Baxter Time!

Cousins meeting for the 1st time. 11 months and 15 months.
Another cute shot of Dallin and Laura.
Time to go visit the Baxter's house. Jared calls this, "The Invention House," as in, "Mom, are we going back to the Invention house today?" He loved it there. We ALL loved it there!

Emily peeking into the cockpit.
Jared peeking into the cockpit as Lindsay's dad explaining all about how they put the plane together and how it's going to look when it's finished.
Emily next to the tail.
Tom and Laura enjoyed the hanger visit. When most of us returned to the house, Tom stayed back with Lindsay's dad to learn how to do rivets. He loved that.
Jared next to the Baxter's plane.
And riding the lawnmower. He also asked us if we could build a barn with a loft so he could throw hay down to his horses, too.
Back at Kirk & Lindsay's house: Lindsay holding Laura while we played on the deck. You can see her raised beds and raspberry bushes in the back, too. The blue shed used to be completely covered and surrounded by overgrown trees. Kirk and Lindsay pretty much ROCK at home improvement and gardening. Their home and yard were beautiful.

Meeting Dallin for the 1st time!

Meeting Dallin! Kirk and Lindsay's family came over to the Sheppert's on Easter, where Tom and Kathryn's family was staying. We met baby Dallin for the first time! He is just the cutest little thing you've ever seen.
Uncle Tom holding Dallin.
Uncle Kirk holding Laura.
Emily (age 2) searching for Easter egg treasures in the back yard.
Sweet Dallin!
Competition for the Easter eggs was going to be tough, but the kids did great! If you ever wonder what the pull is to move to Washington, here it is: Our "Washington Family". 1st and 2nd cousins on Tom's side included.

Twinners at Easter

5-year-old cousins. Do you think they look related?

And a picture of Uncle Tom doing what he does best...board games with nephews!

Remember Van Auken?

Last week we traveled up the coast on a family/business trip. Here we are visiting the ol' Van Auken house. It was only a few blocks from where we were staying with Tom's uncle and his family -- Nicholas & Jameson's house is famous in these parts for their Lego collection. And their tendencies to give cool Legos to Jared when we visit. Jared LOVES visiting Northern California and often asks when we'll be going back -- year round.


Seeing this orange tree out front reminded me of the picture we have of Krystle sitting high in a similar orange tree wearing the "I heart London" t-shirt. She must have been about 4 years old in the photo. Was it this very tree?

Laura with Pigtails

Jared calls this her "Alien" hairstyle. I guess they do look a bit like antennae, don't they, but I'm just so happy she now has enough hair to make it cute every day!