Sarah + Coal

The kids always get filthy when we are in Snowflake, but this was pushing it.  Sarah found a charred piece of wood and decided to rub it all over her face.  Such a beauty:)

Derek is 8!

My little boy has turned 8.  I can hardly believe it!  He has grown up so fast.  He is such a special little boy.  He is helpful around the house.  Does his chores and favors for me without whining.  He is so curious and full of adventure.  

We had a very small and intimate baptism.  In attendance were Great Grandpa and Grandma Brimhall, Grandpa and Grandma Lamb, Grandpa and Grandma Lamb, Aunt Becky, Uncle James, Aunt Courtney, Uncle Nick, Aunt Katie, Cousins Jayden, Jolie and Harlie, and of course parents and sisters. He was baptized in the old mains street chapel in Snowflake.  I just loved the feeling in the room and watching my little boy take the step of baptism. 

In my family for our birthdays we got to pick our dinner and dessert.  So I have continued that.  He actually wanted a breakfast: "morning mixup" (eggs, sausage, tater tots, cheese).  For Dessert he wanted "dirt cake" (whipped cream, chocolate pudding, cream cheese, oreos, and gummy worms).

I also made brownies for those who did not want dirt cake.

Driving to Snowflake

During March, Darrell had a week off, so of course we retreated to Snowflake.  We had been blessed with a lot of rain in February and March and thus the grasses and flowers were beautiful on the way up to Snowflake.  The usually dry creek bed even had water flowing in it.  We took a few minutes to enjoy the water.

The kids were dawdling every so slowly when it was time to go.  Sarah said "Look!"  Darrell and I both answered impatiently but then went to look, and there was this frog.  Derek tried to hold it with no success.

Chemistry with Dad

Dad LOVES chemistry and elements.  The kids love when he does experiments with them.  He had them put iodine into a chemical which turns the solution instantaneously clear.  

He also showed them how to use litmus paper for testing the pH in different liquids.  They loved seeing the different colors that appeared on the strip.

Artwork

Random pieces of artwork.

Picture drawn by Sarah

Jewel Mine by Emily

Lots of little people by Sarah

Candy World by Emily

Rainbows: favorite drawing theme of Emily's

The Hobbit by Derek

Notice Bilbo is "invisible" and of course

Gollum on the rock.

Rainbow Heart by Emily

The Hobbit by Emily

Visiting Cousins

The Leonard cousins were staying with Darrell's parents while some renovations were being completed at their house.  We went up for a couple nights to spend time with them.  We don't often get to see them because they live out of state.

We read a "Little House on the Prairie" book in which Laura gets her hair curled with rags for a visit to town.  Emily really wanted me to tie up her hair.  I had already done it once before this Snowflake visit, but she loves curly hair and wanted it done again.  I did Emma's hair also.  They were so cute with their cute hairdos.

One of my kids' favorite activities in Snowflake is swinging, especially if Grandpa is swinging.  He swings them very high.  Apparently I'm not very good.  They tell me I just have to practice and when I get old I will do it better:)

Emily and Emma had a blast together on this trip.  They swung a couple times in the same swing.

My goofy little Sarah.

The kids also loved playing "monster" with Uncle James.  This consisted of James hiding while the kids counted.  They then found him and shot him with their play guns.

Sweet Friends

The three older cousins had a great time together.  They even went to work with Grandpa Brimhall one day and had a great time.  They were filthy dirty.  I'm so glad we got to spend some time with cousins.