, all on his own.

But how could you not fall in love with this face?

Many hours were giggled away in the "triangle room," a dream for the kids. We describe it as a kid-sized cat condo filled with toys, pillows, books & the occasional cousin. See Miles inside?

The kids colored a lot. Either at this table . . .

or at this one.

Miles really got into it.

And Lincoln and Mimi are the embodiment of children's entertainment. We love you guys!

More later!

snow play

There was a "little bit" of snow up in Sundance this year. Here is Parker chillin' on about 6 feet of it above the driveway of my parents' house.

The sledding hill out back. Mike & Oliver on their way down. Look out Mimi!

P* cousins from three different families, all smushed in a snow hole. (Parker, Annie, Oliver)

Working is fun when you're in the snow! (Audrey & Annie with the kid-sized snow shovels.) Brilliant!

The largest, sharpest icicles ever.

Little Miles wanted to play, too.

Aunt Mimi is the best: plays with kids from dawn 'til dusk.