Our Trip

 This past summer we had the opportunity to take a trip back to visit Lynnette and family in Indiana and then back to Bellefountaine and visit our friends there.When we lived in Ohio, we drove the long drive back here 3 times in the 6 and a 1/2 years that we lived out there. But everytime we drove it was in the middle of winter and we just wanted to be home to celebrate the Christmas season with family and who wants to site see in the middle of a snow storm, so this was the first time we actually stopped to see anything along the way. It was a lot of fun and it sure made that long drive a bit barable.
 Our first stop was at Martin's Cove, Wyoming. It was great to get to see this part of our pioneer heritage and learn more of what happened here. We have ancestors who pushed hand carts acrossed the plains and we had the chance to push our own around the park, and decided that that would have been more work than we had thought.

 Our family would have had one cart to put all of our belongings(if we could have afforded it) other wise we would share with another family. The boys would have had to help push or pull and help take care of the little ones. It was much harder that we had thought.

 Tanner pushing a child size cart, and really struggling.

 Devin offered to give the girls a ride, but the rocks and the hills made it a bit of a work out for him.

 Me helping Hayden.

 They showed us how to make rings out of nails. Each of the kids got there own. And Devin got the chance to make one.

Checking out the museums around the facility. It was a great experience, one we learned alot from. Next time we are taking a hand cart and hiking the trail. We needed to have a little more time than we had planned to do that, but we were told that it is an amazing experience for families and would like to try it next time.

First day of School 2011-2012 year

Tanner started the 1st grade this year and is learning all kinds of new things.

Devin is in the 4th grade and is really progressing in his reading this year and enjoys the social part of school the most. 

Hayden is in 3rd grade and is doing great, he is learning a lot and being pushed to excell in all his subjects.

I am so proud of my boys and how well they are all doing. They work so hard and are great kids.

Summer Fun



While camping this summer we went to Minnatonka Caves up by Bear Lake. It was a preaty neat hike and we enjoyed the amazing sites.

Atk allowed us to tour the area where they test the shuddle rocker bosters.
It was preaty cool.

The kids in the command chairs at ATK.

Test shuddle.



Tanner's 7th birthday.

He had to have a solar system cake, so I had to get creative and figure out how to make this. The planets on the side are oreo balls dipped in colored chocolate. Yummy.

Hayden turned 9 this summer. 

It was all about Ben Ten here.

And Devin had a summer birthday and turned 10.
I know these are a little out of order but it is to much work to fix them. Besides I started this post a long time ago and never finished it ... We did a lot more things last summer than this and maybe I'll get around to blogging about them but if not we had a great summer and enjoyed the time off of school.

Ellie's 4th Birthday

I can't believe my little girl is getting so big. She turned 4 on the 2nd of March. She has been waiting for this birthday for quite a while, we have been telling her that her birthday was after Valentines Days so every day after Valentine's she would wake up and ask if today was her birthday. Tanner and Hayden blew up balloons to put in her room so that when she woke up she would know that today was the special day. She was so excited.

Can't tell who is more interested in her presents her or all the other kids. Ellie was supper lucky on her birthday, we had both set of grandparents stop by and Uncle Travis, Aunt Elisa and Aunt Kami. Thanks for making her day so special.

It was a princess party and had to have a princess cake. We have been so blessed to have Ellie in our family, she brings much joy and some sass to our lives. We love our little princess.

Halloween

Ready for trick or treating. This is the first year we have taken our kids door to door trick or treating. In the past we have always had a trunk or treat, but this year our primary had a halloween party instead. That was alot of fun and gave us the chance to go door to door as well. The kids were so excited, they had all their school homework done by 5 (most nights it drags out till bedtime). So after dinner we headed out to our neighborhood. It took us an hour to get through 12 houses, I thought for sure they would want to contine on in the neighborhood just below ours, but they didn't. We came home and the kids watched Casper and ate what little candy they got. It was so nice not to be out all night especially on a school night.

Taylie as Aurora

Ellie as Belle

Devin as Captian Rex

Hayden as a transformer

Tanner as the Red Power Ranger.