Kenna's first full day of school!

It was Kennedy's first day of 1st grade yesterday! Oh, she looked so cute and was so excited to go. We had back to school night on Tues. and were able to meet her teacher. Her teacher seems really friendly and experienced which I think is great. She sits by a boy from our ward so it will be nice that they have something in common. It is hard having her gone all day, she is my helper but I am excited for her education and expanding her horizons! Watch out world here comes Kenna.

Update on my garden.

Our garden is growing like crazy, and it is so much fun and overwhelming at the same time. One of the hardest parts this year is the hundreds, yes I said hundreds, of grasshoppers that have decided that they really like my garden and flower beds. I have read a little bit about how to get rid of them and it seems that unless you have live chickens or fowl most likely they won't go away. The picture with the pink flower is really not suppose to be artistic but to show the ugly little buggers up close. Whenever we walk by the garden or flower beds it is like they can move because the grasshoppers start jumping all over. It is quite disgusting. Next post I will show the contraption Josh built for capturing them, it is humorous. Okay the varments have done damage on a couple of tomato plants and a few pepper plants, but the fruit seems to still be in contact. Cross your fingers that it stays that way. Now onto the positive. The cucs and zucchini are wonderful and I cannot wait to try the spaghetti squash. I really think I could feed the entire lane with squash this year. We already have about 14 good sized squash. I am looking forward to the tomatos and canning salsa. Today I picked quite a few jalepeno peppers. Kennedy said this morning "Our garden is really fun". I think she was referring to eating what has grown but it could be because they like to catch those horrible grasshoppers.

A Week of Fun!

Last week was a fun one. The older kids stayed with Grandpa Dave, Grandma Audrey, Jason, Cori, and their kids for a few days. Kenna and Boston had a blast. Water parks, picnics, forts, bike riding, you name it and they did it. I missed them but I knew they were being taken care of and having the time of their lives. So on Thurs. I went to Twin Falls to pick up the kids. We were able to visit with Grandma T for a little while and then say our good-byes. It was hard especially because Boston just loves uncle Jason so much. Then the kids and I headed to the open house for the Twin Falls Temple. Well I cannot say my experience was as grand as my sister in law's but it was nice. Boston was a regular boy and it was hard being by myself with all three kids, but I know my prayers were heard because the wife of the tour guide stayed in the back and helped me take care of Boston. I will forever be grateful. And even though I was on edge the whole time, afterwards when Kennedy was asking questions made it all worth it. The Temple is beautiful and it was neat to take my kids in before it is dedicated. The State flower of Idaho, the syringa, is patterened through out the Temple. Kennedy and I had fun looking for it in the carpets, windows, iron work, everywhere. Even though it didn't end up being a super reverent time for me it still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it. I really think they will remember this forever. After the Temple, and some amazing cookies, we ventured out to Shoshone Falls. It was such a neat waterfall, and the sounds were amazing. .

Beets!

Here is our first crop of beets. We pickled them and they are good good! We love our garden.

A Great Place but even better Friends!

Most of the pictures are worth a thousand words. We had a ton of fun with the Bennett's in Island Park. Their whole family was able to be there and we were excited to be a part of it. Too bad I don't have pictures of the one big room with 30, yes that's right I said 30, beds in it. Four playpens, 17 kids and how ever many adults it was tonz of fun and total craziness when bedtime came. We spent a day in Yellowstone at Old Faithful and some hot pots, went swimming a ton, had some traditional reunion stuff and ate like it was the last time we ever would. MMmmm, good. We traveled home through Jackson Hole and Bear Lake and we even got to stop at La Beau's, too bad I didn't get a raspberry shake. So in between no sleep and Boston throwing up we had fun. It was great to be around our friends from WA and to get to know the family that did not live there while we did. We miss them a lot! Oh but we did get to have them all stay at our place Sat. night, it was awesome and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Mindi, Griff's party was the week before so I am not amazing just a couple weeks behind in blogging. Hee, Hee!
So enough words look at the pics.

Griffy turns 1!!!

So it happened all too quickly! Our Griff has turned one year old. He is such a cutie and a good baby, except when he is teething but let's not get into that. He brings me so much happiness and joy. He is sweet beyond compare. He took his first steps about 6 days before his birthday and has been trying more and more everyday. He loves to play with Kennedy, and sometimes Boston when Boston isn't trying to harm him. He loves to play on the stairs, okay not that safe but we are usually watching. He loves to be outside and loves to take baths. His newest curiosity has taken him to the toilet, yuck. Now all doors must be closed and seats down. He is a total momma's boy but loves to smile at anybody as long as I am holding him. He has all his teeth except for canines along with that comes a beautiful smile and contagious giggle. He loves to play pattie-cake and is getting really good at all the actions. Griff looks a lot like Kennedy and has a very similar build. Griffy has followed Kenna's growing pattern and therefore will probably be a skinny bum his whole life.
As you can see at his party he didn't like his cake very much. I must say the cake was AWESOME! Thanks Jess. I think the Ross Reunion the day before really tuckered him out. So when he wouldn't eat any Josh decided to shove his face in it, So sad yet a little humorous. After a nap on the floor during wii homerun derby he was ready to go again. Thanks all for coming it was a great day!!

A little of what has been going on!

This is a long post with a lot of pictures. We have been busy and had lots of fun. Enjoy!
So the last few days have been full of fun and very busy. We started out last Wed. going up Logan canyon and spending some time with my great friend Natalie and her family. It was so much fun. Our kids get along so well and finally Josh and Justin we able to meet. No pics of this because we took them all with Nat's nice camera.
Then Josh had a couple of days off for the 4th of July. I am so grateful to live in this free land. I cannot begin to express how I feel. I got all choked up singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at Church last week. It is not something I think about often enough but for others, like my friend Brooke, it is on their minds everyday. Having such great people defend our country so long ago and this very minute, they are making such a huge sacrifice for us. Thanks to all those that serve our Country, you are great and always in our prayers for your safe return.
On a lighter note. We spent Thurs. at the pool and it was lots of fun. I was glad that Josh was with us. Boston only escaped once and we found him at the top of the huge slide. I wish I had a picture to show how high it was. Funny, but not. The little stinker. Despite my best efforts and sunscreen Josh and I got toasted and poor Kennas cheekers got burned. Thank heaven for sunshirts. Thurs night we enjoyed the Logan fireworks with a wonderful view from Gossner's. It really was the perfect place. Griff would go "OOOOO" and point and Kenna and Boston really liked them as well.
Friday we headed off to Mantua to camp with Mom. Nikki's fam was there and we all had a great time. Thanks mom for the good food and thanks Nikki for letting my kids mooch. Walker, Kennedy and Halleigh found a fun stream that was beautiful, and it had a rope swing that went over the creek. It was fun until the camper's who paid for the spot came and kicked us out. j/k.
Saturday we were able to see Halleigh get baptized. What a wonderful day it was and we are so pround of her and her decision to be baptized. Jessika and Gary put on a fantastic bbq and we had a great time visiting. About 1pm Nikki and I headed up to the salon for hair-do's. Audrey came into town and got fixed up as well. Thanks Nikki, we are beautiful once again. Hee, Hee. That night we took Audrey and Dave to meet my fam at the Logan Cruise In. It was so cool to see all the antique cars. The kids had a blast!! Especially my dad. Yes I consider him a kid when it comes to classic cars, he gets so so excited. After the cars we went and pitched some more horseshoes. DAve and I whooped Josh and Audrey!! Hey and I got my first ringer. Wahooo!
Well, that was a lot and we are very tired. Now for a few days at home to clean up before our next adventure. And a big shout out to Brad and Jen and their inventro process. Congrats and Good Luck!! Love you.