ATV and Camping

For the past several years we have gone on a camping trip for Tucker's birthday....This was the first time Payton was able to go. She is a very good camper.

4-wheeling is a dirty job but someone has to do it.

Emily

Tucker---Happy 6th Birthday

We went on a Hike, Tucker rolled his eyes when I talked about the hike, he says grandma it was just a walk, but.....it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

This is Susan, she has her foot in the cold, cold water, why? Well she went on a ATV ride and she thought the ATV was headed over the embankment, so she bailed. The ATV rolled to a stop, on the road, and so did Susan. My helmet lost a visor and Susan has road rash, and bruises. Thankfully she is okay.

Mark caught several fish in Crooked River, but he threw them back.

The Cousins, had a lot of fun.

The last day Susan got back on the ATV, she drove a lot slower this time.

Mike's parents usually come camping with us, but they couldn't make it this year. And John and Nicole thought it might be a bit hard camping with a newborn, maybe next year.

A PERFECT FIT

Hadley is a wonderful big sister. She has already changed a diaper. ( Her other grandma is just out of the picture, just in case)


Last weekend, kept me very busy. I was surprised, I enjoyed it so much. I thought I would be tired come Monday morning, but no. Last Friday after work, I picked up Emily, Tucker and Hadley-- so we could have a sleep over. Gary was on an over night camp trip, and since Mike was with him, Amy came later in the evening to spend the night too. She doesn't like spending the night alone Anyway, when I picked Hadley up, I held Jillian, and I thought to myself how wonderful it felt to hold such a tiny baby in my arms, she fit perfectly. Friday night while we were watching a Disney movie, Hadley jumped in my arms and hugged my neck during a scary part. I thought how great is was to have a 3 1/2 year old in my arms...she fit perfectly. Saturday morning, I left Amy and kids and headed to Susan's to Baby sit Payton, Susan and her husband were with friends floating the Payette river. I enjoyed spending time with Payton, I held her in my arms and rocked her, and it felt so great to hold a seven month baby in my arms, she fit perfectly. I'm sure Emily 10 and Tucker 5 would have fit perfectly in my arms, but they were busy playing with and entertaining their cousins.

Amy brought Emily and Tucker, over to help watch Payton. Emily is helping Payton stand, it won't be long before she is walking all over the house.

Sunday, Susan had a bridal shower for my niece, Erin. She and Andy will be married the end of August. I wish them a long and happy marriage.

This weekend, I stayed home, and did house work....a little anyway.

Rain.....again.

Last weekend we went camping above Idaho City, we knew the chances of being rained on was about 70%, but we decided to go anyway. Friday we took off on a trail that Gary knew wouldn't be open yet, but the guys just wanted to see how far they could get. I ended up getting the ATV stuck in the snow and muck. But the guys had a great time using the winch to get me out. We kept going until my son-in-law got stuck....Amy and I decided we had gone far enough.

They guys also got to remove trees.

The kids had a great time playing in the snow. Before we could get back to the trailers, it started to rain. It rained so hard we looked and felt like drowned rats. I decided that there are a few good things about the rain.

1. We had the road all to ourselves. No one else dumb enough to leave the camp ground.

2. Didn't need to worry about sun burn.

3. Didn't need sun glasses

4. Didn't have to eat dust.

5. Didn't need to stop for a drink.....rain just poured off the helmets into our mouth and down our necks.

The next day was much better, we at least made it to the trailers before the rain hit. The above picture was taken Sunday, a clear day but, kinda cold. We drove along the Middle Fork of the Boise River. I found the river scary, it was running fast and high.

But can you imagine how this person felt? We stopped to make sure no one was still in the car. It just might be their luckiest day ever.

ATV TRIP TO SILVER CITY, IDAHO

Amy, Mike, Emily, Tucker, Gary and I rode the ATV's to Silver City. We were trying to decide where to have lunch and a man in a big truck told us that there were picnic tables on the other side of the creek.... we shouldn't have any trouble driving the ATV's across, he said. And we didn't, except it was deep, a man yelled put your feet up, but I didn't and I ended up wet.

So we had a nice lunch, and crossed the creek again and I ended up even wetter......

We found a trail that someone said would take us to an old mine. We crossed this creek about four times, didn't matter I was already wet.

The snow melt finds the easiest route down the mountain, sometimes it's the road.

I guess this is what's left of the mine.

We took the trail until the snow blocked the road. Then we headed back to Silver City. It started to rain. Then it started to pour, then it started to hail and then there was thunder, but it didn't matter cause I was already wet.

So was everyone else.

Don't know if you can see it, but there is hail on Mike's ATV. So we did the only thing we could, we went inside and had homemade pie and ice cream.

Strawberry Rubarb, Marion Berry, Dutch Apple, and Lemon Meringue.

We drove back to the Trucks, wet, cold, tired. But we had a wonderful time.

Emily's Dance Recital

Saturday evening Gary and I went to Emily's Dance Recital. She did a great job. In fact she was the best dancer in her group.....Well I'm pretty sure she was, I mean I didn't really watch any of the other dancers. I only had eyes for her.

Tucker, Hadley, Emily

Proud mommy. Busy mommy..... Emily was in 8 dances and 1 tumbling routine, Amy was back stage helping Emily change into her costumes.

More Easter Bunnie babies-And a Volcano

Emily and Tucker came over after the Church Easter party, Yesterday---I needed the Bunnie ear pictures and I wanted to give them their Easter baskets.

Hadley came over today, for her picture and a trip to Jordon Craters

This is looking into Coffeepot Crater--See Gary the white spot in the middle. A few years ago we took my nephew Justin to Jordon Craters. He told his mom about the big hole, a really big hole.....but not as big as God. He's right!

This is another crater, it's not nearly as big but still scary.

Lava tubes, or as Hadley calls them "Castles"

My great nephews, Patrick and AJ and Gary. AJ (the little guy sitting) said that today was the best day ever, that was before running down the side of the big crater and doing a face plant. But even after getting scraped up, he would like to live at Jordon Craters in tents.

Here's Gary training his Militia....Wait maybe someone from Idaho shouldn't joke about the militia.

this is a view of the south side of Coffeepot Crater, and where AJ did his face plant. He started running down the side and before anyone had time to tell him to slow down, he hit the flat area and just went over. He was brave and shook it off and had a wonderful time.

I would like to say how thankful I am that they got the Ship's Captain back from the Pirates----

GO NAVY--

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Easter.

March Fun?

First---I can never get my pictures in the right order, when I up/download them......so these pics are all messed up. Anyway Gary and I try to take a few days off in March for spring fun. In 2006 we went to Kalispell to see my son John, his wife Nicole and baby Hadley. We also visited Glacier Park.

2007 --This is Gary in CA visiting his grandkids-He went to CA for business but took a couple of days for fun.

In 2006 we also went to Moab with my daughter Amy and her husband and kids. We had a great time exploring the area. This year we will be staying close to home for the month of March and for the next few months. Why? Well we are getting an upgraded to our computer program, and we (people at work) will be spending a lot of time (weekends) getting all the master files entered and learning the system. We have a go live date set for the end of April---Here's hoping for an easy transition.

Happy Birthday Emily

Today is Emily's 10th birthday. I can't believe it, seems like yesterday that her mom was 10. Emily is a sweet girl and I think someday she will be a diplomat, wait, she already is. A few years ago I asked her,.... after a full day of shopping and while eating ice cream " Who is the best grandma in the world" and she said "They all are" So all you grandmas out there----- you're the BEST, .................Emily said.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Emily and Tucker always come to trick or treat me at work. We have one lady that goes all out as you can see.She says she's a zombie but I think one of the company trucks ran over her, and backed up and ran over her again. First thing Tucker said was -I'm not afraid of you, but he didn't let her get too close.

Tucker is Indiana Jones and Emily is Hannah Montana-- notice the State theme? next year they will need to go as an Idaho Spud.

We begged the neighbors to bring their grandkids to trick or treat. We live so far out that I have to brib kids to come, I give them big bags of candy and $dollar store stuff. Emily and Tucker will come by the house tonight to see grandpa, they will stop by on the way to the Church harvest party.

PUMPKIN PATCH

Today we went to a Pumpkin Patch, we had a great time. Hadley riding a pony with her aunt Amy tagging along....just in case.

This little goat is sticking his tongue out at Hadley, naughty goat.

Our favorite animal at the petting zoo was the camel, he/she was so friendly.

We went on a Hay ride.

The kids went on a train ride, they were pulled by a lawn mower.

They wandered through the staw bale maze. We didn't take the kids through the corn maze, Hadley's mom said that she freaked out when she went with her preschool class.

The weather was perfect. Gary was shocked by how many people were there.