Zoo trip with BAILEY

Bailey had her 1st grade zoo field trip this last week. She was so excited and kept counting down the days. All of her classmates made tie dye shirts to wear to the zoo. When Hayden was in 1st grade I went with his class, so I really wanted to go with Bailey this year. I called Tricia and asked her to watch Paige and Gannon and I met Bailey's class at the zoo. We had a great day. The weather was nice. It only rained right before we left. Bailey's little friend Alexis spent the afternoon with us. They both behaved so well. Fun times!!

Bailey loves animals.

There is my B.

Bailey and Alexis.

Bailey being silly by the mountain sheep.

My two little baby birds.

Ride that pony.

Bailey measuring her arm span compared to the monkeys.

After lunch we walked over to the elephants. We spent a lot of time over there. Bailey loves the elephants.

We learned a lot of information at the elephant museum.

Packy the elephant. He is a very old bull at the zoo.

We also enjoyed the new lion exhibit.

Driving the safari jeep to visit the pride.

Mountain climbing.

Taking a little break.

Hippos!

At the end of the day, we saw the beautiful giraffe's.

Time for a little spring cleaning

It is time to tame our lawn. That was how I felt this last week. I have been itching to get outside and do some yard work, so I fired up the lawn mower, weeded the flower beds, bought new flower pots and enlisted all of the children's help. I am hoping that the sun comes back after this day ends. I love SPRING!

These are my favorite flowers.

I love to watch them bloom.

Most of them are dead now, but we enjoyed a month of seeing them.

I bought a new mower battery a month ago and so now I don't have to hook the mower up to one of the cars to get it started. I do love to mow our lawn.

A tree in the front of the house that the kids love to climb.

Freshly cut lawn.

The girls jumping on our dilapidated trampoline. This thing needs to go in the garbage.

Madalyn walking around the yard as I mowed taking pictures of the beauty all around including herself.

I had Carter mow the lawn for me while I held Gannon.

Early Saturday morning, I had everyone go outside and weed the flower bed. Madalyn thought that I looked very silly in my pig tails. I thought that I looked glamorous.

My legs and my arms are aching today.

Paige was a very good worker and helped

pick weeds and throw them in the big garbage.

After working, the kids played catch with Matt.

I told them that they needed to move to the backyard so that they would not hit a car driving by.

Mother's Day!!

This was a wonderful weekend for me! Matt finished some projects for me and the kids made me sweet gifts. I started the weekend off with sunshine on Friday. We have really missed the sunshine around here. We are hoping that it will come again soon. Paige, Gannon and I spent a little fun time outside together on the swings and trampoline. Saturday, I told Matt that there were some things that I really wanted done and that these things could replace any presents that he would go out and buy with the kids that day!! I wanted a set of couchs taken to the dump along with a freezer. He willingly did that with the boys and then returned home and helped the kids and I clean up the house. We then traveled to see our niece perform in the play Beauty and the Beast. She did a wonderful job. We had a great evening with the kids and cousins. On our way home at 10:45, Matt ran into Winco and bought groceries to make me breakfast and dinner. We arrived home around 11:15 tired and ready to fall asleep. Instead of much needed rest, Matt and Madalyn cleaned up the garage so that I could park the Sequoia back inside of it. I felt very thankful. In the morning I got breakfast and gifts. Instead of arguing to get the kids ready for church we were all happy and helpful. I wish every Sunday was Mother's Day!! After church, Matt made me a steak dinner with my favorite treat: strawberry cheesecake from Costco. I am one lucky woman!!

Gannon bundled up on the swing that Paige got as a gift on her 1st birthday!

Mt. Hood from our backyard.

Paige jumping on the trampoline.

Riding her 3 wheeler.

The pretty tree in our front yard.

I love chocolate orange sticks. Matt bought me a small bag in bulk at Winco. He then drizzled white chocolate on all 3 of them. Oh so good.

Gannon's top teeth are coming through. The left one has come through.

As I waited for breakfast, I caught up on his baby book.

Yeah for mommy!

Matt made me his famous omelette's.

Oh so very good! Hayden wanted to take the camera and get a family picture!

Madalyn painted this picture for me.

Matt got me roses and strawberry cheesecake.

Hayden wrote me a beautiful letter at school and then after breakfast he made a 7 clue scavenger hunt. It was very fun.

Carter made me a plaque that said, "I Love You Mom".

Very special.

I have it hanging in the kitchen right now.

Bailey gave me a plant and a magnet. Paige made me a card with her hand prints. I had a wonderful day. These are my gifts from Matt and the kids.

FAMILY

This weekend we traveled to Eugene to watch football, go to Wicked, be with family and celebrate my brothers 40th birthday!

The kids did not have school on Friday so we hung around the house playing. The kids wanted to build a fort. Hayden led the pack and started constructing the best fort that I have seen in 10 years! He loves to build things. Bailey, Paige and Carter joined in and helped him put blankets all over the chairs. I think that almost every blanket in the house was used. They spent the morning playing all sorts of games. Hayden even built a play area for Gannon. He called it the "daycare center". After Matt got home, we went to Eugene to start a very busy Saturday. Matt took the 4 oldest to an Oregon Duck Spring game with my 2 brothers Matt and Dave. I stayed at the house and watched all of the little kids. After the game, the kids played football and basketball together. Then we ate pizza and cake to celebrate Dave's 40th birthday. Matt and I hurried and got ready to go to Wicked with Tricia and Darren that evening. GREAT SHOW!! Ashlee and Jeff watched the children. Thanks!! Sunday morning we woke up early, packed the car and hurried home to get ready for church. We arrived with 3 minutes to go and took a sigh of relief knowing that we could now relax and enjoy the next 3 hours! What a weekend.

The kids standing by the fort!

Hayden's daycare center for Gannon.

Carter and Hayden's room!

A side shot of the FORT.

Bailey and Paige's room.

In Eugene, Paige played with her cousins.

Rachel and Paige playing Barbie's.

The kids enjoyed jumping on the trampoline.

Christine and Brooklyn.

Cute Gannon in the stroller.

Ashlee and William.

Jarom, Parker and Carter.

Dave blowing out his 4T candles.

Yummy cake!

My brother Dave.

Matt and I bought Dave a BYU shirt for his birthday.

He looked very good in it!!

Christine bought Dave Ticket to Ride Europe. We all love Ticket to Ride.