1st of July

This year our Canada Day was very different.  For the first time in my life I did not go to my parents for the parade and pit roast.  We had just gotten home the night before and I didn't want to get up early the next morning and pack stuff out again.  Dave was not sure I wouldn't change my mind.  He says that he learned early on that that is what he will be doing for the first for the rest of his life.  But we stayed.  We ended up helping to move the bulls in with the cows.  We only moved one (the lighter one on the left) of these bulls, I have no idea when Dave took this pictures, but I thought I should include at least one picture in this post. 

When we were done that we had a big breakfast.  I had made sure I got bacon for Dave for Canada Day.  We quickly tidied up and folded the laundry from the night before.  Then the kids started mowing.  We mowed almost everything.  It took hours and hours.  I ended up finishing part of if for them so they could go swimming.  I dropped them at the pool, then came back.  My mom had called the night before and asked if she could come see the house.  Of course!  She even brought the picnic to us.  I grabbed the kids from the pool and got home just behind my parents.  They toured the house and we sat out on my porch to eat.  Mom had brought everything.  Including dessert and paper plates.  I told her I definitely got the best deal.  I still got the pit roast and salads, but didn't have to travel. :)  After they left I finished the mowing and the kids watched a movie.  It was quiet and fun and perfect.

Idaho Bound

We took the kids out of school one day early and headed to Idaho.  My nephew, Brock, was giving his mission farewell. I am still amazed at how well the kids traveled.  There was seriously not one fight.  Leah didn't get mad once.  She usually has a small patient level.  No one got sick.  We had fun.  It is normally a 12 hours trip and we made it in 15.  Yep, not cool.  We took a wrong turn.  Actually we didn't turn and we should have.  We had to back track an hour.  At this point we had already been on the road 10 hours and thought we where close.  For about 15 seconds, Blake got frustrated and hung his head as tears came.  Then he pulled it together and we played Would You Rather.  

We packed yogurt and muffins for breakfast.  Then the day before I slow cooked a roast and shredded it, Myrna had made buns she said we could take, we had chips, fruit and veggies.  And of course trail mix, that may have had more treats then nuts.  :)  A couple of days before we left, I just happened to see on Pinterest an idea for traveling with kids.  It said to get this plastic container and put the food in it.  It was quite a big plastic thing with a handle,  we didn't need something that big, but I liked the general idea.  So Cora and I went to the dollar store and found these red baskets.  I had paper towel at home and also coffee filters left over from making snowflakes at Christmas.  It worked so good.  Dave said when he first saw them he thought, 'Great, now what is she packing?'  But after, he said it worded really good, so much easier to balance and drive.  Definitely doing that on every trip now.

We finally arrived.  They had pizza waiting for us, then took us to the place we where to stay.  My sister had a friend that had offered her apartment above her garage for us to stay.  Had a little kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and a fold out couch.  She also brought in a cot.  We had lots of room.  It was very nice of her.  All we did was sleep there, but it was nice. My entire family, except Mckay who is on his mission as well, was there.  I was so glad to see Taylor, it has been far to long.  He brought his 4 year old son.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of the two 4 year old cousins together.  It was so cute.  They where inseparable.  Natalie and Taylor would ask each other, 'when are you putting Ryan to bed?' or 'where is Brody?'.  We all knew that if we could find one or get one to bed the other would also.  My brother is such a terrific dad.  I really admire him.   The next morning the youth took off to do temple baptisms very early.  When they got back we had a fantastic breakfast.  We got the strawberries cut up early and had to do another container because this little guy loves strawberries.  It was so funny. 

After breakfast we got some food ready for that night.  We ran a few errands, then most of them went swimming.  They swam all afternoon and a good part of the evening.  Kita had gotten a club house with a pool that we all went to for a family dinner.  Great spread.  Then there was an open house for all of Brock's friends.  Sunday we had a quick breakfast and headed to church.  It was such a wonderful farewell.  Brock is truly an amazing kid.  My sister did well.  If my kids can turn out anything like their cousins I will count myself lucky.  They have one cousin in Colorado serving and Brock will be serving in Texas, Spanish speaking.  Great examples both of them.

After church we came back to eat and just hang out till the end of the day.  We had some good chats, played some games, and ate great food.  

For my kids, getting together with their Smith and Jones cousins is anticipated all year long.  They didn't do much.  Went for a short drive at one point, but they love being with them.

Proud mom.  Great son.

Photo bombed by Abby.  :) Not sure what Blake is doing.

Kita's friend made this for Brock and they had everyone sign it at the open house.  So neat.  We said good-bye Sunday night.  They next morning we made a bit of a holiday coming home.  Dave doesn't  have much time off work left so we took advantage of the long drive.  We stopped at the Shoshone Ice Caves.  They where pretty cool, but not quite as advertised.  All weekend in the 43 degree weather we had packed our coats around so we could us them in the cave.  The site said we would need them, but jackets would have been fine.

It was neat to see the formations and the lava tube.

You can't really see, but we went way down behind them.  Climbed down rock steps.  It really was unique.

Inside the cave is below freezing, all the time. 

Next we did a quick visit to Craters of the Moon.  So much heat coming off that black rock, we did not stay long.  We had booked a hotel with my air miles a little over half way home.  It was good to finally arrive and go to sleep.  The next morning we  drove a bit then stopped and did a little shopping and got a fencer for the farm.  Dave always takes me to Fuddruckers because he knows I love it and we don't have one here.  It was delicious as usual.  We then journeyed the last 4 hours home.  Again the kids where amazing the whole way home.  We packed food again and ate in the car.  The kids did a lot of coloring and drawing.  They where so good I really think we will try to go to Conference in April.  The last 1/2 hour they got a little silly.

But where making each other laugh.  We got home in time to unpack, start some laundry, make a dump run, and measure some stuff at the house.  It was a really wonderful trip.  Good luck Elder Brock Jones,  Texas is lucky to have you.  

Let Summer Begin!!

Summer is here, let the good times roll.  Hardly anything is planned this summer.  We are just going to hang out and go with the flow.  Could be great, could drive me crazy.  But they are old enough that I don't have to plan, they can completely entertain themselves.  So we should be OK.  We have a seasons pass to the pool, free bowling, house and farm work.  We will keep plenty busy.  Cora was done a few days before her siblings.  She really was not happy with her final exam mark.  So no smile for me in this picture.

It was fun to just be with Cora for a few day until the other two where done.

So excited to be done.  We took them out a day early so we could head to Idaho.  More on that later.  It was a great school year.  They loved their teachers and made great friends.  Did some neat stuff and studied hard.

Good Friends!!

 I'm so happy that my kids have good friends.  It was never important to me for them to have tons and tons of friends.  What I wanted was at least one great friend that I felt comfortable and could easily talk to the parents with.  You know so, basketball games or pick-up and drop-offs or school events where not awkward.  That is what they all have now.

There is a small community pool right across the gravel road from the school.  Leah and Blake would just walk over after school with their friends and swim.  One week they went every day.  When Cora got home I would go up and chat with what ever parents where there.  It was fun.  Last weekend was the Grade 9 Grad.  Leah and her friends all wanted to go.

They came to our house right after school and hung out, toured the farm and then ate dinner and got ready.  Of course Leah wanted spaghetti, Caesar salad, French Bread, Fruit and we made Nathan's Chocolate Cheesecake.  I felt a little like Kita.  I had one mom text and ask if I could help her daughter get ready and then a few more girls that asked when they where there. I have no idea how to do hair.  Good thing they just wanted some straightening and some curling.

There was one more but she left early to help serve at the Grad Banquet.

After I dropped them all off we waited for Meghan to arrive.  Cora was so excited she was coming down.  Meghan is a big reason I let Cora has get a phone.  I'm so glad they have kept in touch.  And I love her parents.  Meghan's mom and I sat through many basketball games together.  I missed her this last year.

The next morning we went to the parade, then they just played games and hung out for the rest of the day as I helped Dave put in windows.

The girls went and checked cows for Dave and while out they picked up a lot of twine.  I asked Blake to get a few pictures of them together.  He took 26 pictures just of them getting off the quad.  It is a hilarious play by play.  He must have just been snapping away.

That is just a few to give you and idea.  We loved this last one of Cora.  She looks so proper.

I waited as long as I could Saturday night to take her back.  She lives four hours away and they didn't want the fun to end.  After Cora said, "I think I have good friends here, and I do, I have fun with them. But then Meghan comes."  She can totally be herself with her.  Both girls friends got right in and did dishes, they asked to help get dinner ready, they don't mind Blake hanging out.  I don't feel like I need to be around when they are there.  I feel very comfortable with them.  None of them are whinny or are afraid to speak up and just ask for something.  I am so glad that they have just good friends in their lives.

Photo Class

Cora has been taking photo this semester.  These are just a few of my favorites that she has sent me.  She is loving the class and learning lots.

Not sure why so many in black and white, but she said it was the assignment.

She has a list of photos she has to get.  Such as elderly person, trash, reflection silhouette and so on.  She got really high marks for this reflection one.  She was told it was very unique and they really liked her idea.

Silly String Fight

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine put up pictures of her kids having a silly string fight.  It looked like so much fun.  I went and got some for FHE.  Then Dave ended up going out of town on a business trip.  So I decided they could do it last Friday.  Blake could barely wait until Cora got home from school and had eaten.  He was so excited.  They each had two cans.  I'm totally doing it again.  But I want bigger cans next time. :)