Our Crazy Kitten

Kiki got spayed a couple weeks ago. The post-op instructions were to "limit activity" for 10 days. How does one limit a kitten's activity short of confining her in a cat carrier (for 10 days, yeah right)? She was running and jumping again within a couple of days. Fortunately, she appears to have healed just fine.

She likes this chair as it is one area that Comet has not claimed as his territory.

They still aren't best of friends yet.

This is Kiki's new scratching post/cat condo made by Kevin and Ian. They were actually supposed to be making a chicken tractor, but got a bit distracted. Kevin admits he was having fun using the compressed air nail gun that a friend loaned us for making the chicken tractor.

Face Painting Mania

New face paints were among some of the Easter prizes sent from grandparents. 

Face painting has become somewhat of an obsession here lately.

Erin the Leopard

(her mom's favorite face)

 

Dallin the Bat

 

 Erin as Kiki (our new kitten)

 

Megan the Monarch

 

Mina and Erin as Twin Tigresses

 

Dallin the Wolf

 

Megan has been experimenting with painting characters 

from The Lion King Broadway musical. 

Here is her take on the character, Rafiki.

Erin as Nala from the Broadway musical

Easter Celebrations

Some friends came over to play one morning, and we made bunny ears together.

Megan painted noses and whiskers to make the bunnies even more cute.

Even though Dallin looks mad, he really liked his ears and wore them for a few days.

 

We traditionally have an Easter scavenger hunt for the children.

We held it on Saturday afternoon, and one of Erin's friends joined us.

This year we put effort into it and the children had more of a challenge.

The first clue sent them to pick up their baskets from the grapefruit tree.

They visited other areas of the yard...

...and house...

(yes, the beaver skull contained a clue!)

 ...and back to the yard.

They had to decode some of the clues using a key.

Thanks to grandparents for providing a fun package with prizes for the treasure hunt!

We supplemented with some candy (but the chocolate melted even in the shade).

 Later that evening, we dyed Easter eggs.

 Library Peeps Contest

Each Easter, the Yuma library has a diorama-making contest utilizing peeps. Last year we heard about it too late, and we couldn't find peeps left in the stores, but this year we were prepared and stocked up early. The theme was "Peeps in Literature."

Megan and Erin worked on one together. 

Theirs was entitle, In a Peeple House, based on this book.

Ian's was A Tale of Two Peeps based on his favorite Charles Dickens' book, 

complete with a guillotine and his own knitting.

 There were quite a few entries, and these were a couple of our favorites:

Harry Peeper

The Wonderful Peeps of Oz

Visitors from California

Brad and Emmy (Kevin's cousin) and family drove through Yuma on their way to and from Tucson for their Spring Break vacation. We visited Roxaboxen with them, since Gabe had been reading the book (and has it memorized) and wanted to see it. Gabe wore a protective sun hat, and Dallin wore his Easter bunny ears.

They helped redefine some of the sites.

Afterwards we went to historic Main Street and got some yummy ice cream.

We didn't have time to visit the historic Yuma Territorial Prison, but Brad posed as a criminal.

Dallin liked driving the "out of order" boat and wouldn't share the wheel with Betsy.

The bunny threw a tantrum in the parking lot when it was time to go.

We stopped for a short walk across the Ocean to Ocean Bridge.

Then they had to be on their way back to San Diego.

Thanks for stopping by! It was fun to have visitors.

Zach's Birthday

Zach is like our 5th child. He is over at our house a lot, except he doesn't sleep here. Oh, wait...I guess he sometimes does. Anyway, a few months ago he commented on a couple of things he'd like for his birthday: a painting of a chameleon, and a towel with a chameleon. (Remember he has a pet one.) So we complied. Megan painted him a chameleon, and April sewed one onto a towel. He was VERY happy with his birthday presents.

Yuma County Fair 2012

It's fair time again! This year we had a family goal to each enter something. Erin, Ian, and Megan accomplished that goal! (Kevin didn't get his kit fox photo matted in time to submit it, and April had some sort of distraction the morning she was supposed to bake a batch of bread. Dallin was exempt due to his age.) Here are the entries from our family:

Erin drew a picture of a tiger.

Ian made a survival bracelet from paracord.

And he also carved an Elder Wand 

(based on Dumbledore's wand in the Harry Potter series).

 Megan entered one of her painted animal rocks.

Megan also entered an acrylic painting of an Eagle Owl in Student Art of the Fine Arts Division. She had the option of offering it for sale in this division. She won Best of Show ribbon and also sold it! (Photos were not allowed in the Fine Arts building, so we don't have any with her ribbons.)

 

 

 We are excited that our children had so much fun creating their entries and displaying them!

Zach also entered his pig, Ginger. 

He got a blue ribbon for showmanship and sold her.

We spent Tuesday afternoon at the Fair.

Erin liked all the animals.

Dallin liked the play area.

Should we make a drum set like this for our home?

There was a traveling animal display from Ca., and they put on a show every few hours.

Erin was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the assistants to help hold an albino python!