Robert the Arc Welder

While I was busy cleaning out the boys's closest and pulling out the spring clothes Robert was busy playing in the room.  I heard a funny sound and turned around to find a blackened outlet with two night lights and a quarter in it.  I asked rascally Robert what happened and he said he put the money in a "boom there were fireworks."

Sure enough, the little lad plugged in a second night light, slid his quarter down near the outlet and his quarter was welded to the prongs.  

Thankfully he was neither harmed nor was there a fire in the bedroom.

Here's his "fireworks money." 

Never a dull moment.

To the Border and Back

It took 2 days to get there. 2 days of visiting. 2 days home.  

2 hotel rooms.  2 National parks. 2,000 miles.  

All in all we had a great time.

We took a page out of Aunt Susan's travel logs and stopped for photos at the borders this trip.

It was fun to jump out of the car for 5 minutes and do a little dance to keep us energized as we traveled.

We stayed the first night in Pueblo, Colorado.  There were murals everywhere which way in the downtown area.  The weather was warming up and we enjoyed shedding our coats. 

Day 2 brought us to New Mexico.  It rained a whole lot and our picnic plans at the park were moved into the moving car.  We drove for 8 hours before our first bathroom break!  We all needed to get out even if it was raining!

White Sands, NM.  The sand is truly white and incredibly soft.  The rain kept the dust down and the temperatures cool.  It was a perfect day for sledding!  Everyone got on a sled and had a great time.  We decided that although we love sledding on the snow, it was nice to hike up the hill without pounds of bulky winter gear.

 James was our crazy sledder.  I think he crashed in to everyone once and if you didn't watch out on the bottom he may have run you over. 

Grandpa was a wonderful spectator and Grace was always ready for the sledding lane to open so she could go down again.  John liked the sand with or without a sled. 

Day 3 was a sight seeing tour with Grandma and Grandpa. We went to the San Antonio overlook and viewed the city and then drove the Mexican Boarder lines and viewed Juarez, Mexico from behind the fence lines. Without passports we stayed in the USA this time, but might adventure further south on another trip.

Our Lovely Missionary Grandparents.  Here is the real reason for our visit!  

It was so good to visit and spend time with them.   We are looking forward to their return home this summer, but so happy they have been serving so faithfully and lovingly.

One of the old missions.

Day 4. James was bummed that with all the driving around the military base he didn't see a tank. So Grandpa took James, Anne, John and Edwin to see the tanks, helicopters and a missile before we headed out for the day.

The kids met Penny the pot-belly pig that lives upstairs from Grandma and Grandpa.  

A squealing pig has to be the most obnoxious wake-up call ever!  

We took a photo of the Texas boarder as we left the state.  It was dark and dangerous to take a photo on our way into the state.  Of course our engineering Grandpa had to check the latitude line of boarder line.  This little monument sits right at line 32.....if anyone is as interested in that tidbit of information.

I love that we live in the Rockies and yet where ever we go we tend to find the tallest mountains in the area we visit.  Here is the tallest mountain in Texas....Guadalupe Peak.  It sits at 8,750 feet.  That is a mighty impressive climb.

We enjoyed a windy lunch at Carlsbad Caverns before we spent hours in the dark exploring the underworld.

Here is this year's family photo in front of the mouth of the cave.

Since we have a small cave to explore in our canyon the kids were familiar with the different types of stalactites and stalagmites. However, the magnitude and scale of these beasts was a sight to behold for everyone.  We hiked down the cave, which Robert slept through while Edwin carried him, and then we took the 1.5 mile hike through the main hall.

James and John slowed down for a brief moment to snap their picture.  I think they would have enjoyed running down the entire path if we would have allowed.

It was a long hike down....every photo op was a welcomed rest!

Day 5.... We spent the night in Roswell, NM on our way home.  There are Alien Selfies all over this little town and we loved our visit.  Here we are ready for a long day in the car.  

Happy birthday John!!

We finally made it to Aunt Leonora's house!  She made John a birthday cake!

Little buddy got a chocolate cake with orange frosting, just what the birthday boy ordered!

Day 6...Well rested.  Wonderfully fed.  Full of hugs and loves we were ready to hit the road again.  Thanks lovely Colorado cousins for all the fun!  

We enjoyed the journey.  Girls finished their audio book.  Boys watched countless movies.  Mom finished some hand sewing projects.  No one threw up this trip.  Dad did all the driving.

We are looking forward to our next adventure....not sure where it will take us yet, but we are happy to think there is something fun in our future.

Winter Days....So Much Fun!

Warm winter days make great snowball throwing days.

And when there isn't enough snow to shovel off the driveway just get Robert or John to help you heave it back on the concrete so you can remove it twice!

5th Grade snow shoeing field trip with Grace.

Grace auditioned for our Local Stars of Tomorrow competition.

She placed 3rd in her age division and we are so proud of her!

Piano solo, Le Coucou by Darquin

Weekend shopping trip took us to Casper.  We spent the weekend with the Tinkers who adopted us as family when we moved to Lander.

Girls chopped off their hair.

James performed at his first grade music concert.

The Relief Society 175 year birthday party was early in March. We had a Mad Hatter party theme and after spending the day helping set the decorations I had the girls join me. 

So much fun!  Loved wearing the old clothes from my Grandmother.

Birthday Snow

 After many years of being an unsuccessful hunter, I got my first elk last weekend. Thanks Corey for tipping me on the late season cow tag. And for taking me out hunting so many times.

 We got a little more snow this week. After we took this picture it snowed another 3 inches. So maybe that was a lot more snow.

Robert turned 3 this week. Whenever we asked what he wanted for his birthday, he always said "A Flash birfday cake!" Well he looks like one happy kid with his flash birthday cake while wearing his flash shirt.

Life Goes On

Here's what we've been up to.....

James played soccer this fall.  There were some cold games this year, and I kept thinking, "Is this my future? Did I really sign up to be freezing under piles of blankets while little ones cry for food and James runs on and off the field scoring goals."  Well, so it is.  James wants to be a soccer referee when he's old enough to be hired on by the parks and rec department.  Which means many a seasons of outdoor sports in unpredictable weather for out family to cheer and support our team player.

Halloween is always great fun.  James and John were hunters...they sported wooden daggers dad made, a homemade bow and arrow set from their finds at Spud Day in Shelley, Idaho, and hats and vests mom made. Grace is wearing her piano teacher's high school kimono and is accessorized with her parasol, her Spud Day souvenir.  Anne designed her gown as Queen for the Day.

The girls joined a Vaudeville production this fall for a few weeks.

Grace sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow with a friend. 

Anne was the unsympathetic nurse for this poor patient.

We love our local library and especially the librarians!

What does a preteen need more than anything else for her birthday?

A sleep mask of course.  She uses every night without fail.  

Whatever it takes to go to sleep at night without an argument with sister.

Thanksgiving Star Wars party with Uncle Joe. We love having family come visit.

We were glad to have snow for Thanksgiving weekend so everyone could get on the hills for sledding. Good times!

We love making gingerbread houses.  Baking gingerbread makes me happy.  Designing the pattern every year and assembling the houses is Edwin's joy.  The kids obviously love the candy, frosting and friends who spend the day with us and decorate!  We are so grateful for friends wherever we live.

We love putting on our Grandma Peggy pajamas Christmas Eve.  

When the temps are -22 F our furnace creates beautiful frost on the basement entry way.  We are happy the weather has warmed up.

We must crazy adapting to the climate....it was -13 F when we arrived and stayed for hours catching fish and enjoying our time together.  Looking forward to many a years of family Ice fishing trips yet to come.  (Just a side note, this is one of those things I never knew I committed to when I said "yes, I'll marry you."  However, I think I can find joy in this crazy adventure too.)