Stephen's 14th Birthday

 Homemade chocolate from scratch cake with Irish Cream cream cheese frosting - three layers!

He kept blowing candles out by breathing. 

One and four candles.....that's how we count to fourteen around here. 

 That was an easy present to open.

 Grandma Gebes has a sense of humor....

 and awesome present buying skills.

 Aunt Courtney sure knows how to surprise a boy....

 with a wood carving kit.

 Grandpa Gebes' cousin, Ralph, gave Stephen a stack of woodworking magazines.

Stephen's already picked out at least three projects he wants to make.

 So, I'm a mean mom. Really, a mean mom. He opened three presents from us, the dowels, the Lego book, and this box to keep his tools and such in. Only....this mean mom put a bunch more presents INSIDE this tool box. Ha ha ha ha Mean mom.

 Just what I always wanted. My own little tool box. 

I will name him George's tool box, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him...

 ^^^^  Truth!!  ^^^^

 I have the power!!

Happy birthday, Stephen George!  We love you lots.

Easter at Grandma's

After church on Easter, a quick change of clothes, and a check of the cows - we drove up to Grandma Ingalls' house for Easter with some of the family.  It is an hour drive up to her house, so not too far.  There was more food than twice as many of us could have ate. Grandma made my favorite potato salad, though she was quick to point out it needed salt I think it was just perfect.

My mom, who had just had her teeth removed for dentures and was not feeling well enough to come out, and my sister Kaylene filled 300 plastic Easter eggs for an egg hunt for the younger kids.  That was the highlight of the kids' day.  We brought home enough candy to last us the week.  Well, except Brech - who ate his candy in two days.  I think he didn't come off that sugar high until Thursday.

"Easter Bunny" Kaylene

 Easter bunnies helpers

          ^^^^^^ That guy right there was bumming Swedish

fish off anyone who would give them away.

I didn't even know Andrew like Swedish fish.  Guess I know 

what he's getting for his birthday now.  Ha ha 

 On your mark....get set.....

 GO!!!!

 Kiara had just woke up from a nap so she wasn't as excited to hunt eggs as everyone else was.  She would have had Blase do the hunting if it had been her choice.  She'll eat all the candy though.

 I wanted to recreated the picture of the twins with Grandma Ingalls from March 2014.

I think all three of these lovely ladies are beautiful and sweet.

Kiara on the left-side of the picture and Brigid on the right side.

Rex asked for a picture with Grandma.

I'm more than willing to take a picture with family members if my kids ask.

I hadn't thought how beautiful this picture would be until we asked Grandma and she said she would love to have a picture with her Rex Howard.  Grandpa Howard would have smiled at these two posing for the camera.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from our family!!

Easter 2017

Our first Easter in a new house is always interesting.  The Easter bunny has trouble finding hiding places for baskets.  Let's not even get started on places for Easter eggs.  Lucky for us there was no snow on the ground - and there easily could have been.

 Brigid found her Easter basket right away.

 Kiara needed a little help, but it didn't take her long after she was pointed that way.

 Brech had decided he would never find his basket.

It only took thirty seconds more and he found it.

Seriously, kid.

 Gianna was sure hers was NOT in the school room.

Ha ha, it was there right where the Easter bunny left it.

 Rex's was in the pantry.

 Stephen looked here.

And there..... 

 and there....

 OHHH, but Cormac found his there.

 Probably not there, kiddo.

 Try this room again.

 Eureka!!!

Looks like lots of candy, fishing lures, coloring books, and toothbrushes. 

 Wait....someone is missing.

 Oh, I found him.

 I guess when you turn 15 you are too big to find your basket.

 Hummm, where could it be??

 Nope.

 Notta.

Haha, the garbage?

Well, it could be in there. 

 Not there either.

 Tricky Easter Bunny!

 The applesauce bunnies from Aunt Courtney.

She's so creative - and the applesauce was a great change up from candy.

 Looks just like his bunny.

 Thanks, Grandma Gebes for the candy!

 Daddy had to work.  The cows don't take Easter off.

 Getting ready for a quick Easter egg hunt.

 Even Rogue helped - though she's not much of an egg hunter.

 This is what happens when you find out you filled your 18 pack and you can't find anymore eggs.

 Life pretty much ends as we know it.

 These two were having issues finding all the eggs for their 18 pack.

 Working hard....or hardly working?

We did open and close the gate for him.

 OHhhh, the first snake of spring.

 Great lesson for the kids on how snakes can blend in.

 Hummmm, Mom, it is a snake.

No, it's not.

Yes, it is a snake.

I'm sure there is NO snake there.

I can see it.

Run faster then.

Brigid found the LAST hiding egg.  Way to go, girlie!