Keys!

We just got the keys to our new house! After what ended up being almost a three month wait, we are ecstatic. Hopefully we will be able to move over the weekend, that is if everyone is feeling better... We'll be posting some pics soon, but probably after we emerge from beneath the pile of boxes.

Sick Day

Robb came down with something pretty nasty. He actually missed two days of work, which for him is pretty unprecedented. Zeke only felt mildly under the weather and just wanted to cuddle all day.

As You Like It

We got to catch part of a play today. Everett was in a production of As You Like It. Okay, so he was technically in the chorus or something, but it was fun to see him all dressed up. Zeke liked all the costumes and music and action on stage and then ended up drawing pictures for the "boring" talking parts of the play.

Reading Time

When Ezekiel discovered that McKenna would read stories to him, they were instant best friends. He is lucky to have such a cousin.

Uncle Everett

Uncle Everett is always a big hit with the kiddos!

The Wild Bunch

 McKenna shows off her chalk skills.

Robb was hanging out with the kids on the back patio when the rest of us started noticing a strange phenomenon. Little people with bizarre face art kept running in to look at themselves in the mirror. I guess they got bored of coloring the concrete and moved on to the fence. When that was no longer interesting, the moved on to cuter canvases.

Ribbons and Bows

Jeremy, Tara and the girls are in town for a few days! We've been having so much fun so far. Zeke has been enjoying running around with his cousins and getting to know them better. This morning we got to have Indi with us as well, so it was all girl time. I gave them a bag of ribbons to play with and here are the cute, girly photos before the play turned to Pirate Ribbon Thieves.

Seeking Fish

Corren spotted some fish under a nearby bridge so the boys all took a little excursion to go check them out.

Table Time

Zeke has been increasingly interested in drawing and coloring, so I moved his little table and chairs into the living room this morning. All day long he would find himself back at the table, working on puzzles, drinking his water, drawing little squiggles and coloring in his coloring books.

Summer Fun

Mishayla is pretty much the coolest babysitter ever.

Zeke sneaks a sip of Chai.

We are excited that the weather is warming up and Zeke is stoked to be wearing fewer and fewer clothes. This evening when I got home, I found him and his babysitter enjoying some outdoor Lego time. So we hung out on the blanket until Daddy got home, then Zeke did some exploring of the yard.

Impromptu Floatery

Getting a late start Friday we wanted to get on the river real quick like. going down the frigid river until we were shaking in our boots. Setting up camp in a frozen rush Corren got a fire blazing while I set up the tent. That next morning with ice clinging to EVERYTHING we ate beautiful fluffy pancakes with sweet, sweet maple surup. Once the sun warmed stuffs up a bit and after the river otters checked us trespassers out we were on the river once again. With our stomachs full of wonder and our bodies feeling like non ice cubes we were off! And 6 hours later we were off again! Home that is. It was really fun.

Balloons!

This morning marks the beginning of the Balloon Stampede here in Walla Walla. As usual, a few took off from the park across the street from our house first thing in the morning. Robb took Ezekiel out to watch and for the rest of the day he wouldn't stop say "ba-oon".

The Dandelion Stomp

Zeke has been picking up on daddy's disdain for dandelions. He has taken to running about the yard in search of any he can find, then giving them a good stomping. I don't think he realizes that this only helps them grow, but somehow Robb lets him get away with it.

Daddy's Little Helper

This evening Zeke helped daddy with a variety of outdoor activities. The first was to build this chicken feeder out of PVC pipe. It required using the Skil saw, so Zeke had to learn to cover his ears. (Although I'm pretty sure this is exactly why Grandpa Jim is hard of hearing...)

Back at the Ranch

Here he is burying his plastic dinosaur.

Zeke was having a pretty rough afternoon, so I was happy that he eventually had fun playing in the sandbox. I did boycott about half of his nap time, and had to be held for the last hour. But then, right before I came to pick him up, he got to do one of his favorite activities—water transfer!

Splashdown

Zeke can't quite figure out what just happened.

Ladybug clusters.

It was probably inevitable. In the blink of an eye Zeke took three giant steps into the river and then tripped and fell. Jesse was right there to pluck him up and I quickly stripped off his soaked clothes. Then he got to wear daddy's shirt and Rachel's coat sleeves for leggings. And, as Jesse now had completely soaked shoes, that cut short our adventure for the day.

Southfork Sabbath Afternoon

Dad takes a break to tie his bootlace.

Jesse and Rachel let Zeke explore the riverside.

Ezekiel practices his new phrase; "Go, go go!"

What could be more fun than throwing rocks in the river?

After a lovely morning in church and Sabbath School, we were anxious to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. I'm not even sure we've ever taken Ezekiel to South Fork, so it was time. Jesse and Rachel were able to join us, so it made for the perfect afternoon excursion.