7 grandkids cont.

This is what the boys did after dinner, pillow fights! Of course Jack couldn't play till the table was cleared and the chairs all pushed in, you have to have a least one of those to make sure everything stays in a row! Must be "rabbit" showing up!

The girls headed upstairs to play house, Sara and Brooklyn were the babies, of course you can get them to agree to almost any role if it means playing with the big girls. No apparent "rabbits" in this crew tonight, happy, happy, right in the middle of a huge mess. Tiggers and piglets everywhere!

They think they are out growing Kipper, but we like the mellow fellow and he holds their attention in a nice peaceful mood. This visit was too short; next time we will play longer, have more snacks, get out the pj's and watch a nice long movie, because we love our "seven grandkids" adventures!

watching the moose!

For a few days now, a rather large moose has made it's home in the cemetery next door to our cabin. It made for great viewing and conversation among the seven grandkids that had all come over for what we formally call "7 grandkids night".

Notice the white fields, it's lovely, but it is March 7th after all!

Still watching the moose! This is one of our favorite times with the seven, they can all carry on quite the conversations with us and with each other. Everyone gets a chance to talk even if we have to resort to hands up, wait till it's your turn, then you can talk too.

busy, busy!

The running shoes are on the bench! I ran too hard, too fast, and too long! Growing older is full of surprises! I am going to try again this spring and take it slower and enjoy it just the same!

This is why we love to go to the Wallowa Mts! And why we stayed an extra night!

The first Valentine's party for the kindergartners, and it was delightful! They are so adorable opening all their "mail" and shouting out "thank yous" to everyone. It is one of my favorite classroom party!

Doing math with candy hearts. At this age they don"t even bother to read the words on the hearts, and they all know how to read! They just want to know if they guessed right; were there mostly purple hearts, or green?

Cousins, what a treat!

Kayte and Brooklyn came to play today! They had so much fun together I may have to give this combination another go around!

Honestly, there is just no substitute for a cousin!

Welcoming Isabelle!

Paula here. We spent Sunday afternoon in CDA at Aunt Julie's home celebrating little Isabelle and her very happy mom Sara! Not to mention two happy grandmas, and one very blessed great-grandma!

Here is our Aunt Julie laying out the spread, prepared by Terra and Sharah.

Opening gifts. Lots of girly stuff! Lots of fun!

Sara's mom with little Isabelle Valentine.

Aunt Julie with her newest grandbaby. So sweet!
Isabelle is number 83 of our ever-growing family, starting with my Grandma and Grandpa Dowers! That's a lot of family from just two!
These showers are always the best! There is always great food and all of the cousins and aunts and it is crazy and loud and happy and fun! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Oh, my goodness, Sara is actually asleep, I didn't know that! Well, it was the end of four days at the cabin! Ben's awake, he did great! Stayed right on the schedule Paula said he would; slept, ate, played and slept again, piece of cake, so was Sara!

New running shoes! Kelly and her running group inspired me get back to running, one of my favorite hobbies! Well, I haven't been for a run in a very long time, but I took to the road for a trial run. I don't know how far I ran, but I came home and plopped on the couch. I thought I was going die! I tried it again the next day and guess what? It felt good! I have missed it! My knees hurt, but they are older after all! Thanks, Kelly and friends, keep running! I might!

Ben and Sara; well taken care of!

Joe and Paula took Kayte and Will to Disneyland and we had Ben and Sara! Actually Kelly and Susan had them too, all together they were loved on! Two kids are a lot to keep tract of! How do you guys do it? Maybe it helps to be younger!

Watching Kipper, nice mellow little dog!

This took some concentration, she is working on the same puzzles her mom did at that age.