Exploring the Big Horns

This week has been really fun, our next door neighbors from Idaho came to visit their family and us in Wyoming. Tobee grew up here in Cowley, so they have been showing us the sites. Yesterday was so fun, we went on this crazy STEEP road up the mountain (this picture is towards the top of the road). It was BEAUTIFUL!!

 

One of the first things that Trace and Tyson had to do was throw rocks off the edge...I don't blame them, I kinda wanted to try it too. Ü

 

Here is Jenny and I (and Justin and Mason-notice them in the background)

 

After we got to the top, we went to Bald Mountain for a picnic. The girls were SO excited to see all the beautiful dandelions and worked hard to pick some bouquets for us.

Tyson and Keylee's grandma and grandpa Monk were the planners of this excursion. They found some stuff so we could pan for gold in this little creek. The kids loved it,and after about 15 min or so, all the adults had taken over and the kids were off exploring. It was pretty fascinating. We found some pretty sparkly specks of something (we'll say its gold).

 

Mason had a blast, he played in the creek, climbed into an old fire pit, drank some water out of someones panning-for-gold pan...nothing like the great out doors. 

It was a great day and we all had a lot of fun. Thanks Christiansens and Monks!!

Holy Cowley!

So we made it here to Wyoming. We've been here a little over 2 weeks now, and we've been busy. We have been unpacking, got a pass at the pool and have been going there regularly, putting up a fence, a wall, making friends...The kids have been going to a "Summer Fun Program" that is Mon-Wed. mornings with field trips on Thursdays. It has kept them pretty busy, and has been great to help them get to know a few more people. I haven't been taking pictures like I should, but here is what I have so far:

We have lots of trees in our yard, one of them is a Mulberry tree. The kids and I love to go out and pick yummy berries for a snack. There are even some branches low enough that Mason can get in on the action.

Here they are working on the fence. There are some VERY nice horses that come over whenever we are out, and they were more than happy to breath on us while we worked on it.

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This is the back door of our house, I'm not sure why I didn't get a front one, but this is the part we are fencing in to keep the kids away from the highway.

 

 Yesterday we had a BIG thunderstorm come through town. After it was done, we walked around town with our new neighbors to see how much water we got. These were taken at the elementary school parking lot. The kids LOVED to ride through this mud puddle!! (Sorry, there were some technical difficulties and I can't get these any bigger)

Goodbye Home

So in one week we will be moving...Leaving our home of the last 6 years. I am really excited, but am DREADING leaving. I have always loved living in Mud Lake. It has been home since we arrived-mostly because of the AMAZING people that are here. Some I've know about as long as we've lived here, some I have gotten to know more recently. All seem to be family. I've tried to figure out what I love so much about Mud Lake...I have joked around in the past that is my Hawaii (not because of the warm tropical breeze, and all the palm trees-probably wouldn't be moving Ü), because it is where I always want to be. Whenever we go on a trip, on the way home when we come down into the valley and see signs of human habitation Ü, I feel so happy to be home.  We have never lived very close to family, and have adopted many families here. I will always love it here. It will always have a piece of my heart.

It is Sunday morning (Father's day) and here I sit crying at my computer. I have to talk in church today. Our last Sunday. How mean is that?? I doubt anyone will be able to understand anything I say for my whole talk. I can't even type on my blog about how grateful I am to all of you wonderful people without balling. You might want to be about 30 min. late today...Justin talks second, he is more in charge of his emotions (for his sake I hope anyway!)

I will always remember...

All the people who stopped by to let us know they cared

All the yummy meals brought to us or eaten at our adopted families homes

My kids playing with their amazing friends-listening to their conversations

Talking for hours on the phone with friends to get through dishes, or some other boring chore

(Still going to do that one)

All of our fun FHE group activities

Trips to town with friends

Tee-ball, and Pee-wee in the freezing June wind

Popcycles in the park

Walks around the loop

Mud Lake Fair time (especially the parade)

Girls nights

Driving out to Mud Lake

Lunches at KG's

Christmas time

Sledding in the snow (with hot cocoa)

Sprinklers and trampolines

BBQ in the warm summer evening

I know I will still be doing a lot of those things still. It will just be different. I know I will be happy at our new home. I've moved around a lot growing up and have ALWAYS felt ready to move, wanting to move on. This time I don't. I wish it was a little bit closer. I am already planning trips back though (for my sake). Sorry this is getting to be a long post. I just want to say I love all of you, and I am so grateful for the roles you've played in my life and my family's...

Culinary Arts Progam at Ricks College

I was looking at some of my friend's pictures on Facebook and found a couple of Culinary Arts pictures. I didn't have a digital camera then, and don't really have any pics from then, so it was fun to find these.

This was our Graduation Day! Me, Kathryn, and Jami. Not sure why I look like that. I don't think I'm mad. Maybe just bored. I don't think I knew I was going to be in that picture.

Here is another one with Kathryn. I think we may have been in Boise on a field trip in this picture. I always thought Kathryn looked a little like Cameron Diaz. What do you think?

Also, Just had one of the other students highlight my hair...went maybe a little too blond. Ü

Our Crazies

Justin gave the kids these WJ hats the other day. They LOVED them! Mason was hilarious with his!

 

Mason is also going from 2 naps a day to 1. It is harder on him than he likes to think. Sometimes he just can't make it.

 

We figured we better go out to the Mud Lake before we leave. We drove around it with the kids. Trace brought his binoculars from Christmas. We saw lots of birds! Wish it would just warm up a bit more.

House for Sale

We've loved living here in Terreton! I have loved my house too. I guess I've become a bit attached to it...maybe because I'm a stay-at-home mom and am here all the time. It almost feels like part of the family (silly, I know). I would totally take it with me if I could, but since I can't I'm letting you guys know that it is for sale to someone who enjoys living in a quiet community, with a great yard (thanks Justin). There are 2 trees that are PERFECTLY placed to hang a hammock on if you want-FYI. Someone who either has a big family or likes to have people visit (since there are 4 bedrooms). There are 2 bathrooms, both of which we have done quite a bit of remodeling to. Almost all of the house has been re-carpeted. I love color, so there is a lot of that (which can be changed easily if you're not too keen on that). There is a LARGE shed that you can even use as a garage (with a car-I think a van or truck would be too tall, although we haven't tried it Ü). I spend most of my time in the kitchen and I think it is really cute. I remade the cabinet doors and painted.

Anyway, I think I could go on and on, but I'll just say that we're selling it for $119,900. If you are interested you could check out our house blog. If you want to see it in person, give us a call, we'll set something up.  Thanks!

We're Moving!

Justin got a job in Cowley, Wyoming.  He will basically be doing what he is doing here, teaching middle school math and coaching.  We will be moving there this summer, probably in July. We are really excited! It is a cute little town and there are some great opportunities there for us. We will really miss all of our friends here and have already decided that we will have to visit REGULARLY!

If anyone is looking to buy a great house (We have really loved it!) or knows of someone who is looking in the area, check out our house online.  

Honesty

On Sunday MacKelle's primary class was talking about making good decisions. She has two wonderful teachers that she LOVES! One of them was teaching the lesson and asked, "What would you do if you found a purse with some money in it at the park?" The kids in the class answer something like: "I would leave it there", or "I would turn it into the lost and found", then MacKelle answers "I would take a little bit of the money and leave the rest"...One of the teachers turns to the other and says "Watch your purse."

I guess that is honesty.

Picnic at the playground

So, it wasn't as warm as we thought, but we had fun anyway...Until it looked like it was going to rain on us. We picked up some personal sized pizzas and sodas and went to the playground. It was a blast! I love how fun and energetic kids are when you get them around toys!

It all goes in the mouth!

So, for the last, I don't know...12 months, everything Mason picks up goes in his mouth. Usually it is one of MacKelle's toys. I honestly think he tries to irritate her.

 

The other day I was running a bath for MacKelle and found this:

 

I don't think that Mason enjoyed that bite. It is just funny to me because I'm always threatening to use the soap in my kid's mouths when they are mouthy, but...YUCK! I would have loved to get a picture of his face when he bit that off. Maybe it won't go strait into his mouth so much anymore...