A Riding We Will Go

One morning Grandpa Swensen saddled up the horse and let the kids all ride for a few moments.  The the men were off to work again to finish up the remainder of tax season.  It was super nice of him and the kids each loved it.

Allyssa, Kaden, Brielle, Kaitlyn, Taylor, Payton, Kenzie, and Max on the run (Ashlee is not picture here but was nearby).

Waiting for a ride.

Jumping on the Four-Wheeler in the meantime (Payton, Kaden, Mckay, and Taylor).

Allyssa, Taylor, Mckay, Kaitlyn, and Brielle.

Kenzie and Ashlee all bundled up.

Cowgirls for the day!

Taylor and Kaden wanted a turn too.

Payton was a big helper while riding and holding on to Brielle.

Cousin Day

It is always a BLAST spending time with cousins, and my kids count down days until their next cousin visit all the time.  I love that relationship and that my children are growing up having cousins be some of their best friends, they just can't get enough.  It is truly a blessing having so many good cousins my children's ages!  When Michelle's kids were on Spring Break they braved the long road trip to Montana with Grandma, Cynthia, and Max in the mix.  We had a fun several days crafting, catching up, and playing.  One day we took the kids to Flippin Family Fun, and they were having the time of their lives letting off some that that winter cabin fever.

McKenzie on the trampolines.

Taylor, Payton, Kenzie, and Kaden all in the popular foam pit.

Brielle loves this place.

Pure JOY!

Payton swinging on the rope swing that all the kids loved.

It was a fun day for the kids, followed by some cheap ice cream and lunch at Sam's.

St. Patty's Day 2014

The kids never forget to get on some Green for St. Patrick's Day.  They also made a trap and were excited to catch a Leprechaun.  Even though he was too sneaky to be caught they still got Dinosaur oatmeal and some mint green Oreo's!  They were happy with the surprises he left in his place.

Cutie-Pie Kenzie

Taylor the man.

Sweet Brielle.

Muscle Man.

Cheesy girl.

Someone is ready for Oreo's and Milk

Yummy!

Perfect evening for my pizza-loving Payton.

Life is good.

Ready for bed.

Funny story, by now Mckay was back home from work and Brielle had just taken off her green jacket she had over this shirt.  She never wears her shirts like this and said to Mckay. "Daddy, look at my shoulders".  Its like she was trying to get a reaction out of him.  Also the kids caught grandma without her green on and gave her some pinches, before long she was in green!

St. Patty's 5K

The girls and I ran in the Great Falls St. Patty's Day Run the the Pub.

Ready or not!

The girls and I pre 5K!

At the starting line.

Off we go... due to the cold weather I pretty much didn't train at all for this 5 K.

I stuck with Heidi and had a blast visiting.

Almost half way.

Nearing the end.

Adding to the fun we headed off to eat Breakfast!  Fun morning ...but by the afternoon I had such a terrible headache, oh well it was fun regardless!

An Update

Just a few random tidbits of the past little while:

Brielle fell asleep while McKenzie was reading to her one afternoon.

It was too sweet not to go back and take a picture!

Taylor got a little bruised eye after a bath time slip!

It has been a cold spring for us...so here is the crew all bundled up and ready to haul wood as a family.

Payton has been working hard on getting his Wolf requirements.  He sure loves scouting!

I've enjoyed spending time with Taylor and I don't even want to talk about him heading off to Kindergarten next school year (sigh).

It has been fun watching all of the birds.

These pictures don't do it justice.  Some days there were just thousands of them.

Love this view.

The kids absolutely love to go on golf cart rides and have been dying for nicer weather.  They love to get off and jog on up ahead.

                               

This little girl has been a champ at potty training and was ready to go all on her own.  She has been our earliest and easiest thus far.  Oh, Brielle is being cheesy with a Whopper in each cheek after a success!  Way to go Brielle!