Craters of the Moon

While we were in Idaho for Christmas, my sister Tara suggested we take our kids to Craters of the Moon. One of her sons had a project coming up that the trip would work for and we both thought it would be fun to take our kids to a place we visited as kids. We grew up only about 30 miles from this place so it was a frequent end-of-the-year field trip in elementary school. I don't remember there being snow on the ground when we went though. My mom watched Charlotte for us which was great since it was a lot of walking/climbing but we had fun.

The kiddos reading about one of the volcanoes

Ava and her cousin Blake helping each other up the hill

Apparently Blake wasn't helpful enough because here she is with Aunt Tara.

Ava posing on one of the craters

Looking down into one of the craters

Becoming Junior Rangers

"I promise not to take rocks from National Parks."

The whole crew that went.

Teacher Appreciation

We love love love the preschool that Ava attends this year. The director is a gem and the teachers are fabulous. So we took advantage of teacher appreciation week this year to show them the love. Here is one of their gifts.

The gift is a carafe and rolled up inside is a list of what Ava appreciates about that particular teacher.

The note says "Thanks for pouring your heart into teaching Ava this year."

Easter Mail

We got home from Easter in Idaho to find Easter cards for the girls in the mailbox from MeeMaw and Papa.  They love to get mail so they were thrilled.

Easter 2011

We got to go to Idaho for Easter this year. It's always a special treat since its a BIG DEAL at my house. We have the annual (it's probably like the 35th annual) easter egg hunt at my grandparents house that usually involves some pushing and shoving, running around like crazy people, begging grandpa for clues to where the 'golden' egg is, and anger at whomever happens to find the egg if its not you. (This fist shaking is for you Tara...lol) Ava and Charlotte were thrilled to be able to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles. We had a blast!

The super cute Peeps wreath my mom made

Cookies that were waiting for us upon arrival to Shoshone

Ava thrilled to be holding Baby Elizabeth. Baby Elizabeth not so sure.

Tara forcing Charlotte to snuggle with her. *S*

Ava and Ty co-authoring a book. Ty wrote the words, Ava told him what to write.  Ava drew the pictures.

Waiting in line for feast in Grandma and Grandpa's garage.

Feasting

C being cute

Blake during the hunt

Ava getting a running start

Sydnee scoping out the sagebrush for some eggs

C showing off her bag o' eggs

THE MASTER HUNTER

Cool by association - that's me with the "Golden Egg Finder"

Here we are again

Ava (who is obsessed with worms lately) asks Gramps to show her how he gets nightcrawlers for fishing

Charlie's new best friend.  My brothers girlfriend watched her almost the whole time.  It was awesome!

Jackson was there too.

The Easter bunny visited, leaving chocolate bunnies for all

Me like chocolate bunny

Chocolate bunnies make me crazy!

Trying to get these two to smile at the same time is ridiculous.  Good thing they're cute anyway.

Dad untangling the egg Tara and I strung up the flagpole for his Easter egg hunt.

The littles heading out for Poppy's easter egg hunt

Sprint for Cancer

Some friends and I spent the last five months training for a half-marathon. But to get ourselves ready, we ran a 10k to raise money for cancer. It was fun to run with all my girls. Here we are just before the race.

Half Marathon

I ran a half-marathon. Rob did too. Here's proof.

For the History Books

I remember where I was on 9/11 and I'll remember where I was on 5/1/11