Fort Simcoe Day Trip

Today we went to "Fort Simcoe," an old Army installation in the 1850's. We have been trying to discover new places and things to do near us. This was a fun family outing, the Fort is located on the Yakima Nations Indian Reservation in the middle of nowhere it seems. This kids had a great time touring through the barracks, jail, and officers quarters. Their was also a playground and trail that led to grave sites of two of the soldiers. I thought that the kids would be complaining considering that it was super cold, hailing on us off and on, and that it was not that exciting for five and six year olds. I am pleased to say that they surprised me and they let me read them some of the info about the soldiers, Indians, and the ways people lived in the past.

Heading down the trail to the graves of the soldiers. I love that they will still hold hands.

Emery picked me a flower and said "Happy Mother's Day!"

Lacey and Mason couldn't resist the opportunity to pick a few themselves so I had a whole bouquet for Mothers Day.

Lacey is in front of Cptn. Onley one of the fallen soldiers that did much to make treaty's with the Indians, and very involved with politics. He eventually died from an arrow wound. Not all Indians must have liked him much.

Daddy picked all of the kids their own cat tails.

You can see that Mason was very excited about it. His was the coolest- very full. Lacey and Daddy behind bars. This is the officers quarters. The officers always get the better accommodations. I had to take a picture of the quilt. You can't see the detail very well, but it was way cool- all done by hand. I really want to learn. Everybody on the cannon. You can see the officers quarters in the background.

This is eventually what became of Mason's cat tail. I can't blame him, I would have wanted to see what happens to it when they come undone too.

Lacey and Lilly going down the slide. Lacey is so good about taking Lilly to play.

Dad spinning kids. How fast can we go?

Now get off and see if you can walk straight. HA! HA! HA! says Dad.

Sweet Lilly bug. Can you guess what she is doing?

Yep! Spit them out lilly. She spit them all out. Only had to fishout a couple. Silly Lilly.

Going home... Dad let Emery sit on his lap and steer until we got out of the parking lot. What a great Dad.

Finally Spring?

So we finally bit the bullet and bought a camera. We got a Nikon D40 SLR it has been a ton of fun so far. I have no clue what I am doing, but it I am having a blast trying to figure it out. In two days I have taken 140 pics. I am having a little too much fun. Anyway here are a few.

Sepia tone that I can manipulate within the camera settings. Isn't she such a Q-T! ( I am biased, I know) Black and White. Mason caught in the action trying to break off the big branch. So I made him stand there and pose for me this is what I got. ( I love it!) Lacey always ready to strike a pose. Lilly is in the background waving. Lilly trying to escape out the back of the car. "Mom no more pictures, you are making me so mad."

Finally I think spring has sprung. This weekend we have had wonderful weather so we decided to go to our local family fun center. We went mini golfing, and got to ride the bumper boats with our family friends the McRae's. Seven kids and two Moms. The kids had a blast! The Moms... um? Emery doing her best to get the ball up the hill. It was harder that it looked. Mason fetching the ball out of the pond with a little help from his friend- Collin Mom and Lilly. She does pretty good in the backpack.

Mason was way excited he got to drive a bumper boat all by himself! Wow! He was so brave. I thought it might be a little scary for him because he is usually so timid of the water. He jumped right in the boat and began to shoot the water at everybody around him.

Lacey did much better at the bumper boats than at mini golfing. I didn't put up any pics of her golfing experience because I am going to save them for bribing material when she act up as a teenager. (HeHe) It was pretty hilarous.

Emery's boat got stuck going in circles and she couldn't get it to go forward. She didn't care thought she got anyone wet that came near her.

Aliya and I got to ride together while Mrs. McRae and Lilly hung out and took the pics. Lilly cried the whole time. Any suggestions for seperation anxiety?

We Have Begun!

The beginning of a big project! The digout is almost complete. You can see it is kind of L- shaped, the garage will be in the side of the house instead of the front.

Daddy is just about done with a hard day's work. Lilly needed to say "hi" so we went to see dad at the "job site." It's looking good Daddy! This is the whopping pile of dirt that was created from the digout. The kids really had a great time in the pile O' dirt. I should never have let them out of the car. Emery and Lacey in the pile O' dirt. I think this was part of the "Princess of the mountain" game. Lacey was the good princess. Emery was the bad sister princess. Oh how Mom's love Tide. Emery had been throwing fairy dust into her and Mason and Lacey's hair. Oh how Mom's love the extra rinse cycle! Lilly of coarse has to give it a try. Must be good. Lilly was pretty angry when I put her back in the car. It was fun to capture the kids playing the silly games, and heck you only get to be little for a little while. A little dirt never killed anyone. Right? THE FOUNDATION Here is a side view of the house in progress. I need to take some more pics of the I beams going up, but our digital camera died so I am waiting to get a new one soon.

Mason and Lacey's Birthday!

I can't believe that my babies are FIVE!

Jan. 21, 2008

The Cake! Lighting the Candles. Lacey got to blow out the candles first since she is three minutes older. We sang to her she make a wish and then we re-lit the candles and let mason make a wish too. They loved the cake inside was checker board blue and pink!

Libby our family friend so graciously let us come the celebrate at her house and she took the kids on tractor rides and pulled the kids behind the tractor on a sled. What a fun birthday gift. Her kids and our love to get together. She has two boys (8 & 7) and a girl (3) The kids has a great time. Lilly and I even got to go for a ride. It was only 22 degrees outside so we were popcicles when we came back inside. Mommy and Lilly.

Emery, waiting paitently for her ride behind the tractor.

There is Mason going for a ride on the sled. Isn't he such a ham!

Teran (7) trying to stay warm!

Mason playing in the snow. Eating the snow. (Yum!)

Lacey Anne opening her gifts. Mason opening his gifts.

We also had a pinata. We strung it up in my friends living room. and the kids had a great time wacking at it and got a ton of candy when it finally broke open ( with a little help from Jeff). I was taking video and Jeff was blindfolding and helping the kids wack, so I didn't take pictures.