Spring Break!

This week was our spring break so I decided to take the kids and head to southern Utah and visit my sister. On Saturday the 22nd we went to Canyonlands National Park and rolled Easter eggs on a small hill of sand rock. Then spent the rest of the day hiking.

This is Newspaper rock, called that because of the hieroglyphics.

Sierra and Lindsey with their Easter eggs.
Hunter rolled one down and then decided to hang on to his other two.
Sierra and Megan with their eggs. I think there were over 10 dozen eggs my sister had colored the day before. Thank you Holly for all your hard work. It was really fun!

This is the hill we were rolling our eggs down. That is my nephew Morris looking at the remnants of eggs.

This is a place in Canyonlands that the cowboys used as shelter. They camped out here or maybe even lived. The tops of the rock underneath is black from the camp fires.

This is an outside picture of the cowboy hacienda. My niece Mya and sister Tiffany are pictured with my kids.

This is called looking glass rock. It is a fun climb. When you get to the top there is a huge bowl on the other side of the rock like a big cave. It was impossible to catch a good picture of it.

Aunt Tiffany, Hunter, Lindsey, Megan, Sierra and Mya at the top of Looking glass.

The Kids and I in our Easter outfits on Easter morning.

Sierra, Megan, Aunt Holly, Morris, Mya and Lindsey making peep zoom buggies out of ho-ho's, peeps, gummy life savers and frosting.

TA-DA... the finished product. This was at my sister Holly's house in Monticello, UT.

On Tuesday the 25th we went biking in Moab, UT. Pictured above is Megan, Sierra, Hunter and Lidsey (in the pull behind), my sister Holly, niece Mya, and my step sister Jenny. Thank you Jenny for taking us biking it was a blast. That was one of the highlights of the trip for my kids.

Born to bike!! Doesn't he look intimidating.

Our last stop in Southern Utah was the house that Jason lived in until he was 2. It was still there just with new siding and new roofing. It was really hard to get a good picture of it, but it was exciting to see the house in Moab, where Jason started. His parents moved here to Eastern Oregon from Moab, UT.

Plays and Easter Egg Hunts

Every year in the spring, the Missoula Children's Theatre (a group from Missoula, MT) , come to schools in rural areas. They show up on a Monday and hold auditions and then the show is on Friday. I am always amazed at how well the children learn their parts in just 4 days. Sierra and Megan were lucky enough to get parts this year. Their first big debute in the thespian department. This year the play was Robinson Crusoe. Don't worry, it was nothing like the actual story. This is a picture of the entire cast at the end of the program.

Megan was a chameleon along with 17 other children. Megan was so hilarious to watch. She new her parts very well and usually you could hear her very well over the other 17 children. She always shoved her way to front and center. If you know her your not surprised by this.

Sierra was a member of "The Very Hairy Frowny-Face Tribe" who frowned because they could never scare anyone. Sierra also did a great job. You could her very well as well. We were very proud of both of them.

A close up scary picture of Sierra. I can see why they couldn't scare anyone. They're too cute!!

After the early show we had a few hours so we went home. I had time to put finishing touches on the girls' easter dresses. So, I had them try them on and Hunter of course wanted to try Sierra's on. I stood him on the barstool so he could get the full effect of a full dress. Of course, he threw a fit when I took it off. Close your eyes Jason, I am sure this won't be his last attempt at wearing a dress with three older princesses in the house.

Today was the annual easter egg hunt on horse back. Jason's brother Jake, that we live next to, holds an easter egg hunt every year. Every child brings 6 eggs. The parents go and hide them in the designated area while they play games and then they have 5-6 horses. They take the children one at a time to go find an egg on horse back giving them 6 chances to go for a horse ride. It is always fun! However, it wasn't ideal weather. It snowed hard for most of it. That didn't stop the kids however. They had a great time.

Megan sporting her Easter egg. No, the picture is not fuzzy. That white stuff in the background is snow.

Lindsey out for one of her rides. You can't tell, but she really is smiling under all those layers.

Hunter was awsome, he only threw a fit every time he had to get off the horse. Sierra was a trooper to go with him a few times so he could stay on the horse.

This is the picture of the designated area where the eggs were hidden. This is a little pasture between our house and the dirt road we live on. It worked perfect. The snow did let up toward the end, but I don't think the kids even noticed. After the easter egg hunt we have a potluck lunch with all the neighbors and friends that brought their kids. Thanks Jake and Wendy for all your work. So there is our weekend in a nutshell. Holly and family, the girls and I will see you in the next week. We are very excited.

Update on the Ranch

Jason wanted to give a "ranch operations" update to Justin, Josh,
California buddies, and anyone else who gives a hoot. So, here we go! This was
just a really cute picture of Sierra, Megan, Lindsey and their two cousins Roper
and Dallee Jo helping feed cows Saturday morning.

This is a picture of a typical "ranch" fence. Notice its great sturdiness and
how tall and straight it is. Our house is there in the back ground. We would
have noticed the whole in the fence if it weren't for that gigantic camper in
our way.

Another angle of the very sturdy fence.

Remeber all that snow I blogged about earlier. Well it is melting and this is
the results of it. Fun Huh!!

This is heifer #223 who just barely calved (literally). She is licking the
cute little thing off. All is well.

This is a cute little calf that was born in February. It's leg was broken while being pulled. Jake is hoping it will heal. Jason took these pictures on Saturday morning before he headed into the office. So, I think it was as much of an update for him as it was for you. Hope all is well with everyone. Our California friends, Sierra and I will hopefully see you April 14th - 16th. We miss and love you guys!! Trista, Good Luck with your surgery. You are always in our prayers.

Update For Jason

This update is for Jason. Jason, this is what your family has been up to lately. We miss you!!

Monday was family night and we made scones. Hunter included. He would smash the dough and then eat it (Yuckkk!! He is all boy!) It was great fun.

Today, Wednesday the 27th, Megan had a program at school. They have been studying penguins. All the parents in the class came and the children showed the parents what they have learned. This is the penguin Megan made. I forget what kind it is, but ask her sometime and she will be happy to tell you.

After touring the classroom of all their projects they had accomplished. Megan's class put on a little skit from a story they had read. Megan was the lion. She did a great job!

Then, tonight Sierra fixed dinner. For a church project, Sierra had to plan, fix and serve a nutritious meal. She wanted to fix mini pizzas and strawberry slush (thank you Grandma Coleman for the recipe book). I told her it had to be nutritious. So she added salad and garlic bread to it. She has been very excited all week about her night to fix dinner. I must say. She did very well. I pulled out the ingredients and showed her the recipes. She pretty much did the whole thing herself. It was amazing and she was pretty proud.

I don't know if you can tell very well in this picture. They all have strawberry slush mustaches. Unfortunately, I gave the drink to Hunter first and he would not eat anything else. Oh well, I guess we always learn.

And last of all Jason, I thought you should know that Hunter has changed hats he wears. Oh, and he added a glove. It was Lindsey's hat she wore as a baby. I don't think it will fit on another babies head after it has been on his noggin. Hope all is well at the office. Please, light a candle, it has to start smelling stale in there after awhile. All my love, your wife.

Snow Caves

Last night Jason and Sierra went up into the mountains by a ski resort not very far from our house. There is a big scouting event called the "Klondike" going on. The scouts dig out these snow caves a week prior to the event and then they come and spend the night in them and play winter survival games the next day. Jason always looks forward to it. I enjoy sitting by the wood stove at home. Jason and Sierra didn't spend the night, but they were there until 9:30. Long enough to have fun.

Hunter, on the other hand, is walking more and more and crawling less and less. Very exciting! He has the fascination with Lindsey's pink beanie. He puts it on himself and then goes around the house thinking he is all that. He pretty much is.

I thought I would add this picture that I took of all the kids today since it has been awhile that I put all of them on the blog. Lindsey was looking at a scrapbook that volunteers from the Make-A-Wish foundation made of our Florida trip. Sierra and Megan were playing with their Care Bears and Hunter just goes where ever. Hope all is well with everyone.

Update on Sierra

Well, Friday Sierra had a doctor's appointment with her cardiologist in Boise. She see's her cardiologist in between biopsies in California. All went very well! They do an ultrasound of her heart (Echochardiogram) and make sure everything is looking good. The echo was normal and her check up was great. All things we like to hear. It is always fun to see Sierra's cardiologist. We have a great relationship with her, in fact she is going to be coming to our house to see what ranch life is like when it gets warmer. One of Sierra's labs of her medication was a little high. They like it between 6 and 8 and it was 9.9. So they may be making some adjustments but nothing big. Everyone here is doing great. Happy Valentines Day, President's Day and Ground Hog day. Along with any others that I may have missed.