Richardson Family Reunion

Allison & April

  

Caleb & Madilyn's first fish to catch with Grandpa

Yeah...um...well...yeah...Andy and Dad??

Cousins galore

Our Summer at Home

Caleb Catching butterflies and bugs...

Madilyn swimming, playing baseball and just being cute!

Days at the lake building sand castles. (The closest version of the beach)

4th of July

     

Bike race at the church         Our flag cake--YUM!

Green Thumbs

   

We started a garden. Caleb has been infatuated with growing things and Grandma has encouraged his interest quite a bit, especially after seeing her plentiful garden during our last visit.  For Mother's Day he wanted to get me a "garden" so they got me a little herb garden set. He started his own first garden with squash seeds and we have had several blooms, but no squash yet. Then, we planted his green bean seeds in my herb garden canisters and they love seeing how quickly the plants grow, literally, each day!  They are usually very over-watered, but what can ya do! I learned from my children that if you put more water on the seeds they grow faster! You should try it some time.

Caleb the Hairdresser

Caleb was outside cutting the grass with scissors one morning. (He loves yard work). Noticing Madilyn's bangs were in her eys, he took it upon himself to cut them. I walked outside just in time to see Caleb concentrating, Madilyn bending her head forward and her hair blowing away in the wind.   All that work growing her bangs out only to start over. Actually, he cut pretty evenly for a 4 year old. 

Madilyn's hair before Caleb's haircut...

(long bangs)

Madilyn's hair after Caleb's haircut...

And...after the professional haircut...

Bike Tricks

Caleb loves riding his bike. He's on his second bike because I ran over his first one that he learned on.  He makes sure to tell everyone that. Madilyn is itching to have a big princess bike, but doesn't understand her legs are not quite long enough. They were so proud of riding without feet on the pedals and told me to go get the camera. 

The Camping Family!!!

Our first camping experience of the year!!! It was pretty successful. Just 2 miles from our house (in case it rained as the forecast said might happen), we loaded in late April--right before the heat intruded and set up campsite popular for bike trails.  Caleb was so excited.  We have been watching "Man vs. Wild" with Bear, and Caleb and Mark have been itching to try some survival techniques. For example, building a fire, listening for raccoons, keeping out of the biker's way on the trails (there were a few close calls but we made it out alive).  While hiking, we found great vines to swing on and climbed many obstacles. Caleb even taught us something new. Trees that have holes in the bottom are "Squirrel trees". That's where squirrels live apparently. Luckily there was no rain, except for the rain in Mark's dream. I woke up to a frantic husband zipping the cover on top of the tent and then stopping in mid motion, thinking, waking up, and lying down. It was funny to talk about in the morning. haha.

Madilyn "Chilaxing"

Caleb and Madilyn climbed and 

conquered the huge fallen tree obstacle...

Growing Like Weeds

Caleb and Madilyn are growing up too fast.  It's a good thing (depending on who you talk to- haha) we have another baby coming so we can start the phases all over!  Here is an Easter picture of our two babies...

We took a little trip "home" and spent a day at the beach. Allison (or Al-di-son) taught Madilyn the ways of Hawaii by digging out a chair in the sand. 

It was inevitable. We now have a blog.  There was a little hesitancy in starting one because I knew what I would be creating...a monster blogger.  Poor Mark!