Random

Helping brush the marinade on the skewers.


Wearing sunhat at school. Had sunglasses on too, but those came off for the photo op.

More Birthday

She wanted cherry cheesecake in the shape of a horse. Good thing we have a pan for that!


With her absolute more favorite teacher in the world - Teacher Ashley. Ashley has been a teacher at the school since Aleaha started there at age 3.5 months. She totally rocks!


Awaiting the lighting of the candles - they do it up big at school! (Don't you love the expression on her classmate Ryder's face?)


Almost time to sing!

Birthday Girl Turns Five

It was five years ago that she landed on the planet. She was up early this morning to see what the day would bring. So, here we were at 6:30am, opening presents. "This is my lucky day!", she exclaimed.


Her favorite gift (so far) is a princess book that has stories PLUS a little disc player of Disney songs to accompany the story. As a parent, I had hoped it had a volume controller, but nooooooo.....so it will be driving us crazy for months, of course.

Any opportunity to use scissors is taken very seriously.

Lately

Took the girls to Woodburn to watch Daddy race. Moments after getting onto the freeway to head home, this was the view in the rear view mirror. Aleaha often tries to go without a nap, but if the day has been especially busy -- as those types of days can be -- then she (along with the whole family!) benefits from the rest.




We love to take weekend walks at "Ami-Park" (Willamette Park). If you ask Miri her favorite part, she says, "Unning!" (running).



Having fun in her play tent.


Enjoying a little fruit snack together, in the tent, of course.

Got these big buckets to help organize things, and they soon became great vehicles of fun in and of themselves!

Miri loves the mower! She burns off lots of energy pushing that thing as much as possible.

Miri has learned how to climb up the big slide ladder by herself (yikes). We have to watch her like a hawk, naturally. You'll hear her laughing, saying "My turn!!", and calling after her sister: "Yii-Yah!")

Lovin' that bright sunshine! (even if it's fleeting)

We found a bird nest on the ground near our fence. It was lined with -- guess what? -- our goat's hair!

Miri has been having a heckuva time with some teeth that are coming in, and the late afternoons and evenings are hard for her. She's already medicated, so Mommy tries to find other things to do to take her mind off her hurting mouth. Last night, that meant a trip on the 4-wheeler to the barn to feed the horses. She was great help, of course. If the pellet level in the bin is high enough, she can scoop it, and that's great entertainment. If it's not - she'll let ya know!!

This was Aleaha this morning, when I woke her up for school.

Let's Ride!

Mommy & Daddy got to go on a trail ride last weekend, which was super-cool for the girls, because that meant.....BABYSITTER! A good time was had by all.

The horses were very good boys. The weather was a little chilly, but it didn't rain. Arby had just thrown a shoe, so Mommy got off him and walked a bit, through the gravelly areas. Did her some good. ;)

Popsicles!

Took the girls for a short road trip to Salem last weekend, and I gave in to their request for a popsicle from DQ. Yes, it was messy. Yes, it was delicious!

What's good for the goose....

Mommy got a chance to go riding recently. A break in the weather, a great friend who's brave enough to get on horses that haven't been ridden in months, and Daddy taking care of the kids.....it's all good!

Here's a nice, sleepy-like Arby at the top of the hill.