Memorial Weekend Camping Trip

Thank goodness summer has arrived.  For our family summer means camping and after being cooped up all winter long camping trips can't come soon enough.  We were able to make it out camping over Memorial Weekend and were lucky enough to be joined by Chad parents and grandparents for part of that trip. 

We decided to keep it simple and camp on Chad's grandparent's property, which meant we were able to plug the trailer in the cabin and have full hook ups.  NICE!  We took the bike and four wheeler and spent the first day riding around the property, building forts, playing on the swing, and building up a mighty nice rock collection.

That night we were surprised to have grandpa and grandma join us.  The girls were thrilled to wake up to the news that they had come to play with them.  They ended up bringing their two Razors (which we hadn't played with yet) so we decided to pack some lunches and head up the mountain for a little afternoon ride.  The girls did pretty good especially little Mylie who wasn't the biggest fan of her helmet.

During our little ride up the mountain we were able to find ourselves a patch of snow.  Building a snowman is always a must, so grandpa helped Kinsie build one.  Then he helped her get a pretty decent snowball fight going.

After some fun in the snow we drove back down the mountain to play in the water.  Only in Utah can you enjoy playing in the snow and water on the same day.  We had been seeing a lot of ticks and even found one crawling in Britnee's hair.  YUCK!  Luckily I happened to have several bandannas with me so the girls wore them the entire time.  I couldn't get over how cute they looked.

After a long day of riding and having fun we headed back to the trailer/cabin for dinner.  Just after we pulled in great grandpa and grandma showed up and joined our little party.  Hot dogs and smores were on the menu that night so Britnee helped dad get a fire going and we ate to our hearts content, or at least until our bellies felt like they were going to pop.

This picture of Britnee kills me!

The next day we rode for a little bit, had lunch, then packed up and came home.  It was a short trip, but fun was had by all.  We're looking forward to the next time we can get out and enjoy some more time with the family.

The girls decided to dress up like mom and dad.  These two crack me up

Can't forget this little lady. 

She loves it when I pull out the camera and immediately says, "cheeeeese..."

Looking back on birthdays

Birthdays have all come and gone here at our house and I thought I'd better post about them before I completely forgot what happened.  Britnee's is the first one we celebrate once the new year hits and we decided to throw her a little party since Kinsie had her swimming party last year.  We decided to go with a fairy theme for her first party ever.  All of her guests came dressed their "fairiest", received their very own wings, decorated wands and cupcakes, and even got their finger nails and faces painted.  I think they all had a fun time.  She got some great gifts from the grandparents and was even spoiled by her mommy and daddy.

Britnee Turning 3

 Mylie was next in line for a b-day celebration, unfortunately my camera wouldn't cooperate and I didn't get very many pictures of her big day.  I think Chad was able to snap a few, but he hasn't downloaded them to the computer yet.  I'm such a bad mom not to document her first b-day very well.  Oh well, that's the third child for you.  But don't worry.  Once I get those pictures I will be posting them on here!
After a few months of waiting it was finally Kinsie's turn.  I've decided to hold off on any more parties for awhile, but I may have condemned myself to them since Kinsie continually asked when she was going to have her party.  Lucky for me I have great friend who was holding a little carnival in her backyard on Kinsie's b-day.  These neighborhood carnivals are such a blast.  There were games to play, prizes to win, and bouncy house to play in, and yummy food to be eaten.  I went ahead and baked up some cupcakes for a the little carnival goers and we were even able to sing Happy Birthday to the b-day girl.  Needless to day she felt pretty special.

The Carnival

 She was also spoiled with some great gifts from the grandparents and got a bike (just like a Strider but without the same price tag) from Chad and I.  She was happy with how her day turned out which is all that matters in the long run!

Kinsie Turning 4

We hope you girls all had a wonderful day and know how much we love you. 

Bridal Shower Fun

My baby sister Kylene is getting married this next month.  I know, it's crazy to think about.  Luckily her wedding shower was the same day as Dannie's baby shower, so I was able to make it to both special events.
Kylene had her shower at Olive Garden which made for an evening filled with yummy food and lots of friends and family to catch up with.  I had a great time with everyone but missed having Keri and Alyna there with us.  Thanks for the fun night and congratulations Lou!!

 Me and Lou.  She's the baby in the family and I'm the oldest.  We're over 16 years apart!

 My beautiful mother, my sister Karena (who looks amazing!!!), Kylene, and Prego Lady

The bride to be

The mother of the bride

Me and my cousin Lexie.  She's and her family have been in Arizona for way too long!  It's been so nice to have them closer.  I get enough of the Willard girls!!

Celebrating National Birthmother's Day -aka Dannie's baby shower

The Saturday before Mother's Day isn't know by many as a day to celebrate and honor birthmother's across the country.  Yet, that is exactly what the Saturday before Mother's Day is...National Birthmother's Day. 

We were lucky enough to spend that day with Kinsie's birthmom (Dannie) and some of her extended family celebrating the upcoming arrival of Dannie's baby boy.  It was fun to see her showered with so much love...Dannie and Kinsie.  We've had a very open adoption with our birthmom and her family and it's always fun for us to see them and spend some time with them.  Particularily Dannie.  She's become a member of our family and a dear friend to me.
I love that Kinsie has so many wonderful people in her life who love her and want the very best for her.  She is so blessed to have such an extended family and I hope she will always remain close to them.

Some of Dannie's extended family

 Dannie's Grandma

 Kinsie, Michelle (Dannie's Mom) and Dannie

 The two prego ladies.  I love that we are both expecting our first boys. 

They are going to be such buddies!

Green Thumbs - Part 2

Well, our little seedlings sprouted about a week after the girls got them into their little cups.  We decided to let them mature for a few more days and once the weather was nice enough we moved them out front into the flower beds.

This time around the girls opted not to use their gloves, but they sure did loved using their new gardening tools. They did a great job helping me dig holes and transfer their newly sprouted starters.

We also planted the two packets of slower seeds that they got with their gardening bags for Easter.

Unfortunately, the girls love playing in the dirt every time we go outside, and to be honest I don't think any of the flowers are going to make it. They've been shown quite a bit of TLC, probably a bit too much. But, growing beautiful flowers was never the point!

After the seeds and seedlings were in the ground the girls decided to join daddy in some good ol' car washing.  However, they decided daddy had the car under control and focused their washing attentions on their spades and shovels.  Mylie decided it was a good time to join in the fun.

They all had so much fun playing outside and it was a great way to spend a good portion of our day/  I love these girls so much and have loved watching them grow into such great helpers...even if they enjoy stomping around in the dirt smashing all of our seeds as they start to grow.  Just remind me to buy flowers that have already started to bloom.  Then maybe I can keep them alive.

 

Green Thumbs -Part 1-

For Easter the two older girls got some gardening bags.  Every time I go outside they ask if they can wear my gardening gloves and dig in the dirt.  So, I figured it was a good time to get them their own gardening tools and gloves.

I found the bags and gloves at Walmart and then filled them with a variety of seeds.  Some vegetables for our garden and some flowers for the rest of the yard.  Each of their bags came with some starter kits for flowers.  So, we decided to put those together today.

 

My little gardeners.

 Mixing up the dirt and getting it ready to go into the pots.

 Filling the pots with the dirt and seeds.

 Showing off the final product.  (Mmmm...they look good enough to eat.)  As you can tell the girls are really excited about their hard work.

 With the extra dirt and seeds we put together a little pot for me to enjoy.  I love that we're all wearing striped shirts.  Mylie was napping while we did this, but she had on a yellow shirt that was striped too.

Here's the little lady after she woke up from her nap.  She was too cute not to add to this post.

 

Once the flowers start to bloom and grow we'll transfer them outside into the flower beds.  We also have plans to get some veggies planted into our garden, but we need daddy to go and get the soil first.  So, more pictures to come.