Mini Spring Break

Spring is one of Josh's busiest times so we can't get away for the week like many families can.  Instead we took a mini break (two nights) over in Newport.  Some of our good friends let us use their condo at The Embarcadaro.  We went to the aquarium, played on the beach, visited the lighthouse, and flew a kite.  Sad to say it was my first time flying a kite in all my 35 years (as of today, it's my birthday!)

This picture is terrible because of the sun glare but Millie has a sweet smile so I decided to include it.

 Our kite was pretty big, about 4 feet across, but Josh got it up right away and even gave Cash a turn flying it.

And ending on a sweet note...

Come on Spring!

We've had an extreme winter, for the valley anyway.  I guess I shouldn't be complaining since my dad, who lives in Michigan, has been dealing with subzero temperatures for weeks on end.  We had an entire week of school cancellations in December followed by 1 week of school before Christmas break started.  In February, we had a whopping 15 1/2 inches of snow at our house.  Growing up in Klamath I was used to that much of the white stuff but after living in the valley for almost 13 years it came as a bit of a shock.  School was once again cancelled and the kids and I made the most of it.  Josh even stayed home from work one day!!!  I know, shocker!

 Catching snowflakes on his tongue.

Growing up where I did, I was used to being around horses.  I love them and love riding.  Josh has a fear of them which he attributes to not being around them enough when he was younger.  He wants nothing to do with them.  I don't want the kids growing up with the same fear so I decided to get Cash started early and signed him up for riding lessons.  He was completely undaunted by the huge horse we put him on.  For his first lesson we worked on teaching him how to hold the reigns, how to turn, and commands for stopping and walking.  A few weeks later we went riding again and he learned how to trot, with the instructor holding onto the lead of course.  This last weekend was our 3rd lesson and Cash played Simon says with the instructor while on the horse and they worked on turning while simultaneously giving other commands like going from walk to trot, then stopping, then walking, and so on.