Our New Neighbor

This morning when Nate was getting ready for work (at 5:30 in the morning). I looked out the window in our bedroom and notice a large black thing leaning on one of the trees, and then it started to move. I quickly called Nate over to look and he said look at the tree, its eating it...

Any ideas what it might have been? Well we watched it a little more and Nate said I think its a huge beaver. So we went outside to see if we could get any closer. We got close enough it determine YES it was a beaver. Unfortunately Nate was so worried about it knocking down the tree that he scared it off before I could get my camera to prove it. But later this morning when it was day light I went out to take some picture and I am pretty sure I found his home.

So now I am on a mission to photography my new neighbor...Trust me I will post pictures as soon as I catch him again. Does anybody know, are beavers nocturnal?

Fun in the Sun

After weeks of begging to get the swimming pool out it was finally warm enough to go swimming.


I never really understood why my parents did not let us get the blow up raft we used as a swimming pool out very often in the summer. But now I understand. The amount of time that is put into the preparation and clean-up of water activities is about double the time it takes for a child to become bored with the activity.




I really love watching Rori go down the side. Gracie was not as excited about the side she preferred to just watch.


And just so you know Jessica, Gracie would not let me take off her swimsuit! She had to take her nap in it. Then when we finally got it off she was so upset that she would not put on a shirt. Everytime we got the shirt on she would take it off and just cry for her swimsuit. So she was topless for most of Saturday night.

Grandpa and the Bobcat

Over the weekend Barry was out doing some Bobcat work with Cali and Chris, and my kids were lucky enough to be passengers with Grandpa.


We would always joke that the Bobcat was Grandpa's favorite form of work. I think if you ask Gracie she would tell you that it is not work at all.


Thanks Grandpa for letting Gracie have a ride

Smashing Pennies

On Friday night my neighbor and I, along with our kids, went up to the train tracks to smash some pennies. (Great activity for young kids...right?)

After super gluing 9 pennies to the railroad tracks and watching for the train the kids got tired of waiting. So they decide to walk up the dirt side of Cemetery Hill. It is a steep but short climb.

As you can see Rori did great. She basically ran up the hill. (I kept yelling for her to wait.) As for Gracie, it was a bit too steep, and she preferred to crawl. Actually she preferred to be carried but was at least willing to try.

After and hour of climbing around on top we headed down to see if the train came. Still no train. On Saturday night we headed back to the track so we could show the kids what happened to the pennies and much to our surprise the train still had not come.

Moral...Enjoy the things around you instead of waiting for life to come!

Memorial Day Weekend

This year for Memorial Day we spent the week-end down at Nate's Grandparents house. Grandpa Ron made a rope swing and we had dutch oven pizza, and cobblers, and made the flowers to take to the graves on Sunday night. Then we all slept in Ron and Arlene's backyard. Well some of us slept outside but some chickens slept in the trailer. (Sorry!)

As we were making the flowers one of Abby's friends called her and asked her what she was doing. As she told him about making the flowers he responded, "people really go to the graves on memorial day?" I was sad, Memorial Day is one of my favorite days. I love remembering the people that have passed away and the fun happy times that we were able to share.

I am so glad that I am able to teach my children the importance of family and of the gospel and the wonderful opportunities we have to be around so many of the people we love. Thanks for the great week end, and all the memories that we are able to share.

See ...I Do Gracie's Hair

Just posting this picture to let you all know I do give Gracie baths and believe it or not I even do her hair...

Amazingly enough she does clean up really cute. It's just a matter of making sure you catch her with in the first hour of her bath.

Happy Birthday Nate

Well Nate turned 30, and for his birthday this year he wanted a splitting maul. (How exciting right.) But it turned out to be pretty fun playing with it. The girls had a great time watching and he had a great time hitting the wood.






Way to go Nate. Even if I do make fun of him for being so into the END OF THE WORLD. I love him and all the efforts he takes to make sure his family will be well take care of not matter how or when the end of the world comes. love you Nate!