April

I have no idea what's going on in this video, but I think it's a fairly good representation of where we're at right now.  

Thrilled with our early spring we went out for a little General Conference weekend bike ride!

We've really stepped up our backyard game too.

We finally rigged up the bucket on a pulley that Esther gave us for our treehousewarming gift.  It's pretty great. 

We finally did it.  We became a trampoline family.  My parents did a great job of instilling the fear of paralysis or death that is inevitably connected with trampolines in me...and yet...here we are.  They love it. 

This year we finally got our act together enough to wait in line for a community garden plot.  I cannot tell you how excited we are about this!  It's such a great spot with nothing but sunshine coming its way all day (and night!) long.  It's going to be great. 

Sometimes when I take Thomas to his therapy appointment, we drop off the other guys at the airport.  Because what's more fun than an airport?  Answer...nothing, when you find stranded carts to return for MONEY!!!! 

Which tuns into treats.  It's a pretty great gig.  (I don't know who's more excited about it, the kids, or Paul?)

Just as I was getting ready to put the snowpants away after weeks of gorgeous sunny days and a clear lawn, this happened.  I hoped that this would be our last snowman of the year picture. 

Alas, it was not.  But that's it now.  That's all the snow for this winter and we are back to grass!

Two out of three of these guys had a blast dying Easter eggs.  

My contribution to the Easter feast at the Chavira's house was a trifle that even looked nice from the top.  

The kids, of course, had a blast!

Suddenly it was Paul's birthday.  Man, nonstop fun this month.  We went out for sushi because he got to pick because it's his birthday.  And I can be nice once a year, right?

He had banana bread for his cake this year. 

Our backyard got one step cooler with the addition of a firepit where we now can roast hot dogs and mallows.  What more could we ask for?

March - The Earliest Best Spring EVER!!!

Huge sigh of relief.  Spring came early this year.  Early and sunny.  Oh it's been marvelous.

We kicked it off with an amazing Oreo cake for Thomas's birthday!!  The big 2.

We went bowling for his birthday again, just like last year.  Only this year Macrina joined us instead of Grandma.  It was fun to think about Grandma being with us last year.  It was also fun to see how much more Thomas enjoyed it this year!!!  

We hit up the Campbell Creek Science Center for a kid fun day.  They had all sorts of activities and books!

A notable thing about February 2019 is that it was the month that all of Paul's dreams came true. First, we got a new (to us) truck. It fits us all!  Thomas loved it so much that there was a good month that he would pitch a fit every time we put him in the van instead of the truck.

And finally Paul got his long dreamed for gun.  Now he has nothing left to want.  

He got to help drop off the young men at church for their winter high adventure camp. Looks like a party at the drop off!

Our town's REI has recently moved locations and they were having giveaways for their grand re-openings, so you know we were waiting in line for the chance to win big!  (We won little, but had a blast waiting.)

They miraculously decided to all look at the camera at the same time.

We enjoyed the snow sculptures for Fur Rondy.

I brushed off an old recipe from Griff and boy oh boy did it ever turn out amazing!!!  It was so good.  I felt like some kind of old fashioned homemaker.  The kind that cooks meat.

Still enjoying the paints whenever I can calm down enough not to stress out about the mess.  (This is obviously within the first few seconds of painting.)

The tree house is so much improved by sunshine and warmth.  It gets nice and toasty in there with its nice greenhouse roof.  It's a perfect spring hangout.  

Ezra was so excited to wear his new shirt that he inherited from Everett because he thought this was a shirt that Noah would wear!  Aren't they getting big?

We went for a little hike one day after we got our truck just to break it in.  

We did a LOT of truly wonderful pudding jumping this spring.  We ended every day for a while soaking wet!

Who needs toys when you've got ice?

Look out summer!  We've got you in our sights.

February

Remember that Thomas was born on March 1, two years ago?  Well, that means that in February two years ago I was feverishly trying to get everything done before the baby came.  This means that every February for the rest of our lives is going to be filled to the brim with doctor's appointments and dentist appointments etc etc etc.  And I do mean "etc!"  I think we counted one weekday in the entire month without an appointment for the kids or us.  Granted, they've been having some extra medical stuff...but still.  It's crazy!

Esme has moved on to taking pictures of her shoulders, not just knees.

Thank goodness for the inside park!

City Kid Ice Fishing Day. 

Ezra and Dad caught one!

Here's an example of Esme taking a picture of "the beautiful world."

What do we do for fun?  Get coats on to go outside!  That's our main activity in the winter.  

A little back alley sledding.

We got happy for Valentine's Day.

Macrina invited us over for Valentines Day brunch with all the kids.  It was really really lovely. 



And of course...when you don't have a doctor's appointment scheduled, it's a perfect time to see if you can end up in the ER.  (We didn't.  No harm done.  Safe flying through the living room.)

When all else fails, hug your brother.

And then make sure your sister gets some hugs too.