Blazen's birthday

We celebrated Blazen's birthday on Wednesday the 27th, but I posted it with the date of the 25th because that is his real birth date.  We couldn't do it on Monday because we were traveling home.

I asked Blazen on Tuesday evening what he wanted for breakfast.  He was absolutely adamant about what he wanted to eat.  He said, "Mom, I want crabby patties....like sponge bob."  I said, "You mean the candy kind that you got for Easter."  "No, Mom," he said, "I want the real ones.  Then he proceeded to tell me EXACTLY how he wanted them made.  "You have a bun, then the patty, then the cheese, then the lettuce, with a pickle on top.  Then put on the top bun."  So we had crabby patties for breakfast.  I tried talking him into a sausage egg biscuit, but it was NO!  (I made sausage patties, but don't tell.  I also put an egg on mine and Ace's with no lettuce and pickle.  I just couldn't gag down a hamburger for breakfast.)  I must say Blazen was very please as I made them bite size.  He even smothered it in ketchup......his favorite garnish.

Blazen has been looking forward to HIS day since Denim's birthday in February.  He has been telling everyone, "My birthday is in Apwil."  Yippee April is finally here.

Nacona, Nalynn, and Whitley came over early to help out.  It was very helpful.

Hannah and Hailey loved the sand.

We played some outside games with water balloons.  We did balloon toss between partners, then a balloon throw with towels, then a balloon catch.

Cassara, Ike, Levi, Casey Wayne, Blazen, Denim, & Hannah.

Ike, Levi, Casey Wayne, & Blazen.

Denim & Hannah.

With all the extra balloons we lined up and had a throwing contest.

Ready, Get set......

Hannah, Denim, Brandy Lynn, Cassara, Blazen, Levi, Ike, & Casey Wayne.

NOW THROW!

We played pin the tail on the donkey.  We made balloon animals, and did a pinata.  I was so sick of candy after Easter that I did the pinata differently.  I filled it with white beans, on which 15 had numbers.  Each number coordinated with a gift.  Water gun, dinosaur, funky glasses, ect.  Different but fun.  One word of advice.  Use the BIG Lima beans.

Blazen decorated his own cake.  He put m&m's on it to look like balloons.

Levi, and Darlin.

Blazen gets the 1st bite.

Blazen got a lot of nice things.  I got him a fish tank, which I know he will love.  Ace got him big tricycle, which he LOVES now.  

He played with these cool monster trucks from Aunt Cookie all week.

This was the other fun he had this week.

Happy Birthday Blazen Trails.  I love you my little 4 year old boy.

Grandmother

On our way back through Socorro we were able to stop and have a short visit with Grandmother Marguerite.  She looked fabulous for Easter as she had just had her hair done.  The kids were tired of being in the truck, so after a short hug and kiss they ran out the back to play in the hay.  Auntie reminisced about how she and Marilee used to play on the back cement porch make believing all sorts of things.  It was a nice visit with Jerry's mom.

Marguerite & Jerry.

 Marguerite and her two sons, Jerry &Jimmy.

Now throw in Ace.  He is the only grandson.

 Great grandchildren minus Marilees two boys.

Here is my family with grandmother Marguerite.

Papa rode in the back with the kids for awhile to Pie Town.  Tessa and Blazen were all into it.  Papa even talked us into letting him stay the night as Blazen fell asleep with him on the bed.

Happy Easter

 This Easter we were able to go and spend time with the Kemp and Hopper Families.  It was so nice to just be together, let the kids play, and visit.  We all had a wonderful time.

Kaylynn and Duwana Gay walk 2 miles every evening.  I decided that I need to get in gear.  They look great.

Kaylynn Kemp & Duwana Gay Hopper.

Waverly Kemp.

London Hopper.

Summer Hopper & Nalynn Cline.

Erica & RP Hopper.

Nalynn & Whitley Cline, and Tristan Kemp.

The sisters posing for a nice picture.

Duwana Gay Hopper and Nelda McPhaul.

RP and Duwana Gay Hopper.

 So here the story begins.  All of us McPhauls jumped in together.  We took the big live-in trailer and the International.  The kids LOVED riding in the trailer and watching movies with grannie.  Now that is the way to travel.

Darlin McPhaul and Tessa Lilly.

Watchin movies.

Papa is just checking the truck and making sure everything is going all right.

We first went by the arena to drop the trailer off.  Whitley had a Junior High Rodeo and the Clines stayed in the trailer while she was competing.

Nalynn striking a pose.

Then we checked into our room and the Kemp Family met us for a fun filled few hours of swimming.  Ace and Blair had a good conversation.  Denim, Blazen, and Ike had fun with their cousins, Tristan & Waverly.

Then to Duwana Gays for a lovely steak dinner.

It was Grannies birthday.  Whitley made her a cake and we sang her Happy Birthday.  She got a smooch from Papa.

The next day we went to the rodeo to watch Whitley.

Will is on the committee for the Junior High School Rodeo.  Here I got a picture of him helping in the arena. GO WHITLEY'S DAD!

And this is what our little rugrats did for a good portion of the morning.  Climbed behind the bleachers.  Now this is life......brings back fond memories.

Blazen watching the rodeo.

Several little boys got on this roping dummy and were kicking the living smithereens out of it and bucking it like a bull.  I have to say Ike was by far the wildest.  He was fun to watch.  Then after I took the picture I wondered where Blazen was......

 And after searching this is were I found him...

With the Ladies.  A ladies man.   Particularly this one nice little lady that he followed around like a puppy dog and took care of.  Then he even went and sat by her mom and started a conversation with her family so he could continue to be by her.

Now the fun part.   Rodeo over and eggs on the table.

Then to the park.

On the way back from the park the kids ran through sprinklers on someones side lawn.  It was super fun.  It was cute when Waverly said, "This is the best, I have never done this before."

Waverly gave her little baby kittens to Ike, Denim, and Blazen for an Easter gift.  They played and played with them and loved them a bit too much..(Blazen made his fly around like batman, at which point I made him stop because I thought they might not let us have the kitties after all.  We are a little harder on our animals I think......but I must say that they are still alive and doing well in our backyard.)

Easter Sunday we all went to church with Kaylynn and Blair.  Darlin wasn't feeling well so I was in the hall most of the time, but everyone said the meeting was wonderful.  The kids went to primary together.  The Easter Bunny found us in our room and we are spoiled.  Too much candy.  I think I will send a note to the bunny next year and tell him not so much candy....(I was hungry when I went shopping.  Bad. bad. bad.)

 Duwana Gay and Kalynn were wonderful hosts.  They cooked and cleaned and stayed up until 3:00am + visiting every night.  They made wonderful food and we had a great time.  Here we are eating together.

Easter egg toss.

Now, we tried to take a picture of all of the little kids together.......and as family pictures usually go.......

 The next one turned out a little better.

Notice the long beautiful hair on the three girls.  That was Nelda's Easter gift.  "Tangled" hair.  If you  haven't seen the new Disney movie, it is a must.  Rapunzel.

We had to finish the trip off with a late night game of Pitch.  A party for us McPhauls just isn't complete without a good old game of cards.  And that card game for us is called Pitch.

 We all had a wonderful time.  Thanks for everything Duwana Gay and Kaylynn.