Labor Day Weekend

Saturday, we decided to escape for a couple of days and head to our favorite, close by place. We have friends that have cabins in Victor, so we went there to spend some time. I always forget how clean it smells, and how peaceful it is, and how fun it can be. It was so nice to escape reality, and to be so close to the Tetons. Here are a few pics of things we did around the farm.

The kids played in the little stream that runs through the property. Then they threw rocks in the pond. And the Rufus, probably, had the best time. He would run off, then come back soaking wet. He would also bury his nose in the water and breath, so he blew bubbles in the water. He found mud, of course, what dog wouldn't?

Sunday, we had a slow start kind of morning, then we drove over the pass to Jackson Hole. I thought for sure it would be madness there, being a holiday weekend and all, but maybe because it was Sunday, it was pretty nice. Here are some pics of people we met along the way, and things we saw and did.

We stopped and bought candy for the kids at a candy shop. Isabelle wanted the biggest lollipop to be found ($20), but we sold her on a smaller one. Wyatt chose a sucker with a cricket in it. Gross! Jared and I had cashew turtles! Talk about delicious! We went in and out of stores, ate at our usual place for lunch. We stopped by Ripley's Believe It or Not, Jared and Nadja ate millworms, and Wyatt stepped up and actually ate a cricket. My little man who refuses so many delicious foods, volunteered to eat a cricket. He said it was good. He is too funny. Another good story! Saturday night, the kids wandered into the main cabin and told our friend that they wanted to watch a movie. She had brought up a lot of movies, so she put in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. They loved it! My kids probably watched it 4 times or more the whole weekend. While we were walking through downtown Jackson, my kids were singing, "Goin Courtin". It was so cute!

Monday, Jared took the kids on a long 4 wheeler ride up to the mountains with our friends. I stayed with Nadja, and packed things up. She was so exhausted from being someplace different, she was screaming and hitting the car, so I opened the door and she climbed in. Then she got in her seat and was yelling, so I walked to her door, and she was holding the seat belt for me. I stuck her seat belt on, and she quit screaming. Needless to say I got everything packed into the car, without stressing where she was. When she started to get a little sleepy in her seat, I took her out and laid her down. Of all the things to do and see, water, pond, cabins, barns, cows, she just wanted to sit in her car seat. It was pretty silly, but as I think about it, typical for her attitude. Anyway, it was a fun family weekend, filled with lots of stuff, and a peaceful setting. This is one of my favorite places in the world. Jared proposed to me here. It always refreshes my love for him, and for the special memories we have made there. Especially the promise to spend our lives together!

The Good Old Days

Jared has made many friends, especially friends from his mission. We have had the opportunity to return to visit his mission 3 times. What a wonderful experience it is every time. It always reminds me of what a wonderful person my hubby is, and how important it is to have friends in the gospel. A couple of weeks ago one of his favorite "grandma's" from his mission stopped by on her way home to California. Carol Herbert and her daughter Linda, stopped and they were able to reminisce of old times, and to meet all of our children, which they have only seen pictures of up until now. It makes me think back on my mission. I long to go back, and see the cities I served in, and to visit my friends there, face to face. Thank goodness for Facebook, and the opportunity it gives me to keep up with my friends there. I just love having the chance to remember special times, that strengthen my testimony of the gospel, then and now.

4 wonderful years!

Saturday was Isabelle's birthday. She turned 4. I can't believe it has been that long, and it seems like over the past few weeks, she has really grown out of that little girl stage, and turned into a sweet girl. She generally is sweet, but lately, it's been really fun doing things with her. So we decided to mix things up a little this year, and go swimming to Ross Park for her birthday. Then I thought, well, why not tell friends, and they could just happen to be at the pool at the same time, and they could all play together!

Then we headed home for a quick little party with grandparents, and an uncle and aunt. When I asked Isabelle a week ago, what kind of cake she wanted, she told me she just wanted a flat cake, with lots of sprinkles. So that is what we did. I loved how easy that was, instead of an elaborate cake, which is what I usually do for them. So she got a bike helmet, tassles for her bike, clothes, new cowgirl boots, and a soccer ball. Oh yah, and her favorite, 3 barbies! It was quite a birthday for her. I love my baby girl!

Swim Party

My kids plan to do lots of things in their lives. Wyatt plans on being a brilliant scientist, a rockstar, and basketball player. Isabelle, is going to be a dancer, a rockstar, like her brother, and I'm sure many other things she hasn't even come up with yet. So Wyatt planned a swim party last week. It was hot, and I agreed, it couldn't hurt to get the pool out. I sat outside with the kids, so that they wouldn't run in the house a thousand times, and to keep them from dragging all of our toys out. So, we invited a bunch of neighbors to swim with us. It was really funny, because the boys had to have squirt guns, but everytime one of them would get squirted, they would whine, "Don't squirt me!" I called them a bunch of girls. That's right, I'm not afraid to mock them when they are being sissies!

Watermelon for a treat and granola bars. The kids were pretty happy. Then the boys did their usual boy thing, and started sitting in the pool, then hopping out and running to the cement to leave their butt print. They were laughing so hard, and it didn't take long to get my Isabelle in the middle of it. Some of the other girls were turning their noses up and saying how gross it was. That was funny also!

Needless to say, fun was had by all that day, and they didn't want the party to end!

End of summer Fun!

We went to Scout Mountain for a fun little cookout with family. Right when we got there, it started to sprinkle, so the kids got umbrellas out, and had fun with their great grandma. We roasted hot dogs, had chips, and ended with roasting marshmallows! Smores were a wonderful treat! We hadn't had any all summer long. People who went with us were My parents, my grandparents, my grandma Kinghorn, and my Aunt Pat, who was here visiting from Wyoming, by way of Island Park, where they spend their summers.
My kids were so excited to be up there camping, even though we only went for the picnic.

Here is a fun picture I snapped before we left of my Aunt Pat, my mom, and my grandma.

She's gone!

I know this is going to sound totally horrible and terrible, and you might actually think a little less of me after this post, but here goes anyway! We used to live in this fabulous neighborhood, don't get me wrong, this new neighborhood is great also, but we loved where we lived. Then our neighbor got a little crazy about water rights. Yes, there is still such a thing as water rights, and yes, people will still kill for them! So after 2 years of harassment, and a lot of drama, I finally told Jared we had to get out of the house. The kicker was when I came home from running an errand, and Jared had the video camera set up in our bedroom window, waiting for the crazy people to make their next move. If you want more details of what promises to be a very long, and somewhat interesting story, catch me when you have a lot of time to spare! Anyway, when we talk of this situation we've been in, I still get nervous and shaky. We put our house up for sell, and sold in 3 days, and moved within 2 and a half weeks. So we've still had issues with the grandson following us home, and trying to bug Jared since we moved. Well, here it goes, she finally died! What a huge relief! A major part of that horrible situation is gone. To be fair, I feel like she was senile when we lived there, and with all of the paranoia she had, the family just interpreted everything she said how they felt. Now, as long as we don't ever have more run ins with the grandson, it will be great! Here is a funny part. We met up with some friends from our last ward last weekend. And this lady who knew nothing of our situation, was telling Jared that 3 yrs after we had left, this lady and her grandson were still talking about suing us. We haven't been there for over 3 yrs!!!! Get over it! MOVE ON!!! Well, there you have it, a scattered version of a not so pretty part of our life. She's gone, and I honestly have to say, there was a thank you in my prayer last night, and a beautiful celebration dance by my husband!

Friends

My kids have discovered sleeping over in Wyatt's room. Isabelle asks almost every night if she can sleep with Wyatt. One night, we came down to check on them, and discovered them looking at book's, with Wyatt explaining and reading to her. It is one of those moments that remind you how much you love your kids, and wish they would stay young and sweet forever! I can't get enough of these tender moments with my kids. I love when they play together and are sweet with each other, and not teasing and fighting!

Then we turned the flash on the camera and yelled "Busted!" That is Isabelle's favorite phrase. We of course tucked them back in to bed, and told them goodnight, one more time.