Botanical Gardens

11th we took a trip to the Botanical Gardens. May really is gorgeous at the Gardens. The roses are in full bloom and a lot of the other perennials are starting to flower. It also happened to be National Public Gardens Day, so there were a lot of very fun booths set up. The kids got to plant several types of seeds, and when we stopped by the booths on the way out, they gave us a ton of their leftover seeds since they were going home. The girls loved the farm and especially the horses. Katie just finished reading an abridged version of Black Beauty and is now desperately longing for a horse of her own. Fat chance, sister.   Picnicking on the lawn. The look of longing. Aaron is quickly learning that if girls can be said to love anything as a group, it’s horses.

Easter 2012

My sister reminded me that I never posted pictures of Easter. My parents were gracious enough to take the kids up to Utah for a few weeks while we got some things done around the house. We arranged to come and pick them up over Easter weekend. Finding Easter dresses was hard this year. Bridget and Averi were super easy, but it was more difficult for Paul, and nearly impossible to find something for Katie. Everything fit her like a sack or was ridiculously expensive. Next year I’ll buy her dress first, and then buy the others. That will make coordinating much simpler. We spent Easter weekend up at Hawksridge, which is my parent’s condo in Park City. If you’re ever in the area and looking for a great getaway, let me know. It’s 5 minutes from Jordanelle and 10 minutes from downtown Park City. It’s so quiet and peaceful, and the condo is tricked out with the best of everything. We always have a wonderful time whenever we go up.   She was just barely starting to sit up on her own at Easter. I can’t believe how much she’s already changed! This was the best family picture we could get. Definitely not the greatest, but still, I think we’re pretty cute. Grandma and Grandpa with the babies. Brayden photobombing. Kiera in her new J. Crew outfit. Definitely one of the best-dressed 10-year-olds that I know. Getting ready for the egg hunt. Poor Katie was so conscientious about making sure that the little kids got the easy eggs that she wound up with hardly any. Paul had no such compunctions, so we made him share with her. It’s very hard to arrange an Easter egg hunt for a 10-year-old that’s as tall as many adults. This girl keeps growing and growing. I have a feeling she’s going to be the tallest of all of us. Still carrying around the pony that was in her Easter basket.  Emily found Bridget to be fascinating. I love how babies always recognize each other. It's as though they're saying, "Hey! You're little! I'm little too! We ought to stick together." Bridget wasn't too fond of all the loving, but she tolerated it, up to a point. Lucky Bridget. She's the only one of my kids that has cousins her age, and she has three.