Summer Adventures Begin

Our summer is off to a busy start! We were fortunate enough to get into the first session of swim lessons. Even though we've only had a couple cold windy mornings, we're grateful to have an indoor swimming pool. The kids have done great! My only expectation was for them to build up some confidence and overcome a fear of the water. They are both swimming! They're not quite ready for the swim team but they are moving forward in the water, with purpose. Success!

(That's Zane, swimming with his face in the water, next to the swim coach.)

Last weekend Scott and I celebrated our 15th anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been that long! Scott was actually able to get the weekend off so we left the little ones with Brit and headed to Utah. (Morgan's first sleepover without me! She only got two canker sores and she slept good.)  

Scott was anxious to visit Smith and Edwards and then we made a stop at the Logan temple. The temple was busy with weddings and it was exciting to see families gathered, waiting for their brides and grooms to appear. We each ate our weight in Mexican food and managed to eat some Cold Stone Creamery ice cream as well. Then we went into food comas. Luckily we had a super comfy bed to sleep in. The next day we drove to Bear Lake and took the scenic route back to Idaho. Who knew there was a Paris, Idaho?

(Paris Tabernacle- www.visitidaho.org)

When we returned home Sunday evening, it seemed that our old dog, Tucker, was having a great deal of difficulty walking. Monday morning he appeared to be doing better and was on the porch as we left for swim lessons. He even joined us for a pizza picnic in the yard that afternoon. He's had a hard time getting around since he retired a few years ago, but on good days he loves to explore the yard and pasture or just follow the kids on their bikes.

Tuesday, Tucker was on the porch when we left for swimming, sprawled out in a patch of sunshine. He wasn't on the porch when we came home. Not too unusual. We weren't home long and then left again and we were gone most of the afternoon. When we returned for dinner, I saw Tucker in the yard and thought he must be feeling pretty good. Then I noticed he seemed to be struggling to walk again. 

We hurried and ate dinner and then took Morgan to the church for her activity. Tucker was still in the yard when Zane and I returned home and I wondered if he had been on the porch since morning. I walked up to him and he collapsed at my feet. Zane hurried and got his water bowl and I helped Tucker drink. He guzzled three bowls of water which confirmed my suspicion that he hadn't been able to get up on the porch.

Tucker was finally able to stand up and I guided/drug him to the trailer where he sleeps at night. He again collapsed in his bed, on his head. He weighs more than my children but I managed to get him straightened out and tried to make him comfortable. What to do?

We picked up Morgan and I was getting the kids ready for bed when Scott called. (He was moving cows in Montana and still on the road, four hours away.) I told him what was going on and he didn't know what to do either. Once everyone was tucked in, I crawled into bed, exhausted, to wait for Scott. I fell asleep around midnight and barely remember him coming in about 2:30. (22 hour work days really stink!)

After breakfast I made Scott come to the trailer with me. Tucker was barely able to lift his head and having difficulty breathing. Scott called the vet that comes to the ranch but he wouldn't be out for a few days. Too long to wait. I found another vet nearby and helped Scott wrap and load Tucker into the back of the truck.

And then I got the kids and we were off for swim lessons and scout activities and speech therapy and all the adventures of the day. But when we returned home, our fluffy door mat wasn't there to great us and wag his tail.

Excuses

I can't seem to keep up on my blogging. 

But I have some good excuses!

In high school, I had a boss who would always say, "Excuses are like noses, everyone has them." He was right. So here are mine:

1. I feel like I can't keep up with technology. Things change and by the time I figure them out they are changing again. 

No! I am NOT old!

2. Time moves faster every day and so there just isn't time to do everything I want to. This includes blogging, reading, and washing dishes. 

I want to, but there just isn't time.

3. You will notice a direct correlation to the decrease in posts with the time we started trying to identify Morgan's learning challenges. I continue to spend A LOT of time researching her conditions and things I can do to help her understand this big, scary world.

4. Related to number three, I also spend a great deal of time taking sweet Morgan to therapies and helping her complete homework assignments. 

(I may or may not have typed her entire DARE essay. I'll never tell.)

5. I also try to make sure I am giving Zane his fair share of time and attention. I have to get him to football practice and scout activities. He is VERY patient and kind and often offers to help complete Morgan's homework as well. (He may or may not have helped her write sentences for her spelling words, on more than one occasion. Again, we're not telling.)

6. I also have to give Brittany and her family their fair share of my time and attention. This requires sending multiple text messages, face timing, and getting together with them as much as possible. 

It's a lot of work but our grandson is getting more ADORABLE everyday and we don't want to miss any of it!

7. My husband works crazy hours and so I must be ready to haul bulls, check fence, or purchase horse shoes with him at the drop of a hat. When he calls, I drop everything and put on my boots. I may not see him again until bed time!

8. Trying to help those living with an anxiety disorder can be a bit exhausting. It takes effort to always be the calm one. It also requires a lot of spiritual guidance. I find myself on my knees now more than I ever have before. 

And that's okay.

9. Teaching the Gospel Doctrine class in my ward also requires a lot of spiritual guidance. Although I don't teach every week, I find myself preparing and pondering and planning every day.

10. And just to make it an even number, I have dishes to wash. 

Always. Every day. The dishes are never done!

So, there you have it. My excuses. And now it's summer so I have a lawn to mow, swimming lessons, picnics at the park, and bike rides to attend to. I make no promises, but I will try to share.

Where did you come from? Where did you go?

When I sprained my ankle last summer, I thought I would have all this time to post all of these wonderful things on my blog. But I found other things to do instead. When I was sitting inside, I would work on family history. When I hobbled outside, I would sit and play catch and help design relay races for my kids. When I felt real adventurous, I took them to the lake where I could sit and watch them play in the water. There was no way I was going to let an injury stop all the summer fun!

In addition to gymnastics, Morgan participated in the Summer Exploration event at the middle school and Zane played baseball. Morgan had a little whiplash from a fall when we were in Oregon so we also had regular visits to the chiropractor to treat her injury. (We all need bubble wrap!)

 The kids wanted to celebrate their birthdays at the Oregon Coast so we made another trip to Oregon. We had a great time at the ocean and Morgan decided she would like to live there and eat shrimp kabobs every day. We visited the aquarium, the science center, and an old light house. The kids loved exploring the beach and walking in the historic downtown of Newport the best. We also stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory to see how cheese was made. Yummy!

We went to a little family reunion and got to see relatives on my mom's side that we haven't seen in a long time. We also got to see my grandma one last time. We were even able to make a third trip to Oregon to attend grandma's funeral and see even more relatives. Summer was full of activities!

Zane had his eighth birthday which means we also had a baptism in September. It was great to have family travel to be with us, especially my parents who came all the way from Oregon. 

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating!

Summer ended and the kids went back to school, Zane started 2nd grade and Morgan started 6th grade at the middle school. Scott had a couple job interviews and I began packing boxes. In October, Scott accepted a new job and we moved to Idaho Falls. Fortunately, it was not too far away and it was still in Idaho and still close to Brittany and Levi.

Morgan is able to continue her therapies with the therapists that she knows and loves. She is also able to continue gymnastics at the same gym and with her favorite coach. However, the kids did have to change schools and Morgan went back to elementary school for 6th grade. She was bummed but it has been the best for her.

In November, Brit and Levi blessed us with our first grandson. He was born a few weeks early and had to spend a week in NICU but he is a trooper. He is the sweetest little thing you ever did see! 

Isn't it amazing that our hearts never run out of love?!

And before I knew it, Christmas had come and the year was over. 

Just like that!

With IEP meetings, and therapies, and sports, and activities, and my husband traveling for work, and a new grandson to snuggle it seems we are always running and I never take the time to sit and write. 

I will try to do better. 

Mountain Air

Scott has been anxious to go on an adventure in the mountains. Amazingly, I think we were the only ones up there. It was a bit windy and there was still snow on the ground and we couldn't go very far but we managed to find a spot to build a fire and roast hot dogs for dinner.

 We found some monkeys in the trees.

And we found a stream to throw rocks in.

But most importantly, we found signs of spring.

Birthday Time

For Scott's birthday, the kids and I put together a candygram card. We had so much fun picking out some of his favorite treats and then writing a birthday wish. He's hard to surprise but we got him this time.

It was great to have Brit and Levi here to celebrate with us too.

Brit and Levi came back for my birthday as well. We braved the rain and went to Olive Garden for lunch. Best birthday present ever!

Craft Break

Scott and I have been the Webelos leaders in our ward since last fall. I have to admit I was pretty nervous to be involved in scouting when we first started. But as we learned the program and planned fun activities for the boys we started to love it. We had a handful of somewhat challenging but pretty amazing boys. They never ceased to surprise us and we all had fun each week. (Scott was just one of the boys.)

Last month I received a new calling and I'm now serving in the Relief Society Presidency. However, Scott and I have not yet been released from scouts. It's been a challenge trying to keep up with everything but I refuse to just give up on the boys. This week we had our Blue and Gold Banquet for the boys. Our Cubscout Masters did a great job! I helped by making a campfire cake.

We're also planning a spring activity for our ladies so I've been looking for simple crafts we could do. I love the subway art prints. I created one using the words from my favorite hymn. So simple and so cute!

I have to take a break from the business of life and just create, occasionally.

Celebrate!

Christmas came and went. I had big plans to bake goodies and do amazing activities with my children. And then... the flu bug hit us. All of us. The good thing was that it was Christmas break so we didn't miss any school. The bad thing, it was Christmas break! We spent a lot of time cuddled up together watching movies.

Morgan got hit hard on Christmas Eve. This was the first Christmas in MANY years that Scott actually had the day off. Good thing. Instead of waking up before the sun and trying to open presents before he left for work, we slept in and waited for Morgan to feel well enough to sit up.

 Before the illness struck, we managed to make some gifts for the teachers and our favorite neighbors.

We did get to spend some time with Brit and Levi. They have big changes coming in their lives and will be moving closer. After being hundreds of miles apart, we are extremely excited!

And then, Christmas was over and it was suddenly Super Bowl Sunday. How did that happen?! 

We've even had a little snow to play in. 

Soon winter will be gone and spring will be blowing in.

Maize Adventures

Brittany and Levi were excited for us to come enjoy some of the fall celebrations in Logan. They had a full schedule planned and we managed to do most of it. That meant dinner was at 9:00 on Saturday night but we had SO much fun.

We went to the American West Heritage Center and found many things to do. There was a huge slide on the hill, ponies to ride, animals to pet, a fun little train, a dark straw maze, and the HUGE corn maze. The big boys wandered around in the corn, made a few new paths, and found their way out. Brittany and I actually followed the map and found our way. I was impressed with her mapping skills!

Morgan wanted to go back for the "Haunted Hollow" when it got dark. Instead, we went to the Pumpkin Walk. We rode the shuttle bus to the park where the displays were and that was half the fun. It was getting cold and the line into the park was LONG. But the displays were amazing this year!

We had a wonderful weekend!

Successful Hunter

For Scott, one of the best things about being back in Idaho is being able to hunt so close to home. He got his bow tag this year and would run out for an evening hunt after work or a quick morning hunt on his day off. 

 

Morgan and Zane each got a turn hunting with Dad as well. Zane came home bummed that they didn't get a deer. He confirmed my suspicion, "Dad is like a mountain goat. He climbs straight up the side of the mountain!" So, it's not just me who feels that way. Morgan came home with her eyes bugging out, "We didn't see a deer but we saw a moose! Right there! In front of us!" Scott said the moose were so close he had to make some noise to scare the gigantic animals away. Morgan was very impressed though and ready to go out again.

Since bow season didn't bring success, Scott was anxious for rifle season to start. He'd gone out a few times and hadn't seen much but decided to give his area one last try. He drove to his spot and parked. Leaving his lunch in the truck, he set out, thinking he would circle around and be back at his truck for lunch.

He went up and over the mountain and was starting to circle back around when, there he was... a nice looking buck. He dropped the buck with one shot. He decided he didn't want to drag it up the hill so he started to go down and around. By now, it was late in the afternoon, he had eaten his last granola bar and was just finishing his last drink of water. He wasn't sure he would make it to the road. 

He finally reached the road, tired and hungry, and found a place to hide his buck. He then hiked up the road to get his pickup. He drove down and found his hiding spot but still had to get the FAT buck loaded.

Meanwhile, we finished our dinner and read stories. Dad still wasn't home. I wasn't sure when I should start worrying. The kids were getting on their pajamas when I finally got a text. Dad was on his way with his prize. Yay!

Scott was worn out! He had left just after breakfast and had only taken a couple granola bars and his sandwich. But there was no time to rest or eat now. He managed to get the buck out of his truck, drug it into the shop, and skinned it. As he tried to hang the animal though, he found that he had very little strength left. He came in and asked me to help him.

The kids were told to stay in bed while I went out to help. Now it wasalmost 11:00 and this buck was heavy. Did I mention FAT?! Scott was yelling pull and I was yelling push... it was not the finest moment in our marriage but, we all survived. We managed to get it a few inches off the ground and Scott decided that was close enough. I told him he really needs to find a hunting buddy.

Scott went to bed exhausted but full of pride at his successful hunt.

Roasting Marshmallows

The temperatures are dropping. Summer is quickly coming to an end. But there was time for one last marshmallow roast. Brittany came to spend the weekend with us while Levi was off hunting.

As the sun slowly sank on the horizon, we huddled close to the fire and enjoyed one last, golden, gooey marshmallow.

Adventures in Oregon

 We packed up and headed to Oregon...

We drove across Idaho and then through the Blue Mountains...

 And we found Grandma and Grandpa's house! The kids love playing with their cousins and all of Grandma's fun toys! Lloyd's boys showed us some funny video clips and iphone games. But most entertaining was playing with Jack and Jill, the new kittens. 

Zane and Morgan love Grandpa's fun tree house! They figured out how to climb from the playhouse into the actual tree. The first time, Zane couldn't get back down. Morgan came in the house but forgot to tell me he was stuck. He finally came in wiping his eyes and that's when I found out he had been stuck out there. He said he was really scared but then he prayed and was finally able to climb down. He was so happy that his prayer was answered that he wasn't even mad at Morgan for leaving him stranded.

 We had a great time with Scott's family, without him. Cousin Zack graduated from college and is headed to Idaho to teach 5th grade. Woot! Cousin Ali just graduated from high school and is headed to Idaho for college. She is amazing! We're so proud of them both!

Brittany and Levi were able to come over for a few days and it was fun to hang out with them too.

We even managed a visit to Great Grandma!

 While we were there, Scott had flowers delivered to me at my parents house. 

Happy Anniversary!

(It looks like the dalmatian is eating my head. Hummm...)

We also found time to have a picnic at the park with more family and swim with Melinda's kids. Wish we could have stayed longer but so glad we could go. 

Next time, we take Dad with us.

Celebrating DAD

I spent the day making cards... Father's Day, graduations, and a wedding card for my sister. It was great to play with paper and scissors for a few hours.

 

We are cleaning and packing and getting ready for a week in Oregon. This weekend is also Father's Day as well as our anniversary. Too bad Scott has to stay home and work while we go off to play.

For Family Home Evening we decided to celebrate DAD. The kids had cards and gifts and we just showered him with lots of love and attention. It was super fun!

Morgan found a recipe in The Friend magazine that she wanted to try. It was a yummy, salty, sweet Chex mix with pretzels and nuts. It was SO good and it gave Scott a treat to snack on while we're gone.

We love you DAD!

 

Mesa Falls Adventures

We found a great place to enjoy the beautiful mountains, not far from home. We drove to the Upper Mesa Falls and enjoyed the sights there and then we hiked 2 miles to the Lower Mesa Falls.

The day started out a little chilly but by lunch time we were shedding our jackets.

 

The kids had so much fun! Morgan wanted me to take pictures of all the flowers and plants and animal tracks that we found. She didn't want to forget a single detail of the day.

There was a neat little museum where we learned about some of the wildlife in the area. When we pulled into the park, the ranger reminded us that we were in bear country. Morgan's eyes bugged out. He assured us if we would make some noise on the trail we shouldn't have any problems. I'm sure we made enough noise to scare away any bears. 

It was a beautiful day! We love being back in the mountains, surrounded by trees. 

 

Is this a dream or is it real?

Several months ago, before we even knew about moving to Idaho, I had a dream that we had gone to a new church building. There were lots of stairs and we didn't really know where to go. We followed some people up a set of stairs and found the chapel. Sitting way in the back, we listened to the choir sing a familiar hymn and Morgan pointed out that she knew the song.

Then it was time to take the kids to Primary. We started walking and again there were stairs and hallways that twisted around. I thought for sure we would never find our way out. I finally found classrooms for the kids but wanted to stay with them because I didn't know if I could find them again.

I woke up thinking that was a weird thing to dream about. And then I assured myself that churches are not built like that so I didn't ever have to worry about that dream coming true. And then we moved to a little pioneer town in Idaho...

When we went to church our first Sunday, we went inside and had to walk up stairs to get to the chapel. Hummm... Then it was time for Primary. The little neighbor girl was kind enough to show us where to go. We went down some stairs, around a corner, down more stairs and wound around some narrow halls. I dropped the kids off and the Primary President was kind enough to show me how to get back to where I needed to go. 

As I sat in Sunday School class, the images of my dream suddenly filled my mind. I turned to Scott and told him we were in the church building I had dreamed about a few months ago. He looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I am. I have never been in a church like this one.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore...

Or Nebraska. 

It would seem we just dropped off the face of the earth. I wanted to keep up on the blog but then life took over. I have some posts that were started that I still intend to share. Eventually.

We've been looking for a way to get closer to our family. A two day trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house was just not working for us. Finally, a feedlot in Idaho was looking for a cowboy and willing to provide housing. The pay was less than we hoped for but we would only be a couple hours from Brittany and Levi. 

Then Scott was offered a position managing another feedlot in Nebraska and I was offered a full time job at the school. This made it tempting to stay. Then the overwhelming desire to be close to family, and never have to drive across Wyoming again, sunk in and we started to pack.

Both Morgan and Zane wanted to play soccer. I signed them up knowing we would miss most of their games. Having soccer practice to go to helped keep things somewhat normal for them. It added to my workload but the sacrifice was worth it. Unfortunately, Spring sprung a leak and it snowed the week of their first games so they only got to do a few practices.

Because of the snow, Scott had to quit a few days early and rush the horses to Idaho. He then left his trailer so he could get back before the blizzard hit. We had a friend coming to haul our stuff and hoped we could get it all into his trailer.

When the snow settled, and the drifts were removed, we suddenly had no one to haul our stuff. A last minute scramble to rent a moving truck ended up being the best decision. But that also left us with 3 vehicles to drive and only 2 drivers. We contemplated our options and then my dear, sweet visiting teacher and friend offered to drive one of our vehicles. Her family made an impromptu visit to their family in Idaho so we didn't have to make another trip. Words cannot express the gratitude that we have for this wonderful family!

It took us 14 long hours, with only 3 very short stops, to make it from Nebraska to our new home in Idaho. We had snow and rain and, of course, wind for most of Wyoming but it could have been worse. We were so excited to finally be here that we quickly forgot all of the difficulties and counted all our MANY blessings. 

We had wonderful friends who helped us load everything. (Man, it was a tight fit!) And we had new friends waiting to help us unload everything. We couldn't have done it with out so much help! Brittany and Levi even risked their lives one last time and hauled a load of boxes for us. 

We love our new community and our new home and we are excited for the new adventures that await us here!

 

And we will miss our wonderful friends!