We've Got A Reason To Celebrate

Grandma and Grandpa Parish came in honor of Hudson's birthday for the Shamrock Shuffle and to party with us.  On Sunday we had Grandma and Grandpa Hillman and Grandma Betty over for a birthday dinner.

 Betty was really cute and gave Hudson a marble egg.  On the card she wrote "You're a good egg!"  He is such a softie and loves to give all the old ladies hugs.  I give him a hard time about it, but I know they enjoy it more than he does.

He insisted on putting together a leprechaun trap, although it was late and I was running out of patience.  

Ruby ended up being so paranoid about the leprechauns that she couldn't even stay in her bed to go to sleep.  We ended up leaving those sneaky little buggers a note, which they surprisingly respected.

What would be a St. Patrick's birthday with out green milk and Lucky Charms.

He got to open his presents before heading off to school.  He got a bow and a marble maze.

Both him and Dalanie enjoyed dressing up for the day.

And a birthday meant an advancement in scouts.  He got to lead the flag ceremony at pack meeting to pass off his last requirements for Wolves.

 We had a low key "Top Shot" style party for him over in the new-under construction shop.

They all enjoyed running and messing around.  But the real high light of the event was watching Guy On A Buffalo.

Hudson is a real joy to have in our family.  I depend on him to help me so much.  I'm often hard on him, but he's a kid that is easy to expect a lot from.  He's growing up and has his own ideas of how and when to do things.  I am continually impressed by him and have a great deal of love and respect for him.

Big Year For PCS

Last fall, we broke ground for a new shop.  Something that had only been a dream for so many years.

There was a lot of ground to be moved, so we rented Clawson's scraper.  It didn't fare well and resulted in an employee's eventual farewell.

We dug a gravel pit since the site was a real low spot and needed built up.

Finally progress.

The kids loved helping to stock the shelves.

Turning out our first 24 row planter.

It took some figuring out to get them loaded, but before long they were loaded up and headed back to their farm to start working.  Everyone has been thrilled with their new planters.

Shamrock Shuffle

We had such a fun time with the Shamrock Shuffle last year, we decided to make it bigger and better this year.  We moved it to the church pavilion so we could run around the town-site.  It ended up being a mile run.  

We encouraged participants of Irish descent to sign our poster.

Dressing up is half of the fun.

And they're off!  Mom and Dad came up for the run and Hudson's birthday.

We served up a green pancake breakfast.

Our winners: Fielding twins and Alan Schiess

I recruited Steve to help flip pancakes.

It was great to have some old friends come.

Island Park

With the four day school week, we don't get many days off anymore.  I took matters into my own hands for a President's Day get away.  We bought the weekend from Jay and Marci Fielding at The Village.  (Talk about a flash back, I remember when we went there as kids with Thorntons and played the Nitendo PowerPad.)  We got there Valentine's night, so Mom brought sugar cookies to decorate.

Ty, Tameka, and Tuff joined us too.  Tuff and Ruby are buddies.  Tuff revealed that he is not going to be the only child for much longer.  We are really excited for their growing family!

Dalanie talked Grandpa into having his toenails painted.  They are really nice for a little girl to paint because they are so big.

(Don't tell, but he wore them like this swimming.)

Plenty of snow to go around.

It was pretty stormy while we were there.  Things just got sloppier when we went to Ashton for the Dog Derby.

Not the best pictures, but Ty and Brent were stylin' with their white legs and snowboots on the way to the pool

We ate well.  Mongolian BBQ was a hit.

Church was only sacrament since snow had slid off the roof earlier, burying the entrances and they didn't want any people to get hurt in the event of future sluffs.  But the place was packed!  Stephens had a party at Kae's cabin, so we met up for Sunday dinner and had our own Olympics.

Parade of the Athletes.

Proud to be representing our families.

2-man bobsled

Porch jumping

Competitors by the Olympic flame

Grandpa, master of ceremonies

Gold Medal podium

There was a fun sledding hill that Hudson dominated.  Grandpa came in 2nd and Ty was 3rd place.

Last smooches of the trip.

Hugs goodbye.

Until next time.