From the Past

Nathan found these videos today, so they must go on the blog.  They're from September, 2012.  Eden was one and a half and Z was just five.  It seems like a long time ago and like just a moment has passed.

Lee came for a visit that fall:

A family dinner:

Showing off their dance moves:

General craziness:

Bath time:

And the apple orchard, a fall favorite:

The Black Hills + Spring Weather = Happy Family

We stayed one night in Hot Springs, which has the loveliest stream running through it.  Because the steam's source is a hot spring, the water is comfortably warm rather than icy cold.

Z found a crab claw, which he was very proud of.  And, if you look closely, you can see a "Z" in the red rocks behind him, just above his head.

Z and I making crab claws after wading in the stream.

Eden was not quite so eager to go in the stream.

Z clearly could not get enough!

And Eden finally decided to try again when she was how much fun Z and I were having.  This time she liked it!

The next day we discovered Cascade Falls, also fed by a hot spring.  

You can see behind Z is a man made pool.  In the 1890s it became popular for Easterners to come take the hot baths in South Dakota.

Another pool at the bottom of a little waterfall.

Eden wanted to collect everything she saw.  Several times she told me, "Mama, I'm a collector!"

An old house, probably built in the late 19th century, but it looks like someone is still living there.

Z hiking near a cool red rock formation.

Enjoying the view.

Daddy and Eden.

Is there any greater pleasure of childhood than throwing rocks over a cliff?

Can anyone identify these tracks?

Squeeze in, family!

Echo

We were in the Black Hills this weekend and I caught this little exchange on video:

Hey Daddy!

This morning Eden said to Nathan, "Hey Daddy, you're kind of like my father but really you're a snakey."

Naptime

Happy 3rd Birthday!

March 25, 2011:

March 25, 2012:

March 25, 2013:

March 25, 2014:

A Boy's Valentine Party

I think they must play up Valentine's day at Z's school, because he was totally into it this year.  He decided he wanted to have a party, and since he didn't have school on the 13th (or the 14th, but I did have school), we decided to have a Valentine lunch party.  He invited Amah and his friend Jackson.  Amah couldn't come, so it was just the boys (plus Eden).

Z had many plans for making the party wonderful.  He spent one evening making hearts and Valentines which we hung from our dining room fan.  He had a great idea of making a valentine shield for Jackson.  Imagine Captain America's shield in the shape of a heart.  That's exactly what Z wanted.  For the fighting the two of them would do at the party, of course.

I made a strawberry cake FROM SCRATCH!  Wow, it is a lot of work to make a cake from scratch.  It did taste awesome, if I do say it myself, however, I'm pretty convinced that a box cake with the homemade frosting is really the way to go.  You save a bunch of time with the box, but the frosting still looks and tastes fantastic, and nothing like what you get in a can.  We also had pizza and chocolate hearts and the most unusual Valentine party I've ever attended (which isn't that many).  It might also have been the most fun Valentine party I've attended.  See for yourself:

The hearts and valentines

The cake and Z wearing too-big ninja headgear.  Because of course you dress like a ninja at a Valentine party.

Eden disdained the cake and just ate icecream.

See the little black and blue thing on the table by Z's plate?  It's a rubberband bracelet.  They're all the rage now with elementary school kids.  So I dutifully went out and bought a rainbow loom and Z and I worked on making bracelets (the other activity planned for the party).  Some, like the fishtail, are pretty easy to make.  The one that you see, called a zippy chain, took me four tries -- four tries!  And it only became clear that it wasn't going to work at the very end, after I'd done all the stupid weaving.  Sheesh.

We thought Jackson's shirt was very funny, and so did he!

Yummy cake!  Z saved all the frosting for last.

For some reason this last video won't upload - and it's the best one!  See it through this link.