A Sunday Afternoon

This past Sunday we went up to the spot where we got our engagement pictures taken. It's a nice little picnic area with trail up in the mountains close by.
The same spot our announcement picture was taken. A little different water level in May - we had our pictures taken in November so there was a bit of snow and a little trickle of a stream.
Didn't see too much wildlife. Unless you count a ton of empty snail shells. A butterfly here and there, but not even a squirrel.

Reese ready for an adventure.


We had a nice time. The weather was great. Next time we'll take a picnic.
Reese pulled this beautiful face after we got home.

Zoo

We made a trip to the zoo a couple of weeks ago. Our local zoo isn't too exciting (for adults) - but the kids enjoyed it. There aren't any real exotic animals - just local wildlife. Bear, buffalo, big horn sheep, bobcat...
The loop around the zoo doesn't take too long - most of the time was spent playing at the tree house.
We were there with our best friends.

Pretty exotic huh...
Best Friends.

Sandbox

Since we have no real yard - we're making the most of our lava rock pit. I was going to the store for I don't even remember what, and came home with a sandbox. The kids love it. It sits right outside our front window to - making it easy to keep an eye on them.

BBQ

A few weeks ago we attended a farewell BBQ for some friends of ours. Their only going to be gone 8 weeks or so - but we'll miss them just the same. All of the kids had a wonderful time running wild in the backyard. The highlight of their evening - bubbles.

Ross Park

So the other day it wasn't too terribly cold so we thought we would take a chance at going to the park and having a picnic. We purchased a new picnic basket at WalMart and filled it with some Lunchables and a few other goodies and off we went. Amazingly enough the wind stopped for the couple hours we were there and we even had some sunshine. Another quite amazing thing happened - Reese actually sat and ate her lunch before running off to play. It truly was a nice afternoon. The kids had a lot of fun playing on the playground and having a picnic lunch. Boston is quite the little dare devil and immediately climbed right to the very top of the playground - he stood their taunting me at the top of the twisty slide - I thought for sure he was going to take a step, face plant and ride painfully down the slide, but eventually with the help of his sister he finally sat down - thus ending my panic attack. Reese made friends right away... she kept following this girl around calling her "Alice" -- I finally had to tell her that I didn't think her name was Alice and that she should go ask her what her actual name was. Every time she sees a girl somewhat close to her in age she tells me that is her best girl friend. Yes, even though they have never met in their life. She is the most friendly child. She waves at kids everywhere we go.
We went for a little hike up the hillside there at the park. Reese wanted her picture by the graffiti. (Note: all these pictures were taken with my phone so excuse the poor quality).
We even found a birdhouse - can you see it?
The trail downhill. It doesn't look anywhere near as steep or as rocky as it actually was. It was quite the workout pushing my non-jogger, regular wheeled stroller up it!
Looking down the cliff side.
A quick picture with mom - don't we all look so Happy! (Reese was busy watching the people playing frisbee golf)

Easter Afternoon

A family snapshot taken that afternoon.
We spent the day before at Todd's parent's house for Easter and Sunday afternoon we spent at my parent's. All my brother's minus one (who's in the military) were there with their families. We had an Easter Egg hunt and cooked some hamburgers and hot dogs.

The kids setting off on the hunt. Reese with a nice head start.
Finding some necklaces.
This is actually out of order... we were trying to take a cute picture of these two on the slide but Reese kept pushing him down the slide - so that never worked out.
Boston finding some goods.
Mmmm candy!
All the cousins with their goodie bags.
The best treat of all! A balloon!
The kids spent a good amount of time on the trampoline. Is there anything better when you are a kid? Boston couldn't really participate with these wild hooligans so he just stayed on the side lines and yelled with the best of them.
DOG PILE!

Cute Cousins!
Best Friends!
Her other BFF!
The two babies and their blankets chilling by the door dreaming of the day they get to run around outside with the big kids.

Easter Morning

Easter morning was a little interesting. The "Easter Bunny" had everything set up nicely for the kids to find the next morning. What the EB didn't expect was one little girl to wake up at 4AM and find all the goods. We were woken up to an odd sound coming down the hall - Reese riding her new scooter down the hall. Remember this was at 4. It didn't end there though... when we got up to see what was going on Reese had already helped herself to everyone's Easter goods which were scattered all over her room: she had opened Bambi and it was already playing in the DVD player, Boston's puppy was snuggled up in her bed, and she was trying to get Todd to wake up and put some PEZ in her dispenser. So we got everything back where it was supposed to be in it's proper basket and sent her back to bed.
The reassembled baskets.
The picture the EB snagged the night before. The kids loot. Boston: a puppy, bubbles, books, a little duck, and some candy. Reese: scooter, books, Bambi, Easter skirt and shirt, little bunny and some candy.
Mom and Dad's loot. Mom: new swimsuit, cook book, and some candy. Dad: new shirt, itunes card, and some candy.

Naturally I forgot to take a picture of the kids in their Easter outfits. Oh well.

Ward Easter Egg Hunt

The Friday before Easter was our Ward's Easter Party. They served breakfast for dinner and then we had an egg hunt. Reese was so excited.

Patiently waiting for the Jr. Primary's turn to go outside.
And she's off!
Little buddy finding some eggs.

Tag teaming it.