Baby Animal Days

Last Saturday we went to "Baby Animal Days" at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville. First stop: horse rides...
Next we got to hold and pet the baby animals. There were baby horses and cows (no, I didn't hold them), there were ducks, chicks, lil' piggies, bunnies, goats, lambs, turtles, and lots of baby humans as well. Here Brett was attempting to get Quinn to hold a bunny, Quinner was so tired that he refused to touch most every animal, and if he wouldn't do it Anna was reluctant as well. I went ahead and touched everything though, I love the baby animals!
Here the fam is taking a horse drawn wagon ride. I didn't take any pictures but there was a junior rodeo of kids riding sheep, which is a really good laugh! We offered Anna ten bucks if she'd ride in the rodeo but she refused, sissy!
But here is my little cowgirl riding proud! Yee-haw!

March Highlights

These pictures aren't really exciting, but Caralee told me that she checks for updates so these are for you Babe!
This month Quinn has become more of a joker. He loves to tease "Sis" and already knows how to get her fired up! Such a pest of a brother already!
Izzy got to meet a few more cousins last week.
Here she is with Jaida, Sydney, Kaitlyn, and big Sis. I love these girls!!!

Anna and I did a photo shoot while Daddy was out of town for a week.
She LOVES the camera!
I think Anna was day dreaming about her boyfriend Caleb in this shot.

Izzy got her pictures taken too. We did some more in her blessing dress since I didn't get any great shots of her on her blessing day.
This is for Caralee, cute little "doggers" huh? I didn't get a good shot of it, but Elizabeth can fan her toes out just like you can. Has Steve seen you do that? It's creepy Steve, watch out!
Here Izzy is being a ham. She is a really smiley baby.
And a really tired baby!

Okay, that's it. It's a boast post I know, just all about my kids but hey, it's my blog!!!

Not 5

This morning Anna spent lamenting her friend Kia's birthday-he just turned five yesterday, so now he and Chloe are both older than her. I tried to tell her that a woman always wants to be younger when she's my age but she carried the pout all the way to preschool, she was so upset about being "not 5!" Oh the injustice!!!

What's your high and low?

In the evenings before bed we ask Anna what her high and her low of the day were. Corny as it sounds, we actually saw it in a movie The Story of Us and thought it was a good way to sum up our experiences of each day with the kids. It's kinda fun because Anna usually asks us in return what our best and worst parts of the day were too. Quinn's high is usually "nursery"-he thinks about going all week long! He never says what his low is but I'm pretty sure it's going to bed-it's never a fun time for him! Anna's highs are usually that she gets to play with Chloe, and her lows are that she didn't get to play with Chloe (on non-playdate days). It's funny though because sometimes we get something deeper out of her. When Brett put her to bed, after all the family left the day we blessed Izzy, Anna said her low was that she was sad because Grandma K (her great grandmother) was going to die in a few weeks and she would miss her. That statement was profound to me, it was an eye opener to know that she'd processed Grandma's ailing health, but it made me think too about all the feelings these kids have that they don't find the words to express.

What special routines or traditions have you established with your kids? Is there anything from your childhood that you've carried on in your own family?

February/March Highlights

This weekend was special, Brett blessed baby Izzy and we had an intimate little gathering at the house after church. My parents and my brother Taylor came, Aunt Katie and Uncle Ron were here, Brett's parents, Kathy and Madison came, and we had Grandma and Grandpa Rupper and Grandma K here to support us. Our children had ALL of their grandparents together to love on them!
Here's the proud Daddy.
Thanks to Aunt Shelley for the beatiful blessing dress!
Grandma Rupper and lil' Elizabeth having a talk

This is a shot of a trip to the Elk Refuge at Hardware Ranch
We braved the cold and took a sleigh ride to check out the wildlife.

Yeah, these pictures aren't really in order! Here is a shot from yesterday afternoon with all the fam.
Brett and Quinn showing off their grins.
Mom and Dad had a feisty dart gun war. I think we've found a good gift idea for the two of them for Christmas!

Izzy and her Momma at the Elk Refuge. The baby snoozed through the freezing cold ride, she's one easy going baby!

My baby Girl is getting bigger! (And no, that isn't makeup on her, she's just a pink girl!)
Daddy having a snuggle with his girl.
Anna and Chloe with their freaky bunny cakes
G.G. gave Izzy a bath and the baby gave her Grandma plenty of smiles in return!
Anna and Maddie loving on the Iz.