Mother's Day!

I had a fabulous Mother's Day, starting with Breakfast in bed where all the kids joined me and then to presents and picture time. I got some fun shirts and cute school projects, including worker coupons!

After Church we went to my mom's where my dad, husband and brother had made us dinner. it was very nice and the table was all set fancy and everything.

Mom, modeling her cute new sweater that dad actually picked out on his own :)

Then the FUN!!

When the work was done, we went to San Francisco and Pacifica for the last 2 days of the break. It was rather cold and windy both days but we still enjoyed it as best we could. That's the Golden Gate in the background. Kasen missed it. He slept this whole time on Terry.

We found quite a few dead crabs and crab shells like the one Tyden has but it was the best when Terry caught a live, 3in., crab with his fishing pole and new crab trap!

It's never to cold to chase the waves with Uncle Tom!!

This is at the Pacifica Pier (above) Below is a wildlife reserve that we like to frequent.

We all enjoyed exploring but Kasen was very interested in what dad had to show. As you can see from Tayla's hair in the background, it was VERY windy and that did take away some of the fun. :(

Tyden ended up in a little more than he would have liked, but still came away smiling!

Everyone enjoyed stomping through the tide pools.

I think that they found something good. There were always trying to make the annenamies eat things.

This is Cypress Hill on the cypress hill :)

There were multiple chicken fights held in the hotel pool that evening. I think that Tayla and Nick have to be deamed the winners.

Everyone enjoyed the nice heated, indoor pool in the evening and the next morning, especially since it was so cold at the ocean.

Inside our hotel after our morning swim.

Out hotel, which the kids say was the best part :)

Trying to use the umbrellas to block the wind instead of the sun. Not working well enough :) We had a great time though, swam, walked, BBQ, flying kites, fishing, the whole nine yards!

Work first!

We just finished Spring Break and it was a good one! Before we could play though, we had to get some work done. The kids refinished their swings, with the usual colors, and we, with the help of Grandpa, put in a few extra sprinklers. We also got our weeds rotatilled up and new grass seed planted. It's only taken us 2 whole years to get our act together and act like we really own our yard :) The jobs go so much faster when you have such good helpers!

We just LOVE helping Grandpa!!

Easter Sunday

Loving all the kids new church clothes!! These aren't the best pictures but you do what you can when you only have a tripod and a timer for the photographer. The kids sang in Sacrament meeting and Tayla gave a talk about the meaning of the Easter lily, which I have, thanks mom, and is blooming like crazy. We had a yummy dinner at mom's house and, of course, more egg hunts!

Hiking!!

The falls were amazing today!! So much runoff. The kids had a great time following their dad wherever he would let them go. It was mostly an easy climb and they all did it on their own this time.

This is Paij and Brent's waterfall to our family, Bear Creek to others but either way, it's awesome!! There was so much water today!

Most of the kids took a shot or 2 at the soda cans but Cypress was the sharp shooter.

None of us let a little rain bother us. The fire had to have an umbrella over it while it was getting started but once it did, no more problems. The Hot dogs and smores tasted mighty fine today!

Good cousin bonding time!

City Egg Hunt

Safeway donated 400 dozen eggs for the Lion's Club to color and hid for the kids of Gridley and Biggs. There was a great turn out as always. Cypress found one of the Golden eggs, which means you get to turn it in and pick a stuffed animal prize - it's the bunny you see in her bucket at the end. It was cool because this was her last year hunting there as she'll be 10 next year and over the age limit. They all had a great time looking with their friends.

Easter Bunny!

The Easter Bunny hid the 2 dozen eggs that we colored and so they kids had to go around and fine them all Saturday Morning. Cypress had spent the night at a friends but asked to be picked up early so she wouldn't miss out. The other kids didn't think 8:15 was early enough and we impatiently waiting :)

Cypress is a fish in the summer so she was hooked up with new goggles and snorkel. No touchy Uncle Brent, they won't fit you!

Breakfast was of course the resurrection biscuits. They were as yummy as we remembered!

The night before, Kasen was very unsure of the whole egg and basket hiding thing but he learned it was super cool really quick.

They each got a new hula hoop and the girls are both quite the tricksters. The boys won't take long to catch up to them I'm sure. I think they like the hula hoops best of all.

Tyden was the last to find his bakset, even though it was hidden in the one place that he always hides. He couldn't even bring it in the family room to check out the spoils, he had to plop down in the hall and unload.

Tayla's basket was up on the fan, not too easy to see when you're only 4' 5"