Easter

Hello all,

I'm still around, and I even remembered the password to get into this account.  Yay for me.  I realize I'm pretty much the worlds worst blogger, but I never promised I'd be very good at it.  So on with the good stuff!

I love getting the whole family dressed up in coordinating outfits for church.  So much so that I actually wore a bit of pink!  Just a bit mind you.  You can't really tell in this picture, but the shirt under my jacket is pink and my necklace and earrings are pinkish.  I also painted my toenails pink.  And Kindi's to match.  That was quite the experience for her.  She loved it and yet was so nervous about it.  The whole time I was painting them she was fidgeting and giving me that nervous giggle sound.  You know, the one that you try so hard to avoid when you are at the doctor for something embarrassing.  Yeah, that one.

When I tried to paint our finger nails to match she got really excited and handed me her finger, until I pulled the brush out of the bottle.  I don't know what she thought it was, or was going to do to her, but as soon as I pulled it out of the bottle she would freak out and yank her hand away, hiding it under her chin or in her mouth.  I tried to paint mine, but after the fourth attempt being ruined by immediately having to help Kindi go potty or help Kaden button his pants... I gave up!

We even got Jeremy in pink!  What a gorgeous family!

Malaki, Lillie, Kaden and Kindi show off their finery.  

(Kori was having special Mommy time.)

 Hunting eggs.

 What a handsome little boy.  Where did my chunky baby go?!

 Don't ever put your chocolate down around Kindi.  She'll snatch it up and be gone before you know it!

Gather Round the Fire

And now back to our regularly scheduled Milton Freewater Chronicles.

Here is a better idea of what Max's beautiful fire pit looks like.  Since we were there last he has created a gate of some sorts for it to keep crazed maniacs, aka Kaden, from falling in.  Kaden had grown ups hopping anytime we were out around the pit.  I don't think he would have gotten into the pit with the fire because I took him really close once and showed him how hot it was (He didn't like it and wanted to get away.), but as much as he runs and falls...  He attempted to give a few people a heart attack at times when he would veer too close.

Since Kaden is such a go getter he is always entertaining, but the family was excited to have another little baby around who they could just hold and cuddle with.  Kindi didn't seem to mind all the snuggles, although she did like to spend some time sitting in her bouncy chair by herself too.

So the fire pit is in front of us and behind us is the multi purpose BBQ and stuff area!  That is my technical name for it although I imagine Max has a more sophisticated name.  He has a regular propane BBQ, a Lousiana Grill/Smoker, an old fashioned Wood Cook Stove, refrigerator and tables and chairs.  I think he plans to put a sink in also.  He even made us breakfast out there a couple of times!

Big boy Kaden always so proud of himself for climbing up on something new!

The following two clips are Kaden's adventures with drinking like a big boy.  There were always lots of water bottles around and he was the master of snagging them and begging for someone to open them so he could pour them down his front.... oh, I mean, drink them!  Here Aunt Alyssa is refilling his bottle with a shot of water at a time.  He tosses it back like a pro, although I don't know if he actually consumed any.

Buckin' Bronco Rider

   Jeremy's brother Heath works at a prison in Pendleton.  One of the activities they allow the prisoners to do is wood working.  They are amazingly talented!  Heath took some pictures of his grandpa (Max's Dad) and had them make this rocking horse and then paint on it different scenes relevant to him.  It is beautiful, strong and it is all hand done.  Best of all (if you are a 19 month old) it works!

Kaden loved to rock out!  Kindi was more like, 'Whatever guys.'.

Kaden, being the sweet big brother and super helper that he is, graciously pushed Kindi when it was her turn.  And again, she was like, 'Whatever.'!

We were so impressed with him as he could climb up all by himself and really get to rocking pretty hard.  Then he decided it was Lily's turn and obviously she isn't big enough to do it herself, so Kaden once again stepped in to the rescue!

Here is a video of Kaden rocking... hopefully anyways!

Yes he did smash his head into the horse.  He has a tendency to get a little bit excited and, I'm sure you won't believe it, but he tends to get a little wild and hurts himself, a lot!  I know, crazy huh!  And you all thought he was so cool, calm and collected all the time.  :)  He is tough though.  He bashed his head, cried and kept on rocking, refusing to crawl off and cuddle with me even when I walked up to him to help him down.  Such a brave little maniac!

4th of July

Posing with Papa on 4th of July morning.  We had planned to go to church all dressed up, but Saturday afternoon/night I came down with a flu or something.  I was sick to my stomach and had to miss out on the delicious BBQ meal and party.  I did feel well enough to go sit outside and watch Max's friend (an ex Master Pyrotechnic, or something like that...) light off some professional fireworks!  That was fun, Kindi slept through them and Kaden would wait until they were done then he would point up in the sky where they used to be and Ooooo and Aaaaahhh.  Priceless!

Papa was totally in love with Kindi's patriotic dress.  Of course who wouldn't be!

Kaden even had flag shorts! 

Chocolate milk and a swing with Papa make for a happy little boy.

Her smiles were definitely not as frequent as they are now.

Grandma getting some love too.  Poor little Kindi, her hat was just way too big!

I love this picture.

Heading across the driveway to Great Grandma and Grandpa Remboldt's house.

Kaden got a kick out of playing with the walkers.  He would crawl up on them, flip over on his belly, slide off then run around to the other side like a flash of lightening and start again.  They were also good for riding when Daddy agreed to be the motor!

The only way they could get Kaden to sit still and pose with Grandma was to put him on the walker.

This is such a wonderful picture!

Kaden has really taken a liking to wearing big boy hats.

Kaden and I having a little chat!

I believe that Kaden has a spoon that he is playing with in the flower beds.  He had the time of his life at G&G's this time.  The weather was nice, there is so much to explore and so much space to run.

Kindi was thrilled with Papa's clapping and talking to her.  She even blessed him with her beautiful smile and some little squeals.

Kindi's First Trip to Milton Freewater

   We went to Milton Freewater for the first time with Kindi over 4th of July weekend.   Jeremy and I were so worried about taking her for such a long drive (5 1/2 hours if we drive straight through and don't have bad traffic, usually more like 6-6 1/2).  Her typical reaction to being strapped into the car seat is to scream bloody murder (I've never really thought about it before, but that is a weird saying.)!  You would think we were pinching her as we clicked those buckles. 

   Jeremy had to teach summer school that morning, so I packed and kept Kindi awake as much as possible.  When we got ready to leave around 1 or so she was exhausted and had already stopped screaming by the time we got her out to the car, even though she was in the car seat already.  She passed out before we made it out of Lebanon and get this... Kindi slept all the way to Pendelton!!!  Hallelujah!  For those who don't know Pendelton is less than an hour from MF.  Of course when she did wake up she was incredibly hungry and very upset to be stuck in that chair still.  She started with her normal I'm unhappy, fix it, cry but before we could pull into Pendelton to stop at McDonalds, so I could feed her and Kaden could play, she was screaming this high pitched almost hyperventilating cry.  It was terrible and I had never heard her so distressed before.  Thankfully after a break at McD's she only cried for a few minutes before she went back to sleep and made it the rest of the way! 

   Kaden was an amazing trouper!  We usually stop at least a couple of times for him to get out and stretch a bit, but since Kindi was still sleeping we just kept driving.  He napped for the first hour and a half or two and then played quietly for awhile.  We also had a portable DVD player that Grandma had given to him at Christmas so he would have something to do on his next trip to see her.  He was amazed and captivated with the Veggie Tales for oh... 15 minutes!  The truly captivating part was the fact that he could reach the DVD holder with his feet.  So he kicked it for hours, I finally had to take the player away and just let him kick the case!  We did our best to entertain him and he made it with only a minimal amount of whining.  

All the cousins!

Emma, Kindi, Lily, Jacy & Kaden

   Max is a very talented... I don't know what you call him, but he is good at building and beautifying!   He built a fire pit and barbecue area that is absolutely gorgeous!  We ate most of our meals out there and spent the evenings by the fire.  I thought I had a better picture of it in here but maybe that is in one of the other posts.  Because there is so much that I want to share with you all the trip will be a series of posts!  Anyways, that is where we took these pictures.  :) 

Heath and Alyssa with their three beautiful, way to grown up girls!

Kaden wondering why they are all standing like that.

So our kids were so not into having their picture taken at the moment!  Luckily in this small version you can't tell too much.  Maggie (Max's mastiff puppy) decided to join us since she adopted Kaden.

Max had a picture of him and Kaden from last year's 4th of July that he loved and wanted to duplicate with Kindi.  She's not terribly impressed.  :)

Snuggling with Grandma.

Meeting Uncle Heath and cousin Emma.  I am ashamed to admit that I didn't get any pictures of Kindi with Aunt Alyssa.  :(

Great Grandma Remboldt

Kaden loved to stand at the gate from the house to the fire pit and be the door man.  He was quite the little gentleman opening and closing the gate for everyone.

And of course being the monkey that he is, Kaden spotted a ladder and just had to climb it.  He didn't ever get too high on it, but if we were there today he would be at the top in a flash!  He has been practicing climbing ladders at the park.

Jacy is going to show this little heifer at the Walla Walla County Fair this year... I think... it might be next year.  

Kaden didn't care to much for sitting on her back.

These last two pictures are just a couple of me and Kindi.  Kindi is so adorable and since it was her first time there we had to have a morning modeling session each day as we came in the door.  :)

It is so much fun having a little girl to dress up in all kinds of pretties!  

Papa's 4-Wheeler

Kaden went on his first 4 wheeler ride with Papa a couple of weeks ago.

I had my camera set on action shot since they were moving, unfortunately it doesn't flash then, so the pictures are a bit dark.

When he saw me he started crying and wanted off.  I was fairly shocked!  My boy is fearless and had been wanting to ride that thing forever.  (He can crawl up onto the seat without any help.)  Too bad he had yet another cold!  I think he would have been just fine if he wasn't feeling so crummy already.  I guess we will have to try again when he is all better!

His cousins Kori and Lillie had been riding several times before and were eager to take their turns.

Kaden Behind the Wheel

So remember that weekend that Max and Linda came to help finish Kaden's sandbox?  Well that's not all they came for...

They brought Kaden his first set of wheels!

Papa put him behind the wheel, showed him where the gas pedal was, and then...

...caught him before he slammed into the computer desk!

So we decided maybe we should move outside!

Kaden is a pedal to the metal kind of driver.

Too bad he doesn't steer yet.  We have to chase him around and grab the jeep when he gets to a place that needs something more than a straight shot.

In fact it was quite awhile before we could even get him to put his hands on the wheel at all.

Ahhh doesn't he look like a pro now!  Even though he has figured out that his hands should be on the wheel, he doesn't do anything but hold it.  I suppose he is still a bit young yet to figure out the steering aspect.  That will come with time, right now he just goes in great big circles as his hands naturally pull the wheel slightly to one side.  We have a church parking lot behind our house that he can drive in though so it works out well!

Lily and Kindi                                     Grandma and Kaden

What visit is complete without some cuddles and storybooks?