It's that Time of Year Again...

The kids have started swimming!  It is freezing and they shake because they are so cold, but they are still getting in the pool on a regular basis!

Nora and Elijah relaxing on the new floaties...

Cupcakes and Cooking...

Jason is the cook in our house right now.  He is a great one at that!  He has been getting cooking magazines and pouring over them  Yesterday he decided to try his hand at a coconut cupcake recipe.  I had my doubts, never being that impressed with cake.  But WOW these are the best dessert I have tasted in a long time!

Almost a year ago, I went on strike as the primary cook in our home.

 I was burned out, bored, and fed up with food!  Not only that I figured out I was feeding four very picky eaters and my meals were not being apreciated by the children and Jason was always searching for a way to make my meals "better."  This is okay some of the time.  Very annoying after working hard to only have him jump up to add this or that to his plate.  So I went on strike.  It is working our nicely.  Jason is doing much of the cooking, which he loves and is fabulous at.  He has had some great teachers in the kitchen: mom and grandma.  Then when it is my turn in the kitchen I go simple: eggs, cereal, chicken nuggets.  So here's a big thanks to the cook in our home!

My Cow...

I popped into Last Chance a few weeks ago and he was staring at me from a shelf as I walked by.  I did my shopping (one shirt for five bucks, can't go wrong there!) and he was still there...calling out to me to take him home.  He made me laugh.  I could hear him saying, "Please give me a home, I know I am odd looking, but look how I bring a smile to your face!"

I have never been a big toy person or a collector of things, but this cow made me happy inside.  Now he sits in my living room, waiting to be played with by all of my visitors.

My Sweet Peas!!!

This is my fourth year trying my hand at sweet peas.  I love them, but I have never had luck until this year.  Thanks to Cindy Martin!!  She told me to plant them in October instead of January.  I gave it a try and now my back flower bed looks like this...

Nora took her braids out.  Her hair looked so fun for a few hours until she decided to jump into the pool.

The Dune

The dads took the kids for a drive and played on this dune.  Looks like they had loads of fun!
The kids...
Bill...
Jason...
Chuck...
Wesley...

Rocky Pointe

It was our first extended family vacation ever!  The Osiers joined us which made my mom happy because our initals of the families spell HELL, add the Osiers and you get HELLO.  There were twenty three of us and we had a fabulous time.  The weather was perfect!

All the girls (except Jane) had their hair braided. 
Jane looking out to sea...

Winston loves the beach  best of all.  He is always sad sad to leave it.  I wonder if someday he will live near the sea and be a surfer dude.  He has the hair going for him!
So handsome...

Faces of Vacation

Jason captured this image of my beautiful niece Anna. He took it on the beach after she had come out of the ocean. I love this little girl!

This is my sister (in law) and Noah.  I love having another sister, she brings so much to our family.
My mom and dad love the beach.
Hannah Osier
Caleb Osier
I have to say I don't like family pictures.  This is me trying to have a good attitude trying to get twenty three people to be still and smile.
Julie Anne is a part of our family and fits right in.  David and Bonny have adopted her for a season!
Jason loves family picture day and takes lots of himself.  Here he is with my sister!
Benjamin decided to make the photo session a bit more interesting.  As the timer went off he ran towards the camera.  I love looking at everyone's faces in the background.  This photo makes me laugh!
Winston my beach lover...
Rebecca fully enjoyed the beach.
Mordecai is a darling cautious little guy.  His language is so cute, he always refers to himself as Mordecai.  All he wanted to do was throw seashells in the big pool.