Easter Weekend

My kids love the ranch in Malad, Idaho.  This is Dan's dad and boy does he know how to have fun with boys.  He is just as wild and crazy as they are.  Every time we go up there he concocts some crazy thing for the boys to do.  This time?  String a mini four wheeler that won't charge its batteries anymore to a real four wheeler and drive all over the ranch like a bunch of hooligans. The boys were in heaven and I think it's safe to say that grandpa was too.

Whoops, they went so fast the hood flew off Dalin's ride.

There's something about off-roading that gets them all excited.

Grandma and grandpa Roper got them these nice matching shirts for Easter and some balls and bubbles too.  How nice to spend time with family.

This is a really nice picture of the boys with their grandparents.

The next day we were at Dan's mom's house and the Easter bunny visited while we were all sleeping in our beds.   

It's so fun to wake up to such a nice surprise.

Hmmm, these are my favorite.  How did that Easter Bunny know?

Sifting through his basket to see what he got.

The Easter Bunny also brought these funny looking balloons in the shape of some weird animals.  There were kind of like those big punch balloons but with eyes, nose, and feet.  We had a hard time telling what they were actually supposed to be.  Dalin thought his might be a hippo, Landon's was an elephant?, and Braden thought maybe a turtle but we couldn't be sure.  They loved those things to their ultimate demise. 

Whew, this Easter stuff is really tiring.  I think the Easter Bunny likes to stay up too late.

After breakfast we discovered that the Easter Bunny dropped a lot of eggs outside and we needed to go find them.  Who doesn't love a good Easter egg hunt?

Oh, that sneaky Easter Bunny hides them in the strangest places.

Baskets are full of goodies.

Now here's the boys with Grandma Anne and Grandpa Ron.  They just love spending time with grandparents.  Thanks for such a fun weekend! Tell Grandpa we'll be staying for the whole month of July so he should get ready *wink*wink*

What a cute family.

Now we're all dressed and fancied up for church.  Such handsome boys.  I think Easter Sunday is my most favorite Sunday of the whole year.  What a great opportunity to remember what our Savior did for us and to teach my kids about the atonement and what it means for them.  Dalin was just full of questions he whole day about it.  Why did those bad men put nails in his hands?  Why did Jesus let them hurt him?  Why didn't he try to fight them with a sword? Braden still these months later wants to look at the picture with Jesus hanging on the cross.  He will look at it for long periods of time.  I'm grateful I know what I know and that my kids are feeling the spirit and so full of wonderment and amazement that someone would die for them.  I'm grateful Easter can remind us so clearly.  I love this time of year.

Cousin Time

Living in Vernal we don't get to see cousins as often as we like, but when we do visit it's nice to see them all get along so well.  We don't have any on Dan's side of the family which is kind of a bummer.  Dan's nephews are closer to my age than my kids age.  Combine that with the fact that they don't live in the same country and basically they never see their cousins on Dan's side.  So it's a good thing we've got a bunch on my side.  I remember playing with cousins when I was young and have some good memories of that time.  For instance doggy soccer, goalie soccer, Rory running from a buffalo and splatting on the side of pool.  Oh, the memories.  I could go on and on, but back to my post.  Here is Landon chilling with Aubrey (My brother Steven's daughter).  They were so stinkin' cute together.  As you'll notice below they were sharing their trucks back and forth and laughing at each other. 

Then Landon decided he needed to help "the baby" get a drink.

Here Aubrey let me shove this drink into your face.  It's so good.  Trust me, I know because I kept trying to sneak some when I thought mom wasn't looking.

The older boys made a single serving of fudge with cousin Korbin, who is Aubrey's older brother.  Grandma Sylvia had this recipe that they had a lot of fun with.  They also made a mess with it.

The next day we played with Makayla.  She and Landon had lots of fun on the piano making some great tunes.

This is the greatest lady I know.  She is my dad's mom and my grandmother, known to my kids as Supergrandma.  They love to go visit at her house because she always has such fun toys to play with and great food to eat.  I really enjoy the long talks I've had with her.

Puzzles

Braden really enjoys Dr. Suess.  His favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham.  He pretty much has the whole thing memorized and is so proud that he can "read" it all by himself.  He also enjoys puzzles.  This is one of his favorites.  I always have to help even though he doesn't really need my help.  I think he just wants some interaction time.  Here he is so proud of his work.

Hoops

So Landon got a basketball hoop from his Grandma Anne and Grandpa Ron for his birthday.  It came a little late because Walmart screwed up, but better late than never.  Landon loves basketball or beeskow as he calls it.  He is a little boy through and through.  Rough and tumble, sports, and wrestling is what we get with him.

Dalin and Braden thought the box was the funnest thing in the world.  It became a slide, a house, and a hideout before it finally fell completely apart. 

Since it was still too cold to take it outside the hoop spent a few weeks in my kitchen.  Landon played with it every single day.  He's pretty good at shooting hoops and whenever he makes a basket he either yells "POINTS!" or "BOOYA!" So funny that kid is.

Just look at that follow through.  He's a natural.

In line to go in.  He gets VERY excited when he makes a basket. 

Loving life.

Then of course the older boys have to get their fill.  A little game of 21 anyone?  It's funny how this game doesn't even need to be explained, they just automatically know how it's done.  Every man for himself.

Slam dunk while Landon does his best to stop him.  Dalin might have a slight advantage.

We might get a little rowdy in our house, but just a little.  It's kill or be killed when it comes to basketball.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the great gift....he loves it.

Indoor Soccer

During the colder months the boys get a little stir crazy and come up with some interesting games.  In March we had a couple warm days where they got to go outside and run a bit, but then it got quite cold again and even snowed.  So back inside we went.  They came up with their own version of indoor soccer to pass the time.  The pictures are blurry because I couldn't get them to hold still for two seconds. 

Writing Skills

Landon likes to draw.  We're at that fun age where you have to watch him like a hawk or he'll draw on the walls, table, fridge, or whatever else he feels like. I've had to tell Dalin and Braden not to give him crayons or markers unless I'm right there to watch him. We're working on teaching him he can only draw on paper.  I think it's so cute to watch my kids draw and color.  He shows way more interest in it than Braden and I think he's definitely right handed.  He draws a bunch of lines (pretty much all he can draw) and then says they're snakes.  I love it.

Forts

Forts are a big part of a little boy's life.  Braden gets really creative with his forts and Landon just loves to hide out.  Occasionally, they have a falling out because Landon knocks a wall out or isn't using the window properly and Braden gets quite possessive with his creations.  But for the most part (hehehe-Ron Booner) they have a lot of fun.  I woke up one morning to them hiding out in this fort.

He utilized all the chairs and cushions we have.

Landon would not let me get a picture, the little stinker.