We hope everyone has a good start to there new year. Can you believe it's already February? Before you know it it will be summer time, which I am looking forward to. We have been very fortunate to have Ryan here for the weekends. We got his rotation from Detroit moved to Salt Lake. YEAH!!!! So we get to see him now when we want to and then he comes to poky for all of April and we have a fun vacation planned. Then he does a rotation here so we are even more excited for that. AND then he graduates!!!! It's been pretty cold here in Pocatello so we try to stay warm but this is what we've been up to.

Kelton celebrated his 7th birthday. He said it was "the best birthday ever". Probably because he got a new nintendo dsi and a scooter. He was pretty excited.

My little Cruiser loves to put on everyone's shoes, glasses, hats, any accessory he can find. Sometimes clothed and sometimes not! Good thing he has a cute bum.

We've been bowling which my kids love to do. Kelton actually got a strike on this frame hence the no pins in the frame. Taylor picked up the spare as well. They are really good.

We have been out quite a bit despite the cold weather. We love being outside so we just try to bundle up. We just sled on the little hill right behind the house or Grandpa Larry pulls the kids behind the ranger and they have a blast. I love being with my little family. 

Once we are done we come in for some hot chocolate. I love these faces. They are cutest, sweetest, most adorable kids in the world. I love you guys.

OK! I know it's been awhile but no excuses. Here it is a nutshell.

(hang in there-it's a little longer post)

Taylor started her first year of preschool. She is loving it! She has made soo many friends and is finally catching on to her letters.

    Kelton started his second year of kindergarten. (total parents decision) He is loving it as well tho needs a little bit more challenge. I guess that's up to me. He has also made a lot of friends. One special one named Adee. She's a cutie.

Kelton started soccer. He was very good, sometimes got a little bored, but his team went undefeated. They're only six but they were good.

Ryan was able to come home at the end of August before his next rotation in New Mexico. He hadn't seen the kids for 3 months! They looked huge to him especially Crew. He took the kids each out on their own Daddy date. Kelton went to the skate park and had lunch there, then off to do laser tag which I think he killed Ryan.

Taylor went to the park and had a picnic basket lunch with chocolate milk to play tea party. She loved it. Then Ryan took her to this cute spa for kids called Pasley Punch where she got a mani & pedi. The story behind picture #2: Ryan asks Taylor to see her pretty leopard nails. She takes a look at them & decides to put this beautiful finger up for the camera. Of course she has no idea but she uses it to point at things and show things on pages. 

Taylor also started riding without training wheels. Ryan asked me to wait to take them off until he came home because he felt like he was missing everything. Can't blame him. But, she took off! She was definitely ready. 

After Ryan left, I took the kids to Boise for a long weekend. We went to Bounce for about 3 hours. The had a blast.

Crew needed a little break!

BFF's

We also went to Linder Farms where we did the corn maze, pumpkin patch, and rode the tractor wagon where I almost cut my finger off with my stroller.

When we got home for baths this night I found popcorn kernels in the diaper!

So that about sums it up. Here are some pictures around the house.

It was very quiet so I knew I needed to look for Crew. I found him playing tea party. He's so cute. I love this kid.

This is Drew one of our neighbors which we have loved having. We had a huge dirt pile out back and almost everyday the kids would come in covered with it.

In a skirt no less!

And... this is what happens when dirt and water mix!!!

Roastin' some mallows with the Rasmussen cousins.

Jack

Paje

Jenny and Preston

Wash it down with a little DDP and we're all good!

Having fun on the trampoline!

It has definitely been hard without Ryan around and we've had our share of hard times. But without these kids my life wouldn't be complete.  You each bring something different to my life. I love you all so so much!