Daddy and da boy

We caught the dumb flu bug.  Well, Trent and Kael have; so we are hoping that we can keep it between them.  But we spent the day at home recovering.  I just thought this was a cute picture of Trent and little Cache.  

Overheard

I was putting away laundry the other day when I overheard Porter and Kael saying ewww, grose, etc. So I went in to check what the problem was, and they had decided that they would go ahead and change Cache on their own.  However after he decided to Pee on them, they relinquished their posts.  

A few new pix...

Sad how fast babies grow, isn't it.  Here are a few new pix of our little guy;)

Ward Ski Night

Last weekend was Ward Ski night.  We ventured out, but only for food, and social reasons.We were going to have Trent and the boys ski, however I was glad we hadn't packed all the kids ski stuff, because the power was out once we got up there, and no one could ski anyway.  But we had a good time.  We have great neighbors and friends.

Lava Hot Springs

We decided last minute to go to Lava Hot Springs for family Night.  My Aunt and Uncle were headed up and we decided to go up and surprise them.  We had a great time in the hot pots and then all went to dinner at a local cafe.  Thanks for the fun night VanLeers.

I gotta help dad...

Trent went out for a 4 wheeler ride the other day, and the snow is kindof a wierd consistancy, real crusty on top and fluffy and soft underneath, so Trent got stuck in the snow at the top of the hill behind our house.  I walked out back and mockingly pointed and laughed...  HA, HA.  Then Porter came over and said, "Mom, Dad is stuck", I said " I Know", then he said, "I need to go help him, cause that is what families do, they help each other".  I thought it was so cute.  He and Kael strapped on boots and set out to help daddy.  No socks, Kael in shorts, and Porter in cowboy boots.  

Valentines Day

Trent bought me 2 dozen beautiful Roses for Valentines day.  The kids exchanged valentines at preschool and got a few little presents from us.  Grammy came up and took them shopping and they got to pick out a toy for Valentines.  They thought they were in heaven.  New Transformers, and Reese is quite the shopper, she just goes from one thing to the next, and whatever she has at check out is what she gets.  She toted around a princess purse and 2 small dollies the whole time, and thus...  Valentines from Grammy and Papa.  Thanks for a fun 'V' day.  

Happy Valentines day to my sweetheart too.  He is so wonderful, and Perfect for me.   Here's to a first kiss on valentines day 1999, that led to eternity!  I love you babe!

Discovery Gateway

For a change in scenery, we ventured down to Discovery Gateway with the cousins; where they have a new exhibit on the Human Body.  It is really cool.  It is a Sesame Street theme; and my kids never watch Sesame street, but loved the exhibit.  Lots of learning games, teaching about different body parts and their function.  Activities using different body parts, as well as songs about the body, and much more.  I recommend checking it out if you are in the area.  

Viewer discretion advised on the pictures...  I am still 'enjoying' baby weight, and YES, my kids dressed themselves.  Pick your battles, right. :)

Tag...

Seriously, I am not all that observant, to notice interesting things about myself.  So I will try and keep you entertained for just 6 highlights.  NO SLEEPING.  

1.  I love horses.  When Trent and I were first married we had 4 horses that we loved like children.  They were Trent and his dads, prior to our marriage, then we inherited them.  Sugar, Peek-a-boo, Kozar, and Skittles.  It is a good thing that we loved them because I got thrown off more times than I would like to admit.  The best, was when we were dating and we went for a ride, and at the top of the mountain before we came back down I said that we needed to tighten my saddle.  Well, we forgot, and after lunch I got on, and we remembered, but I said, 'I'll be fine', (famous last words).

So we decided to race the last stretch, (dumb anyway if you know anything about horses, word to the wise...  never run back to the trailer...)  So he got just ahead of me and I was feeling a bit loose in the saddle... and I went against my competitive nature and decided it would be better to lose and not fall of the horse.  So I slowed sugar down, well, she came to an abrupt stop and I didn't.  I summersaulted along side her neck and landed sitting up on the ground; and the horse just stood there.  Trying to keep my dignity and protect my pride I instantly checked to see if trent saw, and he hadn't so I jumped back on, and started riding.  He came back and said is everything okay, I said yyyeeeessss, the best I could.  I am pretty sure I had the wind knocked out of me, I was scared and about to cry, and the movement of the horse didn't help with voice stability,  so it was that shaky.... yyyyeeessss.  So we have laughed about it since, and I learned the lesson first hand... as well as over and over again, "when you fall off the horse, just get right back on".  Save yourself a HUGE bruise and just take my word for it. 

2.    I have a passion for travel.  Especially foreign travel.  I have been to Egypt, Israel, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Peru.  Then 18 of the U.S. States.  However I have never been on a cruise.  I look forward to more travel in my life and seeing my kids enjoy different place on earth as well.  Our next big excursion is Hawaii this fall.  With 4 kids we recruited uncle Blake to help with Lifeguard duty.  We are really excited.   

3.  I love to scare people.  It is so funny to me.  I think I learned this from my dad.  He was the king of hiding behind doors, and under beds, and around corners.  I actually enjoy being startled as well, but not being scared...  Like, I am scared of basements,  NOT FUN.  I always have to sprint up the stairs.  But startled, is hilarious, especially when you are the one hiding.  Sometimes I have a hard time not laughing and giving away my scare, from visualizing the reaction.  We lived in a mortuary our first year of marriage, which provided me with ample opportunity to Scare Trent.  However he knew that if he scared me that would result in moving and having to pay rent somewhere.  It was all too real, especially when the neighbor sees ghost...  a whole nother story.  Anyway, I could go on for hours about different times I scared trent, but the best was when the 'ghost catcher', (real people who came at night to the mausoleum, and cemetery and bring all sorts of gadgets to record, and communicate with spirits that have passed on), came for the first time.  Trent was interested and went out to unlock the mausoleum doors for them and got to talking and learning about what they do.  Typical curious trent.  So I was sick of being in the apartment alone, and went and got the neighbor downstairs and said lets go scare trent, so we snuck over and snuck just inside the doors, Trent and the ghost catcher came walking towards us, and out we jumped screaming, ROOOAAAAAAR.   We got an identical reaction from Trent and the ghost catcher with him...  screaming and jumping.  I never laughed so hard in my entire life.   I Love a good scare!

4.  I enjoy food.  I love to cook, entertain, take food to neighbors to sample, everything about food.  My family has always been close and good food and family always went hand in hand.  Every get together, holiday & event equalled good food, still does.  So maybe psychologically it feels good to cook and have tons of food.  Whatever it is, worked.  I love it!   

5.  I often pretent I know more about something than I actually do.  For example, I know some spanish words, not a lot, and definitely can not speak it, all the conjugating, etc... Well, I can sometimes figure out what someone is generally talking about by listening for words that I know.  So when we were in Peru, I surprised Trent with my language knowledge.  But truly, it was mostly guessing.  And I was probably wrong most of the time.  But he believed me.  It was a little harder to fool Kristy and Paul since they both speak spanish fluently.  And now that game is over since I just ratted myself out.  Surprise honey, I don't know that much spanish.  This is another trait inherited through my father; from his dad.  I am still certain that my grandpa knows everything about everything, and the older I get the more I believe he is just making it up to provide me with an answer and look good.  But he is professional at it and I think I will always think he is the smartest guy on earth. 

6.  I am an emotional person.  I know my whole family will laugh at that as soon as they read it.  I am pretty tuff when it comes to pain, or dealing with tough stuff regarding ME.  But when other people are in pain, or a family member is struggling.  I get emotional.  Also when I talk about family, love, the savior, Jerusalem, anything close to my heart...  CRY.  Basket case.   I am sure you have all see me cry more than once, and what can I say, Sometimes it just feels good to get a good cry in.

This has actually been kind of fun, and now that I started I can think of more interesting things about myself.    I almost want to go back and change some.  But I will leave them as they are and enjoy the inner happiness I feel about me,  life and family.  Everyone should do this.  A little time to recognize little things about yourself.  We never take enough time to think about 'ME'.  Go ahead try it out!  

SUPER KIDS

We really do have super kids, even when the capes and masks come off.  We are so grateful for 4 healthy, happy and obedient kids!We love you!  

Snow cave in the works

Trent decided that he wanted to build a snow cave with the kids last Thursday.  So he pulled out the snow blower and started blowing all the surrounding snow into a pile in front of our house.  It has since had its initial entry carved, and now we are 'waiting for the snow to settle'.  So it will be good and strong!  

Ice Fishing

With all this snow we have decided to get a little more creative in our adventures...

So, Trent and Porter went ice fishing on Saturday with our good friends Jed and Myles.  The pictures were so cute showing how proud they were of their fish.  A fun father son adventure. Porter LOVES fish.  Of course they brought a few of the fish home, which to my amazement, and later disgust, they were flipping around in my sink.  Those fish were survivors.  So, after about 20 minutes, they had to go.  Porter really wanted to cook them, but we couldn't imagine they had much more than guts and bones inside of them.  So we promised that next time we could have them for lunch.  So that will be another adventure in itself.  I am just grateful that my dad taught trent how to gut a fish, perhaps my guttin' days are over!:)