Tia Allred Blog

Even though our house isn't very conducive to having overnight guests right now, we sure love having visitors!  As long as they don't mind sleeping in a twin bed in the same room as a toddler!

A few weeks ago we went on a very quick weekend trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival here in Washington.  Round trip, it was only about 30 hours from start-to-finish. And between traveling and traffic, we estimated that we spent about 12 of those 30 hours in the car!  Phew! The kids did excellent though, and we actually had a really fun time.

The tulip fields are breath-taking.  However, it was a total zoo and took forever to finally get to our destination (the video doesn't show how busy it truly was).  But we are glad we took the trip, it was fun to explore something beautiful and interesting in our new state of Washington!

The weather has really started warming up the past couple weeks--and we are loving it! When the wind subsides, we are outside for what seems like every waking moment!

Last Friday, was one of those days.  Brett mowed the whole lawn for the first time this Spring (it still takes about an hour and a half, even on a big riding lawn mower).  The kids each took their own turn riding on it with him.  Honest to goodness, I was pretty sure that each of them was going to zonk out and take a little quick nap while riding on it--they looked so relaxed and limp sitting on Brett's lap with his arm holding them tight and the lawn mower just steadily cruising along.
While one was out with Dad mowing, the other one was wandering around and digging in to their snack bag.
After the lawn was mowed, we started a fire in our fire pit and roasted hot dogs for dinner while the sun set.  We also had baked beans, potato chips, and IBC Rootbeer.  And of course, we made s'mores for a treat too.  It was fun and a great little evening together.

I had high hopes for starting a fun Easter tradition on the symbols of Easter, this year.  But unfortunately, time just escaped me and I did not.  Hopefully next year I can incorporate that into our Easter festivities.

This year, was pretty low-key, but great nonetheless.  We woke up and went to church as a family, and enjoyed the Easter messages that were shared.  While we were gone to church, the Easter Bunny left a basket for the kids.  He was a bit liberal with the candy (filling the eggs too full and whatnot), so he will have to remember that only a few jellybeans per egg next year will do just fine (still learning how to be parents, I guess)!  But by far, the best part of the Easter baskets, were that Landon and Vivienne each got their own little metal watering can, metal hand-held shovel, and metal hand-held rake.  They have spent hours upon hours "gardening" outside with nothing but their new tools, dirt, and the occasional bit of water, weeds, and sticks.
Brett's sister invited us over for Easter dinner, along with his other sister and their families.  She even put on a little Easter Egg hunt, and the kids loved it.  It was extremely windy, but that didn't stop them from having a blast.
Vivienne could not get enough of the candy.  She just followed everyone around after the egg hunt to beg for extra jelly beans.  Trying to maintain her figure, I suppose.

It was a great Easter Sunday, spent with those I love, and grateful for the Resurrection and that it makes eternal families a reality.

We added two fainting goat kids to our little homestead recently!

Meet, Gladys and Gertrude!