A Springy Winter 2015

We basically had no winter.  The only winter storm to hit the Treasure Valley was in November before we came down and that storm didn't hit Valley County, which is really unusual.   The kids and I went up for the Winter Carnival and were lucky we made it before all the sculptures melted.  We were only in Eagle for a few months before heading back up to Norwood where there was already no snow in March.  We even turned some water on that early!  We did some homeschool activities with Common Ground Homeschoolers including hosting a wooden spoon doll crafting day and going to a soccer clinic.  It was fun to get together with other homeschoolers but it was hard to get into school in the short time we had down in Eagle and all the moving back and forth.  It was an easy calving year with the nice weather.  We were lucky to catch a natural calf birth out in the field after a hike one day.  The children had their first piano recital and did very well.  I have so appreciated Mrs. McKee's working with our unique nomadic situation.  When we got back to Donnelly there was finally some more snow which gave the kids an opportunity to build a snowman and have some fun in the snow.  

One day Alice said, "Mommy I want to make an owl."  So we did.  That's the good part of homeschooling - doing projects and following their interests.

We managed to make it to McCall Winter Carnival before all the sculptures melted.

Hiking at Spring Valley ranch.

BSU STEM Exploration Day - constructing a catapult and exploring chromatography.

Early spring day at the reservoir.

We got to watch the cow in the middle, who is dropping her calf, from start to finish giving birth.

Two cool kids.

All dressed up for homeschool Valentine's get together.

King of the mountain.

Ranch daycare.

Cousins!

First recital!  They both got superior ratings from the judges the next day too.

Fractions and art

Turning water on the Stringer place in March!

First and last snowman of the year

Kitty adapting to the late spring snow

Clyde's aspen grove painting

Wildlife sighting on the way to the grocery store

Alice didn't like this trade.  I think pink might be Harry's color!

Clyde's first Rocky Mountain Oyster cooked over the branding fire

]

Easter Egg Hunt at the Wises

"New" tractor we bought from Mumsy.

Mrs. McKee said Alice's hibiscus clip looked cute.  Later, Alice told me, "I prefer not to be called cute."  I asked what she would prefer and she responded, "Tigerish."  Here's to my fierce, opinionated, stubborn, and delightful girl!

Spring with our Wise Cousins

There are 12 magical days where the children are in age order, and this year we missed them.  So, when the Wises came for an Easter Egg hunt we took some photos.  You'd think it would start getting easier to get them all in a photo, but they sure bounce around!  

We brought a new calf to the house that day and dubbed her "Carrot Cake" - she have those kids her all.  The 6 of them could barely bring her in, but they got her (with some help from Ben).

Easter

 

Mumsy came over for Easter to decorate eggs.  She brought the children baskets full of beautiful clothing.  The day before we had an Easter Egg Hunt with our Rydalch cousins and friends.  Grandpa Rydalch moved to Nampa into Daddy's old blue house so he's closer by now.  Mumsy and Papa Gayle decided to get divorced this spring.  Mumsy was in the opera Pagliacci with her friend Christopher playing the clown.  It was really interesting to watch and then we had dinner with Mumsy, Adelia and cousin Jackie. 

 

We changed Clyde and Alice from 5 and 3 days of school to 4 for both of them.  On Wednesdays, Mumsy takes them to swim lessons at the Grove Hotel with Mr. Mickey.  We meet her at the Plaza Grille at the Owyhee Hotel and Mommy can get work done and have lunch with friends while we're with Mumsy.  Mumsy moved into a beautiful condo on the 6th floor of the Royal Plaza building.  We love the elevator!

 

On Spring Break we got to sleep in so many days.  We went to Givens Hot Springs with Daddy and Mommy.  That helped Daddy's back.

Happy Easter 2012

Ben's dad came and stayed with us this week and we had a big Easter get together last night.  Kara, Julie, Kristen, Josh, Rinda & Richard, Alex MacGregor and Tonya Freeman brought their families.  The Easter bunny stopped by in the morning and helped hide eggs, including one with $20.  Hailey was the lucky winner of that one. 

Kara brought a gazillion chocolates.  There are actually more than double what you see because they were in layers in the boxes.

I had the kids line up youngest to oldest and each one got a few seconds head start on the next.  It worked fairly well.

Easter 2011

This Easter we weren't really planning on doing much.... then Libby came to town so we hosted an Easter egg hunt at our house for Ben's family. It was a lot of fun. We had plastic eggs with candy and money (those went fast!). Julie arranged some "Minute to Win It" games the kids could do and that was pretty funny. The older boys (Hunter, TJ and Ethan) were out exploring, setting traps and trying to drown whistle pigs for a good part of the afternoon.

Mumsy sent us an Easter basket from Prague: potholder for mom, six decorative egg ornaments and two little chickies. We brought in a redbud branch and hung the eggs. I got some Easter paper lanterns that hung over the table. We colored eggs with the Tim Smiths and Shelly showed us how to make the cute nests you see pictured. They were cute and delicious (though I'm certain not too nutritious). The Easter bunny brought the following: bug books and bug collecting jars for each kid, a chocolate bunny for each kid, a little Sesame Street figure for each kid, Easter coloring books, a kite for Clyde, barrettes for Alice and a new outfit for Alice. Libby came for Easter dinner which was leg of lamb, broccoli, potato salad and toast. The kids got to have their chocolate bunnies for dessert. Clyde inhaled his and Alice actually shared some of hers with Clyde. The rest of us just got ice cream.

Easter Egg Hunt

I went to Grandma and Grandpa Rydalch's house for an Easter Egg Hunt. There weren't any eggs though! I know about eggs because I went into the chicken coop at Grandad Harry's and got eggs right from the chickens. Instead of eggs, there were toys and candy. I got a plastic thing with a green handle and a clear circle (mom says it's a magnifying glass). My cousins are bigger and faster than me and they got lots of candy and toys, but then my dad took a lot of their fun dips! It was fun.