LOOK EVERYONE NO TRAINING WHEELS!!

Well this week Ceilee learned to ride her bike with no training wheels.. so we decided to put her on the Dirtbike to see how she would do and she took off.. So now the next day Mitchell decided he couldn't let his sister have all the glory and wanted to try.. and guess what that determined little boy took off and WITHOUT his training wheels.. well next comes the dirtbike.. Mom doesn't know if she is ready for those to come off since he is a tank on the bike with them.

FIRST FAMILY HIKE OF THE SEASON!!

JUMP CREEK

Eating Lunch

Well you all know how much Ceilee has been wanting to go camping. So today was finally a nice day so Ben and I decided to take the kids to Jump Creek for a hike. On our way we stopped by the deli and picked up some stuff for a picnic and off we went, Kids in their tennis shoes and camping vests. When we got there they couldn't understand why they couldn't see the waterfall we had talked about. so we ate lunch and then headed on to our hike. The trail was a little muddy but not to bad. as we got closer we reached the part of the trail where we had to

Crossing the creek

 cross the creek by using the rock as stepping stones. well...... lets just say the water was quite a bit higher then we remembered it being.. So Ben put Mitch on his back and Ceilee on mine and we balenced our way across the rocks to the other side and along we went. the kids had a blast! next we came to the next spot where normally we could go around the edge but once again... water higher then normal = going up and around the rock face. so i took lead with Ceilee and Mitch close behind and Ben to head up the back. I am sooo proud of these kids they did amazing climbing the side of the hill and then back down into the waterfall. we played and climbed in the rocks and up the side of the canyon and just had a great family time all day long i wouldn't trade it for the world. As we headed back the kids crawled up the side of the hill and then slid on their bums down the other side. I am soo proud of my baby girl as we reached the part of the trail where we had to cross the creek Ceilee looked at me and said mom i can do it with my own feet.. so i let her try and She did.. Ben dropped off Mitch on the other side and then met her in the middle to take her hand from me for balance and she made it across.. she did so good and she was super proud of herself and so was Ben and I.

The Kids hiking up the trail to go around to the waterfall

Kids in a "cave" they found

Mitchell playing in the dirt at the top of the canyon

Ben helping Mitch up the hill

Me and the Kid before we hiked down to the bottom of the waterfall

My little model

Me and the Kids in the Cave by the bottom of the falls

Mitch really liked jumping off the rocks

Silly Faces

In the "Cave"

At the top of the canyon on our way back.. he hiked to the top

Peek-a-boo

The boys first trip to the mountains for the season!

Now that spring is coming up the kids are dying to go camping.. now if only the weather would cooperate.. Today Ben and Jake took Mitch to the mountains to go to the hot springs. When Ben told him last night all he could talk about was putting Chili in the fire and eating it out of the can, it's what men do he says. So i bundled him up and packed his backpack. when i grabbed some footsie PJ's he looked at me and said "those are baby jammies mom i want big boy jammies" so we hunted down his spider man ones. so we packed his backpack with spiderman jammie, his cars head lanp, spiderman blanket, buzz slippers and his can of chili.. and of course he had to wear his camping vest and spiderman hat.. he is so cute i can't wait to hear all about it when they get home. Of course Ceilee is upset she didn't get to go so Ben promised her that next time she got to go by herself just him and her..                                                  


The boys had a blast up there.. when they got there Jake went out to get some wood and Mitch followed him up the hillside in the snow to help. Jake and Ben decided to get the fire ready to go so after swimming they could just light it and then eat. Mitch didn't understand and he kept trying to get them to go get his chili out of his backpack. So they swam and had a blast. While on their trip they saw a skunk (almost sprayed the car) and a Mountain Lion running up the hill side.. Mitchell is still  talking about it.

The boys in the Hot springs

The boys eating dinner.. Mitch really wanted chili to throw in the fire

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

So today is Ben and I's 1 year anniversary.. we have had a great year. we Camped, we went to New Orleans, Spokane, we went to a few concerts and spent alot of time with the kids. he has been my rock this last year and i can't imagine my life without him. i feel so fortunate to know him and to have him in mine and the kids' lives. for our anniversary we are going to take a trip up to the hot springs we just aren't sure yet when that will happen lol.... and for our anniversary Ben has decided he is going to completely quit smoking since he knows how much i HATE it!!.. lol  i am so proud of him quitting the cigarettes and will be even more proud when he is 100% done with it all

 WE LOVE YOU BENJAMIN! YOU ARE AMAZING AND PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!!. 

Christmas, New Years and Mitch's 2nd Birthday

This Christmas we were busy.. We had so much family to see and so little time. Our Christmas started on December 16th with Ceilee's Christmas Program. He little Class was so adorable they all got to be angels. They walked up so confidently and sang their song to their hearts desire and of course we could hear Ceilee and one other kid loud and clear.

 Ceilee's Class

 Ceilee and her Friend Landon

 Us after the Program

 She loves her Brother

 Ceilee with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

Ceilee with Grandma Debbie and Papa Warren

 Ceilee with her Friend Bailey

Christmas Eve we had a busy day. I had School and then after School i we got ready and went to Meridian to Ben's Grandparents where every year they have a dinner and a Christmas program with all the Grandkids. Unfortunately this year we were unable to stay for that since we needed to get home in order to get our Christmas Eve traditions taken care of. So we made it home and the Kids opened their one present each they got their Christmas jammies and the set of Home Alone 1-4 so we got blankets and pillows and we all layed downstairs and watched Home Alone together. The kids really enjoyed the movie they were so funny laughing at the guys i think Mitch's favorite part was every time the Bad guys got hit in the head and Ceilee really like every time Kevin would scream.. I love these moment and i don't ever want them go change.

 opening up their PJ's

 Ceilee was so excited when she saw the movie.. Ben's favorite movie so she saw him excited about it and that is the reaction we got from her.. lol

After our movie the kids came up to my room and we all slept there that night waiting for Santa to come.. After Ben and I put the presents out and filled the stockings i went up to check on the kids while he put the boxes away. The kids could hear the door opening and some clunking sounds and they thought it was Santa.. they were so excited they could barely sleep.

 Thanks Aunt Jenna

 The dogs loved their Bones.

 Mitchell can't wait to play Basketball with Ben

My Baby girl the artist

after we opened all our presents we got ready and Headed to Ben's Moms to meet with his siblings to do Christmas with all of them. The kids always love going over to Merri Jo's. After her place we came back home and met up with Ben's Dad on his way to Sand Hollow where once again unfortunatly we couldn't make it out to. So after we exchanged gifts with him we headed to my moms for Christmas with My family until 4 when the kids had to go to their dads. Even though it was a very busy holiday we enjoyed every minute of it.

So we made it back home late and got packing for Spokane where Ben and I headed to spend New Years with His Aunt and Uncle. We had so much fun, on our way we got to spend a day with my dad in Kennewick and then headed to spend the rest of the week in Spokane where we did nothing and it was soo nice. We played A LOT of Texas hold'em and Guitar hero with Lyndsey.

 We woke up to a ton of snow.. it was all dry the day before.

 Kota loves the snow she is just waiting for someone to throw some at her

I love when he plays the Guitar

Uncle Dan playing Guitar Hero with his Daughter in Florida

I got to be on drums.. and i sucked.. lol 

soo i switched to the Base and did much better..

Texas Hold'em

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!
 

Then we got to start of the New Year with Mitchie's birthday and Surprise, Surprise.. He picked a spiderman Birthday. Unforturnatly for us Mitch had to spend his birthday in the car coming back from his dads.. so while he was gone i cleaned his room and made his bed with his new spiderman comforter. When he made it home he opened the door and Ben and I gave him his mini cake to hold him over until Friday for his Party

 His New Spiderman Bed

 Mitch with his Big Birthday Cake

 Thanks Marybeth

Sporting his new Spiderman Hat 

Thanks Grandma Debbie

 Ben Lighting Candles

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

My Big 2 yr old Boy