Week in Wyoming

The boys and I spent some quality time in Wyoming over the Easter weekend!  It was capped by a stay-over (2) at Aunt Annette's house which included a treasure hunt (on the way) and a visit from my cousin and her darling girls (on the way back.) The treasure hunt yielded a new Angry Bird Shirt and car for Nathan and a little bunny and car for Ashton - much to their delight!

Easter day included a great Easter Egg hunt in Grandpa's extensive yard, a lovely meeting at church, and traditional Easter Eclairs.  Brooke and Wes came from Sheridan with Stirling (whom SOMEHOW I didn't get on camera) and of course Travis, Olivia and Devlin. (Amy wasn't feeling well.)  The menu included: marinated pork roast, twice baked potatoes, corn, and rolls.  The Eclairs were DELICIOUS and perfectly done, thanks to Brooke and I tag-teaming the very strenuous stirring cycle of the eggs into the dough. Nathan and Stirling were instant friends.  They chased each other to the point of exhaustion.  I think that if Stirling could giggle, he'd have been giggling right along with Nathan as they played and jumped and dashed about.  Half of the time Ashton called Stirling "Fergus."  Fergus is the name of a VERY similar dog from a book we borrowed from the library. 

One day, we had Olivia with us for much of the day.  She and Nathan (and Ashton) were watching an episode of the living scriptures - the one where Jesus Comes to the America's (fitting for Easter week) and the two of them had the BEST conversation EVER about Christ and how happy they'll be able to see Him for real!  And not just on the video, and how He'll stand on Real grass.  Then they talked about how much they loved Him and were so grateful that he died and was resurrected for us.  I cried. Dad commented about what sweet little children they are.  I love that Nathan and his cousin can talk about Jesus without fear of being made fun of, or being persecuted for their beliefs!  I love that they can talk about the scriptures and Heaven with such Joy and Excitement!   That they, at the little ages of 4 and 5, know about the plan of salvation and that families can live together forever!  Such a testimony to ME of what the plain and simple truths ARE!

NQ and Ashton LOVED riding Shimmer.  LOVED IT!!  We spent the first morning taking about two hours to comb and brush off her winter hair.  I was worried that we'd have to hold onto Ashton as he rode, but he's a natural!!  He gripped onto the saddle horn and rocked his body and said "Go Shimmer! Go GO GO Shimmer!"  Nathan has great rhythm and learned to talk to Shimmer and to pet her and to use his deep voice to say "Whoa."  We're excited to get back in July and spend more time with her!!  NQ and Ashton took turns, and would've ridden for hours and hours, if  only I could've gone that long! We rode in the barn one day, because of the wind, but the other days we spent outside riding.

We spent time up at the cabin - and it's coming along.  We saw the progress on the sheep wagon that's being fixed up and I caught up on a lot of movies I hadn't seen yet: Hunger Games, the Help, King's Speech, Secretariat, and War Horse.  I loved them all, except for War Horse. The scenery was Great, but the reality of war is horrible. And the barb wire scene is completely unrealistic - that is NOT what would have happened if a horse hit wire like that, I've seen what wire can do to a horse, one strand, with very little force used.

Nathan came home with three new angry bird shirts and one Mario shirt and a bunch of new jeans, and a cowboy belt and buckle.  Ashton's got a new belt and buckle and cowboy hat to wear, plus some cute new clothes and pants.

 The visit was so fun, we hated to leave, but we were SO excited to see Shane.  The boys stuck to him like glue for the next two days.  Honestly - like glue.  If Shane sat down, he had two little boys right in his lap.  If Shane got up, he had two little shadows following him around - granted, they are noisy shadows.  But we're ALL looking forward to visiting in July! And who's to say we won't be back before then?