Maddi's Home!

We got Maddi home last night. The kids were so excited to see her - so were Michael and I! Olivia wouldn't let Maddi our of her sight. It was so cute. It feels good to have us all back together again. Maddi had tons of fun on her trip but she was excited to get back home too. She has lots to tell us and the kids have lots to tell her too. I think they have been talking nonstop since we got home. Like I said, it's good to all be together again!

Maddi's On Her Way Home!

Maddi left Ohio this morning and is on her way home. We are all so excited! We will go get her tomorrow. She had a lot of fun on her trip. She spent the last part of it in Ohio. She had fun playing with cousins there, going to parks, spending time at the library, riding bikes and lots of other stuff. She also got to go to Kirtland and see the pageant there. It talks about some of the history of our church. As most of you know, early members of the church settled in Kirtland between 1831 and 1838 before they were driven from their homes. A lot of history takes place there and Maddi was able to go see some of it. She really enjoyed that. Anyways, her trip is coming to a close and soon we will all be together again and things will seem back to normal!

New Gym Membership!

I am so excited! I just got back from joining a new gym here in town. We can get a family membership for $40 a month. There are programs for the older kids and a kids zone (aka babysitting) for the younger ones. It gives us access to the whole place - basketball, racquet ball, swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, aerobics classes, and all the equipment. It also lets the kids take swim lessons year round at no extra cost. Anyways, I am very excited. Once school starts I will be able to take Olivia and Zeke to the gym and they can play while I work out. There will even be "exercise" classes that they can take if they want to. There is no contract so if we end up not using it we don't have to keep paying for another year:) It's only a few miles from our house so it's really easy to get there. It is a combination of Sanford Medical and YMCA. I took the kids swimmig there earlier this week and they loved it. When Maddi turns 9 she can actually be out on the floor with me using the weight and cardio machines. She will love that. They also have a youth room that she will be able to use with ping pong tables and other stuff.

New Bikes!

I must say, I love Craigs List! You can find some really good things on there for really good prices. Since we've been here we have gotten several things off Craigs list - couches, a dog, twin bunkbeds and toddler bunkbeds, and now three bikes! I've even sold some things on there - a crib, a high chair, two bikes and another crib. So, back to the bikes - Zane got a motorcycle bike. It was originally meant for Dillon but even though the bike looks small, it was too big for him so Zane got it. Dillon preferred his old bike anyways. Zane loves his new "motorcycle". He rides alll over the ranch on it. Zeke also got a new bike. His is a Power Rangers one and was pretty much brand new. He also loves his because it goes "weally super fast"! The other bike is for Maddi. She has not ridden it yet but Makenna has and really likes it. So here are picture of my little bikers. They are too cool for their own good! I think Zane is ready to head down to Hot Harley Nights here in Sioux Falls!

Maddi'sTrip - Day 16

Maddi is onthe road again today. She is on her way to Ohio to see Stephen and his family. She had a lot of fun in Virginia. Her last day she spent doing swimming lessons and then they went to the air and space museum where the space shuttle is. Saturday she went with Janiel and Aubrye and they all got their nails and toes done. She loved that. Sunday we got to talk to her on the webcam. The kids enjoyed seeing her and talking to her. A week from tomorrow and we will get to go get her!

New Swimming Fun

Today we tried a new pool in Soux Falls. We got pool passes that let us get in to all the public pools in Sioux Falls (there are a ton), so we thought we would start trying some of them. Theone we went to tday has a zero depth pool with two different slides, some big, floaty toys to climb on and a big sand and water area. It also has Two big slides, one you can use a tube on and one you go on without tubes. Makenna was the only one big enough to do those. She ahd tons of fun on them. It also has three drop off slides. No one tried those. Olivia and the boys loved the smaller slides in the shallow part. They also had a lot of fun in the sand area. They want to go try another pool tomorrow. There is a brand new water park that we might go try or else a spray park. It's all free for us so we might as well make use of it! It was a lot of fun and what better way to spend the summer. When Maddi gets home we will have all sorts of places to take her!

There was a little girl with a great big bed...

Olivia's favorite thing to do is get in Michael's "spot". This morning after he left for work she climbed into his spot with her sippy cup and got real comfortable, giggling the whole time that she was in "Daddy's spot"!

Maddi's Trip - Day 13

Maddi is still having a blast in Virginia. They have been to Washington DC three days now. They have seen all sorts of things and been to several of the museums. She has touched the White House lawn, let a huge bug crawl all over her (in one of the museums) and also pet a giant preying mantis (also in a museum). She has been on bike rides - thanks Jude, and she has been swimming almost every day. She even got to have a swimming lesson one morning with the other cousins. She's eaten out at all kinds of restaurants and ridden in Sam's "bumblebee" mustang (a definite highlight)! It is yellow with black racing stripes. She has also gotten to go watch her cousins in a few swim meets. I must say I'm jealous (not of riding in the mustang:) and hope to be able to go there myself someday. We are certainly missing her here. I find myself counting the kids when I am out and never coming up with the right number. Kind of scary when I forget that Maddi is gone! I think Dillon misses her the most. He is very tender and aware of feelings and people. He talks about her on a regular basis and is always telling me he misses her. It really very sweet. Makenna has realized how much fun it is to have a sister to play with. Olivia just doesn't play the same way and the boys don't either! She is anxiously awaiting Maddi's return as are all of us.

Chuck E. Cheese and Babies!

This last week we went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. The kids had a blast and it wasn't crowded at all. They have really been working at keeping the house clean and being kinder to each other. There are still moments but they are doing really good. We also have been having lots of new babies out here at the ranch. This last week there have been 3 baby draft horses born (one of which died) and 2 baby miniature donkeys. The kids have enjoyed going up to the barn to see and pet them.

Maddi's Trip - Day 10

Maddi is in Virginia now at my brother's house. She is excited to get to play with her cousins for a week. They went swimming yesterday for 3 hours and spent a lot of time playing outside. She even got to eat Chinese for supper last night. Maddi gets to sleep in Aubrye's room with her so it's a sleepover every night! Today they are headed into Washington DC to see some of the sights.