SAMANTHA'S BLESSING DAY

Today was Samantha's blessing day. We headed to Idaho Falls to participate and visit afterwards at a brunch.

Getting ready for a picture

 

 

All of the grandkids except Christian and Connor

Faith, Samantha, Jadyn, Kate, Jordan, Colt, Hallee, Bristol, and Dawson

Men in the circle (minus 1 I think, and I don't know the men on the left)

Four generation picture, Samantha, Laura, Cindy, and Zoey

It was great to visit a little bit and see them again.  Samantha is growing, though she is still a peanut (wink).  Thanks for letting us participate in your special day Petersons!

As a side note, Robyn always likes to add excitement to our family functions.  She is due with baby #5 on October 1st (in between my 2 kiddos!)  Very fun.  They will not find out the sex of this baby.  It will definitely be a big surprise!  Congratulations Royces!

HOUDINI AND THE OTHER CHICKENS

Our chickens are little rascals!  Their names are Fluffy, Marshmallow?, Princess, Snowfall (the white ones), Midnight, Shadow, Zebra (the black & white ones), Goldalicious, and Sunlight (the reddish ones).  Whew!  All 9.

After letting them have the run of the yard all winter, we are finishing up the work on the chicken coop and have gathered them all up.  All of them, except Houdini.

Who is Houdini you ask?  She is a white chicken with the previous name of Fluffy or Marshmallow.  Marshmallow is one of the chickens that previously escaped the yard to go to the neighbors, so my bet is Marshmallow.

Anyhow, at least two times a day, this chicken manages to escape over the makeshift door.  It is really quite entertaining.  We have figured out how she does it.  She jumps up on the ladder, over to the top of the makeshift door and then flies down.  I think that it's her personal mission to cause mischief and out shine the other chickens.  To her dismay, it may be the early result of chicken noodle soup if she continues once our garden is up.

Here are a few of the latest pictures of our girls!  (Courtesy of Faith Jolley photography)

Is that you Houdini?

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Let's ditch this joint!

 

Houdini is crazy!

I don't know about this chicken behind me ...

 

Egg-cited for spring!  More eggs!

FAST FACT FRIDAY #17 - BY THE NUMBER

This week's challenge is By the Number!

1.  How many pairs of shoes do you own?
      ~Lucky number 13!  (Which I think it way low for a girl!)

2.  How many times did you have to take the driver’s test before you passed?
      ~Just once!  I did awesome at the written test and had a C in the driving section.

3.  How many schools did you attend?
      ~I attended 4 schools: Syringa Elementary, Alameda Jr. High, Highland High              School, and Idaho State University

4.  How many siblings do you have?
      ~3 sisters: Tracy, Robyn, and Laura

5.  How many states have you been to? 
      ~Got to think about this one.  As of today, 9 states not counting airports.  Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Florida, North Dakota, Montana and Pennsylvania. 

BABIES

Kate loves babies so very much! Right now she has 3 baby dolls that she loves and takes care of.

During conference, baby Ally had a set up to be able to be with our family and hear the prophet. It was so cute. As I have been going through pictures on my phone, I came across these ones that she took of her babies. What a cute momma!!!

Baby Marissa

Baby Hannah

Hannah, Ally, Marissa

Baby Ally

NEW SPECTS

Just wanted to show off my new glasses.  I think that I have had my old glasses for at least 10 years and 3 prescriptions ago.  So excited to actually be able to see ... at night!

If you love them, come see me at night! If you don't love them, don't worry!  Just don't come over at night!!!

WET PLANTS

Brandon just saw this sign at McKee's.  "We were so excited for spring we wet our plants!"  He laughed all the way home.  Did you see it too?

YES!  We are excited for sping! Today was 87 degrees!  Can you believe it?  Neither can I, but I am soaking it in as much as possible 'cause we live in Idaho!

Here are a few pictures that Faith took around the neighborhood of the evidence of spring!

Sara took her kids to see Grandma Dori (an adopted grandma) over Easter weekend in Comfort, Texas.  Here are their pictures of spring:

Famous Texas Bluebells

 

So excited to see flowers!

  

At the flower garden

Myah in the background

With Grandma Dori

We love and miss you guys!!!

FULL MOON

The picture doesn't do it justice really. This moon was SO bright that it didn't look like night.  We were able to stare at it for quite awhile and were just in awe.

PICS OF KATE'S ROOM

I think that it is so cute that my kids like to take their own pictures. I wanted to share 2 that really stood out.

 This one is a bobble head that Grandma Kathy gave to Kate for Christmas. I just think it is SO her!

This one shows a primary handout, her piggy bank, part of a Christmas decoration (one of her favorite holidays and she won't let me put it away), and her cute handwriting of her name.

She is growing up SO fast!

ANOTHER REMOVAL

Poor little guy continues to have to see the dentist to remove teeth.  We are on a 'guidance' program, where the orthodontist keeps a close eye one what is happening with his teeth.  As you pull teeth out at the right time, this saves time and money later on by making sure the teeth don't crowd each other, etc.

It's never been 'bad' for him, until this time.  Look at the roots of these babies.  Just crazy!!!

But we are still in love with his smile!!!  Love you big D!!!

IN A SEA OF WHITE

DARE graduation was a fun addition to the 5th grade experience!

Imagine my surprise and shock when in walks a sea of white ... and then BAM ... my daughter, Faith in her my jacket!  Really?  Just to give you an idea of what this looked like from my seat, here is a picture.  Can you spot Faith???  I know, it's pretty difficult to see her.

There was a really nice program which included the mayor and the principal.  Each of the students wrote and essay and one child from each class were selected to read their essay to this group.  Probably very scary, but they did a great job.

Each child got to receive a graduation certificate.  Here is Faith going through the line and shaking hands.

 

I was super excited because Corporal Holt (who I thought was an officer) is someone that I actually know.  He did an amazing job and included a slide show with pictures of all of the kids throughout the year as they were learning.  Thank you Chubbuck Police Department!  You did a great job!

Corporal Holt, Kristin, and Faith

 

WILL YOU BE MY CUSTOMER?

Kate has been having a wonderful time pretending! This day, she put on her apron that has her name on it and asked, "Will you be my customer?" I couldn't resist this cute little waitress.

 

After several glasses of tea and yummy jelly beans, I was stuffed.  She shared with all of the members of our family too!!! 

We'd love to invite you over to the Jolley cafe to meet this cute waitress!!!

I LOVE YOU MR LOWE'S

Tuesday, April 10th, there was a power outage.  When I came home, the fridge panel was blinking funny unlike it had ever done.  Wednesday close to lunch, I decided to have a frozen hashbrown.  (Weird, I know.)  It was then that we discovered that the freezer was thawing and the fridge was warm.  After pricing the repairs (both parts and labor) of what we had suspected was wrong, we decided that it was time to get a new fridge.  (This old one was 7 years old for us, but used before that.)

Friday came and the Lowe's guys arrived.  Kate was SO excited that she told the man, "I love you!" in her sweetest voice.  When I said, "Kate ..." She said, "What mom?  I love people!"  That is our little Katers.  She just loves people.  I am actually surprised that she didn't up and hug the guy.  Luckily, he was gracious and very kind!

Taking off the door

Kate posing for the camera in her extra 'loving' mood!

Removing our old fridge

Bringing in the new fridge

 

Not necessary the way I would like to get a new fridge.  Just happy that with Dave Ramsey, we had the money to take care of this 'emergency.'

OUR LITTLE PEANUT

Samantha, baby Sammie, Sam, squeaker, or my favorite 'peanut' has been growing!!!  This is such good news since she was so little and not gaining very much weight each time.  At her 1 month appointment, she was back up to her birth weight.  (Hence, her nickname 'peanut'.  Aunt Laura does not like this nickname, but since I called Faith squeakers for her baby stage, I just can't do it again.  Sorry Laura!)

Kate can't get enough of this baby girl!  She always wants to have her turn to hold her, love on her, etc.  I am very grateful that Aunt Laura is patient and let's her give her love!!!

Kate - 5 going on 16

Sam - 7 weeks

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday was fun.  We usually don't have an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, but because of the weather, we did this year.  

 Kate (please take my picture momma!!!)

Dawson (Easter is great)

Faith (learning from Dad)

Dad (I wish he would smile for me)

Jordan

Our other cousins were missing - Sam is too young and the Royces' stayed in Nampa

Happy Easter!