Renaissance Festival

HUZZAH!!!

I have wanted to take the kids to the Renaissance Festival for several years but never seem to find the time.  The kids didn't know what to expect but they were excited to go see what it was like.  Justin had to work that Saturday and we were sad he couldn't come.  I decided to leave Grant with my mom since Justin couldn't come with us.  Just to make the day a bit easier.

From the very get go the kids were in Awe!

We all loved the people in costumes!

They really enjoyed the jousting show!

I love spending time with my kids away from the busyness of everyday life!

We all loved the cheering and booing!

The kids really got into cheering for our guy!

It was a beautiful February day!

The kids loved all the buildings......

And Logan was thrilled to get his turkey leg.

It's about as big as his head!

They loved all the hands on activities.

Kiersten got pretty good at this game!

The trampoline sling shot is always a hit with the kids.

We enjoyed all the yummy treats of the renaissance! 

What a fun tree man!

This is one of my favorite treats.....can't go wrong with chocolate covered strawberries!

One of our most favorite shows was this acrobatic act.

Not only were they funny but amazing skills as well.

WOW!!

The kids had a great time making their wax hands!

They were amazed at the process it took to finally finish their wax hands.

My knights practicing their skills.

Logan looks like he is out for blood in this picture!

I let the kids each pick one thing to buy......they all picked these dragons.

We wanted to try each and every yummy foo.d at the Renaissance but we didn't come close.  Guess there is always next year.

These pirates were awesome so we had to take a picture with them!

The kids liked going on this huge dragon slide.........they think Grant would love it as well!

So many fun things to do here.

As we were leaving this fairy was playing her flute. 

 She gave each of the kids a magic stone and fairy dust which they loved!

It was such a fun day and I think we might make it a tradition.  It was an easy day trip, but next year we are hoping Justin can come with us!

I just love doing fun things with my kiddos!

Pinewood Derby

Hunter loves the Pinewood Derby, or should I say he loves designing and building the car with his Dad!

Our basement is in the process of being finished which made for the perfect place to work on his car.

Hunter said he did not care how fast his car was, he just wanted it to be the coolest design!  

Pretty sure he accomplished that for sure!

His pinewood Derby car is a replica of the pinewood derby track complete with two micro machines racing each other!

Now that's an awesome car!

Best part of all this is for sure the time he gets to spend with his dad!!!

The actual racing was a bit tough on Hunter.  He only won a few races and when it came down to it he did care about how fast his car was.

It was hard to see him struggle with his disappointment but what can you do.

AWESOME CAR!!!

I love the little pit passes Sister Preston made.........he is the best scout leader ever!

Carsen Davis is such a great friend to Hunter.  

Here he is trying to comfort Hunter after one of his lost races.

I am so glad these two are good friends and that the Davis's live in our neighborhood!

This picture is actually one of the races Hunter won.  His is the car on the right hand side track.

Next  year I told Justin he has to talk Hunter into building a fast car no matter what it looks like since it will be his last year of the Pinewood Derby.  Actually I don't care either way but it did make me sad to see Hunter so disappointed.  

Brother Eric Blaire was so nice and came over and told Hunter that "even if Hunter didn't win a lot he had a way cooler car then any of the other boys and that's better then winning a race he thought."

It was really thoughtful of him and made Hunter feel better.

Oh My Airhead

So Kiersten has a pet Beta fish.  The perfect easy pet.  Her job is to feed the fish and clean the tank out.  But because the tank hangs on the wall she needs help to get it down.

The other day I got it down for her to clean.  She got it all cleaned and then I wasn't around to put it back up so she asked Justin to.  

He decided to fill the tank up a little fuller before hanging it on the wall.

Kiersten screamed, "No dad, don't fill it any higher....

I DON'T WANT THE FISH TO DROWNED!!!"

She was so serious until she realized what she had said.

They both just started laughing!

She is very much a smart girl but sometimes she can be the biggest airhead!  I am just glad she is learning to laugh at herself.

Oh what a Valentine's Day it was....

Our Valentine's Day started off with......

yep you are seeing this right....Code Red Mt. Dew!  The boys thought I was the best mom in the world for letting them have soda for breakfast on a school day.  Soda for breakfast is a first at our house!

Then we had chocolate muffins, one of my kids most favorite things.  Along with raspberries with a white chocolate chip in the middle of them.

Since Grant was staying home with me he got strawberry milk to drink instead of Mt. Dew..............come on I'm not that dumb.  Hahaha!

Kiersten was on cloud nine when Will Jarvis dropped this off at our door step for her on Valentine's day.  He was too shy to give it to her in person which is perfect for this mom!

Cute teddy bear and skittles!

Those first crushes are so fun!

Hunter on the other hand..........not shy at all!!!

He wrote this letter for the girl he likes, Lizzy Warren, same valentine as last year!

This kid already knows the way to a ladies heart.  What a little for a 9 year old..........he's going to have to give his daddy some tips!!

Hunter made Lizzy this chandelier!  Isn't it beautiful!

Yes that would be Hunter delivering Lizzy her Valentine.  He is the shortest in his school class and she is the tallest.  He doesn't care at all!  It doesn't help that he is a year younger then the kids in his grade, including Lizzy.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a fun time on our photo shoot.

These were the kids Valentines to hand out at school and to some of our close friends!

This was our surprise picture for Justin!

The kids loved the mustaches I made out of felt.

Kiersten 11 years old

Grant 3 years old

Hunter 9 years old

Logan 7 years old

I absolutely LOVE my family!

One of our last locations for the shoot was by farm fields.  Running through the cement canal ditches was one of my favorite things to do as a kid.  Looks like Justin thought it would be fun to relive those childhood fun as well.