Our new "thing".

Keep trying!

It caught!

Great fire Jared!

Time to relax.

Yum!!

We've been doing this about once a week. After dinner we'll head out to the back yard where Jared will build a fire for us. He's getting pretty good at it. Of course he still needs Doug's help, but he knows how to build the wood to start it, and can light it easily with flint and steel. Once the fire gets going he knows how to carefully pile more wood on without squelching his creation. Of course, I'm always a little leery when he leans over the fire with all that gel he uses to maintain his cockatoo spike (see above). We tried to explain how dangerous this is, and Doug decided to demonstrate what happens when hair products meet fire. A few squirts of hairspray into the fire did the trick, and since then Jared has been much more cautious. Anyway,The kids usually like to roast marshmallows, so of course that's what we end up doing. It's my favorite way to end the day.

What a week!

Zach came to visit us last Wednesday, since he's recently returned from Iraq. The kids haven't seen him since August, so it was a real treat to have him here. Jade just couldn't leave the poor guy alone. She loves her uncle so much. While he was gone we prayed every night for a safe return, and I think that really made an impression on the kids. I think it really made them realize just how much they care about him. When he arrived Wednesday night they were ecstatic! They jumped all over him, squeezed him, hugged him, and Jade told him repeatedly how much she missed him. I really wish I thought to take pictures. We had a good time while he was here, and we even planned a camping trip for this July in San Clemente. SoCal beach, here we come!! Zach left on Saturday. And, a few hours later my parents, grandparents, and brother arrived for Easter. I made ham, twice baked potatoes, and all the fixings (with a ton of help). This was the first time I've ever hosted a holiday dinner, and I'm honestly surprised that nothing got burned, undercooked, or thrown out. I was expecting at least SOMETHING to go wrong, but nothing did. What was nice about that day was seeing my grandparents interact with the kids again. They love their great-grandparents so much. Grandpa was playing games with Jared, and grandma helped Jade dress her paper dolls. It was so nice to have them in our home for the first time. I think we miss them the most out of anyone from CA.

The next morning we had an egg hunt and brunch. I managed to catch a few pictures of the egg hunt. Of course the kids were so fast darting around the house and yard that I had to make them go back and pose with the eggs in a surprised way. Really though, they just ran around like lunatics hording as many eggs as they could. I guess that's what Easter is all about - the goodies.

Apperently, my camera software is not yet installed on the computer. It had a nasty virus, so Doug wiped it. I guess the pictures will have to wait.