A Day OUT!

So Friday, April 1st, was one of those days that we knew was going to be nice and Nate has it off, so we really wanted to do something fun.  For some reason it is always so hard for me to think of fun things to do ahead of time.  But we came to the conclusion that we didn't want to spend a bunch of money and we wanted to think of some FREE fun for the day.  I had heard about these ponds where there are tons of frogs, so we took Brad, Luke, Noah and Erika (I usually say "the younger ones" but they have names :) ) there to hunt for frogs.  There sure wasn't any frogs.  But the kids had a total blast throwing rocks and sticks and stuff in the water.  Took meback to our Alaska days whenwe would walk to the nearby lakes and throw rocks and feed the dcks.  I wish I'd taken more pictures while we were there, but we had a good time.





After the kids got home (and informed me that the following week was Spring Break- don't ask me how I missed that one) we went back up to Kaysville to feed the ducks.  We stopped on the way to get ice cream cones so eveyone's faces are covered in chocolate :)  But it was a really fun, relaxing time.  I love doing this stuff with the kids.  Makes me wish we could go back to the days before they were all in school and enjoy more time together as a WHOLE family.  I'm really glad that we used that time that we had wisely though.  I have regrets, but not about that at least.  It was fun to see Erika experience the duck-feeding thing for "the first time" again too :)  She's an animal fanatic!  "Duh!  Duh!" (duck, duck)



We always manage to adopt a few kids when we go to feed the ducks.  Probably the many loaves of bread we bring.... it's fun to share, but then I get what could have been a cute picture of MY FAMILY with an extra non-family member :)  HA! just kidding.



My little Noah is growing up!!!  Crazy.



Erika has the two best big sisters EVER!  I hope they are always as taken with her as they are now.



Brad has become such a stunt man lately!  He will try almost any trick! 



Kelly might be getting too cool for the park.... I don't know :)



Lukey is so hard to get pictures of.... he is really camera shy lately when he's playing.  Almost annoyed when I point the camera at him.... He sure has been a fun kid lately.... I love his innocense.

This is the funnest thing..... whenever there's an animal within Erika's view, she gets all giddy, bounces around in a little circle, and squeezes her hands together really tight, and then she gets her animal obsessed sisters (if it's a dog she wants to see Charity takes her, if it's a cat, Kelly) to take er over to see the animal.  And Erika's funny because she doesn't let anything stop her from running over to the thing, but once there she gets really antsy.  It's funny.  She doesn't want to be TOO close.  Just close enough to get all excited and squeal with joy at it's every movement.  I love it.



Erika totally has to stand back while her brave sister tries to convince her to come closer..... hilarious.









I really like this picture becaue it focuses on her two big sibs who totally sacrifice their play time to make the park fun for Erika.  They almost fight over her at the park.  She sure is a lucky little girl.







This was funny.... some stranger totally reached out to tickle Noah (maybe he felt bad that Noah's parents were vegging on the bench just taking pictures rather than playing with him.... who knows :) ) and he tried so hard not to smile or enjoy it :)  He doesn't love strangers.