Easter Camping 2011

We took our annual Easter camping trip to the ranch this April. I think we stayed about 5 days this year (last year was 8 and it was about 3 weeks before Josh was born... way too long and way too pregnant). We had a blast! Josh did great in the trailer and napped like a champ, so Mom got some time to sit in a lawn chair and veg! Our friend Rich and his daughter Isabella came up to play too. The girls had such a good time adventuring around the ranch. It is so beautiful and relaxing up there. We are so blessed to have that place to go escape to!

These pics are in no particular order...

Jman and I had some morning playtime in the trailer:) Addie, Isabella, Kailee and the pups by the campfire.

Daddy and Jman!

Uncle Rich!Easter morning!!!! So glad the bunny found us!!

The great Easter Egg Hunt!

That crazy bunny even hid eggs in the trees!

We take ear protection very seriously around here:) Practicing with her new .22. That girl can shoot. It's pretty amazing!

Lounging with Dad on the hammock. We all really like this spot. Shady and comfy:)This is our cow dog. He can't stand when the cows come close to camp and will immediately start barking and chasing them. He really likes when he has them all at bay and can just keep watch.

Normally the cows are scared to death if any of us go near them. This group was exceptionally brave. They came right up to be fed!

They even let Addie pet them!And Mike gave him a kiss on his little cow nose!

These are Mike's sisters, Stephanie and Stacie with the kids at the old homestead on the ranch.

This is what peacefulness looks like to me. How gorgeous is that??? The momma gets to have some fun too:) Joshie in his "nest". The kid had the BEST naps. Must have been the fresh air. BFF's, a ranch dog and his girl. CANNOT wait to do it again!

Boat time!

Mike bought a boat in November and worked his little fingers to the bone "remodeling" it. By April it was ready to go! We had so much fun just cruising around the lake for the day. The girls each took turns driving and thought they were such big kids!

While we were out, I "practiced" some open water swimming to overcome my near drowning experience from March.

While I swam the crew hung out on the shore and adventured. The tube made a great play pen for Jman.

The girls found out the bottom of the back seats could create a "house". This is where they hung for the rest of the afternoon... except when we were driving, of course.

Jman took his turn driving. The kid is all boy. Any steering wheels, cars, whatever, he is drawn to it.

And then he crashed out on the drive back to the boat ramp.

We had a blast creating memories with our little boaters!!

April Fools!!!

I am not a huge practical joker, but I do like a funny prank here and there. Particularly if I am not the "victim". This year, I asked the kids if they would like to play a joke on their best friends and their dad. Of course, the answer was yes. So, onto google we went. Here is what we came up with...

A "sponge" cake. Given to our friends Anabelle and Dawson (I didn't get a pic of the aftermath, darn it.) We frosted sponges and sprinkled them up. The "victims" went to slice into the cake and found it a bit difficult. HEE HEE!!!
The next "victim" was dad. What do you get when you eat the cream filling out of an oreo and replace it with white toothpaste?? The perfect dad prank. "Here Dad! Have an Oreo!!"
Dad, "OH, what is this???" Then, the evil cackling from the pranksters... MUAAHHAHHHAA!

April Showers!!

My sister-in-law Cari had a baby!!! Her shower was amazing! The theme was Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. There were adorable tea cups and cuteness everywhere. I didn't get many pics as I had a short, blond assistant who was requiring too much attention:)
How fun is this cake??
The girls LOVED the candy bar. Duh. Why wouldn't they???This is Mike's cousin's little one, Lucy. They are about 4 months apart. She is adorable and very smiley.

Misc fun March pics

This is just a handsome little tiny man:)
This is that same handsome tiny man who is madly in love with his big sister Kailee and her bathrobe. It was a brief phase, but he definitely loved it. So soft and cozy. And since I am writing this almost a year after the pic was taken, I can say he is such a texture/cozy guy. He loves blankets. Sleeps with 3-5 every night. His favorite is his geegee that is satin and minky. That thing goes everywhere.