Graffiti Run...

 We did a 5K yesterday as a family. 3.1 miles of powdered color fun. The kids did great!!!

 



 

 

 3 Willes and 2 friends who did the run with us!

It's a Good Satuday When.....

 You get to go to a Pump It Up birthday party.....

 

 

 And leave looking like a rock star.....

 

 

 And then use some of your party favors to get ready for the Graffiti Run tomorrow!! It's all about the accessories!!!

 

 

And...the last stop of the day is Twinkle World!! What more could you ask for in a store??? Full of treasures!! To quote Sophia "I think I could have bought everything!!!"

 

Creepers....

This is the 3rd year that Jake has played basketball with the same team of Northwood boys. This year they are the Creepers. We've only had 2 games...tied the first and won today! Jake is doing great!!! He tries hard and gets the ball when he can. It's so much fun to watch! Hopefully at some point our team will get official tshirt. I think we were one of the only teams to get adult size tshirts and we've been waiting on the Y to get new ones done. In the meantime the boys are wearing blue shirts with their numbers in white tape on the back!

Valentine's Photo Shoot....

Brenda wanted to do some practice shoots for her upcoming Valentine's special. So...we headed to a park and then downtown to take some pictures. She got some great ones!!!!

Bed Head....

Joshua continues to win the crazy hair award most mornings. This was too cute to brush. :)

Utopia House....

 At Family Fun Nighs last year, 4 families went in together to bid on 3 nights at a ranch house in Utopia that one of the NPDS families own. We finally found 3 nights when we were all free...so we headed out right after New Years. At the last minute the Robson's were sick, so we had 8 kids and 6 adults. We had SO much fun. The house was awesome and had beds for 18! There was even a separate bunk bed (separated from the main house by a breezeway) that had 4 sets of bunk beds and a bathoom. Perfect for the big kids!!!!

The weather was cold and rainy but we still had lots of fun outside. They had a big fire pit outside.

 

 

 But sometimes it was nice to curl up on a bunk with your best friend and watch a movie!

 

 AND...if you're really smart you decide not to go on the ride and get to stay alone with all the electronics for yourself. :)

 

 

 The view of the back of the house. It has a screened in porch and a deck all the way around.

 

 The creek was close to the house so the kids had lots of fun playing!

 

 And of course Brenda wanted to sneak in a quick photo shoot at this beautiful old barn!

Just the big kids....such a fun group of kids!!

 Smores by the campfire on a cold night!!

 

 On Saturday Brenda, Brittany and I snuck away to this amazing restaurant. A lady that Brittany works with recommended it. They are only open on Saturdays. The Laurel Tree. The place was absolutely incredible!! Beautiful inside and out. And the food was wonderful. A 4 course meal...with no kids asking for things and we got to sit there as long as we wanted!! We can't wait to go back!

 

We had an awesome time at the Utopia house. We are so incredibly lucky to have such great friends to spend time with. I hope that the kids remember all these fun memories...and we can't wait to plan the next group vacation.

Gift Card Fun...

Mom gives the kids gift cards to Barnes and Noble. They are the best gift! And little playing, reading and shopping followed by some yummy treats!!

A Journey to the Mouth of the Creek....

Mary has been wanting and wanting to hike all the way to the mouth of the creek. We made it fairly far over Thanksgiving but not all the way! So, over New Years we bundled up and headed out.

4 adults and 4 kids. Lucy and Brad had to stay behind. :)

 

.75 miles down the creek....we made it to the river!!! And the sad realization that we have to make it back to the truck!!!

 

We climbed up the side of the bank thinking that maybe we could hike to the river cabin and Mike could meet us with the truck. Not a good idea!! Lots of mud and sticker bushes. :(

 



So we headed back down again. Joshua was one happy hiker!!

 

We "billy goated" up the side of the rock to get out of the creek bed and on the road. Which was still a long hike to the truck!!!

 

Success!!! All hands in for a fun creek stomp to the mouth of creek!!