Hagerman stop

Our last stop before coming home was in Hagerman to see the Hagerman Horse fossil, Idaho's state fossil.

Ashley didn't like looking at the snake skin or touching it.
Digging in the sand for fossils.
Phillip liked looking at all the animal pelts.

Shoshone Falls

We visited Shoshone Falls outside of Twin Falls. What a beautiful site! It is 36' higher than Niagra Falls. We'd love to come back in the spring and see it in its full force.

The kids found this steep hiking path that they thought was fun to run down. However, it was very dusty and they were covered in dirt dust. Phillip even had a handprint on the front of his jacket.

Ice caves

The Shoshone Ice Caves were very cool, in two ways! It was only 26 degrees inside. Glad we brought our jackets. Walking down to get into the cave. It is actually a lava tube.
The door leading into the ice cave. It was amazing to feel the temperature drop so fast.
Emily and Mom entering into the cave.
The ice inside the cave. The guide actually walked onto it. It is very thick.
Ashley in front of part of the lava tube that has collapsed.

Pool time!

The kids truly enjoyed the hotel pool. I wish we could take them swimming more often.

They just love the water.

They all stopped to pose for dad.

Emily loved the hot tub. It wasn't too hot and the jets tickled her biskeez!
Phillip did the funniest jumps into the water.
Ashley doing her best Shamu impression.
Olivia jumping in backwards.

Family Adventure

Well, we decided to go on a family adventure exploring parts of Idaho we've never been to. We chose Craters of the Moon, Shoshone Ice Caves, Shoshone Falls, and the Hagerman Museum. It was fun for the kids, especially the older girls, to get out and see the sites they've studied during Idaho History in school. We had a great time and everyone seemed to have fun, even while learning.


We stopped in Fairfield, Id and ate at the Wrangler Drive-In, home of the roadkill pattymelt (Ken tried it). Typical rundown drive in with pretty good food. This is a huge tree in the middle of town.

One of the cinder cones at Craters of the Moon. We hiked up it, over 6,000 feet elevation. The rocks of the cone were super sparkly in the sun. It was very windy, but what a view!
This is Emily coming down the cinder cone. Ken carried her up. It was quite the trek and oxygen levels were low.
Olivia posing by one of the mountains of lava. It was pretty amazing to see the lava flows and mountains.
Phillip checking out the lava path. It was really neat to see the different levels of lava flows.

Anniversary trip

I surprised Ken one weekend in July with an overnight getaway to celebrate our 16th anniversary(early). We went up to Cascade, ID and stayed at a very "girly/frilly" hotel and rode on the Thundermountain Railroad. On the train we enjoyed a mystery dinner where we got to eat a very delicious meal and be entertained by a mystery play with a baseball theme. It was fabulous especially because I pulled it all off and Ken was very surprised!

Everyday Emilyism

The girls were in the craft room organizing all their school supplies and Emily told them that mom has a lot of "crap books". I guess she won't be much of a scrap booker...breaks my heart.

Everyday Emilyism

The other day the kids and I were talking about growing up and we said they were growing up fast. Ashley commented that Ken and I weren't growing up we were really on the down hill slope to dying. Emily agreed with her, " Yea, you and dad are dying." I asked her what we were dying of or from and she replied " You are dying from growing down."

Everyday Emilyism

Today Ashley was making breakfast for Emily. Emily wanted her usual oatmeal, but Ashley told her she didn't know how to make it. Emily asked her if she knew how to make cereal. Ashley told her yes she did, but offered to make waffles for her instead. Emily raised her hand up in the air and shouted "Waffles! I call dibs! Waffles!".

Everyday Emilyism

A while ago Emily was at Mrs. Laidlaws house and Mrs. Laidlaw asked her what her mom's name was. Emily looked at Mrs. L like she had gone mad. Her mom's name was mom of course. Mrs. L asked her what her mom's first name was and Emily told her "my mom's name is sweetie". Since this is what Ken and I call each other, it is natural for her to think that would be my name.
Yesterday she was sounding out words and I asked her what letter mom started with. She said M. I asked her what dad started with and she said D. Ashley asked her what Ken started with and she thought for a moment and said "Shh, I am trying to spell sweetie!" Guess her parents are sweetie and sweetie.

Bummer.....

Ashley purchased a really cool mountain bike at Target yesterday with birthday and Christmas gift cards and money and some $$ from her savings account. She rode it around with her sister and friend today and this afternoon they decided to ride to Sonic and get something cool to drink. I had them take the cell phone and check in A LOT! They were done at Sonic and asked if they could go over to Walgreens (right next door) to get some water. They were in the store for less than 10 minutes and when they came out, Ashley's bike was g o n e. Someone decided to "trade" bikes with her. We say that because there is a ratty green mountain bike left at the bike rack. Ken was doing some undercover work this afternoon (sitting in his truck watching the bike rack and driving around the neighborhoods looking for her bike). I have filed a police report, but we didn't even record the serial number from the bike. She only had it 24 hours. Next time we will buy a bike and a bike lock.
I have to tell you that she has a wonderful attitude about it. She has been without a bike for so long that she says it is okay, she won't miss it that much. She also said since all the money was given to her that it isn't that hard to think about losing it. She is so mature for her age and I am very proud of her. I hope we can find her bike or she can get another one sometime soon.

Some older favorite photos to share...

Just wanted to share some of my favorite photos of my kiddos. They are precious to me (photos and especially the kids) and I thought you might enjoy them as well.

Funny Emily

Emily loves to wear this hat. She even wears it to the park. She always wears it when she is taking her babies for a walk in their strollers and always when she is "doing her show". I love the expression on her face. Looks like she is telling us to "get outta here!". Thanks to the Carns girls for leaving behind the hat for us when they moved on to California. It has been well loved!!

Science experiment

This is what happens when you let your "big kid" choose the youth group activity.

Mentos and Diet cola

Visit

Today, Aunt Lisa and cousins Nate and Mark, came over to visit us. Emily had fun showing off all of her Webkinz animals as did Phillip. It was very funny to watch Phillip drag out all his Lego and Star Wars stuff to show Nate....kinda like Nate used to do to Ken. Funny how what goes around comes around.

Craigslist to the rescue!

We had 16 rolls of sod left over (pretty good estimating by my hubby) and Ken posted them on Craigslist for $20 and within an hour he had them not only sold, pending pickup, but had about 6 people in line to come get it! Gotta love it!!!

Everyday Emilyism

Yesterday Emily was playing on the computer and she told Ashley that she "found a hineena on the laughtop" which translated means she found a hyena on the laptop.

Sod is in!!

My awesome sweetie got the sod all put in and he did it all by his lonesome. He is such a hard worker and he labored all day Friday even missing a delicious 4th of July meal at Kevin and Gayle's (I saved him a plate) to finish it all up. It looks wonderful (photos to come soon) and will look even better when the grass gets settled and gets lush. He planted up a bunch of flowers in pots and in the flower bed and now our front entry looks so beautiful! Can't wait to see how our yard looks next year. Way to go Ken!!

Life can be fun!

Don't you wish life was always this fun for us all!! :)

God & Country Rally July 2008

Emily and her cute little wrinkled up nose.

Ashley and her friend Taylor enjoying the music of Mark Shultz.
Mom, Olivia and the ham, Emily.
Aawww....does he love her or what.....sweetheart Phillip.

God & Country

We went to the God & Country Rally last night and it was such an awesome experience! Mark Schultz performed and the girls were excited to hear him, especially since they sang "Walking Her Home" at church last June. He played for about an hour and a half and it was incredible to hear several thousand people singing along with songs that praise our God. Several times I was overcome with emotion. When the fireworks went off and KTSY played popular Christian songs, it was a joy to sing along and celebrate the freedom we have in our lives. I am so proud to be an American and to salute our beloved country. God Bless the USA!!!

Loving craigslist!

Can I just say how much I LOVE craigslist. I just posted our outdoor plastic play thingy and within a few hours I had 4 people email me and today someone came and looked at it and paid me cash for it!! Yippeeee! Gotta love it.

Professor Pippin??

Can you believe our dog can do Algebra? Neither can we. Doubt if Ashley's teachers would be convinced--only of him eating it.

Never ending yard project....

This is the latest project at Bates Central. Ken is putting in sod on Friday! It will be the best yard on the block soon!! He has worked so hard and I am so proud of him.

Everyday Emilyism

Today while getting ready to make something for lunch, Emily turns to me, hands on hips and asks "Are you going to make good food that I like for lunch?".

Everyday Emilyism

Yesterday Emily got mad at Ashley for something and put her hands on her hips, put her hip out to the side and in a loud voice said " You girl!". Guess she thought that sounded pretty tough and mean.....for a four year old!

Today's Emilyism

Emily was playing a Star Wars game on a gameboy and Ashley and Mom were watching her (she was making really cute faces and noises while she played). She knew she was being watched and looked up at us and said " Why are you both scaring at me?". Quite often someone is scaring at her. Can we help it if she is too cute??!!

Emilyisms:

Emily, age 4, has her own way of describing things.....

At school one day, she asked if she could get a drink. I went to go get her a cup to get some water from the sink and she shook her head no. She asked if she could go get it from the "drinking mountain".

Ask her what the name of someone who might live in an igloo is and she'll tell you an "eksimo".

Playing with her Little People with Phillip one morning, she had the rooster and was making him crow "cluck cluck a doo!".


Again playing with her Little People with Phillip, they had the dollhouse out and Emily told Phillip she was going to push the "ring door" (door bell).

WAY TOO CUTE!!

We spent New Year's Eve with our kiddos watching old home movies. What a treat to see Big Papa and Great-Grandma Pat enjoy their family and to see family together at holidays and special occasions. Ken is working hard to preserve all of our videos on DVD and the computer. I am sure we will be seeing some of the clips soon in his creative videos.

Happy 12th Birthday to our sweetheart girl, Ashley. Hard to believe that you are well on your way to being so grown up. We love you Ashley and hope that this year will be a wonderful journey in your life.
Mom & Dad