Happy Birthday Grandma Marge!

We had a fun celebration with Grandma this week.  She turned 92 last Friday!  Awesome!  Way to go Grandma!  She is quite the lady - and we sure love being able to see her more often.  She is always quick with a hug, and smile and snacks for the crazy boy who just goes and steals them out of her room!  We are glad she keeps her place well stocked for him.  :  )

She was even kind enough to let Bran help her blow out the candles on her cake.  Well yes he had his own way of getting it done.  But hey - if you read this blog you will understand the picture below completely!!!

He he he!  Grandma Marge's face kills me - and Grandpa's too.  They know about this kid!  Okay - here's the story to this crazy picture.  Brannen loves guns.  This we know.  He especially loves to go to Grandpa Barry's house and play with his pellet air rifle.  It makes a really fun clicking noise and even shoots a small puff of air when you pull the trigger.  So there you go - he was really shooting the candles out.  Blew 'em out great!  He was in baby red-neck heaven.  Crazy kid.  And naturally, Grandma was a good sport.

She even let him help out on the real deal.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Spring Break

Having fun in Wyoming for Spring Break!
This is what you do when you are stuck in the snow
for your vacation ---

You run around on the crust, play in the playhouse, and try to swing.  When that doesn't quite work out, you head to the local driving range (think garage)  to practice your swing --

Big big fun for everyone!

Then you get crafty like Reese!  And make a beautiful cake (yep, she did it herself) - and some origami cranes to help the kids in Japan.

Reese has been folding her little fingers off to help raise money for Japan.  Her school is one of the many that is making cranes and getting donations for each that they make.  She is proud of the money that she has personally earned - and I am so proud of her!  They are tricky to make and take some time and effort for each one.

And then again - we head back out to the snow because, let's face it, there really is nothing else to do!
So we embrace the snow!  Love it!  (Pasting a very big cheesy smile on my face!) We head over to Cokeville for some fun on the slopes!

We did really have a great day there.  One of Brady's friends happened to be there - and we took Jeffrey - so it was way fun.  And no, Bran didn't really ski.  Rae was just nice enough to help him down a little slope a few times.  He loved it.  She was wishing that she woulda brought a back pack to put him in and go down the whole hill.  I don't know about that - kinda crazy.  But she was great about helping him have fun.  The guy running the chair lift even let Bran and I ride up and down the mountain just for the view.  Way way fun!  Don't know why I didn't have the camera then!  Shucks!

Anyway, we are having fun during our break.  Sure, it has snowed non- stop and we really have done this for five straight months now -  but hey, we are just gonna smile and enjoy it!  And dream of warmer days in AZ!!!

Painting Project

WARNING
This post is for my girls!  Men - this will be boring!
Consider yourself warned.

I have been wanting to paint my huge, white and awful looking basement for years.  While Kelly was gone on his yearly golfing trip at the end of February,  I summoned the needed courage and stamina to get started!  The girls and I got to work.  And work it was!
The "before" pictures---  (I guess they are more like the "during" pictures)

And the after ---

The main area is just a neutral tan color - it looks really nice.   The other walls are a pretty green color.  Had to redo all the trim and doors too.  Shoulda done the ceiling  too - but let's not get crazy!!  Glad it is finished!  It was some work!  It sure does warm up the place.
If you are a man, and you read that whole thing, you may have to turn in your man card now.

Is this thing on? . . .  How does it work? . . . . . . What do ya do? . . . . .
I just don't get it!

Trip to Casper

Rae recently competed at the state competition with her high school dance team.  We all went to watch her and her team perform last Wednesday night.  They did fantastic - and took 2nd place - which is wonderful -- mostly!  :  )   It sounds like sour grapes to say that they deserved 1st - but it is the truth!  They really were the best team there - but the home town team took 1st place - with a little "home cookin'".  The rest of the week, people from different places in the state came up to our girls and complimented them and told them the judging was really biased.  They even got a standing ovation from the "other team" at a state ball game they performed at when Star Valley played Sheridan.  They really are a great team - they have worked really hard.  And we really enjoyed watching them.

We are tired of winter around here - but sometimes it does make for some fantastic scenery!  The pass above Jackson on our way was awesome!
On our drive Brannen spotted a huge Jackalope outside of his window.  Being the quick thinker that he is, he pulled out his carefully stowed gun and shot that sucker!  Here he is posing with his prize.  Good thing we had a saddle (this is Rae's car, after all) so he could pose for this picture.  He looks quite proud -- don't you think?

He is seriously happy about riding the Jackalope!  I mean, what three year old wouldn't be?!?

 In Casper (the friendly ghost town, by the way --- Kelly told Brannen that's where we were going and the boy seemed a little freaked the whole week.  He kept looking for the ghosts!) we stayed at the Come On Inn - the best darn hotel ever!!  It had a huge mountain with a bear on the top, trees, a waterfall, stream with fish in it, and five hot tubs all surrounding the mountain!  Not to mention the big pool,  and baby pool!  Great kid fun!!
We had fun with only one almost mishap.  Brannen ran away from me in the hotel and I chased -of course- but was slower than him (I am officially old).  I ran around the corner where he had gone, just in time to see the elevator closing with him in it, by himself!  I kicked on my super speed - well, super old speed - and just barely threw my arm into the door before it shut.  So so glad he didn't head off to who-knows-what-floor by himself!
Oh yes, and speaking of elevators!  Rae and her dance team were stuck in an elevator which kept dropping and loosing power (including lights going out for minutes at a time) for almost 30 minutes!  Yikes!  They were really scared.  Right after they were rescued, she called me, professed her unfailing love for me, and told me she really appreciated all that I do for her!   So apparently, my secret plan worked!  Mwahhh Haaa Haa!!

Here we are at the Events Center in Casper - cheering for Rae and waiting to see their routine.

The group shot - in which I failed to get a picture of all of Rae!  Oops! Yea - that's the top of her head behind the cute, tall girl!
We had a great trip - and are so proud of Rae and her team.  They worked hard - and most importantly they were modest, and had an awesome, very difficult, and clean routine that celebrated women - not degraded them!  Yes!