.spring break.

Gage's class this year needed alot of help with class parties.  I was asked to help with every single one!  I happily accepted because I actually really love helping out and it was fun to recognize the kids and develop some relationships with them.  For the spring party I was in charge of the craft.  They made pudding 'dirt' for a treat so I helped them make pipe cleaner flower to stick inside.  Brynn loves to come help too because she gets the treats as well!

That evening we hosted a little get together with the family to do dinner and an Easter egg hunt.  We cooked hot dogs outside on our fire pit.  The Dad's hid eggs after dinner and then the kids went to find them.

Thursday morning we met Lisa and her kids at Layton Park for lunch.  The weather was so nice out!  The kids played for ever on the merry-go-round they have.  I was worried the girls would get flinged off, but they didn't and LOVED it!  After we walked down to the pond to feed the 'ducks' (seagulls)

Friday it was my brilliant idea to go ice skating at the Ogden Olympic Ice Sheet.  We stopped at Dylan's for lunch.  The boys loved it and it was a blast watching them.  Brynn wasn't having anything to do with skating after we paid and put her skates on.  She was happy playing in the bleachers where we watched from.  I did have a twinge of jealousy not being able to go out with my pregnant belly.  I just told Josh he'd have to take me back when I could skate too!  I brought my telephoto lens and had a nice time just taking pictures.

Saturday after chores the kids rode 4-wheelers in the back yard for most of the afternoon.  We bought some dog clippers and Josh gave Charlie a fancy new haircut!

.welcome charlie.

A few weeks after we lost Chase, Josh was talking about getting another dog. I kept telling him I wasn't ready and that I'd like to wait till the Spring. Josh is pretty stubborn that way and kept on it until I agreed that he could start looking. We didn't want another Border Collie, we were worried we would be trying to replace Chase, as in getting him back. We talked about a few breeds and kept coming back to the Collie. Josh found some puppies in Bear River that he wanted to go look at right away. He fell in love instantly, like the kids and decided on this puppy who the owner told us was a miniature border collie. I think she was full of it because I don't think there is such a thing. He is an Australian Shepard and a Border Collie mix, so similar to Chase...but not the same.
We are all in LOVE. He's been the perfect addition to our family! He's very gentle with the kids, Brynn totes him around all day long and he doesn't mind a bit. I've been very happy with him and think he's just the cutest. And I'll be the first to admit, its made the loss of Chase a bit easier.