Fun with Grandma and Grandpa Baxter

In August we went to Oregon for a week or so. Michone had her 12 birthday and was able to go to Lucky Peak reservoir near Boise with Grandpa and Grandma Baxter. We had a great time.

Michone's birthday card.

The wind picked up so we headed to a beach area where the boys had a great time. Here is Landon starting a fire with two sticks.

Michone, Landon, and Kalli on the tube

Ashley, Landon and Michone

Hang on tight!

Cruisin with Michone, Kalli and Ashley

Michone with Gram and Pops.

Time to eat

Sierra, Megan, Ashley, and Dallee Jo in Grandma's hot tub

Swimming at Grandma's!

Making Hay

I have helped change a few lines of pipe for our neighbor this summer. I figure it is a good trade for keeping our driveway plowed out in the winter. He has a shed that can hold a couple hundred bales and so we went out and gathered a load one night.

Everyone was great help. Michone and Ashley liked to drive the truck, Kalli, Ashley, and Michone turned the bales over for us to pick them up, and the boys liked to run around on the trailer and hay.

Summer time fun

This post has some fun pictures - at least for the Mom and Dad!

The tree house has filled in a little. The wood to the right of the tree has since been blocked up and put in the wood shed. We had enough extra from last summer that we only had to get about 2 cord this fall.

This is a picture of our garden. As you can see, the peas went crazy! We put a little 4 foot net wire for them to grow on, but that was not enough. They were over six feet tall by the time the peas were ready to eat.

Here is a picture of our tomatoes in our home made green house (with out the plastic covering).

Tara had our neighbor put a bucketful of corral goodies right as you turn in to our driveway. I was sure it would be too hot, but the flowers really did well in it! I wish we had a picture to show how much they grew.

The same neighbor (Alvie) is a great welder. He put together this hanging flower holder out of a couple of old iron disk wheels and axel (yes, it is heavy!)

IThis is a picture of our most recent in house remodel work. This corner used to have a gas heater with white rock behind it. We took that out when Todd put in the arches. (I am sitting in the blue chair as I type this).

Tara made this computer desk from scratch. She is awesome!

This room had a sliding pocket door. Todd came and in three days he was able to put in an arch way from our living room to the hallway. He also moved the coat closet closer to our bedroom and put in a second archway to the piano room. Tara and I then were able to put the mud and texture on and get it painted. Thanks to TODD!

This is taken from our kitchen table. We can now see the bus coming while we are eating breakfeast.

Here are few photos of a camping trip we went on. We decided to go last minute so it was dark by the time we were able to get any pictures.

Roasting marshmellows.

Landon looking for dry moss to start the fire with. You can see he had already found the creek!

Michone brought our dog, Brady.

Ashley and Ryan braving the roaring creek.

In case you missed it, we had a couple of wedding at our house this summer. Here Ryan and Allie Christensen (our neighbor) listen to a song.

Nice to see Ryan cleaned up prior to the big event.

What a cake!

Landon and Robin Chaffin.

Michone getting in costume for her part in the musical "Wicked"

Landon made this arrow with just a little help from Mom.

Landon became quite a climber this summer. He was being safe here - he has since learned how to swing from one rope to the other while 15 feet off the ground.

Ashley is also a great climber. She would use her toes to help her and they became quite blistered and raw for a while.

Flag Football

Landon has been on a Flag Football team this year and has really enjoyed it. There are 6 on a team with the coach being the QB. Landon has developed a good set of hands and has caught a couple of touchdown passes. We usually play two games a night. Here are some pictures of our last games of the season.
The coach is Matt Hanson - who is the son of the Best Man at my Dad's wedding. This is warmups and Matt giving his son Andy a pep talk.

I have heard that a person needs to be able to laugh at himself on occasion. Well.......

Here is Landon getting ready to "pull some flags."

Landon taking the pursuit cutoff angle.

Landon and his friend Jace.

Landon after taking a handoff and heading for the endzone!

This one is hard to see, but Landon is heading for the endzone after making a great catch.

Getting a well deserved drink at half time of the second game.

Asst coach Bingham and Landon. By the way - when did my forehead grow an inch and sprout wings!?

The ball is in the air....

Landon made a dive but it looks like the other team scored. However, a little while later in this game, Landon made a great angle pursuit and made a diving tackle (flag pull) at full speed to stop a touchdown. I could not help but let out a big "YES" when he pulled it!

The team with their pizza after the game. Notice anything on the yellow ball and the cheesy grin on Matt's face?

Matt feeling pretty good about getting "BYU" into the picture above. We give each other a hard time about Utah State and YBU. I would sure love to be able to give him a call this Friday night and return the favor!