Spring Break with the Brubakers

How could I resist a Spring Break trip to Idaho? 

 Brad and Micah attended Mountain Man Rendezvous for the scouts, so I brought two tagalongs with me on the airplane--which makes the experience five times more fun (and more exhausting, I guess!).

Heidi packed all six of her kids into the van to get us at the airport, and I was immediately surrounded by the joy and energy and love that fill her home.

Hyrum challenged Lydia to a staring contest that he promptly lost. She's pretty good!

 First thing on Eve's (and my list) was to hold three-week-old baby Kate.

 Just look at the cheeks! She and I got cozy in my bed one morning while Heidi took Sam to work.

And Gran can't come visit without making chocolate chip cookies! Hyrum convinced me to get milk chips this time, and he may have singlehandedly changed the trajectory of our family's cookie enjoyment. All in Idaho were converted. We'll have to see when more of the family gets together and votes.

 Lydia is like me in a few ways--the brown eyes and hair, to be sure, but the girl LOVES her boots!

 And these two girlies love each other. Spending a week together was the best for them. They're growing up, and they tried to match whenever they could.

 Eve even convinced me to take them to Walmart and get matching outfits so they could match when they were apart.

These two are opposites in almost every way, but they're becoming really goo friends--giggling in the dressing room together, trying to have "girl time" when surrounded by brothers. I loved it.

And how can I help but love this face? Look at that baby.

 And this baby who isn't the baby any more.

 Lydia loves her baby sister, and I can't wait to watch them play girl games and dress up together.

Rexburg had one of its snowiest Februarys on record, so we spent a lot of time indoors. Jonah beat Eve on this round of Guess Who? and he was stoked. Eve was a little bugged that she got beaten by someone half her age . . . 

 The AZ kids were enamored with snow, and even they acclimated to the warmer temperatures, often leaving the house without a coat if the sun was shining and the wind wasn't blowing. They tried to entice the cat, Prince Hans (yes, THAT Prince Hans) to play with them the way Cleo does. They don't know that cats have more pride than that!

 One afternoon when Heidi's kids were all down resting or gone to school, Eve and Hyrum excavated important artifacts from the ice on the back porch, including this glove.

 I promised them "Ralph Breaks the Internet" one afternoon, and they all sat there for almost an hour without anyone leaving. It may have been the popcorn and fruit snacks, but I loved watching the all together for a while.

 Tommy loves that baby. He's only three, so he has to be monitored or he wants to bury her in blankets or play too rough with her. But in his heart, he's so tender. She's lucky to have three big brothers watching out for her.

 Sam had a crazy week at work, but that didn't stop him from helping with the baby as he worked on a presentation.

 Hyrum and I snuck away to the temple one morning. He didn't think he'd need his coat, but he underestimated the power of an East Idaho wind on the temple's hill. I, as a native Idahoan, did not. I think he learned a valuable cold weather lesson!

 Jonah joined me and my kids to eat lunch with Ellie at school.

 She opened her peanut butter sandwich, filled it with her fruit snacks, then smashed it flat before eating it.

 She swears it's delicious, but I'll have to take her word for it!

The kids all spent lunch recess together. It's been years since I was a kid on an Idaho playground, and I'd forgotten that they just play on the snow and ice . . . 

 . . .  sometimes almost falling in the process . . .

 This kid thought he was so big to be at the school. Next year, he will be a kindergartner. How is that possible?

 Hyrum mostly played with the other kids, but he did take a few opportunities to get baby snuggles.

 And Lydia learned that every time I moved the mixer to the island, it was time to make something yummy. Here she's patiently waiting to help me.

 On Saturday, Heidi set up a small leprechaun treasure hunt, with the first clue waiting for the kids when they came in from the snow.

The prize was only a plate of cookies, but this proved that kids don't care how big the surprise, only that they get to have fun along the way.

Whew. Picture overload. What a great week, and we can't wait to go back in May!