Get Wood or Go Sledding?

We haven't quite figured out how to get to our camping spot before 8 p.m. We are very greatful for a wonderful camping trailer from G'pa and G'ma Baxter that we can just hook up, go, get there, and then only have to worry about starting a fire and eating. As you can see we remembered the ear warmers and gloves, but who needs a coat? Kalli is just finishing off a perfectly cooked hotdog. We love campfire cooking! Michone is the "card" of the family. Every picture I took of her that night had some similar pose. We love having her as the life of the family. Notice Landon, where is his mother?

Did we have breakfast? Oh, yes, I forgot, my children are growing and inhaling food. I love it. I feel like such a good cook. We did have eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon, thanks to the stove in the trailer. Ashley does not like her picture taken, but we are glad she is part of our family.

Landon and Ryan love to give a good "cheese"!

The kids found this great deer home not too far from our camping spot. We think we can see where they bedded down and they found tracks and droppings not too far from this cool home. From left to right, Landon, Kalli, Michone, leaf (I believe Ashely's legs are sticking out), and Ryan.

Dad and the kids leaving the "cool deer home."

Kalli found some gigantic leaves and a great walking stick. Do you see the skiff of snow? This should have been a type and a shadow of things to come.

The purpose of camping was so we could get started early and get wood. This is our wood truck and where we get wood. Slightly more challenging than other years but we will prevail with an entire truckload of wood! Way to go Dad, or we like to call him Paul Bunyon. Without boots and with all the brush covered it was very difficult for the children to walk on the hills so most of their time was spent making snowmen and catching, loading, and stacking the logs once we got them to the truck. They had great attitudes and I was very proud of them.

This is "Paul" looking for the perfect tree. He has his work cowboy boots on with holes in some of the stitching, brrrrrr!

Thankful to have a great saw to work with!

Kalli with one of her cute creations.

Landon has a whole family of little snowmen. I love the hat on the big one.

Ryan is our next "Paul Bunyon". I don't know where he learns how to do this, but he is good. He is chopping a little limb in half about 18 inches in front of him.

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.