Memorial Day 2009

We had rain on Memorial Day, but we didn't let that stop us. We went back to Giant Springs Park for a BBQ. Emma was so excited about it...Mara, asleep.

I love that toothy grin!

Love that man, even if he likes to pose for the camera.

Cooking Hotdogs and Marshmellows over the single burner propane stove for ten kids and four adults. Luckily we could cook four at a time. Sam was so good to cook the hotdogs for all the kids while we were cutting watermelon and getting salads set out. I might just say here that we had a hotdog roast on Saturday night with friends and then ate the leftovers on

Sunday. Then Monday had them again. We weren't really wanting hotdogs, to say the least, but it got worse the next night (Tuesday) when we went to scouts and guess what...Hotdogs again. No one could stomach them. Even Emma was like enough already.

Eating!

Rock Climbing!

Trevor taking the little kids Fishing!
Max thought it was the greatest thing ever. All the gooslings were out.
So stinking cute.

Playing in the water and swatting mosquitos... they weren't too bad!

Emma having to be independent and walk herself!

Dad's turn!

While the little kids were fishing with Trevor we decided to go on a short hike.

We passed a teenager who was looking for a lost kid. How horrible to lose a kid there, by the water, by the road, strangers, tons of trails...We got back to our kids and Mara had wandered away from Trevor to find me, she was up by our stuff just crying, unitl a man (uggh!) brought her to Trevor to ask if she belonged to him. I felt like the worlds crappiest mother ever. It makes me cringe to even think about it as I write it.

Giant Spring...Big Springs..Whatever it was fun!

I had had enough. Please tell me I am not the only one who gets that "couped up" feeling! Saturday I just had to get out! Ryan has been working a lot "tis the season":) and we just needed some R&R. So we headed out to Giant Springs State Park (or maybe it was Big Springs?) They have a tiny playground there that the kids had a great time on. I love that Sam Loves to help his sisters.
We decided that Noah must be polynesian. When we went to Hawaii, the polynesian cultural center had a group of young guys that were climbing palm trees with their bare feet. Noah did that the whole time we were at Giant Springs, of course, they weren't palm trees, but I am amazed at what that kids toes can cling onto. Later in the week he came home from school and told me how they learned about tiny monkeys in Brazil that people steal and raise as pets. He wondered if that's where we got him. Dang-Secrets out!

This is fake grass. Ryan decided that that's what we need at our house. Little miss naturalist quite likes her dandelions and thinks green grass is overrated...not really, I love green grass, just real green grass that you can roll on and smell and mow.

The fish hatchery was cool and there was a whole group of Hutterites there. It kind of struck me as odd that Hutterites would just take a break and have a picnic. I talked to them and they were very friendly. They thought that Noah and Caleb were twins. They are only one inch apart in height and can wear each others cloths. (I have to laugh when Noah gets so bothered by Caleb wearing his clothes. I thought only girls did that. Noah has a major need to have things be just his. It is quite funny. You can imagine in a house of eight just how much he gets to call just his. But I do really try to let him have a collection of "just his" stuff.)

The water was beautiful and it was a perfect day to be out.

See, he's a MONKEY!

We walked down the trail and found some rock clifts to climb. It was almost like Zion National Park...okay not even close, but we'll take what we can get and run with it.

Sam and Noah, of course complained that they didn't want to go to Giant Springs, and then we got there and had a great time and didn't even get to explore all that we wanted to, and then complained when we had to leave.

That is precicely why I make my kids do things that they say they don't want to do. Because 9 times out of 10 they LOVE it.

As we were leaving we found this really cool stream, and even Emma had to dunk her feet in.

Good times. I highly recommend going.

Noah gets his BEAR!

I love this kid! he is totally self-motivated when it comes to scouts and at this point in my

life I really need that. His Den leader called me up and said "Noah has all his requirments

for his Bear" thank goodness I had just looked over his stuff and actually already knew that

so I didn't look like I was totally oblivious. She then said "in all my years of scouting I haven't

seen a kid get their Bear this early." He will have four months to get as many arrow points

as he can...and he intends to get a lot. I am so glad that he likes scouts.

Here he is with his pack getting a bunch of belt loops.
Here he is my cute little scout

He got to pin the pin on me, and Ryan had to give a presentation so he missed it, but
Noah was pretty excited.

Love that kid!

Happy Mother's Day

After some technical difficulties, here is a shout out to my mother and Ryan's

We are so grateful to have you in our lives! Thanks for all that you do for us and your endless concern for our well-being!

We know that our lives are blessed immensely just because you are a part of it.

Thank you for being such great grandma's to our children. The fact that they love you so much is a testament to how great you are for them and to them.


We hope that you have the greatest Mother's Day EVER and hope you know how much we all wish we could have been there to celebrate with you!

Mother's Day for Me!

I just have to say thanks to my wonderful family for the greatest Mother's Day! Ryan, Noah, Caleb and Max were driving home from Utah most of the day, so Sam took care of me and surprised me by making me breakfast secretly while I was out with the goats. I got to eat it in bed, and he had made me a flower and vase out of tissue paper. We made jam and cookies, and then went to church. After Church we went to Elaine's to eat and play baseball and wait for the boys to get home. I was so excited to see them again. How grateful I am for them and their kindness to me. How happy each one of them make me!

Easter Kids!

So I finally am posting the kids Easter pictures that I took late.

Better late than never though right? Love that toothy grin!

My boys are getting so bad about having their pictures taken

they complain endlessly. It was almost impossible to get

pictures on the sunday after Easter when we were finally all

together again.

Just seeing those smiling faces makes my day!

loved this of the girls!

brown-eyed boy!

My boys!

Who said he could get so big?

Come on Noah!

Honestly, I never did get a good one
of him.

Cheeser !

love that crinkle nose

Sweet little lady

Garden's In!

We spent the weekend planting our garden! I am so happy that it is at our house this year! I love looking out the window and seeing it! It makes me feel like I have accomplished something. We planted our "cold" weather stuff, now we just have to wait and hope that it doesn't go below zero. Last year it did get below zero at the end of April, so here's hoping it stays warm enough to let our garden grow. Carrots, potatoes, Kohlrabi, cabbage, onions, peas, lettuce, swiss chard, beets and what I am most excited about...Asparagus! Can't wait to feast. Noah was a great help with the onions and the girls. Noah and I love the feel of soft dirt! There's nothing better.

Mara planted many of the onions...they just happened to be in the wrong row or in the walking path, but they "transplanted" into their correct spot when she wasn't looking. She is definately a determined little girl who thinks that she can do everything anyone else can.

Yes, that is dirt in my little baby's mouth. She loved it. She kept putting it in her mouth and hair and throwing it all over. She loves to be outside. She makes a bee-line for the door whenever it is left open even for a second. She spent the entire day outside and was in heaven!

Mara is a great big sister, and even if Emma didn't want help, Mara was quick to give it. She was constantly doating over her and "helping" her walk even though she would have prefered to do it herself.

That 's my man! The love of my life. I must just say that I am so grateful that he indulges me and helps me do all the things that I think are fun (i.e. gardening, goating, chickening, fencing) And I think that he is loving it even though he always says these things are my idea. I couldn't have been more blessed with a perfect match! Oh how I love that may of mine! (I especially love his lamb chops!)

*Spring Break: April 2009*

We had Thursday and Friday and Monday and Tuesday off of school this year, so on Monday we met my parents in Idaho Falls to pick up Max and stayed at my cousin Melissa's house. The kids had a great time. Swimming in the pool at her hotel and playing with her little puppies! Thanks Melissa for a great time.( I am so sad that I didn't get pictures of her and swimming) On the way home we stopped in Rexburg to see my dad's high school friend and ride his horses. It was really cold and snowy, so we just rode for a little bit, but it was fun all the same.My dad with Mara

Waiting to saddle up! Can you see the eternal grin on Max's face?

This horse is a team roping horse that has won in many rodeos. Max was in heaven.

Here's us all! :) minus Emma who was thankfully asleep in the house. The boys were quite impressed with Gary's land and spent almost the entire time saying..."If I lived here we could..." They loved the river and woods and all the cool places that they could play "wild men" They really wished it was warmer so that they could stay out all day!

Max's turn!

Mara and Gary

Sam solo

Me and Mara I made the horse run and she said "just walk mom, just walk"

Later the boys found the bear skin rug and had a great time with it. Noah got under it and started moving so that it looked like the bear was alive-Creepy! He was scaring all of Gary's granddaughters with it (not really, they were all just playing really well together) Sam and Noah got a hold of my camera and when I was looking at the pictures later I found this...

CRAZY BEAR ATTACK!!!!!

Like your going to punch an attacking bear :)

My leg, my leg....

Another one who thinks they can punch an attacking bear!

He's being eaten BY a bear...or is HE eating the bear?