Helloooo Spring!

Jemma's first picnic!

Because there are no pictures of me, I thought I would post this one because it is exactly what I was doing (of course!).

Happy toes!

Catchin' some rays!

(and no, that's not Jemma, that's Ava's baby Grace!)

Thanks Michelle...

for the sweet hat!

Tub boy

Jack loves the tub and this morning he stayed in for over an hour which turned him into quite the prune. He loves pruney fingers and is always a little disappointed when they smooth back out.

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!

Lovely!

The clan!

(I think around 65 of us are here and there are about 85 total)

We all live pretty close (two cousins in Montana are the farthest away) and so we regulary have to rent the local Grange Hall for our Christmas celebrations and for big events like my Grandma's big birthday party today.

You can see her and my grandpa sitting in the middle of the madness. They have been married 61 years and had six kids, who went on to have 20 kids of their own (all but 6 are married so far), who have so far had 38 kids (and there are still many to come!). The 20 "grandkids" (that's my generation!) came at the rate of about one a year, so for the last 20 or so years we have had a high school graduation, a wedding, and a baby (or two or three) almost each year. We are currently in a break till the next batch (the great-grandkids) start graduating in about 5 years, although there could be a wedding or baby at any time :)

Jemma Jane with her sweet little second cousin (is that right?) Isabelle, who is a month younger but a chubber in her own right! (I love that they have matching drool spots on their shirts!)

The parties keep comin'

Ben's first cake (so neat and tidy with the fork!)

The sun came out!!
Joe and Jack stick-fighting (notice Joe has half the tree and Jack has a little branch!)

Happy 1st Birthday Ben!

He's awfully cute!

And he's the closest thing to a puppy the Casebolts will probably ever have!

Ed's birthday (again and again)

We celebrated Ed's birthday at his parents' the day before. And it was actually nice enough that night that the kids played outside!

And we celebrated with my family two weeks after the big day. The party started with some wrestling for the boys (Jack's favorite part!)

Sara loving Jemma Jane.

Paula made Ed's favorite coconut cream pie and the kids helped him with the candles.

Happy 31st! (one last time)

Look related??

Jemma at 5 months.

Jack at 5 months.

Ava at 5 months.

And one more of Ava at 5 months cause she was such a chub!

Retro Friday

This week, 2008.

Big Ben was born.

This weekend, 2007.

This weekend, 2007.

Ripping off the lovely 70's rock.

Look at the green grass and the tall tulips! Today our yard is white and the tulips are drowning in a puddle of ice water.

I love these freckles!

April 2, 2009

My helper

Ava reading to Jemma today.

Ava reading to Jack when he was Jemma's age.


Not only is she a great helper, she is a serious multi-tasker. Look at her push Jemma's swing and give Jack his drink while she reads. I don't know what I would do without her!

Happy monkeys

She loves his fuzzy head and he pretty much loves anyone who loves him!

Happy Birthday Hudson!

He's a cutie!

Super-cool racetrack cake.

Since we went to the party with three kids and no daddy, Jack received a special be-good lecture before we went in. Looks like Will got the same one. Don't worry, they still had fun.

These guys have fun, fun toys!

A 12-hour trip

Ed had a super early flight out on Monday morning so he decided to stay at an airport hotel Sunday night and I decided at the very last minute to go with him.

Ava stayed with her cousin (it was a school night after all) but the other two came and I have to say I love to travel with Jack--he is just good fun. When we walked in the hotel he kept saying, "I love this place....this is a super great hotel!" (it was an airport Ramada---convenient? yes, super great? no.) "I love this little fridge! Is this my bed? I love this bed!" You get the idea.

Jumping on the bed.

(Is this why hotel beds are so uncomfortable?)

Relaxing after some room service.


So happy to be out of the carseat!

All tucked in.