Wisconsin Dells

We didn't get much of a spring break with Cade in Osh Kosh during the days training for mediation. So last weekend, we packed up the kids and spent a night and 2 days at the Wisconsin Dells. For those of you who don't know what that is--it's kind of like Las Vegas with all the theme parks and themed hotels, but none of the gambling. We stayed at a big hotel called "Mt. Olympus" everything was themed after Greek Gods and mythology. It was a cold and rainy weekend unfortunately but they have indoor water and theme parks as well as outside ones (hey, it's Wisconsin afterall) so it worked out. The older kids went multiple times on the big roller coasters with their dad. I spent an incalculable amount of time on the teacups and bumper cars, but since I'm not a huge roller coaster fan I was fine with that. What a blast! I think we'll be back....soon.

This was a great restaurant for kids. They had toys hanging from the ceiling, a model train that drove around the perimeter and donald duck rode a tight rope back and forth over our heads (sometimes so dangerously low that I ducked a few times).

We got a room with a bunk bed in it. Guess where all the kids wanted to sleep? Cade and I almost got a queen size bed each!

It was a long couple days. These two little guys were completely "funned" out.

Cousins!

Meg and her family dropped by during their spring break a couple weeks ago. It was so much fun to have family it the area! Meg & Steve's family is especially fun for my kids because they have a match (gender and age) for each of my kids so no one feels left out! Thanks for the fun visit!

Jump Rope Club

Whitney Brynne did something new this year. She and one of her friends signed up to do jump rope club. It was twice a week and a lot of work. A few weeks ago they did an assembly in front of their whole school and I got to go. Whitney and her friend performed a routine that they made up to rock music. What guts! it was so fun to watch!

It's Official...there is a teenager in the family.

Broc turned 13 years old in February! It was just his luck that school was cancelled on that day and he got to spend his entire birthday playing. What a birthday present!

Taylor Turns 9!

We celebrated Taylor's 9th birthday in January. This was the easiest cake ever (requested by Taylor). Now the other kids say they want one too....hmmm...no complaints here.

Happenings around here the last week of school!

The kids are so excited to be out of school for the year and looking forward to our trip back to visit family here in a few days. Here are some pics of stuff going on the last couple weeks of school.

Broc:

Broc was the only scout to show up for a brat sale the scouts were having a couple weeks ago, so he worked really hard at this. It was pouring rain the entire time that he was there, but the leaders told us that he really brightened the mood. Our branch president laughingly told us how he sang and danced to attract customers. One man walked up and handed the scouts a $20 bill just for the entertainment!

6th Grade Graduation!!!!! On to Junior High....ugh..
Broc's first and very likely LAST band concert ever. I think the magic of a shiny new trumpet wore off in the first couple days...then it was mostly just sticking it out for the rest of the year. He stuck it out though!

Whitney Brynne:

Brynne ran track all year and had a huge track meet at the end of the year. For some reason, I'm missing all my pictures, but I've included pics of an end of year field trip she went on with her class (Cade went with her). It was a living museum. At one point they were in a turn-of-the-century classroom (you know, back when it was okay to use a dunce cap and whip kids). I think Mr. Knowlton took them all there on purpose cause Brynne and the rest of the class decided that their teacher was definitely not as bad as it could get after that visit.

Taylor:

Taylor had a "Poetry Cafe" that his mom attended. It was so fun--all the kids got up in little groups and recited poems that they had memorized. I've included 2 short clips. I love how in the first video Taylor separates himself from the group...you can tell he's humiliated up there talking about rainbows, sunshine, and flowers. So Taylor.

(Sorry--couldn't get clips to work. You'll just have to take my word for it that it was hilarious!) Here he is on his last day of school. I took 3 or 4 pictures before I gave up and this is probably the best one. The kid cannot make a normal face for pictures.

Gavin:

Gavin had the coolest bus driver this year. Every day she dropped him off they'd be chatting back and forth and laughing about stuff. I'm not even sure what they were talking about, but we'll miss her.

Hello SUMMER!!!

Cade's Graduation!

Yay! Yes, ...ANOTHER graduation in the Spaulding family. I'm starting to feel like we're sending announcements out as often as christmas cards, but this is the final one! We made the effort to both fly down to Texas so Cade could actually walk at his graduation. It was the one we worked the hardest for, so we had to do it. Thirteen years! We had a wonderful time all together. I just have to show off these pictures of my cute husband:

Cade's parents and brother and sister met us down in Texas to celebrate the occasion. Afterwards, we took a trip down to the Gulf.

Congratulations Cade!!