I'll throw out a few pictures and highlights to help us remember.
We went climbing twice over the break and I think decided that our family has a new identity. As Landen said excitedly after an especially difficult but succesful climb, "I'm a climber!" All the kids were awesome climbers, Brecklyn especially surprising us with her tenacity and strength. Capriel was like a little monkey and I would often look over and find her freeclimbing half-way up the wall. We couldnt tie and belay them fast enough. The three oldest become completely adept at hooking themselves up and tying the knots so that all we had to do was hook up our own end. I really got a kick out of watching the kids straining but determined to reach the top. Then they would bounce down (Landen with his dainty little very vertical descent and Capriel so light that she seemed to fly from wall to wall like pendulum) and arrive winded and completely exhausted but estatic that they had completed the climb.
Another fun adventure was that at the last minute Breck decided to get her ears pierced for her birthday. She only wanted to do it if everyone could come to support her, so as my parents packed the car I took all the kids quickly to the mall. Breck was very nervous and had 6 nervous very interested children and 1 experienced girl watching her intently. The Claire's attendant even had to ask the kids to step back and give her a little room to work. Breck looks beautiful and Rhyse has decided she wants to be a twin with her now!
We also braved the rain and hit the baby animal days. Due to the poor weather the lines were almost nonexistent so we were able to hit all the events quickly. I loved hurrying in out of the rain into a authentic pioneer cabin, packed in tight and still cold and learning to make rag dolls together. Looking around helped give me a small feeling about what it might have been like to live as a big family during that era.
Saturday we dug sod around my flowerbed bed that encircles the chicken pen to give it a more pleasing shape. All the kids helped-keeping sharp eyes out for worms to feed to the chickens. Landen swears he has taught Dolcineah to be a trick chicken. We put all the sod into the chicken pen in hopes of creating a little mound. The kids had a ball playing on it and looking for wroms. I love the above picture because it shows life like it really is at our house. Rhyse still in her nightgown in the middle of the day, a dog, a chicken, a dirty but happy child, and a good man doing something kind for me. I'm so blessed.
Easter egg hunt at the Hansens.
Talia's Bball team.
We had a little bug that brought fevers and caused children so sleep for long periods of time. Here is a pic Craig got of Rhyse taking a nap she initiated herself.
Another project. Here's Devin helping us remove the last of the wicked barberry bushes. Hurray! I've been dreaming of this day. THanks to all who helped. It was a lot of work, but I'm so excited to put something pretty in place of those "pokies" as most of the kids called them.
Capriel and Rhyse trying out the ponies. Capriel would like nothing better than to own her own pony.
During a break between conference sessions we took our traditional conference hike. The leaves have yet to leaf out, but it made the streams and mountains much more noticablle and striking. Rhyse even decided that she was a hiker (no kidding) and kept taking off without us. The kids had fun playing in the water, climbing trees, searching for snail shells, and just being out int the fresh air.
Our own Easter egg hunt. This pic shows Lan and Tal climbing the fence in a race to get an egg on the basketball standard.
Talia was the first to find the "golden egg"
Dad was an angel and helped me get all my cabinets put back up on my kitchen. It seems like an eternity since Nicki and I dreamed up my new configuration, and we are finally getting it finished. I'm loving it! So nice to have someone with a little more experience to help out and give you confidence. Thanks Dad!
We had a wonderful couple of days with Mom and the girls, helping Grandma and Grandpa in their yard, having a DI challenge, enjoying the sun, badmitton, baskettball, a "roast" for Prilly, cow auctions, and card games. We love you!
1 comment:
Wow this post is so EXCITING!! I need to come visit soon and see all the fun changes that are happening!!!
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