Happy Easter 2016!

The Great Egg Hunt begins!  We had another wonderful Easter in Angels Camp this year.  One of the kids favorite things is the big egg hunt.  This year I added some plastic eggs that had little reminders of the reason why we celebrate Easter.  There was a corresponding scripture.  After all the eggs were collected, we opened them in order and read the scriptures.  They told of the events leading up to the Savior's death.  It's a great way to remind the kids (and the adults!) to be thankful for our Savior.  I am so grateful for his sacrifice and the opportunity we have to celebrate his life and his resurrection!  What a blessing it is to have the atonement.  Happy Easter!

Happy 38th Birthday Ryan...and some random things

Ryan had the day off so we snuck over to get ourselves a treat before we had to get the rest of the kids from school.  Sometimes there are perks for not having to go to school!

 
This little baby thinks standing up in the bath is the way to go.....and this momma thinks sitting in the bath is a lot safer.

Everybody loves to snuggle.  Kendri put this kid to sleep and it looks like she plans on staying where she is for a bit.....

It's tough being little. Dexton so badly wants to follow Shayli and her friend.  And they so badly want him to leave them alone!

Happy Birthday Ryan!  I was happy to provide the mud pie for this year's bday cake.  It's delicious!

Dexton has been experimenting with all things dangerous.  He loves to climb. And I've been down this road a few times and it doesn't get any less exhausting. *Sigh*

Ryan and I went to celebrate our friend's (Benjy Grover) 40th birthday party.  His wife threw a fabulous party and we had a great time!

Mission calls, funerals and beaches

Our nephew Reese just got his mision call!  He's still in Hawaii for school but he skyped in so we could all join in the excitement of opening his call.  After quite a bit of chaos and waiting for everyone to Facetime or skype we were ready.  It was fun to be a part of it and we are so grateful for the example Reese is setting for all his younger cousins.  

And the call is to Nashville, Tennessee! Congratulations Reese.  We love you!

We made an unexpected trip to Newport this month.  Ryan's grandpa Ralph has been having health issues and passed away a few days ago.  We stayed with our friends (the Pitts) and made the most of our trip by squeezing in a quick trip to the beach.  It was still chilly being February and all, but the kids still had fun!

We also made our way to a local park to race these little car things.  It was rather life endangering (or at least it felt that way when I rode down the path) and the competition was fierce.  Amber Pitt and her kids were rather experts at it and the Reeses were trying to hang!

Shayli was actually pretty good and kept beating Ryder consistently.  He wasn't happy about that and if you look closely, you can tell he's getting ready to try and run her off the course.  Bad form, Ryder.  Bad form.
He he he!  It was actually pretty cute and fun to watch them compete.

Saturday was Grandpa's funeral.  He served our country so he had a a full color guard during the burial.  (I think that's the correct terminology?)

 It was a beautiful ceremony and very patriotic.  Just like Grandpa Ralph.

On Sunday we headed home.  But first we needed one last shot of all the Pitts and Reeses together!  These kids love seeing each other and can't wait for our next trip down south.  See you in June!

Happy 12th Birthday Lexi!

Lexi turned 12.  How can this be??? The young women heart-attacked our door as a surprise for Lexi.  She felt loved!

She also got to celebrate her last Sunday in primary where she followed tradition and gladly broke her popsicle stick. Her best friend Dallin has his birthday on the 12th so they got to do it together.

OH! Side note: Broncos won the Super Bowl 50!!!! WHEEEE!!! Kendri and I were faithful supporters.

Side note 2:  Dexton.  DEXTON!  He loves to needle my tendons in a painful way.  He's been so cranky and I think it's his teeth trying to break through.  But he finds solace in pinching me.  And it hurts.  Like bad.  This too shall pass.......

Now back to Lexi......She was nominated for the Valentine's Dance Queen.  She was so shocked and surprised to hear her name called as a nominee!  She told me she never would have thought that she would be nominated.  She didn't end up winning but I'm confident that if there hadbeen a runner-up, it would have been Lexi!  :)

 
Such a busy weekend we had with all of these fun things....and it doesn't stop there.  Lexi's birthday happened to fall on President's Day this year which meant 3 day weekend and a Monday afternoon birthday party!  Jennie Silcox (Dallin's mom) and I decided to throw a joint party for Dallin and Lexi.  It obviously had to include an R2D2 cake.  (This was going to be Kyson's cake until he wanted the other one......)

We did a Make-your-own-pizza party with friends from church.  And then we headed to the park for a giant nerf gun war.  It was pretty low key and easy.

Happy Birthday Lexi and Dallin!

Happy 7th Birthday Kyson!

Kyson's birthday fell on a 3-day weekend this year so we decided to head up to Angels Camp and let the kids ski.  But first we had a birthday to celebrate!

Star Wars has been huge so naturally Kyson wanted a Star Wars cake.  I was planning on making him one until Gamie offered to pick one up at the grocery store. And I'm no dummy...... Kyson liked the toy on top of the cake and really loved his store-bought cake.  I was just happy not to have to make one. Win-win.

One of his big-hit presents was a bow and arrow set.  The bows glow and the arrows glow.  And they can fly really far!  He got a set from Gamie and a two sets from us. The idea was to have family wars with them.  The cousins had a great time with them and the 3 sets came in handy for sure!

 
And then it was on to skiing.  The kids are getting pretty good.

Shayli got to go for the first time this year.  She did great but was done by noon.  Ryan found her with her ski school crying and wanting her dad.  She turned in her skis and hung out with Gamie for the rest of the afternoon.  Meanwhile back at the ranch, Dexton and I were just doing our own thang.  And by that I mean eating cake. :)