Seeing good friends agan

This weekend we went to visit some friends.  It was a good visit.  It was a long drive but well worth it.  We have been friends with these guys since we lived in Idaho and as luck would have it we lived here in Oklahoma in the same neighborhood for about a year.  That was nice.  Our kids play well together and have a blast.  They were blessing their baby so we went to support them.

Sarah was so excited that she actually went to bed without a fuss for two nights before hand.  Yana even remembered who they were and had a blast.  It was good to see them again and visit.  They had all grown so much since they moved a few months ago.

Sarah is already asking when we can go back and visit. 

I hope that you all had a great weekend and that your week is starting off right.

Vacation -July 2012

Vacation was awesome.  It was the longest vacation yet.  My father in law spent the week before vacation with us doing some training in Tulsa.  Then we all flew back to Idaho together on the same flights.  It was nice.  We flew out on the 13th.  We got into Idaho Falls around 1ish.  We said hello to my husband's family and then used the vehicle they brought us and went to see my family.  We went to the shop to say hello to everyone and then we went down and visited my mom for a while.  While there we took lots of pictures of her flowers and my kids.

I took lots of pictures and then my husband took lots of pictures.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

 This was one that I took of my family at my mom's house in her flower garden.

My mom has a little swing that she hung up for my girls to play in.

After hanging out at my mom's we went to my dad's for the night.  We had dinner and took lots of pictures there as well.

 Sarah was playing on this big rock and loved jumping off of it.

 This used to be a playhouse that we used to play in.  My dad took down most of it because it had become hazardous.  He wants to put the slide back up with a couple o swings.

 I really thought this picture was cool.  The water she is scooping off the rock almost looks like a fish.  They were preparing the rock for pictures.

She is so pretty.  I just love this girl.

She got braver as the night went on and started jumping off the long side.

Well Saturday we ran a few errands and then helped my brother and his fiance set up for there wedding.  Then it started to rain.  It rained off and on.  They didn't want to move their wedding to the church so we just hoped the rain would stop.  The wedding was at 6 and it was supposed to stop raining at 6.  Well they risked it and ended up having a pretty quick wedding because it stopped raining and then started again right in the middle of the wedding.  The pictures were take under a canopy.  I'll share them when I get them.  I didn't take my camera out of the car because of the rain.  It was fun and it was good to see my brother so happy.  We love his new wife.  She fits right in.

After the wedding we went up to the cabin.  We spend the week working on projects around the cabin, fishing off the dock, swimming, and playing in the tube.  My girls loved it.  They had a blast.  I took lots of cool pictures.

Here is the dock that we fish, ski and swim from.

 I just liked the rain drops.

 We were just having fun.

She loved fishing.  Although she didn't want us to hurt the fish.

 Still fishing.

We were playing with Yana.  Someone has to kiss the fish. lol.  Don't worry Yana was not harmed in the taking of this picture.

 Here goes Sarah with her aunt Camille.

 They had a blast.  They caught some fun air.

I think this was the most air Sarah caught.

 Here goes Yana with her Aunt Camille.

 Her facial expressions were priceless.

She caught a little air.

Camille was the only one we could throw from the tube.  The tube is V shaped and with the little kids it is hard to get them off of the wake and they didn't want to be thrown.  Camille was a good sport and we all had a lot of fun.  We threw her twice.  You can see her roll on the water above.

Here she is right before she goes head first into the water.  We had a lot of fun on the water.  It really made us want a boat.

We spent a Sunday at my dad's and played volley ball.  That was a lot of fun.  It is always fun when we all get together. 

We went to Yellowstone park on a horrible day to go but it turned out all right.  People need to remember that when they stop in the middle of the road to take pictures and watch animals, that the traffic gets backed up for miles.  It can be frustrating.  We saw a few animals.

My husband was trimming a tree and I just happened to catch this picture.  I though it was pretty cool.

This is on top of Sawtelle.  It is a very tall mountain that takes a while to get to the top of.  We took some really good family pictures.  The island that the family cabin is on is behind us.

 In case you couldn't quite see the island here it is.  That is as far as my camera would zoom.

 I miss riding motorbikes.  So when I was at my dad's I asked to ride his Big wheel.  It isn't the same as the one I grew up riding but it was still so much fun.  I took my girls for rides too.

Here is one animal that we saw in the park.  He was walking right down the middle of the road.  We also saw 6 bears.  2 sows and each had 2 cubs.  It was cool.  We saw some elk, deer, birds and a just some pretty scenery.

Well we went to my family reunion the last weekend and had a blast.  I love my family.  I love Idaho.  I loved the weather.  Imagine the shock that or bodies are going through right now to come home to 110 degree weather.  My wonderful neighbor watered my flowers while I was gone so they are still mostly alive.  They don't like the heat either.  Well I need to get the kiddos up and we need groceries.  Have a great day.

Our vacation

Well we are back from our vacation.  I love going on vacation but I also love coming home to our home with our routines.  We went to Idaho for our vacation.  I know, what a shocker, right.  What can I say?  We love Idaho and that is also where are family is at so it is nice to go home to visit them.

We spent the first weekend at my dad's house.  While he went jeeping we ran some errands of our own and then hung out with my brothers and my mom.  Sunday my sister put together a birthday party for Sarah/get together.  It was a lot of fun.  I love hanging out with my family.  We met also got to meet my brother's girl friend.  She fits in well with our family and I really like her.

 This is a picture from that get together.  Yana was a little shy of everyone but not so shy as to not be able to play.  Towards the end of this party we left to head to Rexburg where we met up with my husband's parents to help them unload their uhaul.  Their project just ended and until they know where their next project is they decided to put their stuff in storage.  Then we went up the hill to the cabin.

Monday I felt like Idaho hated me.  It felt like my allergies (which Oklahoma has created) were trying to make me miserable.  It was a busy day though.  I got up and ran although my throat was sore and I am still regretting that because it killed my throat.  The rest of the day my body ached and hurt and I had no energy.  I was sneezing, and just felt miserable.  We decided later that I had caught a cold.  Anyways we were getting things ready upstairs to build a wall so we were going through closets and found some really cool things.  Really old black and white pictures, movie projector screens, old computers, old calculators (which weighed a ton for a calculator), and a bunch of random stuff.  After that was cleaned out we moved the bed around and my husband and father in law started on the wall.

Tuesday was valley day.  We had to get some more supplies and I had an appointment with my chiropractor.  I only go home 3 times a year so I go to see the chiropractor each time we go.  I always feel so much better afterwards.  It was a long and busy day.

Wednesday my girls and I rode back down the hill with grandma.  After shuffling vehicles around I continued past Rexburg to see my family and have a sleep over at my sister's house for our kids.  I have a lot of memories of sleep overs with my cousins growing up so we decided to start that for our kids.

 The kids had a lot of fun and didn't want to go to sleep.  It was good to visit with my sister and her husband and to see how they are doing.  We left Thursday morning and headed back up the hill.

 While in the valley we bought great grandpa an early birthday present.  My husband used the box to make a house (we started calling it a rocket) for the girls to play in.  They had a lot of fun in that little house.  It snowed.  Man I love the snow.  It snowed a lot.  We got 7-9 inches and everything was so beautiful and white.  I miss snow storms like that.

 Since it snowed we had to go play.  The snow that was there was hard and yucky so we hadn't really been interested in playing in it but this new snow on top was perfect.  We got the girls dressed up and went out to play.  We pulled them on the sled for a while and then started making a sled hill and had a blast.  Yana loved it.  That outfit was almost too small but she loved playing in the snow.  It was up over her knees and took a lot of effort but she managed.  She even loved the sled.

Saturday after the wall was built and the upstairs was all painted and finished my husband and I had a date night.  We drove down the hill and watched "Hunger Games"  It was nice to spend time together.  It made for a late night but it was worth it.  I love date nights.

 Sunday my mom had an Easter BBQ planned for the family and friends.  I made a cake.  I've wanted to make an Easter cake since taking my class.  I didn't really have anything particular in mind but I think the cake turned out really cute.  The only thing I wish I would have done differently was the words.  I should have used a larger tip.

 While at the cabin we had the DISH updated to include HD but the trees block the third satellite, the HD satellite, so we needed to trim some branches.  It started out on a smaller ladder with a different saw but after we had cut so many branches off and still couldn't find the 3rd satellite my husband pulled out the big ladder and his fathers harness and up he went again.  The things we do on vacation.

 This is the view from the back porch.  The lake is still froze over.

 Have I mentioned that I don't like clouds?  Well at least not when I'm flying.  They make for bumpy flights.  Nice pictures but nervous flights.  Our flights went well except for the clouds.

You must be thinking that I'm a wimp since I don't like clouds but they make me nervous.  When I flew home (the first time) from my mission in Russia it was during Hurricane Katrina and we were landing in Atlanta.  There were a lot of clouds and a very nerve wracking flight.  So since then I don't like clouds.  I'd almost prefer that the pilot go around them.

Anyways.  We had a great vacation.  When we got home we noticed that our tree is alive and well.  We thought it was dead but it is now nice and green with lots of leaves.

I hope you all had a great week.  Talk to ya later.

VACATION!!!!

I'm so excited.  We leave tomorrow for Idaho.  We haven't been home since Halloween last year.  It feels like so long ago.  It is going to be great.  We have plans and lots to do.  It will be busy and probably stressful trying to get everything done in one short week but we will do what we can do and enjoy it. 

I also wanted to say that I put my shop on vacation mode.  When I get back I'll add the rest of the pullover bibs as well as some of the expired items I had listed on my shop.  I have also come to the knowledge that I will probably not add pullover bibs or sack holders unless requested.  I tend to be more enthused to sew table runners and quilts more so I plan to sew more of them.  I also got some cute frog material to make a quilt that I would like to sell.  I'll share pictures when I get back from vacation as well.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Vacation part 2

I left off Halloween night in part 1. I realized that I forgot about our family get together on Sunday.  It was a lot of fun.  We made our own ice cream Sundays while blindfolded.  It was fun.

Here is Josh trying to scoop his ice cream.  I say try because people kept moving the ice cream on him.  It was a lot of fun.

Can you tell that she doesn't feel good yet.  She wasn't too happy still.  Her favorite spot was on the blanket to the left.

The three of them spent the entire time playing in that room together.

 I don't remember exactly what we did Tuesday.  We hung out at the house, cleaned, fixed, oh now I remember.  We (Josh, my father in law and myself) went fishing.  Let me tell you it was cold.  The wind was blowing making it worse.  I had 2 pairs of pants on and 2 shirts, 1 sweat shirt and a coat on.  Plus I took a blanket.  Who do you think caught any fish?  Well if you guess the guys then you are wrong.  I caught the only fish this time.  I'm sure we would have caught more but we were freezing.

Wednesday we went to the valley for doctor's visits.  Four of us went to the chiropractor's.  That felt great.  I think every bone in my body popped back in place.  There were other appointments and shopping that got done.  I registered for my half marathon.

Thursday we took my in laws down to the airport.  That was hard. We hate saying goodbye.  On our way back we went the scenic way and stopped at Mesa falls.

 Josh and Yana on the walkway.

Me and the girls.  Aren't they cute.

Friday we did things around the house.  Some family members came up and had dinner with us.  It was fun to visit and see how they were doing.  As they were leaving we noticed that it was snowing.  That made life fun.

Saturday my first alarm didn't go off which had me really nervous.  We had a 2.5 hour drive to make and it snowed a lot during the night.  I think we had almost 6 inches when we left.  It took us almost an hour to get down the hill which normally takes us about 30 minutes.  I was sure we were going to be late to Pocatello.

Driving was slow.  We were more concerned with safety than anything.  The girls were in the back.  Well we made it.  I say we made it but it was barely in time.  We pulled up to the finish line and I carefully walked (the parking lot was iced over) in to get my packet.  Then I went back to the car and grabbed my shoes, and a bag and found the closest bus.

The bus took us up to the top of the mountain.  Once there we used the porta potties.  I took off my sweats and put on my running shoes.  I also put on the shirt that we got in our packets....(I realized later that I had run the entire race with my shirt on backwards).  Did I mention earlier that it was cold?  It was windy, the ground was covered with snow and ice and it was still cloudy.  They had two bonfires to help keep us warm but they only helped so much.  There were after all almost 500 people waiting at the top of the hill.  The race was supposed to start at 10:13 but there were a couple of buses that were delayed so it didn't start for almost another 20 minutes.

When it came time to start we all walked carefully over to the starting line.  The gun went off and we all carefully started jogging.  It was slow at first.  It was downhill on ice.  I just took it as it came.  The first 2 miles flew by.  It was amazing at how fast that first aid station came....and went.  I didn't stop.  The 4.5 mile aid station came...it seemed like it took a little longer.  I was doing good keeping my pace.  I did stop for the bathroom and to get a drink of Gatorade and then I got going again.

Then the 7 mile one came a long and my stomach was aching.  I needed to use the bathroom again.  When I stopped to walk to the bathroom my left leg was almost not there.  That was the feeling.  I'm sure I looked really funny.  It was weird for me.  I ran 8 miles with no problems and at mile 7 I could tell the last miles were going to be harder than I thought.

I kept going and the next aid station was at mile 11.  They warned us that they would have stuff at that aid station that no human should ever consume and they were right.  The first thing I heard when getting close was someone asking if I wanted a swig of whiskey.  I just looked at him not quite believing what I heard.  I took some water and turned down everything else.

I was hurting.  My ankle ached, my knees ached and my shoulders were sore already.  This wasn't going to be good.  My goal was to finish no matter what but I did want to run the entire way.  That didn't quite happen.  By mile 12 I stopped and walked a few yards and then ran again.  From there that is the way it was.  I ran as far as I could and then walked for a short time.  Thankfully I don't think I walked more than 1/2 a mile out of the 13 but I did walk some.  I don't regret it though.  I did finish.  I did it.  I thought I could do it and I did.  Would I do it again?  Yes.  I don't think I'll do a full marathon any time soon.  I realized that I'm not quite ready for that yet.

My husband took some pictures near the finish line.

 The lady next to me and I played leap frog the entire way.  Towards the end we ran together cheering each other on.  It was also her first half marathon.  It was nice.  It helped me forget the way my body felt and concentrate on the task at hand.

To the right of us is the finish line.  We crossed it and my official time was 2 hours and 56 minutes and some odd seconds.  I don't remember them off the top of my head.  My goal was 2.5 hours but I finished and that was my main goal.

After the race I grabbed my close bag and a roll and left with my family.  We headed back up to Island Park and had dinner with my parents.  Then we sat and visited.  It was nice.

Yesterday we got up and got packed.  Then we said our goodbyes and headed down the hill.  It had snowed more over night so we left earlier than we normally would need to.  It took about the same amount of time to get down the hill as it did on Saturday.  We picked up my sister in law and headed to the airport.  We said goodbye to her and headed inside to get checked in.  My brother and his daughter came over to say goodbye.  It was so nice to see him.  We never like leaving our home.  Owasso has become our home away from home and I like it here but nothing will ever take the place of our home in Idaho.

We got home safely and unpacked.  It is good to be home.

Vacation part 1

Well our vacation started Friday the 28th.  Our flight flew out of Tulsa at 6:30 am so we got up around 4 in order to get our car packed and girls in the car and still be to the airport two hours early.  Our flights were on time thankfully.  We got into Idaho Falls around one.  My sister in law picked us up and we went and had lunch with my dad, brother and mom.

Saturday morning Josh and Sarah went out on the dock and went fishing.  Sarah caught her first fish.  She was so excited but wouldn't actually touch the fish.

After lunch we went to Island Park.  Josh's parents got in on Thursday.  We spent the night in Island Park and had a great time.  Saturday we drove back down to Idaho Falls for one of my best friends weddings.  She looked beautiful.  I was so excited for her.

After her wedding and dinner we headed to my dad's house.  We got there while my dad and stepmother were out so we let ourselves in and got the girls to bed.  Then we helped my dad move in some elliptical machines when they got home.

Sunday we took Yana to Community Care.  She got two teeth before we left on vacation but she was still running a high fever and not acting like herself.  Turns out she had an ear infection as well.  Once on medication she started slowly returning to the cute little girl that she is. 

She would actually go to my dad after that.

Sarah and I went to church with my dad and step mom.  Then we just visited for the rest of the day.

Monday we went to Idaho Falls and spent a lot of time with my mom and grandparents.  It was nice to visit and see how everyone was doing.

 Yana with my grandpa.

Sarah with my grandpa and grandma.

Later we got the girls dressed up and ready to go trick or treating.  We met up with my sister at my mom's house and then later met up with my brother and his daughter.

 Here is the costume I made for Sarah.  She looked so cute.

 This is Sarah's first Halloween costume and now Yana is wearing it.

My niece was a chicken.  It was quite a cute costume.

We started at my dad's office since he was about to go home.

Then we went to my grandparents and then my aunts house.  From my aunts house we walked around her block knocking on doors.  After that we dropped my sister in law off and headed back up to Island Park.

The girls fell asleep on the way to the cabin.

Well here is part one of our vacation.  Stay tuned for the rest of it.  Hopefully it all comes today.