Ode to camping

Camping is where ...






We Smile More Often

















Bonds are Strengthened
















Weird Looks, Sounds and Smells go
Mostly UN-noticed











Games, Games and more Games are played





















We ALL can win at Golf--especially if you have Maya, the wonder-dog to retrieve your shanked shot






















A few tears are expected and even encouraged from time to time.












Crazy Jokes and Funny Stories are brought out and dusted off to new and hopefully appreciative audiences














Competition
simmers
and brews--






hence we learn that,
"the cocky shall be
thrust down to hell"





Forts are built and Magic Kingdoms are created













Sand Castles Arise from the sand














BIRTHDAYS are Celebrated












We love playing in the water--even if it is snow-melt cold











You play so hard and relax so much that you come home more tired than when you left--but at least it's a Happy sort of Satiated-tired.

Andrewism

We DVR'd Star Wars the other day and Andrew has been having fun watching it. Do you remember the part when they are trying to destroy the Death Star? Do you remember what Porkins tells his fighter pilot?
click here for a quick reminder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMDV3eISLPs

This morning while Andrew was peeing: "Stay on Target! Stay on Target" ---all in the somewhat computery voice that IS Porkins.

It's going to be a great day.

Flashback Friday

We are getting ready to go camping and I thought this picture would be a fun, quick flashback friday. This was out at Elk River 2 years ago. I'm blown away how much the kids have changed and grown in just the 2 short years.

This time we are able to camp in a pop-up trailer and we are headed up past Laird Park where the boys usually scare the elk during elk season. We are anticipating great weather and I'm really looking forward to making some fun "remember when we... " memories with the kids. Hope you all have a great Memorial day as well.

K and the Articles of Faith

Yesterday, Kaylee had her end of the year ice cream social for Achievement day girls. They went to the park to play and have ice cream sundays. They had previously been challanged to memorize all of the Articles of Faith. There are 13 Articles of Faith. For each one that they had memorized they could add 1 topping to their ice cream sunday. Each article tells about a different aspect of our religion. They basically outline the fundamental principles of what we, as Mormons, believe. I was so happy and pleased that she memorized all 13 of them. Not so that she could get lots of ice cream but I think that it is so important that we really know and understand the basic principles of our gospel. Without understanding what you believe one tends to either take it for granted or misunderstand the teachings thereby running the risk of becoming deceived or apathetic. As she was memorizing them we talked a lot about what they meant and how they applied to her. She's not a gospel theologian but this was a great step for her that will help her really grasp what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about and why it is so important for her to gain her own testimony that it is true.

Click here for a full copy of the 13 Articles of Faith:

http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1/1-13#1

no kids---no problem

Jeff and I had the rare opportunity to spend a whole day to ourselves. Sheer Bliss! We got up early and dropped the kids off at Susan's house then drove up to Spokane to go to the temple. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy my children and I love being with them, but it was SO VERY nice to be able to drive the 1 1/2 hours in total peace and tranquility. No arguments from the backseat, no "are we there yets", no pit-stops to throw up, no one asking for snacks, no potty breaks---sheer bliss! We were able to carry on a full, uninterrupted conversation together. What a beautiful thing to be able to arrive at the temple unhassled as well as unhurried.
I'm amazed every time I go by the generous nature of Heavenly Father. He WANTS so very much to bless us and is looking for every opportunity to do so. That is never more apparent to me than when I go to the temple.

Afterwards Jeff and I and his sister Amanda went to check out some laptops. After years of encouraging him to check out the Macs he finally looked at one and realized how much better they are and the killer software that goes with them. He was hooked. We were almost ready to pay for it when he decided to think about it over lunch. So we went to (the ultimate sandwich place) Schlotzkies for a sandwich. He decided to call his tech support to make sure that they support the Macs and lucky that he did because he found out that they are still about a year away from being able to sync with the Macs. Their security system is so strict and proprietary that it is hard to access his office stuff from anywhere but in the office. So--back to the store we went to figure out what else would work for us. Which brand? Big screen/little screen? Battery size? touchpad? insurance/no insurance? upgrade by geek squad? security installed or not? Cash or no-interest payments? etc. etc. All of the decisions to be made all at one time almost killed us. :) While we deliberated all of these life-altering questions, I just kept thinking this whole time how glad I was that the kids weren't there. They would have been bored out of their minds the whole time. Consequently, I would have had to chase and threaten and discipline them the whole time. How nice it was to know that they were having fun where they were and that we could just concentrate on what we needed to concentrate on and get the job done.
All decisions finally having been made we headed home once again enjoying the opportunity to just drive--talk--savor the views and listen to the sounds of silence for a while. The drive was typical Palouse scenery in the Spring--gorgeous.
As relaxing and wonderful as the day was--it was also fun to have the kids meet us at the door with great big hugs and loud cheers of, "mommy--daddy, you're here! Yeah!" It's always heartwarming when you return home and know that you have been loved and missed.
To top it all off--we returned home to a clean house! What joy! (There had been a showing while we were gone and so we had worked hard the day before getting it all clean and ready to go.) I love coming home to a sparkling clean home.

What a GREAT day!

Andrew's Big 4 day!

WE ABSOLUTELY ADORE AND LOVE YOU DREW-BONE! WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE YOUR FOURTH BIRTHDAY WITH YOU!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Joy of (even a little) Sunshine

The kids were out of school Thursday and Friday for teacher workdays and whatnot and so we decided that it would be a good time to visit gpa and gma Bollinger's house. We left on Friday morning and the sun was shining the whole day. It was beautiful! What a difference the sunshine can make. The kids had so much fun playing in the creek and in the sand. The water may have been freezing but they didn't seem to notice. They stayed out there for hours.


I loved this picture of Drew. It sort of captures the essence of his personality--ALL BOY, super mischevious, fun-loving, Adventurous and yet SO darn sweet and cute!

I thought this was a fun spot for a photo-op--sittin' on the dam with the beautiful ??? tree blossoming in the background.

Throwing rocks in the pond--irrisistible!

Grandma and Grandpa gave Bone this Tonka tractor for his birthday, which is coming up, and he had a great time bulldozing his way up the creek.

These two were like 2 peas in a pod. They play so great together--constantly making up pretend stories and entertainments for each other.

I loved this shot of Belle--So girly and yet still so creatively independent and adventurous!

Drew-Bones Bridge--

I am amazed at the growth that I see in Kaylee in just one short year. This first picture was taken last year at about this time. The second was taken this weekend. She really is growing up! I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.

We really had a nice, relaxing time despite the excitement that ensued when the dog caught and killed the rooster and when Andrew grabbed the electric fence--no major damage done (unless you were the rooster). Kaylee had a fun time helping to fix the chicken coop and then transferring all of the baby chicks from the cage into the hen house. Hopefully the electric wire will keep not only Andrew and Mac (the dog) out but the coyotes as well.