Blessed Beyond Belief

She loved it.

Today was her first official riding lesson. Look -

Happy 38th Anniversary

To my favorite Mother in law and Father in law! I just had to pull out these pictures from the 25th anniversary party (obviously 60's theme). It was a blast, though it seems so long ago! Maybe in a couple of years we will have to have a 40th 80s themed party. Oh yikes ... I can just see it now. ;)

Sewing 101

I decided not to take the sewing class right now. Instead, I figured I should probably attempt to do something on the machine first. Months ago I had Grandma Mathew's sewing machine serviced. The guy gave it a tune up and a clean bill of health. Said it was a great machine and should suit me just fine for learning to sew. The last time I really sewed I was probably just a little bit older than Autumn. My desire for creating, being in Girl Scouts, and watching my mom spending endless hours sewing awesome things was enough for me to want to learn. With mom's help I remember making the top part of a wall hanging quilt, an outfit for myself (it was a top and a skirt and the fabric was stretchy with crayons on it!), and several other things I can't think of right now. Anyhow - since then I haven't had the courage to attempt sewing. To me, the sewing machine is like how my digital SLR was to me - I can work it enough to get a picture, but I know nothing about how it works and how to make it do all the cool things it can do. But, today I unfolded the machine, took out the manual (yes, I have the original manual with the original reciept still stuck in it), and fired that puppy up. Before I had a chance to barely start looking at it - in pops Autumn wanting to learn to sew to! So, I gathered up enough of my left over knowledge and helped her make this. She sat in front of the sewing machine the whole time. I just showed her what to do. So, maybe we will learn together! But I really want her to learn these things - she's got a strong interest in creating and she's good at it. If she starts now and keeps going maybe she won't be 34 and wondering how to use a sewing machine! ;)

Since we're talking pools....

I am crispy fried

after spending all afternoon here:

Ivy Wild pool
is most definately our latest coolest find. It's in Boise past the airport. A little ways of a drive, but so fun for the kids. Autumn, Will, and I went today with friends. Pools only up to about three feet deep, water pouring, spouting, shooting, big slides, little slides, grassy area to chill, picnic lunches or snack bar - what's not to love?! So, in order to get Will to come to the bathroom with me I ask him, 'Will, can you please take me to the bathroom?' He says, 'um, no. You can just go in the water.' I quickly had him lower his voice and asked him if HE went in the water. No. Ok, good. Grad his hand and head to the bathroom. By the time we get in a stall he's dancing and asking if he can go first. This kid had to GO!! I don't even know how he held it. and yes, I explained to him that we don't 'go' in the water.

Will, Autumn, and Abby (or abby girl as Will likes to call her. I think he thinks that what we are saying when we call her abigail)

The raining mushrooms.

Will with Abby and the ever fearless Mathew!

Will finally got up the courage to go down this slide and he loved it! Did it many times.

Extreme IDAHO

Look what Autumn got to do today! ABC's Extreme Home Makeover has been here all week in the town of Middleton building a home for a family. You can read all about the family and the progress here: BLOG One of the cool things is that the builder of our subdivision (and many others in the Treasure Valley) Corey Barton Homes, is building their house! So, earlier in the week I got an email about the project and a link to sign up to voluteer during the week. While I was debating which spot to volunteer for - they were all snatched up! And there were LOTS of spots. But you could still go down and be a spectator any of the days. It's been big news around here and a few of my friends were quick typers and got a spot to help out. Heather was one of them and she had fun on Saturday with a double shift. So she was able to score the teeshirt to wear back today. I was thinking of going, but the kids (older ones) were resisting me too much and I gave up. Autumn LOVES this show, so I was able to tag her on with Heather's family today so she could see it. She had a great time and Heather took some awesome photos!

The big happenings today were the handing over of the keys to the designers to start filling the house. They got to see lots of celebs and apparently BSU football players hauling furniture into the house.

We are guessing that one of the kids rooms must have a Star Wars theme because of who showed up to help - none other than the weird moaning Chewbacca.

Autumn told me that she ran to the bathroom to get a paper towel for when Ty was handing out autographs. That's her under the white arrow.

Here's an adorable one of Heather and TY - he signed the front of her shirt and then handed the camera to her 9yo son, so...... ;)

I am going to make an album of all the pictures taken by Heather. It is on my sidebar ------->

I hear the show airs on October 15th.

Baby Fix

I had one today. This is our friend's daughter, Sierra. She was born just a few days before Jeremy. She is so tiny and cute! But this little girl wants to run! She holds herself up so stiff and hates to lay back. Today we went down to a lake for fishing and she was so happy just to hang on her mommy's arm with her cute little sun hat and soak in the scene.

New Home

I decided to move to a new blog host. It's a bit boring and plain right now - much like a just moved into home. But I think typepad will suit me better for the blogging I want to do. I can add whole photo albums here!

Anyhow, here is a little snapshot at Roaring Springs. We took everyone on Thursday night. From 3-8 it's less than half price. Not bad - especially when you don't buy dinner but bring your own picnic.

Keepin' em busy....

Susan and Dave - hope you are reading this. In order for the boys to not zombie out in front of the computer games too much, we have done some sort of 'outing' everyday. Tuesday night we took them down to the creek and Tim tried out his new fishing pole. Russell tried sleeping on the picnic table because he was wiped out from staying up all night. Then we all went into the creek - minus Russell and Connor - who stood at the bank and looked at us like we were the dorkiest people on earth.

Wednesday I dropped them off at the ice skating rink and then later that night made them participate in a family bike ride around the neighborhood.

Yesterday we all went to the water park. In between all this they are still getting plenty of computer time - for those of you worried that they might forget how to play their games. ;)

I think a harry potty movie is planned today. Oh, and Connor was a little surprised to find out that Idaho is not the middle of no where - hick town - with no carl's jr that Russell described it to be.

They're back

All home safe and sound. They seem to be pretty good travelers. Though I think they would have prefered a later flight. Autumn is now napping and I don't think Russell or Connor even went to bed last night. I'm making meatball sandwiches for dinner and then we are going to take them all down to the creek for a little wading in the water. Tim's gonna bring his fishing pole too. But I think the only thing swimming in indian creek are kids in tubes. And we don't need to catch anymore of those.

So, of course Russell had to immediately get reaquainted with his computer.

And here's Autumn with her collection of American Girl dolls.

Will's newest treasure - thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.