Tingey Times

Every Breath

2012-01-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

The following post is wordy, I know. Brook asked me what I was working on and I said, "I am trying to write about you being sick but it is going on and on and on." She said, "That sounds about right because it did go on and on and on!"
I wrote this entry as a way to document what has happened to her. Do not feel obligated to read it, no one's feelings will be hurt. I cut out a lot of smaller details but it is still long. The short version is this: She couldn't breath, we found the answer and I am grateful for her, for medical advancements and for the Lord in our lives.

Brook didn't breathe from the beginning. Everyone told me that the second childbirth experience is easier than the first. They lied. I'll make a long story short but for all who are squeamish about childbirth stories you might want to skip ahead.
Labor had been long, the final stages had been long. I tried and tried but she was stuck and I knew it. I told the nurses "this baby isn't moving, something is wrong." The nurse smiled and patted my hand and said, "It's alright Honey, women have been having babies for centuries, you just have to push harder." (I have never wanted to slap a person so much in my life.) After more than two hours of this I was completely exhausted and began to cry, sob really. I was loosing it. John finally convinced the doctor that I knew what I was talking about and they had better do something to help or call someone in that knew what they were doing. That is about the time the monitors all went off, they had lost her heartbeat.
The doctor pulled out a contraption that looked like a toilet plunger and said, "This is going to hurt." (Thank you, Captain Obvious!) The room began to fill with other nurses and doctors as they began to prep for surgery in case the suction didn't work. The doctor tried to pull her out but was pulling me off the bed and the bed across the floor. He had John grab hold of me under my arms and pull while he and the nurse put their feet on the bed and pulled the other way. There she was, blue, shaking and in pain. Most children are born crown of the head first. She was in the birth canal with her head sideways. The more I pushed, the more tight she became with her left ear pressed against her shoulder. It hurt her to move her for about a week.
They never laid her on my stomach like they usually do, she was taken away to the warmer and worked over. I couldn't see her, I couldn't hear her. After what was only a few moments but what seemed like forever some one said, "Oh, there she is!" At the same time someone moved out of the way and we made eye contact. I knew her name, I knew we'd be good friends and I knew with that look she was saying, "That was not a pleasant experience!" She never cried, only took in little fluttering breaths. They took her away and I went into shock and passed out. I don't remember much until I awoke a few hours later in my room. I was informed that she had spent some time in an oxygen tent but was doing fine. They brought her to me and I finally got to hold her. My favorite part of giving birth is holding the baby's face close to mine and smelling the sweet scent of a newborn's breath. As I held her I was grateful that she was breathing at all and that I got to keep her. I was grateful that the ordeal was over.
Fast forward a few years to First Grade. Brook became sick and was having difficult, labored breathing. I took her to the emergency room and she was diagnosed with asthma. The diagnosis hit hard but I knew it wasn't the end of the world. There is medication and treatment and ways to keep it under control and we just needed to learn what to do. We learned what her asthma triggers were and did our best to avoid them and prepare for the ones we couldn't avoid. Feeling that asthma shouldn't be an excuse to not participate, we also kept her active. Life moved on.
Fast forward to a the last couple of years. The asthma was getting worse and worse. We tried different medications, and combinations of medicines. After a year of this her breathing was so bad that she became winded just going up or down the stairs. I saw her have to rest in the middle of sweeping the floor. She had to drop out of her activities and was missing a lot of school. She was in the emergency room several times. The Asthma specialist finally said there was nothing else she could do. If Brook wasn't reacting to the medication then there must be something else wrong.
This brings us to last spring when the tests began. One of the first was also one of the worst. They measured her breathing capacity and then poisoned her then tested her again. When I signed the permission forms to let them run the test I was told that they wouldn't let her breathing get bad beyond a certain point. They underestimated the condition Brook was in and her breathing levels dropped well below what they intended and then they had difficulty bringing her back! She was trying not to panic knowing it would make it worse. She spent the next couple of days suffering. I felt like the worst mother EVER! I had allowed them to do that to her.
She had her heart and lungs tested in many different ways. Everything from MRI, to utlrasound to treadmills. Everything was normal except for some blood work. She tested positive for schleroderma, or hardening of the organs. We were left with that diagnosis for several months while we waited for an appointment to open up to see a rheumatologist. I was beside myself with grief. I knew what schleroderma was and I wasn't sure I could stand to see my precious girl suffocate and know there was nothing I could do about it. I can't put into words what it was like to see her suffering so. It was ripping my heart out. Meanwhile she was left on the heavy asthma medications just in case.
We finally got to see the auto-immune specialist and he reviewed her file. It turns out that some of the medication she was taking causes a false positive and we needed to get her off of it right away. We have since done more lab tests and the SD numbers are going down like they should.
This was a huge relief but we still didn't know what was causing her difficulty. We were now well into October. At the beginning of all this she had received a priesthood blessing that told her to be patient and the doctors would be inspired with the answers to help her. At this point I was tired of being patient. I wanted to know! I wanted the problem to be found so we could fix it. I know that Brook was frustrated too but she never complained. Every time I would ask her how she felt she'd say, "the same," or "It's not pleasant." Then she would smile to reassure me. I found it fascinating that she was the one comforting me. She knows I like to be in control of everything and that I felt out of control in everything because of worry for her. She is sweet and kind and wise. I am trying to be more like her. One evening I was thinking about the doctors being inspired when the lung specialists called with an idea. He wanted Brook to see an ear, nose and throat specialist and a speech pathologist. It sounded crazy but we were desperate and I had been praying for a new idea.
The ENT put a camera up her nose so he could see straight down her throat and the Pathologist had her preform a few tests and try some different exercises and we had a diagnosis; VCD, vocal chord dysfunction. It seems Brook's vocal cords close when they aren't supposed to cutting off the air supply. Stress makes the condition worse and is not uncommon in teenage girls who are high achievers. The heavy asthma medications cause it to to be worse too. She has spent the last few months in a type of physical therapy teaching her to control it. She was asked on her first appointment to place herself on a scale of 1 to 10. One being no problem breathing and 10 being unconscious. She rated herself at an 8. Still conscious but feeling dizzy.
Like everything else she does she put herself 100% into getting better. It has been hard and there were tears sometimes but she worked through it. She graduated from therapy this week placing herself on the scale at two! It was two because she could breath but still has to think about doing it right. She is off of all asthma medication except for her rescue inhaler. Two weeks ago she gave a speech and was able to breath through the whole thing. I was with her afterward when someone asked her how she was doing. She was able to answer and tell the whole story. I found myself trying to answer for her (it has become my habit to jump in so she wouldn't turn blue or feel frustrated when she couldn't get the words out. I'm going to have to work on not doing that to her anymore.) When it occurred to me what was happening, that I didn't have to talk for her or stand so close or be prepared to rescue her, I cried.
I know other mothers who have not had the happy outcome we have had. My heart goes out to them. I can't imagine loosing her. I am grateful I have not had to endure that and this knowledge makes her life that much more priceless. I am grateful to my Lord and the sweet comfort he sends during trials. I snuggle up next to her whenever I can and find myself distracted by her breathing. I don't count the breaths any more or time their duration. I just listen. Every breath is precious.

Fall, the most beautiful time of the year.

2012-01-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

I love Fall. Leaves, cooler weather, the slant of the sunlight, my nesting instincts. Yep, I love it!

Pumpkin Carving Fun

Tossing games with the spoiled
tomatoes from the garden
(it was very neglected this year)

I have gotten very frustrated with the changes in dishwasher soap. The cup on the left is what the new phosphate free stuff has left on all my dishes. I was voicing my frustration about it when with a group of other moms and this product was recommended! The cup on the right is after just one washing! Yipee! Let me do a happy dance in my kitchen!

Clean dishes at last!

Can you tell which creation belongs to the 12 year old boy? eeewwwwww!

Hailey with Sam and Anni

Halloween 2011

I didn't know I was coming down with shingles for a while.(see previous post) You tend to feel bad for about a week before the blisters start. I have always had trouble living in the north when it starts to get dark earlier and earlier in the day. I know it's coming and brace myself for it every year. (I get especially excited for Christmas because the shift toward more light begins!) I thought that this was just going to be a particularly hard winter in that way. I am glad I was just sick and that it wasn't depression. I thought if it was this bad already, I will never make it through. I am very relieved that I felt bad for another reason. (It has been a relatively sunny winter so far, so that is another blessing in my life!) So one night I just couldn't face cleaning up after dinner and asked the kids for a volunteer to do it for me. (insert cricket background noises and note that I had not cleaned up the kitchen at all that day) After a brief but uncomfortable silence my sweet Sierra volunteered. I told her that I was grateful for her generosity and love and as a reward I would pay her 5 bucks if she did a super-duper-exceptional job on it. (Not my best parenting moment, I am not proud of it but look at the results!) I'd say she did a super-duper-exceptional job and earned every penny!

Sierra added paper "Sparkling Clean" stars for effect!

Missing Dad

2012-01-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

John travels sometimes as part of his job. I usually don't mind too much. I miss him, it's hard to fall asleep without him, but generally we are OK. I've had to fix toilets, pay bills and take kids to the emergency room without him sometimes even when he is in town so I am fairly confident in my abilities to take care of our family. I also like that he trusts me to do it. I know he is proud that I am a strong woman that he doesn't have to pamper all the time. I've tried to teach my daughters to be strong as well. Our favorite mantra when things get tough is "We are L.D.S. Women. We can do anything!"

This trip was different, very different.

Most of the time John is only gone for a few days or maybe two weeks at most. This is just enough time to get some projects done and enjoy some chick-flicks he wasn't interested in seeing. This time we knew he would be gone for three weeks, but then work didn't go as well as planned and the three weeks became four. Then the four became five and then a few more days more. (Sierra is sitting next to me as I write this and she informed me that my last two sentences rhyme. My rhyming abilities are a gift that I'll write about later)

A digital Love Note to email

Not only was the time way to long without him but it felt like anything that could go wrong did. Usually we have some sort of appliance emergency while he is gone (the washing machine, the car, the dishwasher, yes, the toilet) but we had none of that this time which was a blessing. What we had this time was Shingles and not the kind that are on the roof.

Apparently anyone who has ever had Chicken Pox also has a little virus that waits dormant until just the right combination of physical factors is in place to jump out and knock you down. I wouldn't wish shingles on anyone. It was miserable. Between the stresses of this last year and not sleeping well with John gone my physical factors were just right, or just wrong as the case may be. Mom and the kids took great care of me as I tried to function through the pain but ended up being completely loopy from the medications. (I didn't think I was very loopy but more stories keep coming out. I think the stories have grown over time but those around me contradict that theory!) I also have really great friends who took my children, ran errands for me and brought meals and took over activities and programs for the Young Women (YW in Excellence for instance). These are the same great friends who listened and helped through all the medical appointments for Brook, helped me with girls camp, put up all the decorations for Robyn's wedding reception and in general show their love for me and my family. I've been blessed with wonderful women in my life.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. Mom ended up in the hospital. At first she just thought she had the flu but it was a bowel obstruction that kept her hospitalized for a couple of days.

Poor John.

He was too far away to do anything for us. I tried not to complain and told him not to worry, we were fine. He just laughed and said, "No, You're not fine." and laughed some more, but then he would let out a sigh that was full of frustration. I knew he just wanted to be here to take care of his family and not in a hotel room on the other side of the world. I love that man and I am happy he is home.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2012-01-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

October is breast cancer awareness month. This year it has been especially meaningful to our family due to a beloved aunt who is struggling with this disease. We have missed her at family gatherings and think of her often. It is heart warming to hear the children praying for her and her husband to "find something she can eat without getting sick." It has been a beautiful reminder to me to ask God for the simple things. I hope I can remember their wisdom.

Hailey donated her hair to Locks of Love.

Sierra participated with the other high school girls in a powder-puff football game to raise money for breast cancer research.

Fall sports

2012-01-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

Cross Country

Here is Hailey (far left) with a few of her friends from the ward who attend other schools. I am glad they don't let the rivalry come between them.

This is a picture of some of the girls from her school. They are holding her up so their heads would be even. The girl on the right is as tall as me! (they are all 4th graders!)

She didn't place where she wanted to but it looks like she still had a great time!

FOOTBALL

Cole had fun playing football again this year. This is his favorite sport and the coaches had them moving around and playing different positions. Many of the 7th grade boys are very big and Cole is...well, Cole is not but he doesn't let that stop him. He was the smallest boy on his team but held his own out on the field. He knows he will probably always be on the small side (at least through high school) so he makes up for it with his speed. (He'll be smaller for a while if he is anything like his dad. John was 117 pounds when he graduated from high school and didn't really grow much until he was on his mission. He even grew some after we were married!)

Oregon Coast Lost Photos

2012-01-15T23:17:00.000-08:00

I am sad and disappointed. I cannot find the photos from our trip to the Oregon Coast following the wedding. I have spent A LOT of time on the computers trying to find them and didn't want to blog about anything because it would be out of chronological order. I was recently at a family history class for RS where a woman said, "Don't get bogged down by the chronology. It will only drag you down!" So, I am taking her advice and moving on.

Brett's family held an open house in Robyn and Brett's honor. We drove to Oregon and stayed at the Shilo Inn in Seaside. I had never been to this part of the coast before and it was better than I thought it would be. There was a big storm the day we arrived and the sand was blowing sideways! Seriously. Some of the pictures were from the next morning and the sand with "wind carvings" in it. The surf was huge and so loud that my ears hurt by the end of the day. We could see the Lewis and Clark memorial from our hotel window. It is a beautiful memorial for the spot where they finally found the ocean. We walked the boardwalk and visited the aquarium where we got to feed the seals and touch the animals in a tide pool exhibit. There were kite shops and lots of tourist traps. I was a little freaked out about the tsunami evacuation routes. The signs were everywhere and my experience with emergency management made me feel a uneasy! Brook decided that Seaside was where she wanted to live.
We also saw Cannon Beach (where Goonies rock is) and bought a couple of kites there to fly on the beach. It was a lot of fun and we had a lot of laughs. The tide was fascinating to me. It almost got us a couple of times but thanks to John's amazing ninja skills we were able to save our shoes!
We finished that day in Portland with Robyn and the other Lees. Deanne and Dave (Brett's parents) and all his siblings are very friendly and welcoming. They have taken her in with open arms and hearts. Robyn is a lucky to girl to have married into such a loving family. .

September 24,2011

2011-11-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

Robyn and Brett are a wonderful couple and we couldn't be more pleased or excited for them and their new life. I was not prepared for how wonderful and how hard it would be to see my daughter fall in love and get married.
There is tremendous joy in the start of this eternal family. Yes, Joy is the only word to describe the feelings of a mother seeing her daughter make the kind of choices that take her to the temple to make eternal covenants with Heavenly Father and choose a wonderful young man to build her life with. I couldn't ask for more. You can see in their faces the happiness and love they have for each other and you can see in their choices the testimony and love they have for the Lord. I am a proud mom.
Yes, it is hard too. I used to be the one Robyn came to first. Now it is someone else and although I know that having Brett in her life is what I truly want for her, it still hurts a little. During the festivities I couldn't help but think that this is how our Father in Heaven must have felt when he sent her to me. He gave her to me to teach her, to be with her, to enjoy her, to love her. I am grateful for his trust and for the gospel that builds families for eternity and not just for a little while. Now our family has grown much bigger and I am blessed because of it.

YW CAMP 2011 / with a surprise ending!

2011-10-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

These girls are the best! They are the greatest blessing and the greatest hardship I get from my calling. They are hard because I stay up nights worrying about them. I stay up nights wondering where they are and if they are OK and have I taught them everything they need to know from me? It breaks my heart when they are mean to each other but then that same heart is filled to bursting when I see them support each other. I love to see the light shine in their eyes in that moment when they "get it", the moment they see or understand something new in the gospel. I love watching their testimony grow as they live through the struggles and come out the other end filled with the knowledge that the Savior loves them and that they really are divine daughters of the Heavenly King. I love the ones who have to fight for that testimony and I love the ones who seem born with it. I love the ones who laugh at life. I love the ones who cry with those around them. I love the ones with huge forgiving hearts. I love the ones who are hurting, the ones who wear the pain on their face. I love the ones who don't want to be loved. (Too Bad! I love you anyway!) I love the ones who think they are too cool and the ones who think they are not enough. I love when they teach me. They have the most amazing insight. I see it and hear it more from them in our day to day conversation than they realize. I am grateful for each one of them in my life. There are many more girls I have had the privilege of working with who aren't pictured here. I have been blessed to work in the young women's program most of my adult life. There is no better reward for the effort than seeing these girls grow up, go to the temple, start families, and become beautiful, wonderful women. The best part of it is having them grow up and be my friends. I love it. Look at the young women around us. I don't fear for the future because of them. They are strong, courageous, smart, faithful, amazing, beautiful, lovely women. They will do wonderful things.

(For some reason my pictures keep rearranging themselves. I am tired of trying to fix it. They are out of order but let's just go with it!)

Our theme for the year was based on Super Heroes. Each ward picked a super power and tailored our activities around it. Our girls chose to have the power to glow in the dark. With that power we could bring others to the light of Christ. We had so much fun with that! (even our banner glowed!)

Sierra with her "goodie bag". I try to have some sort of surprise for the girls to match the theme. This year there was glow- everything. (Shoelaces, nail polish, shirt, hair clips, glow sticks, necklaces ...)

Brook played along at singing time. I thought she was very brave.

A Pro-YCL teaching the younger girls how to build a fire

Success

Brook was the French Braid Master

Sierra (on right) with friends and our wonderful Stake YW president

The last afternoon produced a "MOCK DISASTER". The YCLs pretended to be hurt and allowed the younger girls to practice some of the new skills picked up at camp. They had a make-up artist teach them the injury make-up and many of the injuries looked real. (it was kind-a gross)

Some of our YCLs with "Glow-Glasses"

This camp ground had a lot of fun things to do. It was cold all week but this day was a little warmer (relatively).

This was the BIGGEST slip-n-slide ever!

Team Building Obstacle Course

Our skit was a spoof of The Incredible's. We had a fantastic Edna Mode!

I stood up there for the longest time before I could commit to the jump but I did it!

This is the pile of laundry we had when we returned.

While I was away at camp I got a surprise phone call.

Robyn called to tell me she was going to marry Brett! Brook was there when I answered the phone so when she said, "Mom, I have something to tell you," I put the phone on speaker so she could hear it too. We weren't surprised, but we are very happy. They are lucky to have found each other.

Summer

2011-10-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample of how we spent the summer. Popcicles in the shade. (insert music here: "Summer Time, and the livin' is easy") It was quiet, it was simple, it was too short, it was perfect.

(Prepare for picture overload)

The kids have a lawn mowing buisness. Although summer itself seems short, lawn mowing season begins before school is out and last well into the start again. This baby bird was found at a commercial job.

Cole and Hailey had never had jiffy pop! Now there is one more thing to check off their bucket list.

John's office had a work party. This is one of the blow-up activities they had there. The obstacle couse was not very long but it was definately fun!

Hailey and Jen

I only won this race with Hailey because her foot got caught. I wasn't about to rescue her until I had finished!

Hailey and John

Hailey and Brook

Cole and John

I should have zoomed in better on the two of them having such a great time!

Sierra was at Soccer practice and I picked her up in time for the dinner. I had never been to a Hawiian Luau before. It was fun. I wish I had gotten photos of the dancers and the food. The roast pig was very yummy and we had sushi for the first time!

Cole went on his first week-long Scout Camp.

Sierra commerated it with chalk on the sidewalk. (I think she missed him! I know I did.)

Our town has a special weekend celebration each year. There are all kinds of events: carnival food, classic car show, 3 on 3 basketball tournement, bigwheel race, weiner dog race, lawn mower race, and all kinds of buisness booths. One of the events was a 5K foot race. Sierra, Cole, Hailey and I all entered.

I only entered because Hailey had never run that far and I was worried about her. I shouldn't have been. She did great. She won the girl's 12 years and under division! I didn't crop the picture above because that is her PE teacher (Stacey L.) cheering her on.

Hailey had a time of 33 minutes.

Brook is 17! Wow. She's a Senior this year and I cant believe how the time does fly.

Sierra is 14! I am more freaked out about her going to dances now than I am about Brook driving! Hold on this is going to be a wild ride!

Cole found my Super Hero Suspenders from girls camp and couldn't wait to dress up like Uerkle.

"Did I do that?"

Sierra and Hailey shared their artistic side with the whole neighborhood.

(I would like to have been Mary Poppins and jumped right into some of them.)

I got to spend some time in Utah and Southern Idaho with my in-laws. Here are some more of my wonderful neices and the newest nephew. They are so cute and fun. The girls were staying with Grandma for a while without their mom and dad. Lucky girls. They were getting ready for church as I was leaving and I had to get a picture of them with their coordinating pink and brown dresses.

It looks like this little guy is going to have auburn hair like his big sister. (So sweet I could eat him)

Brook spent some time in front of the camera for her Senior picture. They all turned out really cute. (I shouldn't say all because she had her eyes closed in about half of them! Silly girl! We did get a lot of cute ones though.) This is the one she chose for the yearbook.

Vacation in the Great Northwest

2011-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, this is the one and only Robyn Anna! Once again its been too long since I gave and update so here we go with the most awesome thing I have done in the last while. Road trip with Brett! We went up to his hometown in Washington, right across the river from Portland, OR. It was so much fun. We did all sorts of stuff that I had never done or seen, as well as just enjoy each others company. Rather than trying to tell the whole story, here are some pictures with captions.

This is Multnomah Falls just outside of Portland. It was way pretty, but reminded me a lot of Yellowstone in the way that there are tourists everywhere. But really, it was beautiful.

Obviously, this would be Brett. He is great. This whole trip was planned by him.

The reason we went the week we did was because Brett and our other good friend Tyler were groomsmen in a buddy from high school's wedding. Our other friends Taylor and Justin also made the trip up to Washington, but flew and stayed with Tyler all week. We did all get together a couple times though. Like at the actual wedding.

Downtown Portland. I have never seen so many bridges in one place in my life. It was cool to see the city also. We spent all day walking around downtown and hitting all the big sites.

Anyone who has known me for a while knows that it is my dream to be a poster child for Nike. Yep.

The last day before we came back to Utah we went to the Oregon Coast. It was different from the California Coast I saw in February, but still beautiful. According to locals, the rock in the background is Haystack Rock. As in Haystack rock from Goonies. How sweet is that?

Ironman

2011-06-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

The real Ironman race is run locally. There are activities for it all weekend even though the race itself is only on Sunday The first event to start out the weekend was the ironman kids race. We found out about the race only a couple of hours before it began and were able to get in with last minute registration. The race with tshirts was only $5 and it took longer to find a parking spot than to run the race. I am glad we did it though, it was a great experience for the kids. The man who has won the last couple of years talked to the kids before the race and the Women's Hawaii winner ran with them as the rabbit. There were other race participants there as well to encourage all the kids. There were about 250 kids total.

This was the start and finish line. The race was only one mile.

They didn't time or place the kids but Cole came in less than 6 minutes. He said he had a hard time getting out of the crowd but he was still one of the first (7 or 8?). My face was behind the camera so I had a hard time counting.

Sierra was number 3 or 4 for the girls division. This kid kept weaving in front of her so she couldn't pass. No matter what side she tried to go around him he would block her.

She finally got around him and left him in the dust before the finish line. This picture doesn't show how badly she beat him but it was quite a ways considering she is just passing him here. He cried at the end because he was beat by a girl.

This is Hailey on the right with her friend Sarah.

Hailey looked like she was just out for a nice jog until she saw the finish line.

She passed the boy in front of her before the finish line.

They got ironman medals as they crossed the line. Past finishers of the big race handed them out. It was a fun afternoon.

Random Happenings

2011-06-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

I was asked to take photographs during a week of construction for Habitat for Humanity. It was really fun and they have used several of the pictures on their website.

Book Club was held at our house after reading John Milton's "Paradise Lost". The book had been on my shelf for quite a while so I was excited when it was selected for book club. This was the table spread. You cant see the devils food cake behind the angle food or the deviled eggs that are out of the frame. It was a fun night and a very good read!

We learned glass etching in YW. Sierra came home and made this gift for her dad at Father's Day.

A friend introduced us to the show "Toddlers and Tiaras". We don't get the TLC channel so we have been watching online. I'm afraid to admit it, but, it is a bit of an obsession. We glitzed up a bit (we are very mild compared to the little girls on the show) and had fun taking glamour shots. The girls even went to the grocery store like that!

It was a happy birthday for me. Here is one of my newest favorite treats. Peanutbutter M&M's. I also have discovered an old classic...Muddy Buddies. I know they have been around for a while but we just cant make enough of them around here. Another newer favorite for me is the Dreyers Yogurt blends- especially the strawberry although the blackcherry/vanilla swirl is good too!

Cole and his buddy Austin made cookies one afternoon with their own twist on the classic chocolate chip recipe. They added caramel sauce and miniature marshmellows. They turned out very tasty!

Memorial Weekend

2011-06-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

We got to visit grandma over memorial weekend. Hailey had learned a lot about our state's geographical sites in school this last year. We made some detours on our way in order to get to see some of them.

The following are Shoshone Falls. (Bigger than Niagra by the way) The falls were pretty spectacular with all the extra snowmelt and rain! Most of the time a person could walk across the top without problem. (If you could get past the gates)

Here are Cole and Haiey wrestling with cousins.

The little Cowboy is not in costume. That is who he really is. He had been helping his dad with the cows earlier. We have the best neices and nephews and there are a bunch of them. I love those kids.

Spring Sports

2011-06-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

We cant wait for the snow to melt before sports begin again.

Cole's baseball team took third in the region.

The soccer field was the consistancy of a kitchen sponge from the snow melt and all the rain. The kids were completely worn out after this game.

Hailey is about to make the shot!

Entertainment for Brook

2011-06-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

Brook hasn't been feeling well lately and is desperately trying to entertain herself. She missed the last half of the district golf tournament, missed over 20 days of the last 2 months of school, had to withdraw from two golf association tournaments and from attending AFY. We still don't know how to help her but have more testing coming up that hopefully will give us some answers.

I woke up one morning to find this construction project after she had been up in the night. She has figured out how to play on the Wii using just her hands. Seriously! I played Just Dance with her yesterday. She beat me and she didn't even get up off the couch! Friends and family are invited to come by and play board games, cards or video games. There is always food, so come!

The "TEE-CAKE"

2011-06-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Brook made this cake for Patti, the golf pro who helps the highschool golf team. It was her birthday on the same day as district playoffs. If you look carefully there is a water hazard, sand traps and a little sugar golf ball near the hole. She and Chelsea spent an afternoon working on it and it was a big hit with Patti and the other golfers.

Brook and Chelsea

No Dumb Blond

2011-06-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Brook won an award as an Idaho Top Scholar.

The award is given to the academic top 10% of the state.

We are very proud of her. She works hard to accomplish her goals and it is gratifying to see them fulfilled.

Here is Brook on the right pictured with a good friend and fellow winner from this area.

Creativity Abounds

2011-06-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

The "Box Car" (saran wrap for the windshield, pot pie cups for lights, giant pipecleaners for the steering wheel, paper plates for the wheels, paper cups for the back lights and pipecleaners to hold the door shut)

Art exhibit at school. I love the self portrait!

This club house had new details everytime I walked by. There is everything from landscaping to eggs in the bird nest. And this is just the outside!

Out at the lot

2011-06-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

We lost a few trees from winter stroms on the new property. We needed to thin some others too. So we have spent several hours limbing and hauling and stacking wood. The kids spend a lot of time on lawn mowers keeping the weeds down and keeping everything looking neat. We are still waiting on bids from builders to work on a new house out there. It is a slow process but at least it is moving along.

This is Cole learning to use the camp stove he got for his birthday. Having a young scout makes birthday shopping easier. What does he get from mom and dad? Camping equipment!

Ice Bowling

2011-06-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

We have had a very cold spring, or a long winter (which ever way you say it means the same!) Here is Hailey and a neighbor friend ice bowling! They popped the ice out of a couple of sleds and a bucket like they were popping ice cubes from a tray and set up the game. You can see the tow ropes for the sleds are still stuck in the ice. They were out there for a long time despite the frigid temperatures.

Grammy

2011-06-27T22:32:00.000-07:00

I had to throw this picture in. This is Grammy's favorite place to sit. Here she is cramming for book club!

Talent Show and Dr. Suess

2011-06-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

The local elementary held a talent show in the spring. Hailey did a great job.

The school also celebrated the birthday of Dr. Suess. Cole went as Mr. Brown and Hailey went as a Who from Who-ville. Check out the hair! Crazy is an understatement!

YW Winter Campout

2011-06-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

The last few years I have taken the Young Women in our ward on a winter campout. The first year we didn't have snow, last year there was a lot of snow but it was relatively warm. This year there wasn't a lot of snow but brrrrr, it was cold.

This is Sierra trying to light a fire without matches. The girls learned to use steel wool/ batteries and flint/steel. They also used different types of materials as tender. I had a great time and I think the girls did too.

Formals

2011-06-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

Several girls were asked to decorate a table for a formal dinner and dance. This was Brook's

Prom with Jamin Jeske

We drove down to Logan, Utah to find her dress. I cant believe the bargain we found and she looked so beautiful! She had a great time with friends.

Holiday Treats

2011-06-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hailey didn't catch a lerechan but he did leave candy behind! Lucky girl.

Cole Turns 12

2011-06-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

It was a busy and excited couple of weeks around Cole's Birthday!

He was ordained as a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.

He got to attend his first ever Priesthood Session of General Conference.

He Participated in Baptisms at the temple for the first time! This has been a special time for him and for me to see him grow into a wonderful young man. I can see a difference in him as he learns his responsiblities and takes them seriously.

Basketball Season

2011-06-27T03:06:00.000-07:00

Music All Winter Long

2011-06-27T02:32:00.000-07:00

The winter was filled with music performances.

I was glad we got this picture of Sierra before her Christmas Concert as she was seated immediately behind where the director was standing so we couldn't see her at all.

Cole really is in there. Center behind the flutes. Unfortunately that was the best picture we got.

There was a recital the first week of April.

Hailey played Call of the Horn and I Am A Child of God.

Cole played All Creatures of Our God and King and Beetoven's Fur Elise.

Sierra played On With the Show and Why Am I Blue.

I had the honor of playing a duet on piano at Sierra's spring band concert. We played Beauty and Beast. It was so fun to do that with her. It's a special memory I will cherish for ever.

Hailey's 9th

2011-06-27T01:36:00.000-07:00

Hailey turned 9! I can hardly believe that is my little baby! Where does the time go?

The biggest hit of the day was getting the just dance game for the wii.

We have had more fun with this than I would have ever imagined!

a small assortment

2011-03-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is Cole's new dresser/ lockers. We found it on Craig's List and got a great deal. I dont know who was more excited about them, Cole because they are "cool" or me because it's too tall to stack things on top!

School was out for a snow day and I put the kids to work cleaning out their rooms. It was a job needing done for a Looooong time, but we couldn't seem to find the time to do it. I was the mean mom that day and not wanting that bad name to stick, I made lunch fun. Do you like our "School of Tunafish"?

(yes, they are tuna sandwiches)

Finally! I have been collecting the letters for several months now and they have been piling up on the floor under where they are now. Everyone in the family has their first initial and then the "t's" are obviously the family surname. We finally had a couple hours of sun so I spraypainted the ones that needed changing and got them all hung up at last. The downstairs family room is feeling a little more homey and less like a dungeon!

20 years old!

2011-02-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Happy Birthday!

Christmas

2011-02-27T23:18:00.000-08:00

We got to spend Christmas with Grandma this year. Robyn came up from school to be there with us. It was great to be together and we had a lot of fun with cousins too.

Thanksgiving Snow

2011-02-27T22:28:00.000-08:00

The first big snow of the season happened just in time for Thanksgiving Day!

We get a new family game to play every year. We love to play while we are waiting for the turkey to cook. This year's game was a big hit. Dweebies! A fun card game. It is very easy to learn but very hard to win!

Brace Face

2011-02-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Sierra is the third child of ours to get braces. We have a great orthodontist and I can't wait to see the results. If the results of her sisters are any indication then we will be seeing a big beautiful smile to match the beautiful girl in no time! What you cant see in the picture is she had to get braces and a retainer at the same time!

Halloween Highlights

2011-01-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

Stake Youth Halloween Dance
She makes a beautiful greek goddess!

girls from the ward

Ward Halloween Party

Where are John and Cole? Duck hunting was still open, so we partied without them. (They think they partied without us- go figure!)

Cross Country

2010-10-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hailey ran cross country again for Team Moose!

The Poor Thing! She ate five pancakes before the race! She said that was the worst stomache ache she had ever had! Not only that but, she stopped in the middle of the race to help a friend who had fallen and she still came in 8th! Way to go! I am super proud of you!

Sierra also ran cross country for the Junior High School. Unfortunately all her meets were after school on Tuesdays. (the same day I teach piano lessons) She says it was fun and she improved upon her time thoughout the entire season! Good Job, Sierra!

Interception!

2010-10-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Cole had a great game against the Badgers! Cole is white number 95 in the pictures below. The ball is in the air just left of the Domino's sign. He got the interception at the 10 yard line and they didn't get him down until the 40! Way to go!

This is the same game after the hand-off. He looks like he is the model for the trophies!

Cole vs Goliath! That is Cole up against Blue #81!

THE SPAM MEAT CONNECTION
Cole believes eating Spam is good luck for him on game day. Here is the story. We try to expose the kids to different foods from around the world. One night when we were eating something new the kids mentioned Spam and how they liked eating new kinds of food but they would not, no matter what, be eating Spam! Well, being the "mean" parents we are we knew we had to give it to them because we didn't want them having the attitude that they are too good to eat something. Soon after this we served Spam for dinner just before Cole had a basketball game. They liked it! He had a great game that night and his coach said, "I don't know what you fed that boy but keep giving it to him!" Of couse we all laughed at this! So Friday night he brought me a can of spam from the pantry and asked if we could have it for breakfast before the game on Saturday. (pictured above) I made spam and eggs on english muffins and he had another great game! It looks like I'll be buying Spam by the case from now on!

Seeing the World with New Eyes

2010-09-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

We had the amazing experience of being tour guides for a family from Korea! JY Son works for the same company as John and had to work here for two months. He brought his family with him. (wife-Soon, daughter-Jiwan, son-Gwan and mother Ok Yeong). We got the opportunity to take them to Yellowstone Park, Jackson Hole, and a Blue Angels air show. You might be thinking, "So what? Been there, done that." I know, but it was an experience I will never forget. We traveled in separate cars and moved caravan style through the Rocky Mountains. I gained a new appreciation for the beauty and variety of the world around me. We truly live in a beautiful part of the country. I have been blessed to be able to live here and raise my children here too. Every mountain vista, every wild animal, every flower and mountain stream I saw was like seeing it for the first time. I remembered the wonder I felt when my family first moved to Montana. I wondered if they were bored or too tired from all the driving to notice the things I saw. As it turns out each time we stopped to rest they would go on and on about everything they saw! They had a great time and it was fun to see them enjoying it as much as me.
Everyone was a little nervous at first about traveling with people we didn't know. It is a good thing they could speak some English because we didn't know a bit of Korean. Conversation was difficult but then we learned to enunciate better and they became more confident in their English so it was easier at the end.

I will always be grateful for the chance to make new friends and remember the blessings I have been given by my Heavenly Father.

Golfing, it's harder than it looks!

2010-08-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Brook has played on the high school golf team for two years now. She is getting pretty good at it and participated in a few youth golf association tournaments this summer. (I would like to have more pictures of her golfing but I cant figure out how to get my camera to be quiet! As soon as she begins a swing all you can hear is "click, click, click!" It doesn't seem loud until you are on a golf course or a driving range!) Anyway, she is a good sport about going out with the family and giving us pointers. The younger kids and John are picking it up pretty well. As for me? No comment!

Crazy Mail!

2010-07-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

So this is Robyn. Mom said that the only way I was allowed to get the pictures off her camera was if I put them up on the blog, so here we go!

I got a banana in the mail! My friend Tyler Mertz, who is currently in the MTC, heard somewhere that the post office would mail a banana as long as there is a stamp and an address. So he tried. I got such a surprise today that is for sure.

Independence Day

2010-07-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July! I love that I live in America! I don't want to be anywhere else.

We had a great day. Church was wonderful. It was good to feel gratitude for ALL our blessing including the opportunities we have living in this great nation. I feel blessed in too many ways to count.

After church we had some friends over to the house. It was too cold to hold the BBQ outside so we stayed in. John grilled the meat of course. After we ate enough to last all week we sat down and played a marathon game of Catan. It lasted from dinner until dark. As we were putting the game away we realized how dark it had gotten. We almost missed the neighborhood show!

This photo was fun. I can't believe how perfect it came out.

The Kids

This was the cake I made to celebrate the holiday. It looks pretty non-decript but then...

TA-DAH!

Happy Independence Day! Thank you to everyone who made and are making sacrifices to make and keep us free.

New Camera

2010-06-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to ME! John totally scored big with this birthday gift! I have wanted a camera for a very long time and when we finally went through the 3rd cheap camera in 2 years he decided it was time to stop buying and time to invest! (More likely he got tired of me ~~whining~~ not being happy with the results I would get with the point and shoot versions!). Whatever the reason, I am THRILLED! I have been having a blast with this new "toy". I have a ton to learn...but it is the fun kind of learning. Here is some of what I have been able to do so far. PLEASE remember... I am not a professional nor do I play one on TV or in Blog-land. It's just me having a good time. (If you want to help my family then you can come over and let me photograph you because I think my family is getting tired of me being my photo guinea pigs!)

This is one from my first "photo session" Hailey was a good sport and when the wind picked up this is what we got!

This is from the YW's 5 mile hike last saturday.

This is totally legit! The kids were really playing monopoly and I was playing with different lighting and focus settings.

I am thinking of putting this in B&W and then getting different game pictures for the new family room.

The kids had just come in from playing in the rain. Ususally I am annoyed when they leave their shoes by the door but now I look at everything and think, "This would make a great picture!" (I know, they are just boots, but I like it.)

This one is legit too! Brook was making cookies and I was getting on her nerves!

Maybe I'll write that cook book I have been dreaming about.

I have taken hundreds of pictures since my birthday (it's only been two weeks). I don't like them all and I wont be keeping all of them. There are a lot that I do like. There is no way I could post or even frame them all. But I figure that if I take a lot of pictures I'm bound to find a few that work. Hopefully as I practice it won't take so many bad pics to get to those good ones.

41st Birthday

2010-06-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well, 41. I never pictured myself here. I could see myself as a young mother with toddlers and small children. I could see myself retired and perhaps on a mission. For some reason I never really thought about what I would be like in the middle. It feels good. So I wanted to take some time and figure out who is this person I am now and enjoy it. I feel a little silly writing about myself so I'll just make a list, it is easier and more comfortable.
-I am a wife
-and mother of 5
-happy to be a "Stay at Home Mom"
-wish I could stay at home more!
-Love the gospel.
-Love our family motto "No Empy Chairs" It holds lots of meaning for us. ask me about it and I'll be happy to share
-Love that there is a priesthood holder in my home!
-Love that he uses it for me and others.
-Always get answers to my prayers. wish I always liked the answers
-love to read
-started a book club (it's in it's 3rd year now)
-love to cook but hate to do dishes
-love it when a new recipe works out and tastes great too!
-try to keep my house and family organized and efficient
-Enjoy setting a timer to help me get my work done (I'd rather do someting fun but cant enjoy it until the work is done)
-one of the best compliments I have received from a friend..."Your house always smells like bread!" (just wish it were true)
-best compliment from my kids..."Wow Mom! You're smart!"...thank you for noticing
-best compliment from my husband..."You did a good job."...ahhh, the satisfaction
-Young Women's leader (have been for most of my adult life)
-Love teenage girls- quirks and all
-I am my kids biggest fan
-try not to be the loud parent in the bleachers(it still happens sometimes)
-get annoyed with other drivers
-my kids remind me that other drivers cant hear me when I tell them how to drive!
-becoming more patient with those drivers (it's an effort)
-enjoy reading blogs of other people especially other moms who keep it real and have great craft/home/photography ideas
-tried to get into scrapbooking-hated it. too much stuff and equipment- Started a blog instead
-learning how to upholstery -I will probably never do it again after this first project (pictures to follow)
-learning photography- having a blast! Thanks John, for the perfect birthday gift!
-Love a nap on Sunday afternoon.
-Love that my kids are building a special relationship with their Grammy. Not everyone has the opportunity to have a grandparent live with them.
-Voluteer with the Office of Emergency Management-I've seen a lot of things I hope to never see again
and seen some miracles happen and love the energy that happens when people work together
-wore a BYU football tshirt at Walmart and was treated rudely
-Love to be super nice to rude people just to watch them squirm!
-Enjoy a good game of Settlers of Catan. (especially if i win!)
-I am not a good sport. I am getting better (another effort)
-Talking about Personal Progress makes me smile
-a list maker. I love to cross things off as I complete them. (confession- I even add things to my list just so I can cross it off too!-pathetic!)
-Love it when my kids sit on my lap - even when my legs fall asleelp
-have great friends. They are all different, all beautiful, all talented, smart and fun. And they are all real!
-find mistakes in my bank account almost every time I reconcile! it's getting better, yes, another effort
-would rather not roncile my bank accounts. John is better at it anyway. but I know it is important! bleh!
-Love the variety of bird song outside my bedroom window in the morning.
-looking forward to building our house. Not looking forward to the work. Looking forward to having it done.
-Want to make our home a farm home.
-Farm home = good feelings, good food, self sustaining, work and fun. It's a lofty goal but I believe attainalbe
-Feel enormous satisfaction when completing very small goals! most especially when they add up to a big one
-cant stand it when people eat while talking on the phone. Had a friend who talked to me while on the toilet. I hung up the first time I heard her flush, then I got used to it and now it just makes me laugh!
-teach piano lessons after school. I love it. (just dont like the "donkey song" I am sick of it!
-love it that my husband always calls me during his lunch break
-My comfort food...definately Mexican!

-Family, it's what I do.
-LDS Woman. It's who I am.

SPRING!

2010-06-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

KOREA

John got to go to Korea again. This is the view from his hotel in Seoul. Notice the garden on top of the building. He didn't have time for sight-seeing as he was very busy at a rolling mill in Yeongju. When I asked him why he didn't bring home "travel" pictures he just laughed and said, "I was working." So, if you ask an obvious question, you get an obvious answer!

"OLD LADY"

This is where I spent most of the month of March after having surgery to repair cartilage in my hip. I have heard that manditory bedrest is terrible but I was very spoiled by family and friends. I have to admit I rather enjoyed the break. There is not much better in life than to smell breakfast cooking while you are still in bed!

This is a sweet card the girls in Young Women made for me. They are so fun!

TREES, TREES, TREES

We have planted 75 trees! There are already Ponderosa Pine all over the lot. We have added White Pine, Douglas Fir, Spruce, Poplar, and Sugar Maples. The Poplars and Maples alternate on both sides of the lane. I am very excited for them to grow in. The display will be marvelous! We have also planted Elberta Peaches and Honey Crisp apples. I have never had fruit trees before so I am enjoying learning how to care for them.

(The little white "house" in the background of this picture is the chicken coop. It looks like a playhouse to me!)

Light was fading fast on this evening but we got a fun suprise. As the sun was setting the geese and ducks began their nightly migration from the farms on the prarie back to the lake. Their path goes right over where we will live. They didn't seem to be too afraid of us and as the light faded they traveled closer and closer to the tops of the trees.

"Spring" Break

We traveled to Utah and southern Idaho for spring break. We got to visit Robyn and John's brother, sisters and parents. The pictures from Easter didn't turn out but this is the travel conditions we had on the way home! I love living in Idaho!

Arrow of Light

2010-05-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Cole has moved on from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. We are all very proud of him. I am feeling a little sad about not having a Cub. There is not much cuter than a boy in a Cub uniform, (think of the Disney movie "Up!") and there are no more pinewood derbies for us. But, I am so excited for the new adventures he has ahead of him! This is going to be a fun ride!

The ceremony was great. It was done at the Blue and Gold banquet. Older boys from another troop came and presented the program. They were dressed in traditional native american garb and represented the winds from the four corners of the world sent to give guidance and blessings to the boys who were crossing the bridge into the scouting world. They did a very nice job. A young boy stood up at the end of the program and proclaimed "That was awsome!" He was absolutely right.

Hailey's Baptism

2010-01-10T18:34:00.001-08:00

January 9, 2010 was a special day for Hailey! It was baptism day.

I hope she will always remeber this special time with her dad. We are all very proud of her.

The day was made even better because she shared it with two very special friends! Gabby, Lily and Hailey were all so beautiful. Congratualtions to all!

Here and There

2010-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

Brook and her friend, Olivia planned a youth dance and invited all the wards in the stake as part of the Young Women's program. The decorations were beautiful and they had a good turn out. I think everyone had a great time.

We bought a 5 acre lot outside of town early this fall. It has water, electricity, a barn and a chicken coop but no house. We are excited to start working on that in the spring. It should be an adventure, wish us luck!

Hailey was an elf in the school production of "The Incredible Reindeer".

Cole's Cub Scout den helped the city in raising the flag at the beginning to the community holiday celebrations.

Fall Sports

2010-01-10T16:58:00.001-08:00

Hailey played basketball in the Parks and Recreation program. This picture shows her with her coach, Erin. Hailey played several postions and scored a basket during game-play! She learned a lot and we had fun watching her!

Cole played football again this year. His first year in the Junior Tackle program. He had a great time playing corner on defense and wide receiver on offense. We had a lot of fun drinking hot chocolate in the stands and trying to stay warm!

2010-01-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. I'm settling in well and having a blast. I didn't even get lost on the first day. It was cake:) The first night I was here I went to the basketball game against Eastern New Mexico and it was sooo fun. Cosmo (the mascot) even came up to where my row was and I got pictures. Here are a couple and I hope all is well.

Love Robyn

Robyn Leaving

2009-12-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

This is Robyn learning how to blog. Mom threatened me with my life that I need to learn how to 1. blog 2. facebook and 3. call a lot. This is just to leave for four months! Anyway, I hope this works.

Here is a picture of my antelope from this fall. The horns are 13.5 inches long on both sides and scores about 71 pts. B&C. It was a super fun weekend and we were not attacked by the wolves one canyon over from our camp. I had a tag for one anyway though.

Love to all, Robyn

More pics from St. Joseph Lake trip

2009-12-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

Catching Up!

2009-11-28T20:01:00.001-08:00

Before I begin let me get my excuses out of the way. We had some major computer problems but thanks to John and his SUPER computer skills that is behind us and we were able to retrieve all our files. We are so blessed.
So, I have a lot of catching up to do. I think it will take more than one post to fill in all that was missed. Please be patient and I will get it all done.

We decided to try a new adventure as a family. Back Country Backpacking. We live in a beautiful part of the country and feel we should take advantage of the opportunities available. So we all planned together and set off full of excitement and bravado! A long story made short is this, eight hours later and in the full dark we were back at the car! We miscalculated the time it would take to get to St Joseph lake and the water availability along the way. We did see the lake from a distance but rather than risk our family's safety we decided to cut our losses and head back. We are using the experience of this trip as a chance to learn and prepare and to try again next summer. We all had a great time together and memories to keep so I'll call the trip a success!

Brook spent a week at the BYU campus for AFY and a few weeks with extended family. She still talks about what she learned there and keeps in touch with new friends but I am glad to have her home.

Cole discovered the value of a dollar and a car window! Hopefully the lesson was well learned!

I thought you'd get a kick out of the "Snorklers" and be more likely to forgive the time lag between posts. I think those two are hilarious! Leave it to them never to be bored!

4 wheelin' fun

2009-07-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

Wind in your hair, dirt on your face! It's gotta be fun!

Bear Lake

2009-07-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

We spent one day of a family reunion at Bear Lake in Northen Utah. It was a blast. The weather and the water were perfect. Hailey let go of her water inhabitions and is now like a fish. We are all very proud of her! Brook spent most of the day lounging on a float out from the beach. Robyn played in the sand and read on the beach. Sierra, Cole, and Hailey had tons of cousins to play with. John and I tried to keep from getting burned! A fun time was had by all.

At the end of the day we stoped at the Bear Cave in Paris. It is a little burger joint on the highway leaving the lake. Raspberry milkshakes really hit the spot!

Rocky the Rockchuck

2009-07-17T17:17:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa's farm has a lot of Rock chucks.

Hailey decided she wanted one for a pet.

So John gets this great idea!

If Hailey will make a cage for one then he will catch one for her!

She named her future pet "Rocky" the Rockchuck.
She fulfilled her end of the bargain... so did John!

"Unforutnately" Rocky was able to bust out of his confines and made his escape back out to the fields.

I think both Hailey and John had a great time!

Recent events

2009-07-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Robyn Graduated From High School! I cant believe how fast the time has gone! She is off to BYU in January! Good Luck!

After beating out the local competition Cole was invited to participate in the Idaho State Hershey's track meet. It was a very exciting day!

the cheering section

2009-06-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

Teton Dam Race

2009-06-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

One year ago I never would have thought about running in any race let alone a 13.2 mile half marathon! But here I am!

I have running friends who encouraged me to come running with them. It was a good time to be outside and visit with other women a few times a week. It turns out that I enjoyed it! I remember the first time I ran 3 miles. I told Katrina about the goal of going that far. She ran with me encouraging me the whole way. I wanted to stop but didn't want to be a quitter. Now I am happy I didn't stop. It has been tough but I have kept going. I've had my share of shin-splints and blisters and tears (the first time I ran 6 miles), I even was tripped once by a dog! But I have had enough good days (the first time I ran 10 miles) to keep me going for more!

Thanks to all you running partners: Joanne, Joni, Katrina, Kim and Travis. Thanks for the encouragment, the support, and the talking on training runs!

Thanks to my family for allowing me the time to train, for the ice bags, for being my biggest fans, and all the love you give.

New already

2009-06-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hey! I am getting this! I like the snow scene MUCH better!

A new adventure

2009-06-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Here I am, trying something new. Friends have been trying to get me to do this for a while. The timing is finally right and I am jumping in!
This first version is a little dull but I am hoping to make improvements as I learn more. Wish me luck!