March Madness 2017

We begin March with Brian's birthday, and end March with Molly's birthday. Here's a recap of the birthdays and all the madness in between!

March 1 - Brian's Birthday

Brian got to celebrate on the 1st with his little family, then again with the rest of us on the 4th.  He loves pulling funny faces.

Trip to Salt Lake - Blake, Randy, Ryder, Jared, Nikelle, Molly and I took a little trip to Salt Lake so Jared and Nikelle could go to Disney on Ice and so Jared, Nikelle, Blake and I could go to cousin Jessica's wedding.  Randy and Ryder came along to help tend Molly.  We stayed in the Residence Inn, Downtown Salt Lake.  

We ate at Cheesecake Factory. We loved the 65 degree weather and playing on the court outside of the hotel.  Molly and Ryder loved all the adventures that come with staying in a hotel.

It was a beautiful wedding in the Salt Lake Temple, and sadly, this is the only picture I took at either the wedding or the reception.  On Sunday morning, Jared, Nikelle and I went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Broadcast.  That is always a special treat.

Saturday, March 18th - For one reason or another, we were all together, the guys were fixing and changing things in the shed.  It turned out to be a fun day.  

We blew a lot of bubbles. Annie and Maden took a lot of pictures again.

There was a lot of swinging! Yay for no snow and almost warm weather! Ryder and Molly went for a little bike ride with Grandpa.  Molly liked getting into this "ball", but Ryder's scared of it.

The littles liked playing on the new toy at grandma's house.  

Misc. March Madness

Molly was really liking Randy at Brian's birthday party.  Ryder and Molly sitting on her bench reading stories.  Molly sits on the heater to read a story. Maden and Annie having a great time at kids night at Texas Roadhouse.  Ryder and Molly had to sit with Grandma and Grandpa at Roadhouse.

Ryder made a tower with his cup and water bottle.  He went for a little bike ride. We visited with Blake at Parkway  before his Colonoscopy.

We gave Molly a little trim, she was such a good girl and held so still.  Ryder had to brush his teeth while Molly got her little hair cut.  Ryder thought he was so big when he sat by Grandpa on the couch.  Molly figured out that she was way too big to fit into the shopping cart.

Annie had more fun taking selfies. Clark loves being pushed around on any bike or trike.  Ryder and Clark are really big helpers outside.  Annie, Clark and Maden had more fun at another Texas Roadhouse kid night.

Ryder loved standing on the stool to brush. Molly loves to be outside, and loves to swing.  Ryder liked stomping in the leftover snowdrift, and swinging.  He couldn't figure out why Grandma Beth and Grandpa Chin Chopper wouldn't open their door.  (They were in South Carolina.)

Ryder's ready to mow! Clark and Ryder had fun playing together while Grandpa tended them.  Ryder thinks he's funny to climb up on the couch.  Everyone is so happy to be playing outside.

Going to see the chicks, bunnies and ducklings at CAL's is a favorite pass time for Blake and Ryder, so when Molly was here, of course we had to take her too.  They even got to pet a chick.  They had to have a licorice in the car.  It was really a bribe for Molly to get in her car seat.  She was really sad to the leave the car shopping cart in Keslers.

Blake and Ryder walking on the boat ramp at Jensen's Grove.  Molly got to ride in the seat of the trike while Ryder stood up behind.  They always have to do what the other one is doing.  If one is in the chair, the other one gets in too. 

March 31 - Molly's Birthday

This cute, happy, adventurous, sweet, energetic, funny girl is 2! She still looks like her Daddy did when he was 2!

Nikelle threw a fun little Dr. Seuss themed party for Molly.  I can't believe she's already 2!

February 2017 Recap

February 3-5

We decided to make a little weekend trip to Island Park.  We rented a cabin from Randy's co-worker.  Randy, Courtney, Ryder, Jared, Nikelle, Molly, Blake and I went up Friday.  Brian and his family came up on Saturday morning.  It snowed a lot on us on the way up there, and quite a bit on Friday afternoon.

There was a lot of snow on the cabin! Molly and Ryder loved playing with the toys, and having a fun bath.

We watched some movies, ate good food and laughed when Molly's shoes were put on the wrong feet.

The 3 musketeers loved playing with/on the air hockey table.

We all had fun playing darts.  Yes, I did have a big fat 0 on my first turn!

Jared took Molly for a little spin on the snow machine and for a little ride on the sled.  Annie got to go for a longer ride on the snow machines and she loved it.  They saw a nice moose by the stream.

Clark and Ryder had a fun game of chase with Grandpa.  Ryder was not in the mood for a picture!

Tennis Tournament

Brian played in a tennis tournament at the Apple courts.  It was fun to watch one of his matches.  Annie and Maden were good cheerleaders and took some good pictures too.

More of Maden's Basketball games.

We had more fun watching these young kids play basketball.  Maden improved every game and made some baskets! The three amigos were almost as entertaining as the games.

Annie, The Photographer

Annie would get kind of bored at the basketball games and tennis matches, so I let her take my phone and take pictures.  I deleted about 200 pictures after she was done! She had a great time and took some very creative photos.

I love all the different faces of Annie! What a cutie!

She did a pretty good job of getting pictures of everyone.

She would hold the camera right in your face and say smile! 

February Randomness

Ryder made a tower with his cups.  Sitting by Grandpa drinking juice together. Playing the piano and air hockey and Chin Chopper and Baba Bess's house. Reading stories with Grandpa.

Molly's sitting on Grandpa's lap at The Little Mermaid play. Wearing a cute apron while playing, eating pizza at Grandma Great's house.  Eating at Texas Roadhouse with Grandma, being a cute little valentine, and sitting in the chair watching a show.  

Molly and Clark playing in a tent.  Clark wearing his rain boots to make sure he can go outside.  Clark is wearing Annie's tutu.  Clark and Molly in a basket.  Clark, Molly and Tigger Annie playing the piano at Grandma Great's.  

Dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Grandma Great and Molly.  Molly and Ryder looking at videos on Grandpa's phone.  Molly reading some bedtime stories. Ryder and Molly needed napkins while they ate.  Playing with calculators at Grandma Great's house. Jared's pickup got stuck when they went rabbit hunting.  It was quite the process to get it out.  

Home2 Hotel Stay

February 24-25th

Blake and I were tending Molly while Nikelle and Jared were helping with the Little Mermaid play.  It snowed and blew a lot on Thursday night, so we decided to just stay in Idaho Falls on Friday night.  We checked into the Home2 Hotel and Suites.  Courtney came up with Ryder and they played in the pool.

It looks like Molly out grew her swimming suit over the winter.  They had a blast running in the long halls of the hotel.  We made a table out of the desk for Molly to eat her dinner.

They loved playing in the pool! It was great entertainment for the afternoon.

Recap of January 2017

Jan. 6th - Nikelle's 25th Birthday

Brian and Celia hosted a Birthday party for Nikelle, complete with sparkler type candles!

Maden's playing Basketball!

Maden started playing basketball on an Iona city league.  He had a large cheering section for his first game, his family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all came.  He was very funny when he played defense, but the kid he was defending was even funnier, because he wouldn't go around Maden! 

It is so entertaining to watch these little kids play ball.  Each week they get better and understand what they are supposed to do. I love that Molly needed to be close to me while I was holding Ryder.

Jan. 28th - Bowling

Some of us went bowling for the first time in a long time.  I feel so bad that I didn't get a picture of Nikelle actually bowling! Ryder and Molly thought it was a fun time.

Just some random pictures....

Top left, Ryder just chilling and watching Mickey. Top Center, Ryder and Molly sitting on a little bench.  Center, Clark trying to be big, but not succeeding very well. Top right, Annie working on a Kiwi Crate project. Bottom left, Molly and Ryder having a little melt down! Bottom center, Annie trying out her finished project. Bottom right, Clark trying to get outside!

Left side, Molly got snow boots! She loved playing in the snow!  Top and bottom right, Molly and Clark having meltdowns when they have to come inside.  Center left, Clark still trying to get outside. Center right, Ryder loves dipping french fries in fry sauce.

Top left, Molly and Grandpa waiting at the Verizon store.  Bottom Left, Ryder watching the magic track cars at Billie's house.  Center top, Nikelle, Molly and Jared enjoying a program on TV. Center middle, Ryder watching Daddy plow. Center bottom, Molly put herself in the corner.  Right top and middle, Ryder and Molly having a great time playing with all the toys.  Right bottom, even though Ryder can't see very well, he loves playing with all the pool balls.

Brian took Molly and Clark for rides on his little 4 wheeler on the "track" he made in his yard.  Annie was a good little helper to Clark and Molly out in the snow.  They had their meltdowns after coming in!

Snow! Snow was a big part of January!  We had already had some good snowfall in December, but it added up more and more in January.  I never did hear what the grand total was for the winter, but at one point we'd had over 5 feet total snowfall! That's a lot!

Jan. 4th, it started snowing about 8:00 am.  The schools got out early, Courtney just went home and Brian came and plowed our driveway so I could get out and take Ryder home.  We had more snow the next day, and no school.  

Jan. 9th - we had kind of rain/freezing rain.  It turned our driveway into a skating rink!

Jan 10th - More snow! It was very hard to plow on the slick driveway!

Jan 14th - Blake, Randy, Courtney and Jared went snow machining in Bloomington, Idaho. They had a flat tire on the trailer on the way there.  They spent a lot of time helping someone that got stuck.

Jan 19th - More Snow! It's so nice when it snows when Randy's off work, so he can come and plow! These pheasants don't seem to mind all the snow.

Jan 23rd - More Snow! Randy came and plowed around noon.  Jan. 24th - More Snow! It snowed a lot during the night, causing school to be closed again! Blake and Randy didn't get home from Parkway until after 5 to plow, it took forever.  Between the two storms, we got over 18 inches!

There's a lot more snow this year than there was 3 years ago!

Just some pictures of the tunnel of a sidewalk, and Blake and Ryder cleaning out the driveway after the plow went by.

We decided we needed to clean the snow off the roof, so we paid a couple of guys that Randy works with to do it.  It took them 6 hours! They said there was 4 foot drifts in some places on the back of the house.  The pile by the patio was about 5 feet tall.