Crazy hat day

It was crazy hat day at school. Brady promptly requested a roll of duct tape (the kids just discovered it isn't duck tape). The bus driver gave him a double take before letting him on the bus, and he was only carrying the hat at the time! Paige was the model, she sat wearing the hat while Brady made it. See the kayak in the background? A family drove, yes drove, from Canada to pick it up for their daughter. They just decided on a road trip. It was fun for Paige to meet other little girls who like to paddle!

Trees!

So by now we know Darren missed his calling in life as a landscaper. So here we are planting 300+ trees. It was a family affair. We laid weed barrier and tried to cover it in dirt before the wind blew it over. It is NEVER not windy out here in Kimberly. When I say trees I mean little sprouts. His idea is to grow them for our own use and let the kids raise and sell the others for mission and college money. We have 200 more arriving tomorrow! Paige worked her guts out helping us, although she thought she needed to drive the 4 wheeler if she needed to to 10 feet! The boys were at Hunter's education most of the day, but we promptly put them to work when they got home!

I have a new neice!

Congrats to Clayton and Lauren on the birth of their first baby! Hannah Melody Harrison was born April 17, weighing close to 8 lbs! She is beautiful and healthy and we're all so happy!

Hike

Justin just one week after his appendectomy.
We can make it all the way to the water of the Snake from our house 400+ feet above!
Brady holding up an Idaho shaped rock. Ebay anyone?
Thankfully someone has placed a ladder for the steepest part.
In between conference sessions we took a little hike. The boys wanted to show me where they get down in the canyon from our house. It was a little chilly but down in the canyon it was beautiful! What a playground our kids have! Yesterday we had a porcupine visit us, and there are rock chucks, ground squirrels, rabbits and lots of birds. We have a meadowlark (we think) that lives close by and sings to us everymorning. Darren spent most of Saturday making a bike track in the back complete with jumps, ups and downs, banked corners. All the kids love it, it is a neighborhood attraction. Just in case you're thinking "wow what a dedicated dad to do such a thing for his kids" - he was out until after dark riding it last night after priesthood session!

Pictures of Paige

Some cute pictures of Paige Paige and Macy by the waterfall, they were so proud they had turned it on all by themselves!
Doing homework
Self-portrait. She went to Utah with Grandma and Grandpa Smith for the weekend. She is having a blast with her cousins. Boy is it quiet around here without her, and it is never quiet around here. It just goes to show she is the life of the party. We miss her!

Farmer Darren

That's right - farmer Darren. Can't hardly get him off of that thing. He also bought baby chicks while the kids and I were gone on spring break. We really are getting closer to sprinkler and grass.

Appendicitis!

No pictures here. The camera wasn't exactly on my list of things to grab on the way to the hospital! Justin had his appendix taken out Sunday! After a few days of complaining of a stomach ache, it finally got so bad Sunday morning I realized it was more than just the flu. Poor kid, I have never seen him in so much pain! He has been a trooper. His big concern on the way to the hospital was that it was suppose to be his first time passing the sacrament, and that he was probably going to have to miss school! He was a classic case and after the surgery the surgeon said it was a good thing we got it out, it was ready to burst! He's pretty sore and we're both still tired from the hospital stay, no one can get any sleep there. Never a dull moment!