A Day in the Life...

We are predictable people. I like schedules and have lots of "routines." The kids must be catching on. If we ever have time to ourselves, you can bet Rhett will want to play his DS and Laynee is entertained by whatever (really, she is glad to have something to herself for a minute, the middle child seems to have to fight for things) and Addy--helpful Addy--will be going through the pantry and feeding herself-usually cereal. She made sure she was well-mannered about it all and sat herself down on top of the block bucket. At least we know she can take care of herself...I have to vacuum a lot.

Along with predictability, on Fridays the kids love to open up the bed in the couch and kick back for some TV viewing and treats. Laynee loves to sleep there and Rhett is only in it for as long as I allow the TV to be on. Of course, Addy won't be left out. She is getting pretty good and making sure she is literally in the middle of EVERYTHING!

Outside

We are chicken farmers, I guess. After we hatched some out we couldn't mix them with the big ones (yet) and we are going to need more space so Kade built a big coop. I thought it was a little backwards that the chickens are getting a place and Laynee, Addy and I don't have a playhouse yet. He owes us now. Addy loves to be outside, with the animals and with Kade so she had a great time building with Kade.

She found tools on the ground and would go in and pound on the walls--just like daddy.

The rest of the crew on hand found good times on the tramp bouncing all the shoes they could find and trying not to let the shoes touch them. They also were playing crack the egg. I love seeing them play outside and such classic games!

Laynee's Birthday

Laynee turned four this year! We were on the road for her actual birthday (I am usually very strick about celebrating on the day. We don't move Christmas, do we?) so we had a party for her when we got back. She invited 7 little friends and we had a princess party. We painted nails, made bracelets and necklaces, decorated wands and glittered it all up! I think she had fun! I have a new policy now of having friend parties only every other year. They are work! Thanks to the Grandma's and Aunt Jeni for saving me and helping out!

Let's just spit on our own piece!! JK They got to dress up with all their stuff and have little cakes and ice cream.

A kids favorite part-presents!

More Good Times

So we went to California, but not to Disneyland. We must be the only people on the planet to do that over spring break. I am still trying to convince Kade of the necessity of Disneyland in a child's vacation portfolio. Good thing we still have time. We did, however, go to Six Flag Discovery Wild Kingdom-or something like that. It had animals and rides and the kids LOVED it. I learned a lot about my kids while actually hanging out with and focusing on them. For instance, Laynee is hilarious!! She is so silly and totally willing to try anything. I come from a long line (well at least me and possibly my mom) of wimps when it comes to rides and I found out Kade doesn't really care for rides either--probably because he would just rather be shooting something, but Laynee she is game for any of them. She would've tried more too if there wasn't a heighth requirement! Rhett was more hesitant, but usually ended up loving the rides.

Not pictured: Kade- he is busy hiking the mile back to the truck to put his pocket knife away that apparently they don't want you packing in a happy place with lots of people around.

Laynee and her good time attitude. Sometimes we argued over who had to ride the rides with the kids. Me-scared, Kade-bored, Ben designated scapegoat--he really was GOOD to us!

Like I said Laynee was willing to try anything. She had no idea what she was getting into with this one. You would've like the face on the downside of this "roller coaster." Rhett and I were laughing from the side, but we wouldn't be caught on that one!

Since we don't vacation ever, Kade usually only takes time off work for hunting, camping, or four wheeling trips--mostly without the family. So when he emailed his boss about time off the sarcastic reply came that he could go as along he was not going to be hunting or camping. Doesn't that look like the face of a happy vacationer?!? No really, Kade was awesome with us. We got to do whatever we wanted and he had a good time, too.

They had a few shows to watch. We were glad we didn't sit in the front. That, or we are just smarter than those other people.

We really did bring Addy with us. She is in the stroller enjoying all the views! The day we headed home was Laynee's fourth birthday. Every kids dream to spend their birthday in the car. We did let her pick where we ate--so nice, right?! I got to pick the rest of the time and I am satisfied to say that we ate out a lot! I still didn't get sick of eating out like Kade claims can happen so I will continue in my attempt of disproving his theory. We are so glad Ben let us come and total invade and destroy his space. We had a blast!

Spring Vacation

Our family actually went on a "REAL" vacation. Kade resents the fact that I don't count Kolob as vacationing. Growing up we always went to Idaho to see family every year and with our kids we've been to some family reunions and the cabins, but those don't count. Those are predetermined locations where activities (and food!) are decided for us. I'm not saying that they aren't fun. We always have a good time and we have lots of good memories, but I was WAY excited to go somewhere and do something totally new (oh, and eat out as much as possible.)

So we went to California--not Disneyland--where a good friend showed us a great time. Our kids haven't been on too many long drives so I was a little worried, but they survived the 10 hour drive just fine. In fact, they may have done better than me.

We saw the beach! We were in northern California and is was only March so the wind was blowing and it was kinda cold. But we still found lots of seashells and the kids got to get their feet wet.

We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. Nice picture, huh?!? I didn't know how annoyingly touristy I dared to be and ask for too many stops and pictures.

Ben was really nice to find us some places to entertain the kids. We went to a science museum that was all hands on and the kids had a blast trying everything out. We didn't even make it through the whole place before it was closing.

Laynee really is that tiny! :) JK

We went to San Fransisco for a day and checked out Pier 39. The shops were fun to look at, but unfortunately we aren't seafood lovers so we weren't tempted with all the crab that was in season. In fact, Rhett thought he was going to die just from the smell.

Rhett-Man and Laynee-Girl

Just some random. Rhett has some legos Laynee got him for Christmas. We thought he would like them since he seems to love the legos games on the playstation. I guess they are somewhat different because he didn't play with them for a long time. Then one day he cracked open the bucket and built some of the things they had pictured in the instructions. It just has to make his father, the engineer, proud.
The boys went camping a couple weekends ago. Rhett packed up his gear including 6 pocket knifes and a hatchet and was off for the time of his life. (I know five year olds shouldn't have more knives than they are years old!! Or at all.) Kade knows how to show the boy a good time. They took four-wheelers, donuts and friends. Sooo, us girls had to get a movie and a bean bag chair. Don't those things come in pairs?!?! Laynee seemed to enjoy our fun-filled time at home. I think Rhett was awake for their whole adventure! ;)

Chickens

Every spring (well for the last three years) we have gotten baby chicks. They are so cute, but then again everything little is cute. The kids love having them and get so excited when they get some new tiny chicks. This year we got a few chicks from IFA, but the big project was to attempt hatching some of our own. For some reason I didn't take pictures of the big event. Suffice it to say that the kids and I (mostly importantly I) will still eat eggs. It was a little questionable at first. We borrowed an incubator and had to turn the eggs every day, but right on schedule those chicks began to hatch. We watched a few peck their way out and then we were good with our experience. When they hatched while Kade was at work, I saw the great learning opportunity for Rhett and let him take care of them!!! :)

Laynee was good with just petting the chicks and letting dad hold them. She named one Snow White. Creative, I know and oddly enough it was a black chicken.

Rhett, on the other hand, loved to be able to hold the chicks and get them in and out himself. Addy REALLY liked to spend time out in the garage looking at and touching them and Rhett was really nice to humor her.....a lot. He's named a chicken Han. Any guesses why?