The Hike

While we had Adam & Christine's family and David and Missy visiting, we decided to go up the canyon and hike Bridal Veil Falls.  It was so beautiful up there, and just so nice to get up the canyon, and outside.  It had been raining a lot the week prior, and so it felt great to have some sunshine and breeze.  Here we are before we met up with Chad and the girls.

Dave and Missy

The hike.

It was a bit more treacherous than we thought it would be, but the kids were careful, and we all made it safely.  The kids did a really great job.  They all had a lot of fun.

I love this pic of Breanne.

Megan and Lucy

I love this pic of Joshua.

Chad and Niamh

A pic for "proof" that Mom WAS there, because I'm the one BEHIND the camera, so I'm not in any other picture.  :)

There were these cute blue/purpelish flowers all along the trail.  I thought they were fun.

Of course, after the hike, the kids played in the water at the base of the falls.  We were not really prepared for this, so they ended up falling in the water with shoes on and all.  But they were having a blast!  And once they are wet, they are wet, so they might as well just have at it! 

Josh and Niamh being extra adventurous.

So everyone was leaving foot prints with thei wet feet and socks.  Here are Josh's feet.

Brigham absolutely LOVED this experience.  He was being held the entire time!!!  Can't beat that.  We will have to take him on more hikes!

I loved this site, I had to get a picture of it.  This is what resulted from all the wet feet.

Awe, Summer!!!  This was a really fun day.

Baseball Season!

And so it begins.... We are at the start of many, many, baseball games.  I'm sure that after going for all of our boys over the next several years, we will be very used to it, but for now... it is a new experience.  And we love it!  Joshua is doing well learning how to play baseball.  He is getting better every game.  He is so cute in his hat and shirt.  His team is called the "Silver Knights."  It is a Coach Pitch city league.  And he has practice during the week, and a game on Saturday. 

On this particular Saturday, he had the most amazing cheering section!  Seeing how Adam and David (and families) were visiting, we made this a family event, so including Chad (and his family), and G-ma & G-pa, we made for quite the group!  He will not always have such a showing, but it was really cool to have it this week.  He did great, and it was a fun time.  

Happy Birthday Jared!

 Jared had a fun birthday this year, and celebrated with Strawberry Shortcake (his favorite), and a lot of family!  Plus he got a fun game he wanted, and a bunch of other wonderful presents. 

 

Of Course no party is complete without a rousing game of Band Hero.  (Or is it Rock Band?  Sorry, I'm actually not sure which one is which.)  But really, it was a lot of fun!  We had a lot of willing participants!

Here is Jared with Breanne, and her pot that she made for him at school.  So sweet.

Brigham

The kids, all anxiously awaiting giving their gifts to Dad.

The fun game.

the 2nd Grade Preformance

Josh did great at his 2nd Grade Preformance.  They sang songs, played recorders, and recited poems. 

It was fun, and he did a great job.

Kindergarten Field Trip to Thanks Giving Point

I got to go with Breanne's Class on their field trip.  It was fun to see all the animals, and do all the activities.  I really loved being able to ride on the bus with Breanne.  She is so cute and fun.  I always love coming along on these activities.   

That morning, this momma goat had two babies!  They were only a couple hours old.  It was kinda cool to see that.

Spring Dance Recital

I did another dance class this spring.  It turned out great.  I had a couple more girls, and we did a longer program.  They had 7 numbers.  They did a great job, despite the wind!  We were blessed that it wasn't raining, and had a great show in the backyard.  I was so grateful for all the help getting everything set up.  I think it turned out great.

Up the canyon with Josua.

Joshua and I went up the canyon to go on a hike, and play some board games.  It was so fun.

 

The water level of the river is higher than i have ever seen!

Up at the top of our little trail.

I just love this kid.

The Meteorologist

"It should be sunny in the South, but there will be rain in the Midwest tomorrow...."

A qood quote

This was in the May 2011 Reader's Digest.  An article by Melissa Fay Greene, which is apparently an excerpt from a book about her experiences adopting orphans from other countries, and trying to put together a family.  But I loved this quote, no matter what your situation is:

"You each have the freedom to choose which mood to share with the family, which incidents you want to focus on, and what kind of person you want to be." 

If I were the vinyl lettering kind of person.  I might consider putting this somewhere.  Maybe I'll just frame it, and put it up some day. 

My special day with Breanne, up the canyon.

We've been doing a special day with one of the kids everyweek.  Jared gets two weeks a month, and I get the other two, and each kid goes at least once a month with one of us.  I just haven't brought the camera along to most of them.  But for this, the point was to take the camera and do a "photo shoot" up the canyon.  So I got some fun pics of Breanne all dolled up in her hat, sun glasses, and bag.  Then I just let her have the camera and she took all sorts of fun and interesting pictures.  I had a lot of fun spending time with her.  She sure is cute.

The water was FREEZING!  It's just snow run off.  But that didn't stop her from taking off her shoes and going in.

Bridal Veil Falls

This is her favorite picture.  (A close up of a dandilion).  Go figure.

This is my favorite picture.  I think she captured that tree really well.  :)  And it just looks interesting.

The inside of a tree.  "Let's see what's inside..."  She said as she pushed the button.

A classic bridge pic.

My cutie-pa-tutie.  I just love this girl.  She's such a big helper with her younger brothers, and around the house.  I'm so glad I have atleast one daughter!  Love you Breanne!

Breanne's, Kindergarten, Mom's Luau

The kids sang the cutest song about "pearly shells."  Oh, it melted my heart.  It was so cute!

Breanne made this plate.  I think it was a neat gift idea for mother's day.  And she did such a great job.

Me and "mini me."  We look so alike.

Thanks, Breanne, for the funnest day!  I loved it!  And I love having you for a daughter!  You're the best!

Sometimes I feel like a.......

SHERPA!

I didn't catch the picture of myselft today, but like many days I was carrying everything for everybody, and a whole lot of other stuff, like a mom does.  And seeing how Mother's Day is around the corner, I thought I'd post this thought.  Sometimes I feel like a sherpa.  But without them, no one could scale mountains.  So here's to all you other wonderful moms out there that make EVERYTHING possible! 

I'm sorry, but...isn't he just so cute!!?

Brigham at 7 1/2 months!

So true...

I had to laugh when I saw this.  And maybe the few of you who look at my blog, will laugh too.  :)