Addie and Cisco

Addie's dreams have come true- she started horseback riding lessons and she went to Disneyland (more on that later)! Addie is one step closer to being a true cowgirl now that she is getting some proper private lessons. Once a week we go to Flyspur Ranch just outside of Bend dressed up like a cowgirl to ride a big horse and learn all about them. Addie was paired up with Cisco, a very tame and sweet older Palomino. Before riding, Addie helps brush and groom the horse. She saddles him up and heads for the indoor riding arena where she has learned to direct him with the reins, steer him around the barrel and cones, and over poles. Addie's favorite part was being able to trot! She looks like a natural!

Idaho

We made our first trek to Idaho with both kids and it was a success! The kids did an awesome job traveling and adjusting to our busy schedule visiting with friends and old coworkers. We stopped in Boise the first night to see Leah and meet Annalee. We cruised the streets of downtown Boise during the Saturday market and enjoyed the 80 degree weather!

Willie and Jenna were kind enough to give up the whole house for us to take over...thanks a million! Addie loved their dogs and chickens. All she can talk about it collecting eggs from the chickens and feeding Cash and June cookies.

We crammed in as much as possible while in town..several play dates/dinner dates, cruised the streets of Ketchum, walk out Trail Creek to the new Country Club, visit to Webb, meeting with some of the families I used to nanny for. As always, we enjoy every moment we spend in the Wood River Valley and this time it was even more fun to show the kids places that were special to us back in the day. It was sad to leave, but we hope to come back next year!

Easter 2012

Easter was extra special this year because Grandma Cindy, Grandpa Bill and Uncle Dan made a surprise visit to Bend! Addie loves Easter egg hunts and has been practicing for the last few weeks around the house and at the park with Cameron. She decided to decorate the house with streamers and balloons for the Easter bunny. She put out a carrot, a stick of gum and a nice card thanking the Easter bunny for stopping by her house!

Easter morning was exciting to see the kids so happy to look through their Easter baskets and hunt for eggs outside. Addie showed the family her skiing skills at Mt. Bachelor and got to ski up to the "real" Easter bunny for some candy-filled eggs. That was a highlight of her day.

We enjoyed spending time with all our family! Thanks for coming to visit and come back soon!

How could I forget to mention that Addie was an Easter cowgirl!!

new tricks

Here are the latest and the greatest of the kids doings.

Cadenisms:
Pointing, throwing everything in sight, pretending to talk on the phone, running, playing hide and seek, eating only non-eatable items, throwing tantrums, and pulling Callie's tail. Caden is trying to say "hot" and "phone" and is starting to really understand what we are talking about.

Addieisms:
Addie's art work continues to impress us as well as her math skills at school. She counts beyond 30 as well as by tens. She is doing addition and subtraction at school. She even told me that she is learning to read! Addie is actually skiing now too, not in between Ryan's legs, just flying down the hill! She knows how to do pizza to stop and how to make some turns. Her favorite things about skiing are going fast, the ski lift ride, and jumping in the trees with Daddy!