We made it! Hallelujah! It was a long trip, but uneventful, for which we are grateful. A big thank you to Katie, who helped us make the trek

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:).