It's 90 degrees........

Shelby and Miles

Rachel and Sean

Shelby, Addie, Emily, Sean


Shelby and Addie

Happy Day! Finally it is over 90 degrees. We had our first official swim day, although the kids have been swimming in the cold water. The pool is 86 degrees and absolutely perfect. Rachel, Miles and Sean came over. And little Addie came to visit. I love hot weather and think I will retire to St. George. I just finished a great book called These is my words.

P.S. Kyle is waiting for you Josh and Jacob. Please hurry!

Where have I been?

Legacy for the Laurels in our Stake. It is an overnight training camp for the 16 year girls. It was the first time I had been to Legacy. It was wonderful and the food was outstanding. They fed us every two hours. Why does food taste better if you don't have to make it or clean it up? It was great for me to get to know the girls better.

Also, I just got back from girls camp. It went very well, I think. I could have definitely done some things differently, but for the most part we had a great time. My girls are amazing. I have learned to love them so much. It was also fun to be there with Shelby. Poor girl, I didn't get to spend much time with her.

Now I need some suggestions for some great summer books. I am the worst at going to the library and picking a book. Somehow, I always get smut or murder books. I don't want those. I have given up picking books by myself and always have to have a suggestion from someone. I just got through reading the Hunger Games and really enjoyed it. If anyone out there has any great suggestions, I would appreciate it!!

Random pictures of My Saturday

Our new pet Chinchilla, Very soft and sweet

Our poor lonely pool waiting patiently for visitors. It really needs to stop raining.( I think I complain about the weather too much, which I wouldn't do if it would just be warm and sunny! Really, is that asking too much?)

Three cute girls with the chickens plucked from the backyard.

A beautiful black walnut tree with a climbing rosebush that climbed right up it's branches.

She's Thirteen!!

My Shelby turned 13 on Sunday. We were in Stanley camping but I think she had a pretty great day. She started out with crepes with strawberries and banana's. She couldn't have breakfast in bed because her bed is the table. She went bike riding with Grandma and canoeing in Redfish lake with the beautiful Sawtooth mountains behind her. We went fishing and ended the day with a chocolate chip cheesecake and homemade ice cream. She said it was a perfect day!!

10 Things I love about Shelby

1. Her silky soft skin

2. Her grace

3. Her love of babies and little kids

4. Her love of the scriptures

5. Her desire to do her very best in everything she tries

6. Her kindness to her sister

7. She loves girly things

8. When fishing, she will put a worm on a hook with perfectly painted nails and dangly earrings.

9. She is a great friend and looks out for those that might be shy or feel left out

10. That she is mine forever

Redfish

Christopher's stick pole
Kyle unhooking Ren's fish

One of Rachels many catches
Kyle and Sean ready for our hike

Some of the fishing kids

Our delicious dutch oven dinner

Games for hours

Memorial Day is a perfect weekend to camping in Stanley. Our family loves it there in May. No crowds, beautiful snow-covered Sawtooth mountains and great fishing. This year was no exception. We went with Brian and Lori, Jon and Rachel, Mom and Dad, and this year the Jensen's came with us. It was coldddd at night but we were prepared for cold. It rained some on Sunday but we were prepared for rain. We went fishing and found a most amazing fishing hole on the Yankee fork of the Salmon river. We shared fishing poles with all the kids and Christopher just used a stick with some line and a hook. We were catching fish by the dozens. We let most go if we could, but came home with a few who swallowed the hooks. Rachel is new to fishing and she caught fish after fish. I hope she doesn't think fishing is always like that! We rode bikes, canoed, ate great food, and played games. On Sunday, we had a testimony meeting. It is great to hear cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and Grandparents share their testimony. I love to be able to make these memories with my family and I love living in such a beautiful place.

Ummmm......How did this happen?

So, I guess we are chicken farmers. Michael and I were talking about food storage and I was complaining about powdered eggs. He said the way to solve the problem was by getting a few laying hens. I went to D&B and after waiting for two hours, (chickens are very popular right now), I told Michael to just stop by the Nampa store. He said why not just go to the hatchery. Why didn't I think of that? Ten minutes later he walked out with some chickens. I just wanted a couple.I had Michael get some extra to cover any tragic deaths. However, standing with 50 people waiting for chickens for two hours, you learn some things. I learned what a pullet was. I learned how to feed and take care of your chickens. Some guy also told me that chickens have a high mortality rate. Not so. Or maybe it's just that we take such good care of them, they wouldn't dare die. Needless to say, we have more than I want. I wanted to send some to Parma to live on a little farm. However, now the sweet things are named and loved by a certain cute 10 year old. Emily takes very good care of them. Michael built a great chicken coop complete with a sliding door and functioning widows. I'm sure in about 2 months I will be grateful for the eggs, but there is no way we are going to be able to use all of them. Anyone want some nice fresh brown eggs??!!

Mothers Day

Phoebe and Kyle
Christopher

Blake, Abby, Emily

The Ladies

Erica and Keegan

Keegan, Shelby, Allie

Fat man Sean and Jon

Miles

Ultimate frisbee

Every year for as long as I can remember, our family has gone camping at Hells Canyon on Mother's Day. It is a tradition. This year my mom decided it was time for a change and we went to Three Island Crossing. When I told my kids, it was non stop complaining. They are into traditions. They did not like the idea of messing with a great one. But after all was said and done,

they agreed that Three Island Crossing is not so bad of a place. I liked it because it is so much closer, we could get reservations, and it is fairly close to a store. The campground is nice and there is lots of grass and nice showers. It is a family affair with lots of cousins and ultimate frisbee, great food, and good times had by all. I missed Hells Canyon but we will go in the fall. I had a very nice Mothers Day. My kids and husband spoiled me. I love being a mom and I love my mom so much. I come from a long line of great moms. Lucky me!