Aaahhh, this is more like it!

Well, all the evil snow melted, and it turned into rain! We've had some gorgeous weather this past week- it's about time!

Our grass is starting to sprout up!

Pow wow at the teepees. I love it when it gets warm...the neighborhood kids all come over, and we've got quite the tribal activities going on. We had like 15 kids over the other day...they were into mudding things- they had a great waterfight afterwards. Porter is showing his new pet worm.

Lindsey reading Indian style.

Practicing the perfect cast with dad

Curiousity

Dallin has a friend!

Spring Struggles to Shine Forth

This morning we awoke to a snowstorm. As I opened my door to a cold blast of wintery air, I saw snow falling, already a couple inches deep, and at the same time heard meadowlarks and chickadees calling. They were trying their best to sing to Spring, despite the frigidness.
I am reminded it is the third day of April. April.
As the birds springtime music echoed in the cold silent air,
I watched as three neighborhood residents shoveled out the school bus which got stuck in the snow innocently trying to do it's duty on a spring morning. Spring morning. Repeat: SPRING. This all seems like one big contradiction. No matter how many times we try to think it, say it, or otherwise convince Mother Nature, she is being a rebel this year. So we decided to be rebellious back-Snow, or no snow, we decided to- no, not plant flowers- get some baby chickens! Surely the fact that chicks have hatched is a sign that Spring really is here...

Spring is welcomed by a nice thick blanket of white.


After researching a bit, I decided on two breeds which are dual purpose birds. They lay well, and they are good to eat when their laying is over. They are also gentle and friendly, almost like pets. We have 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 4 Barred Plymouth Rocks. The kids each got to pick and name one for their own.

Kami with her Rhode Island Red- Cinnamon (or more recently Sprinkle)


Dallin absolutely loved the little cheeping puffballs. His is a Barred Rock, named Chicken Licken. (We marked each of their beaks a different colored with a marker to tell them apart)


Porter with Midnight, Lindsey with Pecky, and Spencer with Red. I cannot tell you how EXCITED they have been to get these chicks! Lindsey has been calling the CAL Ranch store almost constantly....Do you have any chicks in yet? Finally, the day has arrived! I have one named Henny Penny, and Ryan named his Red Hawk. They stay inside in their little box for about 4-6 weeks, then we'll move them outside.

Believe it or not, the first couple days of Spring were gorgeous...Here we are a couple weeks ago doing our first dutch oven meal of the season---the kids teepees and "watchtower" in the background. (They've had so much fun with all the neighborhood kids building, and playing "tribe".


Other random pictures from daily life

This is what happens after you do a big shopping trip to Win Co.


Spencer and Lindsey decided to jam one morning. They had fun, and got all excited about starting their own band. Hmmmm....might be awhile.


Lindsey's new haircut.


A pretty rainbow following a thunderstorm...first time I've ever heard a thunderstorm while it's still cold with snow on the ground...but it happened, and then a rainbow to boot! (This was several days ago, before the big snow)

Happy St. P's Day

We've been seeing lots of green today! Lindsey made these festive little hats to add a bit more green to her brothers and sister's outfits....No more pinching around here! (We heard some squeals of pinch produced pain this morning until all had dressed in the proper color of the day...Lindsey had her eagle eyes on and was merciless in her attacks.)

Keepin' up with Kam

No, unfortunately, I did not make her dress. (I wish!...) Just went bargain shopping. On Saturday, Ryan went to Sportsman's Warehouse to pick out a Fly Fishing Rod for his spring flinging. Luckily there was a TJ Maxx right next door, so Kam and I went and did the fun kind of shopping. Look what we found!! They had such a cute selection of dresses! We had it narrowed down to 4 favorites, and I told Kami she could pick one for Easter. She was sooo excited that it came with a dress for her dolly too. So, all you ladies out there with girls size 4-8, run run as fast as you can to TJ Maxx, because their dresses are fab!


It didn't come with the sweater, but we put one on since the little straps weren't the best for going to church, or our freezing weather!

Oh, and you must notice, Kami got BANGS. A first for her...and she was so proud going to church, thinking every one was going to notice.

Transitions

The most constant thing in life is change...
we have been enjoying the most recent of them all-

THE BIG MELT!
Winter always seems long around here! Less than two weeks ago, the temperature was in the twenties, and even plummeted to 5 degrees one morning. There were a couple feet of snow in our yard, the driveway was a lane of ice, and the kids kept busy building snow forts and other frozen delights.


Their little abode


A private toilet area. Pardon the yellow hole...

All comfy cozy complete with pillows.

But this week the temperatures have soared to the high thirties, and behold...slush, beloved slush! Everywhere!! There are more colors on earth than white!

The kids were so excited to see gravel they pulled out the bikes and went on a bike ride

Great big puddles of joy.

The next transition features Dallin. This past week he has gone from plop scooting baby to nursery going toddler. 18 months old, and finally taking his first real steps! I've never had a baby walk so late, nor have I ever known any baby to walk so late, but now you'd never know when he started!


We named this the "plop scoot"

No, this isn't Dallins transition from male to female...actually, Lindsey got a hold of him,(and the camera) and brought him downstairs with the new name of Susanna. However this clip does model his newly acquired walking skills. He/she seems a bit moody in this shot.

Our other spotlight of transition is Porter. He has blossomed lately. This past couple of weeks he has started to read, memorized 3 articles of faith, started playing violin, and started progressing so much in math I switched him up to the 2nd grade book! It has been so fun to watch this "spurt"!

Showing off the hat he won in the snowshoe race.

His fortune teller business. Only a quarter!

I called my cousin Louisa for some tips on helping kids learn to read (since she's a pro at this). I followed her advice, and Porter absolutely took off! Thanks cuz! One morning he came up with this novel idea that he was going to stand on the table and sing his books. It has now evolved into more of a family affair, with all the kids participating. Lindsey named them the Porternacle Choir. Now in the morning when I tell them it's time for the song and prayer, they leap onto the table and start singing all silly before I can get them started with the hymn. They are
SILLY!!

PS Check out Lindsey's blog, she wanted to post some of her adventures in the kitchen, so I put her blog back up.

American Dog Derby

Saturday dawned a beautiful blue sky day. Never mind the mountains of snow still gracing every inch of our yard and driveway. This was the perfect day for...going to the oldest dog sled race in the country. The American Dog Derby has been held every year since 1911 in Ashton, Idaho, only 25 minutes from our house. So we got up and bundled everyone in their finest snow gear and were off for Ashton. Not just to see the dogsled races. This was a family affair, including the fairest dog of them all-Jackson. While the crowds waited to cheer the dog teams onto the finish line, there were lots of activities to keep everyone and their dogs warm....


No, you are not seeing things. This really is a picture of Jackson in a harness, ready to pull Ryan in a SKIJORING race. Nifty word, eh? This event had 13 entries. The idea is for the dog to pull you while you cross country ski, or skate ski. The other competitors had sleek, trained, sled dogs that started sprinting as soon as their owner said go. Jackson is a purebred golden retriever. That about says it all. Bred to retrieve. To hang out his tongue and pant. To cuddle and nuzzle and be your best friend. To run along side you. Not to pull you, to be ahead and lead you. Ryan found that going on a nearly 4 mile ski can take a lot longer with a curious puppy who likes to sniff other dogs poo in the middle of the trail. It was fun for him though. He did pass the lady who had some sort of little chiuahua trying to pull her.



All the kids entered a snowshoe race for their age group. Here is Spencer all lined up ready to go. He did not win, but did have a fun time. Lindsey also ran and did just fine.



We found that Porter might have a talent... For the 5-6 year olds, there were 4 heats with about 5 kids in each race. He won his race (with a nice gap between him and the 2nd place kid. Actually, at the beginning of the race, he fell down, got up, caught up, and passed everyone). So each winner ran a final race to see who the top 3 were. I was totally suprised when he won the final race with ease and grace (hee hee) and got 1st place out of 19 kids!! His prize was picking out a fleece hat from the vendor who was selling outside. So I had to put on a video of the final race. He told me later that one of his snow shoes fell off in the middle of the race, which might explain how he pulled ahead a little. But of course, mommy knows he would have gone just as fast with the snowshoe on, right? You might want to push mute if you watch the video, I was kind of excited and was cheering kind of loud for him.



And last but not least, we entered the Mutt Race. Spencer, Lindsey, and Porter each took a turn racing Jackson hooked up to a sled. They weren't timing the races for competition (it was all kids), but they sure did have fun!! This shot is of Lindsey. Notice the gasps as she runs into the sled in front of her.(She forgot to put on the brake like she was supposed to).

It was also fun to cheer as the real sled dog teams crossed the finish line. They had run either a 40, 60, or 100 mile race. We read the book Call of the Wild a couple months ago, so it was cool to see an actual dog sled team, with the dogs all lined up and running.

Check out www.americandogderby.com for cool pictures and information. And as for next year...get your dog harnessed and practicing, because you have a place to stay!!

Winter Fest

Every year the city holds a Winter Fest Celebration at the park. We've never gone, but this year decided we'd brave the snow and have some fun. I'm not sure who had more fun...Ryan, or the kids! He met up with an old friend, who was in charge of making snow sculptures in the middle of the park. He asked Ryan if he wanted to help...one carve with the shovel, and Ryan was hooked! He spent a long time, and really enjoyed himself!










The kids had fun, too...


going on a sleigh ride...



digging for "treasures" in the snow..


and snow painting!



They also tested their snowball throwing skills, went sledding on a cool steep hill, and the crowning event... I got to take Kami to the bathroom,where we successfully undid 3 or 4 layers of snow clothes and then put them all back on again!!