Brotherly Love

Cade absolutely adores his little brother. And he is really doing a great job learning to take care of him. Brinly and Adelle love him too, and really try at times to be little mothers. I caught this shot this morning while the kids were bathing. I know it may be a little embarrassing for Cade, but it is the only shot we’ve been able to catch of Porter smiling, so I HAVE to document it! Isn’t it sweet! Love how deeply in love Cade is…he often looks like this when he is loving his new little brother. Porter is now one month old, 4 1/2 weeks. We are so happy to have him in our family!

 

Spring Break

We have really enjoyed living here in rural life.  In our backyard, we have a forest, and Shane and the kids built this fort.  They had so much fun and have continued to have fun with this great hid-a-way.  Shane took most of the week off to spend with the kids, and it was awesome. 

 Just look at their faces!  Pure joy. 

 We went to a "Spring Break" day that is sponsored by the local "Optimist Club" (gives you a little indication of what our community is like).  They had all kinds of kids games, food, and prizes.  The kids has a great time. 

 Brinly concentrating on one of the games.

 Cade doing the same.

 The kids all won baseball gloves and balls!  They were used, but heck, I thought they were awesome.  They've enjoyed playing with them and I'm anxious to get out there with them, once I can move a bit faster:).  My little baseball team...

Les Miserable Lansing Trip

For the FIRST time EVER, since our honeymoon, Shane and I took a trip ALONE!! No children, excluding the one in my belly:).  Dad and Mom gave us tickets to see the Broadway Les Miserable performance at MSU in Lansing, MI.  We had a great time. I was only a few days, but it was wonderful! 

This is our first adventure- the MSU planetarium.  I love that kind of stuff...so it was  nice something to do.

 

 The next day before the play we toured a museum.  Fun fun.  We also went to the MSU creamery...YUM.  No pictures of that.

 Had a nice walk in the botanical garden's. 

We definitely can't wait 9 years before we do this again!  It was very refreshing.  We didn't have one little squabble!!  Loved it!!

Easter Eggcitment

Easter is such a wonderful holiday, that I feel gets overlooked sometimes.  I actually enjoy the simplicity of it that allows us to really ponder it's meaning.  The love of our Savior is immense and wonderful. 

We had a lovely Easter.  Simpler than some, but enough for us.  The kids enjoyed waking up to their Easter baskets- googies, new duds, and a few homemade toys. 

 All my cute kids in their new outfits.  Look at that love!

 Easter dinner.  Man, I'm HUGE.   Please don't judge:)  I was 36 weeks prego...this was three weeks ago...LARGE is all around:). 

 We had our Easter egg hunt for Family Home Evening on Monday night.  The kids had a blast.  It was quite chilly though. 

 To make it more exciting, Cade decided to split his eye open following the egg hunt.  He was goofing around (VERY unusual-ha!) and hit his head on the little rocking chair in the front room.  It was a mess.  Fortunately, Shane was home...otherwise I would have definitely made an ER trip.  Shane had some surgical tape, so he just taped it up and it's healed nicely now. Boys will be boys!!

 Final bandage:)  Ha, ha...makes me laugh just thinking about it!  Shane used co-ban to keep the gauze on.  Cade loved it.

Spring Spring

Shane has invested in another round of chickens this year.  This year he made a roaming coop to move around the yard.  He has more than enjoyed his time with these projects.  The kids have enjoyed the chicks too.  One was a Port Rock chicken- breed to be full grown and slaughtered within 8 weeks. We shall see how that adventure goes!

 Random photo- me and my prego belly (approximately 34 weeks pregnant with 4th baby). 

Cade's 5th Birthday

Hard for me to believe that Cade is 5! We had a fun day, and even got to register for Kindergarten the day before his birthday.  He's very excited. Cade is a very loving, kind, thoughtful, goofy, teasing little guy.  We sure enjoy having him in our family!  Happy Birthday, Caders!!

 We went bowling as a birthday activity.  All enjoyed immensely, except for Brinly who spent most of her time in the bathroom (due to a UTI- she was miserable, poor girl). 

 Cade in anticipation of a knock-down. 

 Brinly did get to bowl a few times, fortunately. 

 Blowing out the candles.  Happy day. 

Winter and Valentine's Day 2012

 Winter this year was much more tame compared to the previous winter's we have experienced here.  But we did have a few whopper storms.  These are just a few pictures of our front yard and driveway. 

Pretty, isn't it?  We did lose electricity after one of the storms.  That isn't very comfortable due to the frigid temperatures we experience here.  Fortunately, we have an emergency kerosene heater.  We only had to use it for a few minutes before the electricity came back on:).

   

Stud of a man, Shane, snow blowing.  Need to document this, we may not be here forever.

 

The Ford's love FORTS.   Shane and the kids worked most of the winter building up this fort.  It didn't last long once it was completed (due to a record breaking week of crazy 80 degree weather in March), but we had fun with it while it lasted. 

 Valentine's day was fun.  The kids had more candy than they will ever need, but it was fun nonetheless. 

 Yummy, lovable breakfast:). 

Christmas Whicker Reunion 2011

Our Christmas adventure began on Christmas Eve, as we flew from Flint, MI to Las Vegas, Nevada.  It was an early start, as we are 4 hours away from any major aiport:).  It was rather eventless, fortunately, and the kids were stoked about flying in an airplane and seeing their cousins and grandparents.  We had a good time getting there, and even more fun once we arrived!

 As usual, my parents and Katie drove the 2 hours to pick us up at the noisy LV airport.  It was late, and we were all tired- we managed to make it to St. George with all our luggage, minus one backpack:( (we did retrieve it later in the trip, thankfully). 

 Great Grandma and Grandpa Whicker joined the festivities for Christmas.  It was crowded most of the time, but it was wonderful to be surrounded by family.  Wish we could have enjoyed it even more!

 Cade and Tyler enjoyed each other's company!  Tyler only has Cade and now Wade for male association in the cousin department...so they took full advantage of their time together.  This is Christmas Day.

 Beautiful Jami with little month old Ruby.  She was trooper.  It couldn't have been easy getting ready for Christmas, let alone traveling with such a little bundle.  It was great meeting little Ruby...she's a doll. 

 This is what the seating arrangements often looked like with all of us there...and this is just one side of the room:).  This is the "opening" of gifts on Christmas day.  It was pretty crazy, but fun nonetheless. 

 Here is another perspective...

 Uncle Perris being loved by his oldest nieces.  Yes, they love him. 

 Obviously, I'm a little worn out...as is Adelle.  Nothing like a good recliner on a Christmas afternoon.

 Dad. enjoying the same recliner (his, I might add), with his oldest granddaughters.   They like to cuddle and love the men in their lives!

 Love this picture.  Adelle had to get in on the action as well.

 His grandson's enjoy him just as much, but I don't have any good pictures.  As, do they all love their grandmother as well, who provided MANY fun game days- full of bingo and wonderful prizes (which are still being enjoyed almost 5 months later). 

Dad took the kids up in his plane a couple of times.  This is a picture of the plane above mom and dad's house- Cade, Adelle, and Audrie all were with him.  I wish we had pictures of them in the plane, but I didn't go b/c of pregnancy, and Shane was sick (3x's he got sick on this trip!!). 

 Shane did get his gaming in this trip though.  They had fun playing several games...I can't remember what this one is called, but they had fun.

 We traveled up and down the state making visits.  We didn't get too many pictures, but this is what I have. 

Jami's in-laws house (they live in the basement).  We were actually there for Ruby's baby blessing.  It was a great gathering, with lots of family.  It was nice to be apart of the experience.

 We made it to Logan for an afternoon.  It was a really super quick trip, but we did get to see Grandma and Tamra.  I thought this was a nice picture of me and Grandma.  Love her.

 The kids and their Great Grandma Stones.  Pretty special....these pictures don't come too often.

 Wish I had gotten some with great Grandma and Grandpa Whicker too....

 In the LV airport on the way home (this is out of order).  That trip was much more eventful, UNfortunately.  We were bumped flights 7 times before we actually got on a plane!  It made for a terribly long day and a cranky momma and Adelle.  By the last leg of the flight Adelle was screaming, literally, and I wasn't too polite to the flight attendant who was giving us grief.  Still feel upset about that!

 Back to our trip...

We had a photo shoot.  I'm a little embarrassed about this day- I was a little over the top emotional.  It should have been a good memory, but I ruined it with my prego hormones.  Sorry!  Wish I could redo that day.  It started out good:)

 We also made it to Kathy and Scotts' for a few days and to Troy and Becca's for another day- but we didn't take ANY photos!  Bummer.  They were all wonderful hosts, and we are grateful for their efforts on our behalf. 

We went to a church children's exhibit with Kathy and kids.  We had a good time with all!  Merry Christmas and Happy New year!