Father's Day

i got out of the house at 5:30 for an 11 mile run and when I got back Avery was running around, but Rance and Cade were sleeping, so Avery and I made Rance ham, eggs, and pancakes for breakfast

After breakfast, the kids helped me make chocolate chip cookies for Rance.  They were of course big big helpers and couldn't wait to lick the spoons.

Riding Lessons from the Red Ryder

 Avery was not about to be left out of the fun.  She is very determined to ride also.

 I think maybe the Red Ryder was very pooped after this day, she had a lot of little riders she was giving lessons too.

 Cade is doing so great!

 I think maybe this one will be a runner like her Mama!

Could he be any more handsome?

Riding is hard work.

A Frog In the Basement

Rance was in the basement checking to see if we had any leaks with all the rain lately and he found no water but he did find a small frog. The kids thought it was really neat and had to take turns holding it until mean ol Mom made them put the frog outside. I convinced them the poor little frog would be much happier outside than in.

Here is something I always love to see..my kids getting along playing together and not fighting. They really like playing games on the computer, but don't get to if they can't take turns and play nice. They don't always believe me.

A little bit of Avery

 A sweet sleeping Avery, doesn't get much better than this! She had made her own peanut butter sandwich on the floor of the kitchen and what is left of it is all over her cheeks still. Don't be fooled by her angelic appearance here. 

 Into trouble here no doubt and trying to look innocent, is it working?

 Avery decided to paint her own fingernails today and she pretty much got them and the tips of all her fingers and the bathroom floor and the cupboards.  Luckily it all came out easily.

This is Avery with her "dancing baby" as she is referred to, getting ready to help me in the kitchen. She really likes to help me cook and when her and Cade aren't fighting over whose turn it is to do what they can be a little helpful.

Playing with Scarlett

 Scarlett payed us a visit last week and all the kids couldn't  wait for a turn to hold her and play with her.

 Cade playing peekaboo with Scarlett while big cousin Carter hold her.

 Chase wanted in on the fun too.

Avery might be the older cousin but she may not be the bigger cousin for very long!

Spring Snow

 We had a rather freak snow storm on Friday and I was at work. We woke up to blowing snow and ice, I drove to town where they of course had no snow.  It snowed a little all day and I was headed home from work Rance called and warned me I may not make it home from work as the roads were icy and drifted. Turns out he was not kidding I got off the interstate and drove into a winter wonderland ..of sorts.  I made it home but I was sure I was going to without getting stuck the roads were drifted and covered in 5 or 6 heavy wet inches of snow.

 Saturday dawned to a beautiful new day and the kids couldn't wait to go play in the snow in their swimsuits!

 It was one of the most beautiful days of the year, hard to believe Friday had been so nasty and blizzardy!

Snow and Kids

 These snowy pictures were taken earlier this winter I can't really remember when though.  They were on my phone, mostly they were taken just to show how deep the snow drifts along the road were.

 These are a sequence of pictures of the kids on the couch one night.  They were getting along really well and were sharing an apple as well as just being plain old goofy!

Grandpa takes us all to the Shrine Circus

My Dad decided to take my older sis, brother and I and our families to the Circus this year.  The kids were all very excited to go as they went last year and had a grand time. Avery was very excited for the elephant rides and after weeks of telling his sister how scary and mean elephants were Cade couldn't let his sister ride the elephants without him so he and Carter took a ride on the elephants with Grandpa and Avery.

 Grandpa Mike also bought all of the kids light up swords which Cade and Everett managed to drop under the bleachers.  Corrine helped recover them while the kids were riding the elephant, but then during the second half of the circus Avery and Cade both dropped their swords under the bleachers where they were run off with by some other kids, so Grandpa Mike was conned into buying two more light up swords by the heartbroken kids.  We had a great time, lots of popcorn, cotton candy etc!

Sledding

 We went sledding on the last Sunday in February and were so glad we did as the weather was finally beautiful and we had a great time without freezing our butts off. We had a great time although Rance and I managed to find some rocks that didn't quite agree with our sleds or our behinds.

 We of course took along some refreshments along the lines of hot cocoa.

Cola also thought is was great fun as long as he didn't have to ride in the sled.

Happy 80th Birthday to my Grandma Pat

 My Grandmother Pat turned 80 on the 13th of February and had a great party.  Here is a picture of her with her very eager to blow out the candles on the birthday cake great grandkids. I am pretty sure there was no way we were going to get a picture of all the kids looking at the camera at the same time and smiling so this was about as good as it got!

A likely looking bunch, Avery is too cool in those shades to even look at the camera.

Big helpers opening presents!

This girl is getting some cheeks, and chins!

 

Avery can't get enough of her cousin Scarlett!

A few Random pics

Cade and Rance were looking pretty cute in their similar attire.  Cade has been very happy to have a cowboy hat again.  Actually two as he got a black and a straw hat for Christmas.  He lost his last hat in Ronan last suummer and was a very sad cowboy because of it.

Mr. Handsome himself!

Avery loves her babydolls.  This is her newest one which is alternatly named Baby Scarlett and Julie.

The little princess.  She is big on princess stuff lately and dressing up in her play clothes.

Chase and Avery helping me bake some brownies.  They were very excited for the part where they get to lick the spoon.

Kite flying.

Sledding where there are no hills requires a willing power source.  In this case it was me.