Truman's Birthday 2010

Last week my little man turned 5 years old.  We had a little party for him, we had close friends and family come.  It turned out a bit hectic that day because we had two showings on the house, so I was frantically cleaning yelling at the kids.  I also had to run a bunch of errands.  Thank heavens my mom showed up early and took all the kids and saved the day!  She took them to a movie, lunch and Toys R Us.  She is my hero!  Thanks mom!

Trumans Scooby Doo Icecream Cake.  I didn't make him a cake this year because he hates cake and only eats ice cream.

Truman blowing out his candles.

He hit the jackpot he got tons of transformers, legos and and a cool fire truck.

I know it doesn't look like it, but he really did like all of his presents!

We had a pretty good turn out, Jason bought pizza and we filled up the family room with friends and family.  Thanks everyone!

Oh Baby, Baby

Last week I went in for my ultrasound.  Jason and the boys were gone backpacking, so I had my mom come with me.  I was really nervous this time.  It is crazy with Dillon all I cared about was whether I was having a boy or a girl. With each one of my kids I have worried more and more.  I know it comes with the territory when you realize all the things that can go wrong during, and after pregnancy.  Ignorance is bliss!  I am always amazed at what a miracle babies really are!  So according to the ultrasound I am having another Boy!  He is perfect the tech. and doctor assured me, even if I am on drugs, and had shingles while pregnant! Thank you Heavenly Father!

Redfish 2010

Redfish this year was a great trip.  Allison got to come, and it has been a year or two since she was able to join us.  Ivan was there along with my mom and dad.  We also had Dennis and Miste with their family, and Kit and Kent were there with Darcie and Chris and their two kids.  Not bad considering at one point it was only going to be my parents and Jason and I with our kids.  It rained a few times, but it cleared up each time and turned out nice.  The only real bummer of the trip was not getting to go water skiing.  I really should plan my pregnancies better!  We ate alot, talked alot, argued alot, so pretty much the usual trip.  I love Redfish, it is odd because every year it is more crowded and now it is so not as pretty with all the trees gone, but it is still the place that I grew up going to, and therefore perfect!

Truman and Abby bobbing in the waves.  They played a ton together this trip it was cute to see how well the cousins get along now that my kids don't bite, and hit so much!

Dillon attempting to ride on a too small for him inflatable.  Yeah he fell off!

Elleree loved playing in the sand, and sometimes the water.  In the back ground Dillon and Rylie have joined the bobbing. 

As you can see Truman wore his inflatable everywhere.  It really was more of an accessory than a flotation device.

Dillon and Abby on the tube together.  They never actually went together, but it was a cute picture.  Dillon is a tubing, skiing fool.  Now that he can ski he just puts around behind the boat thinking he is hot stuff.  I love that he enjoys it so much!

Poor kids

This summer has not been the best for my kids.  It has been hard for them me being pregnant and not wanting to do anything.  We have also put our house up for sale and are moving to the Twin Falls/Jerome Idaho area and have had to take several trips to said area.  The only high light of those trips has been that the kids get to go swimming in the pool.

They had to sit in the car for hours while Jason and I drove around looking at houses, rentals, and different areas.  They were very good sports!  On the last trip they spend 11 hours in the car, with no pool for a treat.  

Who is that Handsome man standing next to my daughter?  Yeah that's my husband he is so cute!

Truman has become quite the water boy this year even if he would not do anything behind the boat.

Speaking of water look at this little fish.  She really likes the hot tub, who wouldn't!

One can not forget my mister man Dillon is getting so good he doesn't even need a life jacket anymore.  Impressive I know!

Reading Reunion

Each year Jason's family gets together for a reunion, not much of a reunion this year though.  It ended up only being us, one sister, and his parents.  Even though it was a small group we had a good time, and it was very enjoyable, and relaxing. We stayed at the "usual spot" in Island Park.  We went to Yellowstone, fished, floated the river, ate, and just enjoyed ourselves.  

Here is a picture of Elleree and I waiting...........for Old Faithful to erupt.  I really hate Yellowstone,  I hate waiting for things like this, I hate the people.  Only in Yellowstone can you get stuck in a traffic jam waiting for people to stop and take pictures of a bald eagle's nest, when there are signs everywhere that say "do not stop, it will disturb the eagles nesting".  I don't feel out in nature with that many people surrounding me all the time.

Can we all say ooohhh ahhhh.  There was a group of teenagers waiting to see it erupt,and when it did one said " We waited all this time for that".  It made me laugh.  I know I am so jaded.  I have seen these sights before, so they have become unimpressive to me.  Sad but true.

They do make a lovely back drop to pictures though.  Can you see my big belly?

My favorite part of Yellowstone always has been the old lodge.  I think that place it is so cool.  The design is amazing and that it is still there, used (someday I am going to stay there), and that you are able to just walk around is so unique. Jason's family was just chillin on the second floor.

My little family is so cute!!

Back at camp we got down to business making dinner.  Wow this is a good picture of me!

4th of July 2010

This year the fourth was spent in Idaho Falls.  Allison was with us and we got to hang out.  My mom was able to come too. We lit fire works and then went to the green belt and watched the fire works there.  My kids were more interested in the ones we did at home, not the big ones. 

Us at the Green Belt.  Sooo cute.

The kids doing sparklers.

Soccor

This year both Dillon and Truman were old enough to play soccor so they did.  Dillon is getting pretty good now and is starting to have fun.

Problem was that there was never a game where the sun shined.  It was freezing, cold, and half the time raining for all his games.  Poor Dillon.

He had a good couch and a cute team.





Truman as always was another matter all together.  We decided to start him off in Soccer as his first sport, because we figure if he throws up that at least it would be outside right.  He never threw up.  He did like to wonder around the field though.

I was torn between cheering him on!

And smacking him upside the head to tell him to pay attention to the game.  This age is so hard, because they are so young they barley understand which way to kick the ball, little alone not to touch it with there hands.

Both boys were very cute in their soccer uniforms!

First Summer Adventure

Summer got off to a slow start for us this year!  I swear it rained and snowed all of May and June.  On one good day (we thought) we headed to Creators of the Moon.  Our friends who have lived in Idaho for some years had never been, so we went on an adventure. 

It has changed a lot since the last time I was there.  Almost all the trails are now paved, and they don't allow you off the trails.  At almost every stop there was a sigh telling how will continued use we have destroyed they lava formations.  Our friend said he never felt so guilty visiting a place for the first time. 

The kids had a blast though, and they seemed to have an endless supply of energy.  They took off up this big hill, I thought I would pass out by the time I got to the top.  It was a good view though.

 

  Speaking of the view, there it is!

Jason was a good sport and went spelunking with the kids.  I tried one cave, but I am just not small enough to fit through tiny spaces.  Thank goodness the kids have such a good dad!

Big Fun

So in May we took a trip to see Jason's brother and his family in Texas.  We were gone a week and pawned our kids off on my mom, Jason's mom, Jason's sister and our really good friends.  We decided after this trip that it is getting time to start taking the kids with us.  Don't get my wrong we will still take our little trips here and there, but for big trips, it is just too hard leave the kids.  We miss them a ton, especially when you have adorable niece and nephew that were reminding you of them the whole time.  Here are a few pictures of our adventures!

This is us at a plantation call Oak Alley Plantation http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/.  It was so cool, Jason and his family put up with my fancy to visit a plantation.  We got a tour of the old mansion and ate lunch at there little restaurant there. I love the history of places like this.  These trees themselves are over 300 years old.  Nothing in the west compares to this kind of history!

From there we headed to New Orleans.  We were right next to the border between Texas and Louisiana, I couldn't let an opportunity pass to see "The Big Easy".  This picture is of our cute little "hotel" we stayed at.  it was fun to get a little taste of  the south.

This is The Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans it was very beautiful inside.  I have never been inside such amazing Cathedral before (I know go to Europe, right, I'm working on it) it was so different from our places of worship!  Yet, none the less beautiful! 

A little stop at Margaritaville, and some shopping.  Jason was a really good sport, he just followed me around and did what ever I wanted to do!

We went on a little tour of the Garden District, where I took about a million pictures of all the mansions.  I won't bore you with those, but wow!  I was eating this stuff up.  Another stop we made was to Lafayette Cemetery.  I wanted to see tombs, I have never seen in person the above ground tombs they have there.  It is so neat to see them, I learned a little about the way they "bury" their dead, and why.  It was very interesting!

Then back we went to Texas, Orange, TX to be exact. I have to say this little community has a lot to offer!  Thanks to a family named the Starks.  They left behind quite the legacy!  We tour their family home "The Stark Mansion" which is just amazing! This family were philanthropists they created the Stark Museum http://www.starkmuseum.org/The-Collections.aspx  to house there vast collection of art.  They collected cut glass, china, figurines which are all display.  They created the Stark Foundation that has been the benefactor of so many projects there!

We went on  a trip through the bayou, we didn't see any "gaters" though.  We went under this like 27 mile bridge it was amazing that they can do things like that! You call also tell by the bridge and the trees that it was low water.

 Later we went on a tour of the Tabasco plant on Avery Island, and the Jungle Gardens. The Plant was not that impresive, but the Gardens were.  We saw tons of "gaters".  Jason and his brother got a little too formiliar with them for my comfort, but it was fun!

Here is a picture of Jason's brother and his family.  We had a really good time with them.  I was nice to see them, we don't see them that often.  They were wonderful hosts and put up with us for a whole week!  I absolutely loved getting to know my niece and nephew.  They crack me up!  All in all it was a great vacation.  Thanks guys!