Jamie got a sunburn in the middle of March

The conspiracy to make the children sleep.

Our trip up to Idaho was full of adventure and other cliches. We like to drive during the night so the kids will sleep. Essentially, the kids wake up from a nap, realize it is too dark to do anything, and go back to sleep. As usual, we saw a lot of deer, but not until Utah and after Jamie got pulled over for no lights on the back license plate. He got a warning, not a ticket. He sure knows how to sweet talk the Fuzz.

Anyway, we saw lots of deer and mostly on the side of the road or at least in the other. Until, of course, you get on the interstate and speed limits are increased. While approaching Fillmore, UT, Jamie sees some figures on the road. Two deer. One in each lane. Rachel gasps for air. Jamie chokes on his sunflower seeds and pees a little. The car eeks between the two animals. If the car wasn't still going about 65, Jamie would have dropped the window and given the one deer a great big and sloppy French kiss for almost destroying the family trip. Rachel would have dropped her window and given the other a "Howdy Do!" right up its backside. Congrats, wildlife. You have lowered my life expectancy by a few years. Come hunting season, it's my turn to return the favor. GAME ON.

"I do not like this color. I'm going to poop something in the shade of maize."

The weather was nice and Gabe was blessed. Rachel did some shopping; Jamie did some schoolwork. We all drove home without incident.

And then it was Avery's birthday dinner at Peter Piper's Pizza. Yeah!

"I'm five, Mom. Deal with it."

"My goal is to make you go completely gray, Mom."

"I've decided to go punk, Mom."

"You have no idea what I can do behind your back, Mom."

A plethora of busy-nesses and et cetera's

It has been a while, so this is what we've been doing. We had rodeo break last month, which entails a bunch of people taking time off to race horses and ride bulls. It was hot the one day we decided to attend a mini-rodeo.

This was the best picture Lauren would give us. Really. Her "cheese" face is a mix of pain and ADHD.

Gabe is loving life outside of the womb. He gets to pee on Mommy's bed, poop his pants, and smile without provocation.

We're headed up to Idaho this weekend to bless him. We'll see how he handles the 16 hour nighttime drive. Daddy sure loves it.

To end, we give you the Ocotillo in our front yard. It looks like a bunch of sticks placed in the ground with little leaves pasted to them. Look closely and you will understand why we refer to it as the "Trick-you-into-thinking-I-am-harmless-so-you-will-grab-me-and-then-I-will-reveal-my-cleverly-leaf-hidden-spines-that-are-all-over-me-and-will-stab-you-and-make-you-say-naughty-words-in-front-of-the-children-and-patiently-wait-for-you-to-forget-that-I-am-pokey-and-jab-through-your-clothing-when-you-get-too-close-again" evil plant.

Seriously, though. That is not a friendly plant. It looks harmless from a distance, but in the immortal words of John Cleese: "Look at the bones, man!" A leafless Ocotillo reveals its true nature.