Birthday at the Ranch

 I was really born at such a pretty time of year. I love celebrating my birthday at the ranch and I love even more that my kids love this tradition and look forward to it every year.

Someone forgot to give Cole the wear your camo message, but Ben was in on it. These three look like brothers.

I swear we just packed these three out as little babes. Where does the time go?

Grandpa got a big hello from all the kids when he showed up.

Of course, no trip would be complete without a trek up to the old house. Soon, it will be a trek up to the old pile of boards.

But, the old combine probably has a few more years left before it falls apart, so we'll still have that.

And the girls still pick us wildflower bouquets, so we still have that too.

We had a good time.

Museum Day

Aunt Andrea came for a quick visit last month, so the Griffiths family invaded Thanksgiving Point. We {everyone but Floyd - darn house} went to the Museum of Curiosity. I didn't really get many pictures because I was busy chasing our littlest monkey. She thinks she's seven. She had to push the big kids down the slide because they were taking too long.

The kids had fun and I made it safely out the door with the same four kids I entered with and zero gift shop souvenirs, so I'll call it a success. 

The {little} Graduate

 One more preschool graduate at our house. This was our first year not at the best preschool teacher in the history of preschool teacher's school. I was pretty nervous, but Ben had a great year. He's such a super guy and Teacher Amy gave him the award, "Problem Solver - he thinks things through, works quickly, and is always easy-going. He's polite and kind to everyone. Also, he pretty much knows everything."

I forgot to get a picture of him with teacher Amy, so this little candid shot will have to do. He's pretty worried she is going to miss him this summer. I bet he's right - he's a missable kind of guy.

Great job, Benny. You were an awesome little preschooler.

The Kitchen Sink

 Our field trip Fridays were a little dull through the winter. Not a lot to do indoors in Cache Valley. But one Friday early in March (or maybe it was late February?), we came up with a good one.  We went to Angie's and attempted to clean the sink. 

It was a pretty big failure, but oh so very much fun.  I mean really, look at Molly's excitement. It was awesome.

Next time, we'll come better prepared with empty bellies and extra buddies. And then we'll get the elusive bumper sticker.

Go Fly a Kite

                                With tuppence for paper and strings

You can have your own set of wings

With your feet on the ground

You're a bird in a flight

With your fist holding tight

To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh!

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

When you send it flyin' up there

All at once you're lighter than air

You can dance on the breeze

Over 'ouses and trees

With your first 'olding tight 

To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh!

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

                                               Let's go fly a kite!

                             

PS - That shark kite up there? It tried to kill me.  Felt like I was personally holding back the wind. We call it the devil kite.

Birthday Ben

Oh! I love 5-year-old birthdays.  It was so fun to celebrate with Ben and see how excited he was to celebrate his big day.  He came up with a pretty good plan.  First, we took a few cousins with us to the Jump Zone. Always a hit.

He requested a Star Wars cake with the kind of frosting Claire had on her Frozen cake. Easiest birthday cake ever, in other words.

He also requested a watermelon pinata, just like Annie had at her party last year.  Didn't really fit with the Star Wars theme, but none of the kids seemed to mind. I really like 5-year-olds planning their parties - they've never looked at Pinterest, resulting in pretty doable party ideas.

Ben got ridiculously spoiled, but his favorite present was the shovel his dad gave him. He loved it so much, we tucked it into bed right alongside him.

He is such a great little kid. I have a hard time letting him grow up, but I hope he'll always carry and easy charm with him. He's the best. Here is a little glimpse of Ben in the words of Ben:

Favorite color: Blue 

Favorite food: Toast and pizza

What I want to be when I grow up: A farmer and a digger

Favorite animal: Lion

Favorite book: My big fold-out tractor book

Favorite part of school: Playing at recess, but we don't even get it always

Favorite trip: Montana

My perfect day: Go out and dig trenches

What a guy! Happy Birthday, Benny.  Everyone who meets you loves you, but nobody loves you more than Mom. 

Spring Break V: The Rest

We wrapped up our trip in San Diego, which has always been one of my favorite places. We went to Sea World for a day.

I'm all for not killing trainers and treating animals well, but the shows are admittedly not as entertaining as they used to be.  Bummer.  We still managed to enjoy ourselves.

Annie has been a bit enchanted by the idea of pearls lately, so when she noticed a stand where you could select your own oyster and crack it open for a pearl, she had to do it. So, now her pearl is set in an appropriate dolphin setting. You can't tell it by her serious face, but she was thrilled.

Before we left San Diego, we took a quick ferry ride out to Coronado Island for a little bit of shopping and an ice cream stop.

For our final California stop (minus a few forgettable restroom stops), we went to the San Diego Temple. 

A few years ago, we stayed in St. George for Spring Break and our kids were enamored with climbing all over the rocks. Floyd, despite his normally chill and never neurotic attitude, nearly goes into cardiac arrest watching them clamber all over the hillside.  He and Molly stuck to the kiddie hills (not because Molly was afraid of climbing - that monkey would have loved it) while the big kids and I climbed until we were hot and sweaty and tired.  

 Last time we were there, I was pregnant with Molly and plead a big belly to get out of crawling through the crack.  I conquered my claustrophobia and made it through this time. It felt rather brave cause it was really narrow.

And that, my friends, is a vacation wrap.