Easter Egg Hunt

Rylon was scared of the bunny. He wouldn't get close and kept his head buried in my shoulder. He did way good bye but wouldn't look at him.
We met up with Grandma Woodland and the kids after the first easter egg race!
Jake is so independent I didn't get any photos of him gathering candy or eggs. They were suppose to have the 0-4 go first and then the 5-8. That was good in theory but didn't work the 5-8 year old's were done before I got off the field. I'm not sure why I was worried about Jake missing his? He got himself there on time and got a sack full of Candy.
Grandma Woodland bought all of the kids wristbands for the bouncy toys they had a blast. Even the 2 year old's thought it was fun!

Kaci and Rylon waiting to go get candy and eggs.

Rylon had his first sleepover at Aunt Lisa's he did great! Friday night they were able to go play with Cort for a few hours. Saturday morning we had to be up by 8:00 to go clean the church. All of the kids came and helped. Then we got ready and went into Nephi for the Easter Egg Hunt. Call me a party pooper but that was our first and last Nephi Easter Egg Hunt! I can't deal with that many crazy parents and their kids. I am going to stick to small family Easter egg hunts. They are more personal and fun. After the chaos we took the kids back to Susan's to have lunch and let the kids play. They were having so much fun and then disaster struck. Rylon fell and got hurt, the hard part is no one really saw and knows how far he fell. I felt sooooo bad. I was really worried about him because he wasn't crying normal he cried like he hurt really bad. Luckily he was ok. Hopefully he wasn't to traumatized and will want to come back for another sleepover.

Science Fair

This year Zeak chose to do what liquids would actually germinate a seed. This was fun for our family especially Jake. Kaci helped Zeak plant the seeds and Jake was faithful at helping him water or liguify them everyday. The board caused us some serious stress just because we procrastinated as usual but we got it done. This year I actually made it in time to see the other projects and was in complete aw of the creativity. I think Jake is going to be the serious scientist at our house he loves things like that. Zeak was excited to share is project with Grandma and grandpa Sperry who are so good to support us in everything. I don't mind these projects and even though they require some help from the parents I learn a lot from them. I am grateful to have this time to learn with my kids just need to learn to make it less stressful.

Arrow of Light

Walking over the bridge from cub scouts, to Scout.

Andy was kind and came to shoot for Zeak and Sam's Arrow of Light. They put up colored balloons and in one shot Andy pops all of the balloons. This was really fun then Andy let each of the boys shoot his bow. Zeak did really well for not shooting very much. This brought on the competition and Taylei came to out do him. Someday they are going to use that competition to their advantages.

His biggest Fans his mom and dad who were proud of him!

Zeak's Fan club, Grandpa & ma Woodland, Grandma Barnhurst, Clay Brenda Cort, Grandpa & Ma Sperry, Andy Tina Taylei Keanna Kyler Aysen.

I think Zeak is so excited to be moving on to scouts. He has gone to scouts for years with his dad and to actually be official is really special to him. It is hard to believe he is old enough to go into scouts. It almost makes me cry just thinking about it. I remember when he was a toddler and would go to the Tuesday night activities with Dan. Before long he was old enough to attend some camp outs. Now he is old enough to be in uniform. I am so glad he earned theses awards and even though for him it was more of a social event to attend scouts I know that he learned things that will help him throughout his life.

Weigh In Time

So these days most people that are doing weigh In's are on some kind of weight loss plan. They can't eat their favorite foods, they exercise morning and night, and the scales determine if they are happy or sad. At the Woodland Residence we want weight gain. These black beauties need the right marbling and muscle to produce the most desirable steak. Each week their diet increases in their favorite grain combination. They are not worried about carbs and fats for this is what they need. Ok really I have no idea what it is they really need I just wish that it wasn't bad to up the portions on your favorite foods. I have to admit that lately I crave more of the healthy stuff. I wish that when I got on the scale that people would be happy to see the pounds increase. True confession I am probably the only one who worries about the increased pounds, my husband loves me regardless he even has been know to comment that just makes more for me to love. My kids don't seem to mind and worry about it. (Although I wonder because the other day Zeak came home and said, "hey mom you know how you want to loose weight so you can be more active with your kids?" me, "yes" Zeak, "well you should try P90x." Me, no comment.) And none of my friends have stopped calling because I have gained weight. So my question is why does it stress me out so much? So for now I will just support the weight gain of "Steak" and "Eggs"so that we can have more yummy steak next fall.

BIRTHWEEK

March 14, 2010

So Sunday night was Madison's Birthday and she was so nice to share it with me. We went to Byron and Susan's for our usual family dinner! As I look at this picture part of me wishes I was still that little cute innocent girl that Madison is. I picked shrimp and Madison picked fruitsalad for our favorite part of the meal. Thanks Madison for sharing your BIRTHday with me. In Dan's family Kathryn's Birthday is the 12th Madison the 14th and Mine is the 16th. In my family Cody is the 3rd Brenda the 5th and then Mine so it is one fun month of celebrating.

March 16, 2010

Tuesday my mom came and spent the day with me. She was willing to spend the day doing what ever I wanted. If you will remember back to an earlier post my goal this year is to become organized. I asked my mom to help me clean out my office. We took Kaci to dance and then came home and started working on it. I did have lots of interuptions so we didn't get as far as I wanted but we did get a little done. My mom and dad made me dinner and she brought it up with her. Another one of my favorite meals is marinated chicken and funeral potatoes. Once of my favorite desserts is a cake with fruit and pudding frosting. While I was cooking my meal and getting it ready Dan said to me, "I didn't mean for you to make your own birthday dinner I thought I was taking you out tomorrow night." Lucky for him I was in a good mood and just laughed asking him, "what did you want us to do starve until tomorrow?" I explained that I didn't have to make it I just had to cook it there was a difference. Zeak on Sunday let me know that I really did pick a bad day to have my birthday. He was sorry but him and Dad were busy with scouts and they couldn't change their plans for me. I told him I would remember that next year. I did go and help Teresa with some unfinished rodeo business and had a treat at Brenda's house after. I had several phone calls, facebook wishes, and my good friends stopped by. How funny they know me so well. Tina brought me some planting and gardening supplies. Ange brought me some balloons and flowers to plant, Dan gave me a rose with a card saying he will build me a new kitchen table, Byron and Susan gave me gift certificates to help me decorate and finish my house. Brenda brought me a gift card as well! I truly know I am loved and appreciated. I am to a point that the gifts don't matter as much as the thought and the people giving them, for it is those people who bring so much joy and happiness in my Life!

March 17, 2010
The Best birthday gift I recieve this year was something that I can not put into words. So I am not going to try but I did want a picture and to say Thank You Jeanna for asking me to be your escort at the temple. It was an experience that I will treasure for eternity. I

(My kids had a great time at Grandma Lous St Patericks party hopefully Tina will post about soon!) And the icing on the cake was I came home to a clean house. Ange knows how much I struggle and is always helping her friends. So she arranged with Dan to take the kids and come and help me out in my cleaning and organizing while I was at the temple. Then we would come home and have brownies and icecream. The bad but good new is, I had no idea and made arrangements for the kids to go to Grandma Lous and then it was way to late to have brownies and icecream. Although I ruined some of the surprise without even knowing Ange it was awesome to come home to a sparkling house. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with me!

Last but not least for my BIRTHWEEK as I like to tease Dan that I get. Dan took all of the kids to work on Friday and I had all day and all night to myself. I was able to finish projects and relax with no intereuptions. It was a great week and even though I have no desire to get older I have to say this was a sweet birthday! Thanks Everyone for letting me have so many blessings in my life.

34

Delta CULB Rodeo

Posing only gets you points with you mom not the judges!

Zeak and Rhett

Grandma Miller and Kaci

My grandpa on the phone bragging about his great-grandsons. My dad must have been changing saddles.

What a weekend. I new this weekend was coming up and that I needed to try and be prepared. We needed to take our own food and stay in our trailer. Dan and I thought we were being good planners. (However, this is something as hard as I try I am not a good organizer and planner. I admire and look up to those who are but I just struggle. How do you deal with all of the unexpected things that interrupt your schedule?) Sorry back to the original post. Friday morning I planned to finish getting the cloths packed and laundry finished. Make a few meals for us to eat and be ready to leave by 2:00 pm Dan was suppose to go fix a door (mind you this will only be a 2 hour maximum project) While packing Kaci's cloths I discover that she is growing tall and her wranglers are to short. So Dan is sent to buy her new wranglers. Things are going along ok when my grandpa calls and wants to know what is for lunch. Then Dan wants to pull the boys out of school at 1 and head to Delta. So frustrated with how crazy everything is I decide that my daughter may be sick which I can either deal with now or my poor mom and grandma will pay for it all weekend. So I feed my grandpa leftovers (sorry he did choke it down being a good sport) then Dan decides to go install some blinds, feed steers, ect, ect. My grandma bless her heart comes into my disaster of a house which is embarrassing because she is a clean freak. She finishes ironing my boys shirts. Then she holds Kaci who was just waking up from an unusual nap. I take one look at her and know that she needs to go to the doctor. I call and some how get her an appointment in ten minutes. I rush to Nephi leaving my grandparents and Dan to finish loading everything. We find out that she has another ruptured ear and so we get an antibiotic rush back to Mona grab the few things I thought about except for . . . winter coats for me and the boys. We are now 2 hours later than we should have been leaving. We stopped to help Makayla Browns family who had a flat tire and now we are really late. When we pull into Delta it is getting cold and I remember that I didn't grab my coat so I call my mom who is just leaving Fillmore to bring us all some warm things. Thank heavens for moms and grandmas. Jake had a good night Friday night placing 2nd in flags and barrels Saturday he had a bad day. Tuff decided to run and Jake was not ready for this because at practice he kicks and spurs he even whips and still barely gets a trot. We get to the rodeo and he is all sorts of excited and runs. Jake was behind him all weekend. Zeak had a bad Friday night not catching anything but made a good goat run. Saturday he turned it on. Placing in everything so he ended up sitting 3rd in the all around when we left Saturday. This unfortunately will not hold out because of our decision to not rodeo on Sunday. I really have an inner struggle with this not because I want to rodeo on Sunday just because I know my kids have the ability to win. This doesn't bother Dan as much as me because he isn't the one running points and totals all weekend I am. After church today Zeak said, "mom it's ok I feel good when I go to church so it is ok that I don't ever win an all around." He really is a great kid and I know that he is going to get that all around someday. Jake learned some hard lessons this weekend. These are all part of the lessons that make Champions. I have to say the real champion this weekend was my sweet grandma, she doesn't enjoy rodeo never has. When her own kids were rodeoing she always had to stay home and run the store and do the chores so my mom and uncles could keep going. She went to a few close rodeos but never traveled with them. When Zeak said, "thanks for coming grandma!" She said, "your grandpa wouldn't have had it any other way." My grandpa loves rodeo he misses being there. It was fun to have them come and support my kids especially since it was so cold. Thanks to my mom and dad for always supporting us and coming to the rescue. They took Kaci home with them so she was warm. Thanks dad your always so good to help the boys with their horses. What a great weekend with family and friends.

Turkey Banquet

Another NWTF banquet has come and gone. Kaci loved the wild turkey she was completely entertained by it most of the night. Zeak was the only lucky one in our family this year to win anything. He is usually the unlucky one. Jake got skunked but had a great time hanging out with Heber who was the lucky guy this year. He won the kids drawing for the youth Turkey Tag. He was so excited! Jake and him did get to bid against each other on the pink cricket thank heavens for both the Woodland and Snell budgets we were out bid by someone else. Dan was the MC again. If construction ever gets bad enough I think he could probably find a career in communication, He loves It! He is planning on being the MC for 2 other banquets this year. Even though I can think of other things that would be more exciting I am learning that sacrificing a night to support and enjoy something Dan really likes is a huge benefit to me down the rode. He is a lot more willing to support me in the things I love to do.

Grandma Lenore's 80th Birthday

Aunt Jane stitched Grandma a quilt that had a stick family in each square that represented all of Grandma's kids, and grandkids. This was a fun gift and you can see by the expression on Grandma's face how much joy her family brings to her life.

Uncle Chris, Aunt Jane, Uncle Dave, Byron, Susan, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Bill,

Aunt Karen, Grandma, Aunt Ann

Last Sunday we went to Grandma Nelson's 80th birthday party. They had an open house for extended family and some close friends and neighbors. What a tribute to such a special lady. She had 62 of her family members there. The 5 children and their spouses were there and most of her granchildren and great-grandchildren were there. When we took a family photo there were 62 of us. Grandma is such a special Lady. My kids love her dearly. She is always so interested in them and what they are accomplishing and learning. She is very supportive and generous to all of her family. The thing that I admire her most for is that she is so happy and that happiness radiates when her family is around. She truly loves each one of us. He kids are taking her on an Alaskan cruise for her birthday present in June. She had tears in her eyes as she opened all of the clues to her gift. The best part was she was so grateful that her kids were all going to be there. I truly think they could have taken her to Calio and as long as they were all together she would have been happy. We have a lot to learn from this specially lady and I hope she is around for several more years so I have a chance to really learn from her.