Best Husband Ever...

I bought Dustin this shirt a while back.

Did I expect him to wear it? Not really.

Do I love that he does? YES!

Thanks for supporting me in all my crazy interests, babe!

If you don't know what a Muggle is, click here.

Huntin'

for eggs!

Today we went to Moapa for the Parks and Rec's annual Easter Egg hunt!

Allie at the playground before the hunt began.

She was pretty nervous with so many kids, but she found lots of eggs with Hans' help!

Mark loved swinging his basket back and forth!

This is the classic Mark strut! I wish I had my video camera!!

Allie loves the "blowy flowers"! 

*Going*

*Going*

*Gone!*

After the hunt, we checked out our goodies!

Allie and Mark shared the candy pretty well. :)

Mark showing off his eggs! 

"Mark's, Mark's Mark's, MINE!"

Happy {almost} Easter!!!

Farm livin is the life for me...

Yesterday afternoon we went for a walk around the farm.

Allie and Mark lead the way...

We stopped and said hello to the chickens.

and the baby cows.

The show steers are looking good enough to eat!

When we stopped to visit Ferdinand, Dustin said, "Mark do you want to hop on and go for a ride?"

I think Mark's face give a clear answer!

Helllloow {anyone seen the movie City Slickers???}

Some of the horses.

Allie and Mark's newest mounts. I know a good horse trader at Lin's.

Allie loves her new pink horsie!

Mark the multi-tasker. He can ride, drink his sippy and practice his ropin all at the same time!

The sheepies wanted some hay.

So Mark hooked em up.

This is the arena. It may look like an empty dirt lot.. well that's what it is. But we love it!


Wanna come over and rope sometime? Or barrel race... that's my fav.


Giddy-Up!


Dad roped Mark.


Next we stopped to see the tractors.


Mark did a little work on the equipment.


That's the end of our tour!

We love our farm life!!

Meadow Valley

Most Sunday's our family likes to take afternoon drives. About a week ago we drove out to the Meadow Valley bridge.

Fun fact: Dustin took me there on our first date. It was super romantic. Seriously though! Eating Calamity's chicken strips and watching the trains go by. What could be better? Really he had captured my heart after he shot the mud hen while leaning out the truck door while driving, but that is a story for another day.

Back when I was a crazy teenager (shhh don't tell on me) we would climb up on top and "ride the bridge" as the trains went by. Scariest thing ever!

Our shadow family on the bridge

Peak-a-boo!

Allie is all girl!!

Mark is all boy!!

Dustin posted some pictures on his photo blog and this is what he had to say about it, 

"Meadow Valley has changed a lot since the flood but it still brings back many good memories of times past. I took my kids there and its a totally different experience. I was nervous until I thought about them when they were older and possibly doing some of the same things that i use to do and then we abruptly left."

Good times.. but I'm going to lock up my kids as soon as they turn 16.

The End

Save Gold Butte

One of our family's favorite places is Gold Butte, Nevada. We love the beautiful scenery, the awesome trails and the amazing Indian writings. We also love to visit the same places where our grandparents and great-grandparents worked and spent time.

Right now, there is a heated debate going on whether keeping the Gold Butte area open is a good idea or not. Many people feel that in order to maintain the environmental and cultural significance of the region, the best answer is to shut it off entirely. Others feel that it should be left the heck alone.

We want to see a happy medium. We want to see preservation to the incredible petroglyphs. We want to see designated trails, so that the desert landscape can remain in tacked. We want to see protection with access.

That is why Dustin started the Save Gold Butte blog. We want people to know that there can be a middle ground. We can still visit this amazing place of our heritage with out destroying it. Please help us inform others that our goal may be achieved. Become a follower of Save Gold Butte today and help make a difference!

Mad Markie Mim

Mark has chicken pox.

He looks like this...

Only not green.

So if you don't see us for a week or two, we are still alive.. just under quarantine.

Happy (Early) Birthday!!!!

We got Mark some nice, Roper boots for Christmas.

Two months later they looked like this!

I can't believe he wore them out so fast!! People probably though he was a little homeless child.

Last week I ordered him a new pair for his birthday. I couldn't wait til April to give them to him though! Here he is showing off his new John Deere green boots!

I really hope these last longer than two months!!

Happy early birthday Bubba!! 

Hopefully your grandparents get you something to open on your actual birthday!!!

Sick Sick Sick and Bubbles

I thought we were going to slide past the bug that has been going around.

But nope. No such luck.

Allie and Mark are both sick sick sick.

It started on Sunday when Allie's teacher brought her to me crying, with puke all down the front of her dress.

Next came the cough and runny nose. And since Allie is so good at sharing she passed the nasty little bug to Mark.

Yesterday I thought we'd gotten past it. But nope. No such luck.

We passed the evening cleaning up after Mark (at least Allie will run to the bathroom).

Dustin got the kids a bubble machine the other day.. but since they've been sick we haven't been able to fully enjoy it yet. Today they seemed well enough to try.

It was so much fun!!

For about 30 seconds.

Then the coughing fits started.

Back to the couch we go.

Hope you and your families are healthy!

Cedar Basin

This past weekend we went to Cedar Basin.

It was such a beautiful day!

First we stopped at the graves and peeked down in the well. There was a frog swimming around at the bottom!

We paid our respects to Art and William.

Then headed to Cedar Basin

Along the way we toured around at the Treasure Hawk mine a little...

We were safe.. I didn't even let the kids out of the truck.

Dustin took a couple pictures and we were on the road again.

When we got to our picnic spot we ate PB&J's and had oreos for dessert. YUM!

YUM!

YUM!

This is my "where are my sunglasses when I need them" face...

Dustin wanted to get a picture of the rock's reflection in the water, but he couldn't get up high enough, so...

we improvised!

TA-DA! Reflection!!

The kids love to throw rocks in the water!

Then we searched caves for hidden treasure!

Looking out over the pond.

Always have to get a flamly picture

Then Dustin and I tried out our circus act again, this time just for fun so Estefan could take a picture.

We played and played

and got a little crazy!

Little Miss Allie can keep up with the boys!!

Cutie Pie :)

Then we headed down the long but

beautiful road home.

The End