Ezra's birthday, take 2

The day after Ezra's first birthday, Terry's folks came to celebrate after church. Shari's crew came later too. Here he just got done opening their gift - a ball that sings and rolls around on its own.

Jerry and Alice started out taking a photo with just Ezra, but Samuel just had to be included too - hence the crying.

Ezra opening Shari's gift with Gramma.

that lilac stump

When we bought our house almost two years ago, the back corner of our yard had kind of a weird dirt garden area. It was behind the apple tree and between two large lilac bushes. 

I really like lilacs, but these were so overgrown they were taking over. Last summer we cut them down. And there was a rhubarb plant tucked behind one that we'd never seen. We've been talking about building a shed in this back corner but who knows when that'll happen - there are lots of things we'd like to do. But Memorial Day weekend Terry decided to take that stump out. You can see below what it looked like before we dug it out. It's kind of funny how Terry planted new grass around the stump and now the stump is gone and we need even more grass. 

Terry did most of the work while I was at the store. When I returned he was standing on a lever he had made out of a post and hacking away at the roots. Poor guy was covered in sweat and dirt. He had used a car jack to try to hold the stump up so he could get at the roots on the bottom. Then he used a chainsaw! But once I arrived I was able to apply leverage to the post he had wedged under the stump so he could cut away at the few remaining roots with a shovel. With my weight, we got it done pretty quick. Terry got his workout that day!

Stump laying sideways in the hole.

Then we had to decide how in the world we were going to move that stump. It was well over 200 pounds. Terry had the idea to tip it into this pool which was trashed anyway.

The stump was HUGE! Terry put a rope around the bottom of the stump and he and I drug the mammoth (which was inside the pool) to his trailer on the side of the house. Then his dad came, he and Terry loaded it into his truck, and Jerry planted it on the ranch somewhere. Hopefully it'll take. We couldn't kill the thing!

Ezra's 1st birthday!

How can it be that this little 7 pound 12 ounce guy...

...is now this huge 22 pound one year old?! 

Time slows down for no one. I kept telling myself that he'd only be a newborn for such a short time and I sure enjoyed that stage. But the rest of the year went so quick as well! How we love this little guy. We are so thankful for him. I'm excited to see his personality further develop. So far he's pretty relaxed. Perhaps we'll bypass the whole toddlerhood thing...

So Ezra turned one year old on May 31, 2014. Terry got up early and brought home donuts for his birthday breakfast. Here's his first bite. He did not like it at all! 

After breakfast was some play time. He loves to wrestle with daddy. Ezra crawls all over him, especially his face. 

Later that day we played outside some. Apparently daddy likes to put the kids in the air... 

But come on. Who wouldn't love this? 

He's such a big boy now. And so stinking cute.

He was having fun swinging until he thought it'd be fun to lean out and hit his head. Poor baby. 

That evening we had my folks and Nathan and Ana over for a party. Notice how Evie is presenting her Lego "cake" as well? 

Poor Nathan shares a birthday with Ezra. But due to all the excitement of Ezra's birth last year, every last one of us forgot it was Nathan's birthday too. Even his own mother, who was watching our three kids. She was a little busy. Poor Nathan. Well this year we didn't forget him. And Ana's birthday is the day after Nathan's so we sang to her as well. 

Plop. Here's his first piece of cake. We were eager so see if he'd dig in like Samuel did. 

Look how confused he is! "What am I supposed to do with this?!" 

He gave it a try... 

Since he hadn't gotten any cake or frosting in his mouth, daddy tried to help him. 

Ezra did NOT appreciate that. 

"What have you done to me??!!"

He was so freaked out about how dirty his hand was. To borrow from Gollum, "It burns! Take it off us!"

Once we got him all cleaned up, it was time for gifts.  

 He got this frog which makes a funny sound when he drops it. It makes him laugh. :)

 He's so cute!!! Chubba Lubba.

Clothes from Gramma and Grampa. It's kinda strange how with two older brothers he'd still need some clothes. But he did!

And Evie got him a lego cake. Go Evie and Ez. 

Ezra, his bottle, his legs

A few days after Ezra went on whole milk, I must have been busy and just handed him his milk after his nap. He's our only baby who has been okay with holding their own bottle. Look at that chubba lubba and his legs! He's a big boy. 

Compare those thighs to Samuel's when he was even a couple months older. 

garage sale win

The day after branding, May 24th, Terry got up a little early and went to a couple garage sales he had been interested in. And he did pretty well for himself.

We'd been looking for a patio set but didn't want to spend $200 on one. Terry found this one for $30! And it came with seven chairs!

We've also been talking about getting the kids piano lessons for a couple years and wanted to invest in a piano. I was hoping for a free one but this one wasn't too much more than that. Noah and Evie will be starting lessons in July.

branding 2014

May 23rd we all headed out to the ranch for another year of branding. 

The poor mama's were crying for their babies.

And the babies not sure what's going on. 

Noah helped a lot more this year. While Terry pushed the calves towards the alley, Noah opened and closed this gate to let them through and then prevent them from turning back. 

Terry pushing the calves towards the shoot.

A poor bellering calf. 

The three girls.

Grace and Samuel sat like this nearly the entire time. The generator for the brand was quite loud. 

Noah observes. 

Here's the set up.  Only one calf escaped but Terry's quick thinking and agility saved the day. He ran after the calf, trapped it and they were able to herd it back in the barn. That way they didn't have to sort through all of them again.

Shari and her girls were there too. 

My three kids watching. It'll be fun when Ezra is big enough to watch too.

Noah just looks so grown up!  

Atta boy! Push those calves through! 

Nearly done. Samuel's peeking through the gate. Evie's modeling Ariel. 

It was such a beautiful day. As was the view!

senior banquet 2013 & 2014

While I was writing a post about this year's senior banquet, I realized that I never wrote one last year. Or the year before for that matter.

Our church/youth pastor (Terry) does a banquet for the seniors for the purpose of honoring them. The senior's family introduce them and those in attendance tell stories, embarrassing and otherwise, all while being served a nice dinner and dessert. 

Last year was an asian theme. I was due with Ezra only a week afterwards. So...big belly. 

Terry's always enjoyed Kung Fu, so naturally...

Well, we were both a little heavier last year. Terry's been doing awesome working out with T-25 since the new year and has lost ten pounds! And I had to lose the baby weight. Ha ha. 

This year was a Mexican theme...

 Here's Pastor Dave and Carol.

Ana and Nathan. 

And the only shot of me is from behind while talking to Debbie. That's me in the navy.  Guess I was so ready to rescue my mom the babysitter that I didn't think to have Todd take Terry and I's picture like last year. Plus I was late. So bummer dude. :(

Terry always gives a talk to the seniors and did great.