Easter in Koosharem

Since Capitol Reef is so close to Koosharem we decided to go there for a day or two to celebrate Easter. Uncle Wes soon became the favorite when he caught the horse for the girls to ride. I sent my camera out with Madi because it was too dang cold! She got some cute pictures...if only I could figure out why they are blurry.
I am sure that Addi was in heaven! As you can see from the clouds...it was like minus 20! Well, at least it felt like it.
These three really get along pretty well!
The Easter Bunny almost had to ride in a sleigh to get to Grandma's house, but, he did make it! He also had to dodge Grandpa T's trap. But, he outsmarted Grandpa once again and didn't get caught!
Ethan and Addi got to search all over Grandma and Grandpa's house for eggs. The silly Easter Bunny hid Addi's basket on the ceiling fan and Ethan's in the dryer. Addi had to have some help but Ethan found his right away. It was a fun day...even if it was terribly cold.

Spring Break in Capitol Reef

Happy Birthday Addi

Last week Addi turned 5! It seems so crazy to me! My baby grew up in a blink of an eye. It was kind of a busy week. I didn't realize that her birthday fell on Spring Break. We celebrated in a hurried, chaotic kind of way. This picture is on her birthday, the rest were the day before.
Madison came to visit us for Addi's birthday! This was our first time to meet her. She was a little doll and slept most of the time. I did get to hold her for a minute though!
Apparently, my camera was on the wrong setting...my pictures are all blurry! Anyway, Grandpa and Grandma gave Addi this new red table since her old one blew off the porch in one of our lovely wind storms. This one is much heavier and better built. The kids all loved it.
I did make Addi a cake this year. It was pretty easy, not perfect, but she loved it. How could I not make an Easter Bunny with a birthday that close to Easter?
We also colored Easter eggs. Zach was funny. He colored them all then ended up putting them all in the same bowl and adding lots of different coloring. His eggs turned out pretty cool...his hands did too!
Allie was full of stories...and she loved to help blow out the candles on the cake.
Addi was about the only one that stuck with egg coloring. She colored for a good hour. She was so quiet and not like herself. A very busy day for her and I think she was tired.
Dawsyn, Tracen and Lincoln all came to celebrate too. It was fun to watch them all. Thanks to all the moms who came and endured the egg coloring!
Addi, is a happy and spunky little girl! She is so excited to go to Kindergarten next year. I have very mixed feelings. But, she assures me that she will be fine and that I will too. I remember one of my sisters talking about how she was going through all of her last things to do. Like sending her last child off to school, and her last preschool graduation..and on and on! I just started with all of my firsts, how can I already be to my lasts?

We will try and make all of our lasts the best...we love you Addi!

The Things We Do For Fun

Make crazy faces on the computer!
We make up own minute to win it games...quart size bottle, ping pong ball and shoes that were laying all over the house. The point is to try and get the ping pong ball into the quart bottle...1st prize...or shoes...2nd prize.
Ethan added the blind fold to take it up a notch...it was hard enough for me without it!
Addi loves to dance! She has some pretty awesome moves too! This night she convinced Ethan to dance with her. It got pretty intense! But, Addi loved every minute of it...I think Ethan did too... he just won't admit it!
I love nights like this...

Nerds...

Allison, Marcus and their kids came late last night for a short visit and snow board trip. They got here at about 9:30 p.m. That didn't stop these two nerds from having fun! At about 10 they came down dressed up as nerds. Mckay rummaged through Ethan's closet and found this get up. There were other characters before the nerds...I just didn't have my camera ready. Look at their hair...it changed styles 2 or 3 times before this.
This was a good part...they were helping each other with the hand sanitizer. It was so funny....I laughed and laughed!
A few key parts not to go unnoticed! Ethan and McKay's pants...hiked up to their ears! Then don't miss the collared shirt buttoned up tight. In McKay's pocket he has a big lollipop found in Ethan's candy drawer. Ethan has candy from who knows when in there! Next to the lollipop he has two mechanical pencils. Now, if you look close, Ethan has a comb stuck in his pants and on the other side he has fingernail clippers!! I mean what nerd goes without fingernail clippers? There is never a dull moments when these two are together!

Addi Girl

This is my Sunday....Addi trying out the washer. I guess just making sure she can still fit! She thought it was picture worthy.
I decided to make sugar cookies today. Addi loves to help. She cracks the eggs, does all the measuring and adds all the ingredients. I try to be patient, but, holy cow she makes a mess!

She loves every minute of it. By the time we were done she was covered in flour! I think she even had cookie dough on her bum! Don't worry, we threw "her" dough away. Someday I am hoping for an uninterrupted Sunday nap...even 30 minutes...but, right now Addi is not into naps. So, we make cookies!

Basketball 2011

Ethan played on a couple of basketball teams this year. It has been a lot of fun watching the boys as they improve. It was quite entertaining watching some of the parents too....it got pretty intense a few times.
One of his teams played in Cedar City every Saturday. They are just learning to really play as a team. Sometime this worked and other times it didn't. Dan and I loved watching them play. Addi, on the other hand, really hated it.
We can't wait until next year!

Biking in Zion

In January we got together with the Robinson's and Grandma and Grandpa Guymon and headed to warmer weather. At least we thought it would be warmer. We packed our bikes and a lunch and went to Zion. It wasn't what I would call warm. There was more snow in some spots than we had in Parowan! Brandon and Ethan still wore their shorts1
Addi just loved being outside and out of the house...that is the worst part about winter...we are stuck inside the house. We love being outside getting dirty and having fun!
Luckily Mike has a truck! We packed 9 bikes in the back of his truck...Dan and I decided that we need to invest in a bike rack for our car. Grandma and Grandpa drove the cars while we rode around...trying to find a spot that wasn't muddy. Addi hung out with Grandma in the car...her legs aren't ready for long bike rides yet. She did spin around the parking lots a few times though.
Ethan was so excited to try out his bike that he got for Christmas. What a good looking boy he is! Happy too:)
We had lunch here...and it was very chilly! There was a beautiful waterfall right behind the kids. That was Addi's favorite part. That and the ugly deer that are in Zion. You'd think she had never seen a deer before. We had a great day even though it wasn't as warm as we had hoped it would be. Hopefully, we can take our bikes out again soon!

Christmas 2010

Christmas morning sure came early. Ethan set his alarm clock for 5:30. Yikes!!! I should have been smarter and shut it off. But, I didn't. The kids waited patiently for Dan and I to get up and moving before they came out of Ethan's room. I just noticed that these walls look very bare. I had better get something on them.
Ethan may have scored best brother award. He got Addi this little puppy. It is soft and cute and makes all kinds of noises. Best of all...it doesn't poop and you don't have to feed it!
Addi also got a makeup set. She was quite excited about it too! I got my fingernails painted...one hand silver the other hand purple. Best of all, I didn't take it off for a few days! Very stylish!
Ethan was shooting his air soft gun in the house. It came with a cool sticky target. Hard to tell, but I think he liked it!
Dangerous!!! Look at that smile...

Ethan got lots of exciting things. How about flint...a hatchet...a bike...wii game...the coolest thing ever...a hot chocolate maker. I am sure I am missing something, but, these are the things that I could think of. Ethan was making sparks all over the house with his flint. The things that make a boy happy.
He also got a camelbak. I think we are ready for a good bike ride!
Addi got all kinds of fun stuff too! Santa knew just what they wanted! Her theme color turned out to be pink and purple. She got a bike too..a stereo...a pillow pet and a dolly. She practiced for several days on her bike in the house. Then her Dad kicked her out. Funny thing...we went for a little ride on Christmas day. Addi and I got to the Neilson's house (not very far away from our house) and Addi said, "Whew, I am tired I think we should go back and get a bottle of water!" We kept riding for about 3/4 of a mile. She made it just fine. Her fingers were frozen, but, she wanted to keep going. Luckily she had on her head lamp...just to be safe. I think it was the funniest thing I have ever seen! This summer will be fun! I can see lots of bike rides in our future!
Addi scoots all around the house on this. Dad hasn't band this from the house yet. Notice Ethan in the background shooting...safety first at our house!

Dan is just so lucky. I tried really hard to surprise him with this thing. I think I pulled it off. Everyone took a turn on it and then felt really terrible after. I will probably never get on it again! Not sure that Grandpa Guymon will either. I guess all that matters is that Dan thinks it is cool...right? We all had a Merry Christmas...it all seemed to come and go really fast! Now onto a new year...let's hope it is a good one!