Lo-Li-Pop... Lo-Li-Pop

OK - so we LOVE puzzles around here.

While most of you have been enjoying your warm spring sunny days we have been getting rain, mostly snow, cooler weather, snow, mud and snow. Did I mention snow?

Anyway, I got off track there for a minute.

Well, with the cooler weather, we have been keeping ourselves inside and we love doing puzzles together when the weather outside is not so good. Like snow!

We found this cute little puzzle at Wal-Mart. So fun and so cute!

One late evening (we should have been in bed) the older girls and I were working on it. We started talking about all of the yummy candy in the puzzle. Maggie asked me what I would want the most. I didn't have a short answer for her. Long story short - I would pick the lollipop b/c I have never had one before. I have no idea what they taste like - other than lots and lots of sugar.

So, I would pick a lollipop.  Final Answer!

Hilarious what happened next...

Tessa stole this from Wal-Mart.

No! Not really.

That night (at 11:45pm) Hudson came back from helping Brian with an activity at camp with the campers. One of the prizes awarded was this lollipop. The winner of this tasty huge lollipop did not want it and gave it to Hudson. (oh gee thanks -just what he needs... SUGAR!)

When the girls and I saw it - our eyes got huge and we laughed.

Finally, a lollipop for me to taste.

The only problem - I didn't get a taste.

The children had divided it up (the next day) and it was gone by the time I even knew it was open.

argh!

I guess I will go back to the puzzle...

Our Door Of Love

We are having so much fun...

reading your Christmas letters and praying for you!

We love receiving letters/pics from our family and friends during Christmas. I always open them, read the letter and take a peek at the pic. Then I tuck everything back into the envelope and put it in our Christmas letter basket. 

There they accumulate. 

There they wait. 

Then when the holidays are over and we are back into our daily routine, we pick an envelope each morning before our "special time" (aka devotions). We read the letter and pass around the picture. Then I tell the children how we know that person/family (if they don't know) and fun things/memories of them. 

Then the fun part...

We all pray for that family!

After the family is prayed for the picture gets hung up on our schoolroom door.

We are reminded of you daily!

We love you.

(if you don't see your pic - we are not through the basket of letters yet...still more to come!)

A BIG Distraction and LOTS of Contractions!

 Lady (our cat) f.i.n.a.l.l.y. had her kittens!

Every day for the past 2 weeks we have been saying, "Oh, she will have them Today!"

And then another day goes by with no babies.

Yesterday was the day and we were able to watch a couple of them being born. It was quite exciting.

Oh my! - biology class for 5 and 7 year olds right in the barn.  :-)

Seven babies in total

(Free kittens!)

The girls thought you might want to see the proud father:

Toby

She was laboring and he was doing a puzzle - of puppies nonetheless.

A Common View

If you go to the barn, watch where you are going!

Baby goats will be at your feet and begging for attention.

This is a frequent view while at the barn.

(notice my footwear - sadly I am wearing warm insulated boots. NOT flips! (yet))

The baby goats love Tessa.

And she LOVES them!

Lots of kisses on her hands

and her face!

Lots of playing and lots of giggles.

Oh the joys of living on the farm!

A Happy Day

A Happy Birthday that is!

Hudson had his 14th Birthday.

My parents and Grandma joined us for a celebration.

Papa and Nana (my parents) made a "Beehive Cake" for Hudson.

Isn't it so cute?

Very appropriate since this marks his one year of beekeeping for him.

His hive produced enough honey to get us through the winter plus a little more for spring. I love his desire to learn more and care for bees. AND I love the honey!

We also had coconut and banana cream pies to go with the beehive.

Let me tell you... we were fat and sassy by the end of the night. Oh my!

My Sweet Grandma (96 yo) with Dani Rae

Hudson and Tessa

Abbi, Dani and Papa

And the rest of the family - just no pics of them.

You are a wonderful son! Such a joy to be around.

I love you much!

Mom

The Return...

of 

Our Horses

(they spent the winter in Salt Lake at my parents')

It's fun to have them back. 

The children have spent hours brushing, riding and training them...

AND loving them!

Land of Milk and Honey...

Because of these cute babies - we are getting creamy goat milk again.

(from their mama)

Mmmmm Mmmm...

Milk!

Because of these little creatures - we will be harvesting yummy sweet stuff

Hudson and Papa (my dad) feeding the bees and helping them get settled.

Lotsa Bees =

Lotsa HONEY

Hence - The Land of Milk and Honey!

Oh AND...

FRUIT

Papa and Nana brought up raspberry starts from their garden

Papa had lots of helpers.


AND SNOW!
(still no flips for me)
BUT... my day is a comin'

Watch out because when my day comes - I will be dancing in the yard with my flip flops ON!

I Am ALIVE!!!

And doing just fine.

Kinda been MIA as of late...As you probably noticed.

Brian's mom was in town from AZ for the wkd and camper season has officially started.

B.U.S.Y.

I have plenty of things to post about so stay tuned.