Holy cow, we have been busy with activity!!!!

Alright! Apparently camping all summer hasn't been enough. We had to sneak in a million other things when my nieces came to town. Get ready for the ride of the last three days...


9, A and E all at our small town rodeo on Saturday night.
There were fireworks afterward and the kids LOVED those. But, my favorite part of the night was teh "Ring of Fear"—they drew a circle in the arena and about six guys had to try to stay in it when they released a bull that was charging after them. It was quite a site, and made some fun for the rodeo clown and bullfighters!



13, MrT, and J-man in their black cowboy hats

Monday morning we went the pond park. Grandma G provided donuts and drinks! Mmm!

The fun continued with feeding the ducks and ducklings and later, "fishing"
3, 13, A, Z, 9 and E all out feeding the very-comfortable-around-people ducks

There I am in my green skirt on the right

Cute of Z and Grandma

13 and 3

13 catches a fish and later E catches one too.
Z is pouring the fish into 9's baggy and 3 thinks this is a great idea.

Here's how they caught the two fish

Then we released them back into the little ponds

9 was crying that released the fish and said he wanted to catch one. I said he could keep it if he caught one (thinking he wouldn't get one by himself) well, served me right. He caught one! And now it is on my kitchen counter in a glass bowl and still living. It loves to eat the flies we swat.

Later that evening we started a family karaoke party for our family home evening and then it later turned into a neighborhood PAR-TAY! Oh man, was it fun!
13 and Marc singing Beach Boys

Wow, look at me get down with A and 17!

9 wanted in on the fun

...and he did have fun!

Our friend and Marc singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm"
that was absolutely the highlight of my night! Bwa haa haa!

Me and our friend singing "Say a Little Prayer" which always takes me back to that scene in "My Best Friends Wedding"—too funny

Then on Tuesday morning we hit the "Two-buck Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point"

Ya, 3 was like this MOST of the time. The crowd was just too much for her. She stayed in the wagon most of the time. But, she looked how I felt be the end of the day... (I mean, hello, I am five months pregnant, and we left home at 9am and didn't get home until 5:30 pm and 3 fell asleep when we got home and didn't wake up until 10pm—so yes, that is why I am up blogging until midnight—she is up watching movies)

Me, 13 and 9 feeding the fish

Z, A, E and 9 pose on the hill

Grandma, E and 13 from my view

E and 13 from GRandmas view

Cousins in flowers: 9, 13, E, Z, and A (all after they rolled down the BIG hill)

The Secret Garden's fountain

She's getting happier now
(side note: we are almost done at this point)

Finally some food!

And now, Cabella's!

And this about sums up how we all feel after these last 3 days of activities...

Out of State Cousins and 9's Lone Mountain Horse Ride

Marc's parents have been visiting their other kids and grandkids out of state and just got back on Friday morning. They brought back 3 of their granddaughters with them: A, Z and E. 9 was so excited that they came and he ran and gave them hugs as soon as he saw them walking across the yard to our house. They have grown up so much and it is fun to have them here. 3 is infatuated with Z and keeps calling for her every couple minutes to join her in something. Z has been really good too, about playing with her and having a good time with her. In fact, with three extra girls around my job and 17's job of keeping 3 out of constant mischief has become much easier... they keep a good eye on her. So cute.

I got some pictures of them on the horse (which is all they could talk about until Marc got home to saddle Blue up). And a few of them on the swing and trampoline. It is going to be a fun week. Tonight we go to our town rodeo! They are all looking forward to that and the fireworks afterward.

They loved feeding the goat, and I missed pictures of them feeding grasshoppers to the chickens

13 in mid-air of his front flip...

E on the horse, she could stop smiling—until the sun got in her eyes for the pictures

Z of course loved the ride too.

A is all geared up for the ride and brought her hat and scarf all the way from home!

We have been preparing 9 for his big horse ride with Dad and 13 this morning. He even set his alarm for 5am to get ready for his 6am horse ride in the mountains. I wish I had it all on video—he was so excited that he was practically bouncing off the walls! So cute. Marc said he was having the time of his life on that horse. Our good friend was good enough to let us use two of his horses for the kids and he even ponied 9 so that Marc could get him on film. It's times like this—times with Dad, or times when he accomplishes something he didn't think he could—that my heart just bursts.

Getting ready for the ride...

look ma, no hands

I love my kids.

I love them, all four of them so much that I am just amazed that I get to have a fifth!

Oh the joy of motherhood given to us in so many shapes, sizes and circumstances.

You know, I hope that if 13 and 17's parents ever read this that they know that I am grateful that they sent their children to me. They are my joy and love and I will always keep them here with me in my heart and home—no matter how hard or how easy it gets, they are part of this family and have made a world of difference to all of us. 3 and 9, I hope you know that no matter what shape you came to me in, you are perfect to us! I wouldn't wish for you to be any other way—you teach me, you love me and you teach me to love. Thank you Heavenly Father for the chance I have been given to raise these four children and the blessing of caring for a new little girl soon to come. Only four months away! Oh, the joy and fear that surround the coming of a new baby.

Bring it on!

Wait... just in case "it" really does come, can we just remember that I was saying "Bring it on!" because of the inspiration and tender feelings I feel right now for my kids and not that I actually meant to send me any trials or whatever—if there are any angels reading this—don't take that literally... (smile)