A Little Bit of Everything

"Spring break" in Montana

I don't think we're anywhere near spring.

I don't know if I've ever been so cold as I was this day. 

It didn't get above 0 degrees and was something like -20, -30 with windchill.

Painful. Literally.

Thankfully, we got our stove working and we curled up with a blanket and a book...and a nap

Slowly waking up on a Saturday morning

We actually went on a little family trip! 

It was seriously so, so fun.

We went to my parents' time share in West Yellowstone for the Kids n Snow activities that were going on (free, even better) and had a great time.

Swimming, hot tub, sledding, king bed, Hunger Games, snowmobiling, and snowcoaching.

It was so fun to go do something together and have a little respite.

So excited to swim

 Snowmobiling.
 They had a kids' size one that they could drive around.  It was so cute and I'll admit, I was a little jealous.

Kason started off nice and slow, just like he was told to do...maybe even a little too slow.  Asher roared right off...a little faster than I was comfortable with at first.

concentration

Look at Asher's feet.  That's how he kept them his whole first try til we got him to put them on the foot rests.

sledding fun

We went in to Yellowstone Park on a snowcoach, bascially a big van with tank-like treads for wheels.

We saw a bunch of elk and got to get out and take a picture of this one...

...until he came right across the river to us and we had to get back in.

Bison.  

We learned that in North America it's correct to say bison and not buffalo

We actually got stuck behind some for quite a while.

And Asher's favorite: a bald eagle. 

 I wish I'd had the bigger lens, but it was cool to see one.  Our driver was awesome and took the time to help Asher see it, who was so excited once he did.  

Side note: Asher loves bald eagles and Emry knows that.  I guess we all know that.  One day Emry was downstairs and she wanted Asher, who was upstairs, to come color with her.  So, all of a sudden I hear her yelling, "bald eagle, Asher, bald eagle!"  Of course there was no bald eagle to be seen, but apparently she has already learned the art of fibbing to get what she wants.

And just back at home

Refused to take a nap in her bed, but happily zonked out when we made her a bed on the floor.

As long as it's a nap I'm not complaining.

SEVEN

Kason turned seven soon after we got back from the homecoming/wedding fun.

He was super excited to have a superman party.

We had a party with fun friends and played superman spider web to find kryptonite, pin the logo on superman and had cake and ice cream.

And opened presents, of course.

Kason is such a good boy and seven is starting to sound pretty old.

He's very responsible and mature.

He's pretty emotional and the tears can come a little too easily sometimes.

He loves to shoot hoops, play soccer, and watch sports with Dad. 

He has really come to love reading and I often find him on the couch reading one book or another.

He's a good big brother

Some questions I asked him and his answers:

Favorite color: orange

Favorite food: salmon and alfredo

Favorite sport: probably basketball

Favorite book:  Little critter

Favorite superhero: superman

Favorite scripture story: Moroni defends Zarahemla

Favorite school subject: I think math, I really like math

Favorite animal: I have two, rattlesnakes and cougars

Favorite thing to do with Asher: play football and play cars alot

What do you want to be when you grow up: a missionary

If you could have a super power, what would it be: laser eyes

Favorite candy: kit kat

Favorite vegetable: carrots

stats:

about 49 lbs., and 50 in tall

We love our Kas-O, K dizzle firizzle.  

Homecoming/Wedding

Jenna came home from her mission to West Virginia and a week later Kellie got married to Steve. 

It was a really fun week and I'm so glad we got to be there.  The kids and I drove the 8 hours by ourselves and went down early.  Thankfully, the roads were pretty good.  The kids are at easier ages to travel, but they really are pretty good travelers.  I can't complain!

Waiting at the temple for Kellie to come out

Personalities...

All the kids who were at the wedding.  They all looked so cute in their matching outfits.

I love this picture.

Peeking in the temple window.

Kellie and Steve!  What a great couple!

Kason and another friend carrying Kellie's dress train

Emry and photographers don't have a great track record.  I warned my family ahead of time that anything not screaming is a success.  Overall, she did great.  One major meltdown in front of the camera at the reception.  In order to keep her preoccupied and sidetracked from nap time we walked/ran up and down the lawn in front of the temple.  I think it mostly worked.

Love

Getting ready to race

Necessary airplane throwing picture

The reception was absolutely beautiful.  I loved it.  Here is Emry's normal picture face.

Emry and her aunt - so pretty!

Dance party at the later part of the reception.  

What fun, Emry loved it and loved dancing with her Daddy.

Bonus picture:

Back at home growing up with brothers. 

They outfitted her with swords in the pants and guns.

February

February brought lots of snow and cold temperatures, 

and some really fun things too.

Still trying to get her to quit sucking her thumb...not succeeding.

Sometimes she just looks so cute doing it.

It finally warmed up to 0 degrees so we could actually go outside without it being painful.  It's amazing how warm 10 degrees can feel.  Now I know why Montanans think 60 degrees is warm - it's 80 degrees warmer than the long winter!  I'm just hoping it gets warm enough for me to thaw out!

I do love snow, it's beautiful.  If it's going to be cold, there should be snow too!

Kason wasn't feeling too well this day, but I was a good mom for a minute and pulled these two around the roads on the tube.

It was also Isaac's birthday!

We had a dinner of steak, potatoes, asparagus and rolls, with chocolate peppermint mousse cake for the birthday boy.

Way Back in January...

In January we got to go to Levi's wedding. 

These little girls are best buds.

All dressed up in her dress

There aren't any pictures of the boys cause they were gone playing hard with cousins and having a grand ol time.

We missed some of the cousins, but the ones who could be at the reception sang "You are my Sunshine".  Emry was/is going through quite the shy/stranger danger stage.  I was excited because she seemed all ready to go up there and knew the song really well.

But as soon as the singing started, so did Emry's screaming.  She started to run off the stage before Sarah grabbed her and got her to stand there for the end.  Oh, well.  We had a great time.

Bonus Picture:

She doesn't have much interest in potty training, only in putting on her brother's underwear.  Guess she'll have that part down when she actually does start to show interest.