Avengers Strike Again

Nate and the rest of his team had another awesome season!

Nate is so fun to watch because he really understands the game and is pretty darn aggressive!  I just feel grateful that we actually had some warm days to watch Nate play.

Nate, the Webelo and Blue and Gold Banquet

Along with turning ten his past March, Nate also advanced to the Webelos program in cub scouts.

 Nate created this awesome ice cream cake for the Blue and Gold banquet.  The theme was Military.

Nate received several awards from his leader, Ben Wilson.

Spring Break 2014

We kicked off Spring Break with a house full of kids for a pizza, movie, and popcorn night.

 Monday morning we all headed to the Tri-cities for Alex to have his second appointment getting his ear hairs lazered.  This is all part of the various skin transplants that Alex has had over the years on his ear.  We are now battling the hair growth that comes with puberty and hoping that these laser appointments work.  We go every eight weeks for eight appointments.  Cross our fingers!!!

 Next stop was Get Air, a trampoline park in Kennewick.  We all had a great time.  My pictures are terrible from my phone but you get the drift...it was fun!

 Next stop was a quick and delicious dinner at Costa Vida.

Our final stop for the night was to the movie theatre to watch "The Lego Movie."  Nate and Cooper had been wanting to watch this SO bad for so long.  While Birch and I were struggling to make it through the movie (especially the beginning part) Coop declared that "this was the best day of his life!!!"

 

 The next few days Coop, Nate, and Tyler spent the mornings at Track Camp.  

 Alysee babysat four days during Spring Break.  She is turning into an awesome babysitter.  Chloe still loves caring for Hazel when she comes over.  Alex was busy doing yard work and a couple of babysitting jobs too.

 Nate did terriffic on his 400 meter run.

 I call this awesome!!  Nate is a shorty but check out that height of that hurdle!

 Tyler loves the hurdles too!  He really wanted to do track this spring for the Junior High but Birch and I vetoed that as we needed him at home and to support the other three that are doing a sport.

 Coop loved competing in the long jump.

 Tyler tried out the 100 yard dash and decided he is more cut out for long distance running.

 Some families are super cool and go to Disneyland or Hawaii for Spring Break. Not us...we go the the farm store to see the baby chicks. Keeping the kids expectations low is the key to happiness.

Overall it was a nice Spring Break.  I was ready to have the house stay clean for more than three minutes so Momma was happy when Monday rolled around again.

Nine Children...

We have benefited so many times over the years from others watching out kids so Birch and I could go on a trip.  We finally had the chance to pay-it-forward and watch Emi and Ryan's kids while they went to San Diego for a week.

These two have had so much going on in their lives over the past few months:  buying a house, a dental practice, moving, and finding out baby four would be joining them this fall.  We've loved having them back in town again!

 These three little girls are so sweet and get along fantastically with our kids!  Even better they think Birch and I are da' bomb!

Chloe's first time feeding a baby. The things the last child just doesn't learn. Hazel didn't seem to mind the yogurt bath.

 I had lots of time with these two girls in the morning while the other kids were at school.

 By the end of the week Hazel grew to love us all!  The kids were all so helpful in playing with Hazel.  Alysee loved being in charge of putting her to bed.

 Mila and I are two peas-in-a-pod!

We certainly had some crazy moments with having nine kids in the house but we survived.  Birch and I are still feeling good about keeping our family to six :)

Crazy Hair Day

 Birch was commenting how amazing it is that Chloe six months ago couldn't even stand to have a hair clip in her hair.  She truly has been healed from her sensory disorder.  Thank goodness!!!

 Nate

 Coop

A Nut

This kid is such a nut. He sure keeps our family laughing!

St. Patties Day Flop

With everyone posting their super cute St. Patties day ideas I thought I should shares totally crappy shamrock pretzels that didn't turn out and ironically didn't even taste that good. I've never been able to get onto a holiday that requires making elaborate traps and then making your house a mess in the morning with the finger pointing at the mischievous leprechaun. Am I grouchy?