March 2022

The kids are so good at chickens!

Did a baked goods swap with another baker. Wow, she is good!

Built a chicken run to keep the chickens in their own area. They are not super happy about it but they will adjust.

Grandma Terry came to hang with the kids while we took Hailey to Atlanta for her 17th birthday trip.

First stop, eat a ton of food. Mission accomplished!

Flat Iron building. Such a cool bit of architecture.

Magnolia trees in bloom

So grateful we get to take Hailey on this fun adventure!

From the top of the ferris wheel. Atlanta is a pretty cool city!

Found fantastic bakeries

We went to a clothing sale Jessica was having at this fantastic house! Every room was different and so magical. So cool to meet the owner and hear her story.

The most fantastic peach cobbler with fried chicken. Who knew?! The food in Atlanta is unbelievable!

We went to an fashion museum. People are so incredible with what htey create!

And Hailey looking so old and mature

And silly

And fancy

We all put on some amazing accessories

We went to a wonderful aquarium. Could have stayed there forever.

Funny starfish

We've loved this time with Hailey! Always so different and fun to travel with just one child. We can't wait to take all the kids on their special 17 or 18 year old trip.

Nighttime beauty! Hailey has really struggled recently with sadness and motivation. It was so nice to see her come alive again.

Love traveling with Blake! Grateful we can.

Funny blow up dino 

Found a late night bbq place. So good!

We made it to Jessica's for Hailey's art class. Jessica was so great to do this for us! She is so good at teaching and training new artists. I laid down on the couch and took a little nap while Hailey learned.

Didn't want to get in their way but had to get this picture. Hailey loved working at Jessica's desk. She had stacks of art that she had made.

Loved their time!

Of course, me and Jessica giggled too. We went to brunch after and that was fantastic too.

We made it to the ocean at Tybee Island. The only place open at the time was this awesome pizza place. We ate it outside in the wind and it was delicious!

Can't believe how big our country is sometimes!

Pretending like we're in Hawaii.

Beach in March should always happen.

Naptime

We got to go to the top of the lighthouse. It was so windy and a bit scary but it was awesome!

From the top of the lighthouse

Hailey was too freaked out to go out on the patio. My hair was obviously going crazy. Blake liked the top too.

Hailey and Blake. Buds since 2005.

I loved this little house.

Took some pictures of historical weapons to send to Spencer.

Jassy came along too.

Checked out a military area

Got some fun anklets

Hailey forced me to take a picture.

Always making art.

Me too. I love taking pictures

Always be my babay!

Maybe we stopped for ice cream here 2 or 3 times in 2 days. It was delightful! Tybee is a cool spot! Blake was obviously here with us but doesn't love taking pictures. He got in some nice beach walks for his exercise time and he liked that alot.

We stopped in Savannah on the way home. What a magical and beautiful place!

We exhausted Hailey. She loved it. We loved it. So fun to be able to take her somewhere new and also to explore her talents.

When we got back, I took my mom to a thank you brunch. She said it was the best she ever had! While we were gone, our last bunny died. Spencer took care of the body and told Grandma, "Don't worry. They die all the time. One less thing to take care of." ha! So, now the bunnies are both gone. That was short lived.

The boys practicing lacrosse in our yard. We love being able to share our grassy space!

Nurse Brooke taking care of William's owie. 

Brooke had rubber bands added to her braces. They had us take a picture so she would be able to put them in correctly. Man, the crazy things they do for teeth and palates!

What happens after orthodontist

Not sure where this was, but beautiful

Spencer started lacrosse with some guys from church. It's a newer program so they're all beginners. "The Moms", as I call them, were texting me a lot asking Spencer to join because they want everyone to do it to build the sport. He was unsure but decided to do it and did great at practice and learned a lot. Pretty brave of him! He comes home sweaty and starving and the car smells bad with all those boys! But it is so fun.

Spencer plays defense and watching him is scary and awesome!

Spencer went on his first campout with this ward and had a great time. They invited cookie bacon sandwiches. Sounds like perfect fun!

The Taylors had us over and while we were there, their mama goat had a baby! It was amazing to see! I might have cried and it fulfilled my bucket list item.  

Out of control grape vines. I couldn't even tell where the beginning was but we're working on it!

The chess guys. They are so good! Spencer is coming very close to beating Blake and plays chess on his phone to practice. He had me play once against the grand master and I beat him because I have no strategy so the computer didn't know what I was going to do. William is a good player too!

Shared snacks plus books

St Patricks day german pancake

Long beautiful hair

Leprechaun trap. There was a note and a golden treat surprise. William was so happy!

Reading plus pasta roni sea shell making

Brooke and I made chocolate custard. It took forever to strain it but it was so good!

Spencer taking down the grapevines!

Outside eating is always a good sign that Spring is coming

Discovering amazing nature!

Found a bunny in our trees

Funny Hailey, always up for a good time!

Tarping the chicken coop so they stop flying out

BEFORE, the after will be coming for the rest of our lives!

Made this carrot cake to practice for a wedding.

William working on reading The Book of Mormon

Spending lots of time fixing the garden. It is mostly weeds and overgrown raspberries and blackberries. We didn't know how overgrown the yard was when we bought it in December but we're learning as we go! The kids are good help and they also enjoy using the fun tools.

River came over to hang out and then he ended up working with William in the garden while I was gone. This whole are was so thick with dead leaves.

The previous owner forget to turn a latch in our well, so $1300 later, we had a fixed well. Dang it!

This trailer has been so much fun!

Brooke came home from a campout and was exhausted! 

Spencer is always easy to spot in his fluorescent green shirt!

Roof time!!  The ladder is usually always up and that is a brave decision but the kids have enjoyed it.

There were so many piles of pine needles all over our property and we're getting them moved to burn them. It's smokey!

Backyard games fun. So beautiful out here!

The kids made art from art hub for kids. Never gets old!

Went hiking!

I love that we can drive not too far and find a beautiful place to hike.

Stopped for some lunch after at a local old fashioned diner. The happy faces make me so happy!

Another practice cake

Scarlett came over and of course, she wasn't go to say no to a ride on the mower!

Before (we burned the doors, that was fun)

After (prettier, hoping for a French cottage look in here someday)

Date for Blake and I.

No words

Best buds

Apricot blossoms are incredible.

Hailey got asked to prom by Gideon. They have been dating for a few weeks.

Basketball at Bobs

More outside work and fixing

Happy 10th birthday William! Double digits! Always german pancake!

Sarah had her baby, Dain, on William's birthday! Birthday twins! Isn't he adorable?!

We went and played at the park. He loves any outside and park time he can have! He has endless energy!

DogMan books forever! 

William is  huge fan of science. He loves to learn how things work and ask questions.

Sibling gift is a penguin! William is a fan!

Naturally, he wanted a chicken cake. 

William is a delightful kid. He is friendly to everyone and very flexible, both in personality and in body! He whistles all day long and loves snuggling. 

We went to William's favorite place, Culvers! He gets the same thing every time and is happy every time!

Always building the lego sets after. Spencer always reading!

Prepping for a field trip! I love volunteering in this class.

Spencer and Nate are pretty good buds. He has driven home from school with him every day and it's always a contest to see how fast they can get out of the school parking lot.