El Paso Trip-Day 3

Monday was the last day we had everyone together.  We started off with a tour of a pistachio farm.

It was fabulous and our tour guide did an amazing job of answering our many questions.

It was very interesting to see the process of sorting, roasting and salting the pistachios.  It takes a lot of time and effort and helped us realize why they are an expensive.  We did some sampling while there.  Yum.

We stopped again at a side of the road chili store and then headed back to Texas.

Cattleman's Steakhouse is a restaurant out in the middle of nowhere, but definitely worth visiting.

Before dinner we toured the grounds.  There is a large variety of animals such as: ostrich, bunnies, goats, sheep, longhorns, buffalo and horses.  They kids all had a chance to fee the goats and loved it.

The kids loved the park.  We had to pull them away to get our dinner and then they rushed back with Uncle Evan to keep playing until it got too dark.

It was then time to head back to El Paso, as most of the group was headed back for work early Tuesday morning.

El Paso Trip-Day 2

While technically we flew in and out of El Paso, Texas and were visiting James' sister who lives there.  We spent a lot of time in New Mexico.  So, while I label this the 'El Paso' trip, we were actually in New Mexico for this whole day.

Day 2 was a Sunday.  We drove in the mountains to a town called Cloudcroft for church.  We doubled the size of the branch with our group.

The primary was held in the basement of the library, which the branch rented for the winter.  (In the summer services are located at a girls camp in cabins--but they have to wait for the snow to melt.)

The makeshift nursery-made in the corner of the basement.  The branch had a nursery leader, but she doesn't have any nursery age kids in the branch right now.  She did have a bag of toys that our 5 nursery age kids could play with.

The kind people insisted we stay to join them for lunch after church.  They had a potluck planned and after Brad had called the branch president the night before (at almost 10pm) to check on meeting time and location, they had prepared more food knowing we'd be coming.

After church we explored the area a little, checking out the views from the sun observatory and the old trestle bridge.

We then went back to the hotel and prepared dinner in the dining area.

We did a valentine's day scavenger hunt with some activities

and Annie prepared a Family Home Evening lesson about love-a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day all together as an extended Finlay family.

El Paso Trip-Day 1

In February, we were able to join up with all of the Finlays for a trip to El Paso (a family reunion visit to Steve and Alana and celebration of Brad and Margaret's 40th Anniversary).  This whole group on the same airplane.  It was quite the party.

We played a lot of musical chairs.  Pass the baby, pick a kid, any kid and enjoy the flight.

We got in late on Friday night, so our first full day there was a Saturday.  We drove to New Mexico for the weekend with some fun stops on the way.  First, a street market in Las Cruces.

Followed by a stop for a picnic lunch at the park.

We took a train ride at the Toy Train Depot in Alamogordo, and also stopped at side shop to get some local flavors of chili powders.

And then headed to White Sands National Monument for sledding

and lots of dune jumping.

The miles and miles of gypsum sand is breath taking.  Being able to sled in bare feet and t-shirts is pretty incredible.  

A great way to start a fun trip.

Easter at the Ranch 2016

What fun to have all the Finlay group able to be here this year for at least part of Easter weekend.

Aunt Eileen again invited us all out to her ranch for a reunion lunch and Easter party.

Kids and adults got into engineering all kinds of structures built with jelly beans and tooth picks.

We also enjoyed some traditional games like the bunny hop races

With Preston as our Easter Bunny.

Kids ready to start the hunt

tall grass this year with a lot of good hiding spots

The 10 Finlay grandkids with baskets full of candy-filled eggs

Thanks to Aunt Eileen and all our extended cousins for another fun party.

speaking of cousins, we got to dye eggs with cousins from both Christensen and Finlay side this year.  What a fun Easter weekend to have so much family to celebrate with!

Ethan 7-Year Interview and Stats

Ethan (aka Little Buddy)

Ethan makes life fun.  He is very curious and is always asking questions about how things work and wanting to explore.  He loves to take things apart and figure them out.  He is very social and confident in meeting new people.  He is good at math and enjoys learning.  He usually gets home and races through his homework and jobs so he can play outside.  He has his own sense of style and isn't at all self conscious.  He leaves a messy trail behind him as he is always moving to fast and is too distracted to focus on cleaning up and has to be reminded frequently to put things away.  He also goes through clothes and shoes quickly as his busy-ness often causes holes and lots of laundry.  He is a great helper though and loves to serve others.

Height: 52 inches (97%)
Weight: 61 lbs (91%)
Sleeping: 11 hours (7:45 pm-6:45 am) Goes to sleep fast and easily.  Wakes up happy and ready to run.
Hobbies: Enjoys sports and anything outdoors.  He calls himself a 'good sporter'.  He especially loves soccer, running and basketball.  Confident on bike and scooters.  Likes to read and is getting to be more proficient with it.  Loves hiking and geocaching.

Ethan's responses to 7-year-old Interview Questions

What is your name? Ethan

When is your birthday? March 9th

How old are you? 7

What is your favorite color? Turquoise (before we started he asked about colors that were green and blue combined together, as his favorite colors are actually green and blue.)
What is your favorite song? 'Centuries'

What is your favorite food? Beaurox, salads and different kinds of soups

What is your favorite animal? Komodo Dragon

What is your favorite movie? Zootopia (asked if it can be a movie he hasn't watched yet-has only seen the previews)

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? birthday cake
What is your favorite dessert? brownies

Who is your best friend? Isaac

What is your favorite book? Dr. Seuss

What is your favorite thing to do? Play soccer.  And play games at night time and watch Dr. Quinn.

When do you go to bed? I don't know...6:30?

What does your Daddy do? He works on his computer all day

What does your Mommy do? She cooks for us.
What do you like about being 7? That I get to learn harder stuff in school. 

General Conference

on our hike in between sessions

A quick post to document a few of the kids notes from this session of General Conference.  Brielle took pretty detailed notes, and some of them seemed to be written as if she was a reporter, using quotes for what they said.  Ethan's made me laugh.  We had the conference store again with kids earning conference cash for taking notes and being quiet so the rest of us could listen.  We did not do our Conference cafe menus for lunch, as it didn't work with our scheduling to eat lunch during 2nd session.  (the first day we went to a park and had lunch in between sessions, and on Sunday we had such a big breakfast no one was hungry still during the 2nd session.) Preston napped during both the 2nd sessions making it easier for all of us to listen.  We also got out a puzzle to work on during 2nd Session of Sunday conference which worked pretty well for those that needed something to do while they listened.

Ethan's  It's hard to read, so I've transcribed what he told me it says.

"Do you have a baby brother or sister?  If you do, do they scream in the church?  Can you listen to the speaker?  I'm sure it's hard.  I always pray.  That always works.  Try!"

"Have you been baptized?  Maybe your are in the 10s or in the 60s.  You and me can get baptized at 8 and up if you or me are still alive.  After you or me are baptized you and me will get to go to heaven and to go to God.  Amen."

"If you were sinking in the lake, what would you do?  Well, I would say help! help!  If that did not work, I would take off my shoes.  That worked for me.  Amen."

Conference Store open for business