The kids had a lot of fun playing with Jaden and staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house durning our visit. The kids made an attempt to sleep in Jaden's tent one night. Let's just say that Ava didn't last very long squished in the tent with the boys. Jeanine took the kids with her to go wash her car and the bonus treat was that Grave Digger was down there. The kids even got to meet the driver and get pictures with a signed autograph.

Fun riding in Aunt Jeanine's new car!!! While we were in Spokane the kids loved riding in Jeanine's new car. Any where we went they asked if we could take her car. Mike and I even had the honor of being able to eat in Jeanine's car with much begging and a promise to not spill any crumbs in the car. Thanks Jeanine!!!

              Dora speaks "Spinach"!!

As Rylen, Ava, and I are watching Dora the Explorer tonight.  Ava said "Rylen they are speaking "Spinach", Rylen I know how to speak "Spinach".  (saying very a matter of fact like tone.)   Rylen quickly replied "Ava you don't speak "Spinach", spinach is something you eat.  They are speaking Spanish.

32 Years of dreams and adventure! Happy Birthday Mike!

Mike has such a love for adventure and dreaming big.  Any of us who have had Mike tell us a story about something know he has great attention for detail and has a great imagination.  I am glad he hasn't lost it.  The kids love to play with their dad because of his great imagination and spirit of adventure and discovering new things.  

Happy Birthday Mikie!!!

I know there's no other place Mike would rather be any day is on a mountain top covered with snow.  I also know that Mike is a big kid at heart.  He misses the excitement of birthdays when he was a kid.  So the challenge today is to make it as special for him as possible.  I'm off to a good start so far I think.  He got a special treat yesterday.  (Coke and Sour Patch Kids)  I tried for gummy bears but the store was out.  And today we started off with breakfast and two birthday cards....along with sleeping in a little.  We'll see how the rest of the day goes.  I need to make him dinner and clean the kitchen two things I don't do very often because Mike does it.  (Trust me I did not train him in this department.  The credit goes to his mom and the sense of pride he feels in keeping the house clean.)  I am grateful for Mike he has brought such joy to my life.  So the least I owe him today is a special birthday!!

When in doubt just Waddle!!

This morning as I was getting ready to take Rylen down to the school bus stop we discovered a lot of black ice on the ground.  We usually take the kids down to the bus stop with the bike and the kid cart that is attached.  As I began up our little road I got about half way and because of the ice we couldn't go forward.  We just kept going backwards and slipping in place.  I decided it wasn't worth it to fight nature so we parked the bike at home and walked to the bus stop.  On the way home I was walking with Ava and telling her to be care as she was skipping and running back.  She told me "mommy you are going to slip because you don't have boots on."  and she continued "You need to just waddle like the penguins so you won't slip."  Now why didn't I think of that.  So then she began to demonstrate how to waddle so I would stop slipping on the ice.  Thanks Ava!!

After all of the playing the kids crashed!
The younger girls slept in Ava's room.
Emma, Ava and Rylen hanging out in Rylen's room.