And While I am At It...

Random Photos

Please don't skip over the First Day of Kindergarten Blog - I just wanted to add a couple of recent photos.I don't know where Adalyn picked up this DARLING grin! Isn't it cute??
Kaila, Gabby and Alex joined us at Discovery Gardens on Monday for one last free day of summer. We had a blast!

This was taken up the canyon at Ryan's Birthday Shin-dig.
I baked a special Back to School cake for Jake and Craig. I got the idea from where else? Family Fun Magazine - my OTHER bible.
Juliana invited Papa for lunch in her house. It didn't last long because she didn't serve her guest very well.

Still More "Back to School" Photos!

We had been at the bus stop about 1 minute when Jake exclaimed, "This is taking FOREVER!" Oh my little Jake, if only it would...

The big day!

Grovecrest Elementary is about 1.5 miles from our home. Yesterday, however, Kindergarten seemed so far away! Could my little baby Jake REALLY be old enough for this adventure?



I bawled "like a baby" (as he told Papa Lifferth) all morning but I DID NOT shed ONE tear when he boarded the bus. (I wanted to.) He was super excited and very nervous. He asked me if I was certain that THIS bus would take him to his school. He even asked the other little girl which school she was going to. He felt better when he realized she was going to the same place. After he asked me again, I told him I would follow the bus in my car and MAKE SURE he made it to school. Juliana (who brought HER backpack to the bus stop) was a little upset when SHE didn't get to get on the bus. After he boarded the bus, I grabbed both girls and rushed into my car. Jake's bus beat me there and I found him in line with his newfound friend Issac. He was thrilled to be at school that I didn't even cry. (again, I WANTED to!) He even waved goodbye as his teacher lead him into class. I wonder, at what age do they stop thinking I am still cool even after I followed his school bus (in my minivan!) and take pictures of him at his first day of school??? I really hope never...

One Last Hurrah!

Hobble Creek Canyon



Summer is over? How could that happen? Jake goes to Kindergarten next week. I don't know how well I am going to handle the "commitment" of going to school every day! I didn't handle it all so well when I had to do it!

We headed up Hobble Creek canyon to camp for a couple of days. I thought by avoiding the process, I would feel better equipped to handle Jake going to school EVERY DAY! But it only made me more depressed. And it is only kindergarten! Ahhhhh!

We did, however, manage to enjoy every minute of camping. Jake loved to swim in the stream and play "fisherman" with Jeff's vest. Juliana managed to remove every piece of clothing I put on her AND look like an orphan. (But that is a daily thing, not just a camping thing.) She still needed a nap (and I needed her to take one). I finally figured out to put her in the hammock with books - she eventually fell asleep for a few hours. We really had a great time. Just goes to prove, you really don't need to go far to have a great time. Now, back to school....bummer!

This sums up my Juliana right here...no clothes, dirty face and no way will I get her picture!
I love this picture! Jake is heading off to do some fishing. He wanted me to put some bait on his fly hook, but I don't touch live worms. (Plus, you just don't do that!)
Papa and Mimi came up to visit every night for supper. Juliana got several rides in her little wagon!

More photos

Ryan's Birthday

Happy 19th Birthday!


My little bro isn't so little anymore! We helped him celebrate his 19th birthday yesterday. Juliana was more than thrilled to participate. I think she ate 3 bowls of ice cream. (Disclaimer - We were camping up Hobble Creek Canyon and I couldn't keep her clothes on her. As for the hair, well, she doesn't have any!) Anyway, Ryan decided to celebrate up there with us at our campsite.

Ryan's a great brother. Always laughing and helping us remember the lighter side of life. I don't think he realizes just how much joy he brings to me. I am really going to miss him while he serves his mission in California, San Fernando, baby.

Love you Ryan!

115 Candles!

Happy Birthday Dad and Uncle Wes!

Together, they are 115 years old! (and we had that many candles on the cake!) My dad and Uncle Wes not only share the same birthday, they share the same birth minute! They are twins - five years apart. We celebrated their birthday this past Sunday with all of Uncle Wes's family, including Zach (who resides in S. Cal) and Gretchen (who resides in Spokane) It was fun getting together with everyone.




So here's to you Dad - I love you very much! You are more than the best father ever. I am so thankful that the most generous, honest, loving person I have ever met happens to be my dad. Words can not thank you for the things you have taught me and the example you have led. Your actions speak integrity in your work and your personal life. Thank you for all you do for me and my family. I love you very much! Happy Birthday!

Summer Book Report

And you wonder WHY I haven't been blogging!


One thing that I REFUSE to give up as a mother is reading. Books are a serious addiction - I can not put them down once I start! Nothing gets accomplished, children are ignored and food is forgotten - but at least I get to read! I obviously have more time to read on vacation than I do at home. But once in awhile at home, I pick up a good book and read, read, read away even though I usually have screaming kids roaring around me! So here is my summer book report:1776 - I give it 3 stars. This is one of the rare books I have NOT yet finished. (I found a few others that took presidence!) I will, however, finish this book someday. I was awestruck by the courage, the strength and humility of General George Washington. I would place him in my top five people I wish to meet someday. He led his armies with such grace and dignity. I was also awestruck with the courage of our Founding Fathers. It was apparent throughout the book that the guidence of "Divine Providence" established our great country though "circumstances" that allowed passage or victory of the Continental Army. The stories are amazing. I loved the History presented in this book. I will be going to Boston to pick up my brother Daren in a couple of weeks. It was exciting to read up on my history.
I
Eragon - About 3 stars. I thought this book was interesting. It is a 3-part serious (which I hate because then you are hooked!) I think the author is a genius - he wrote this book when he was 15 years old! I do think, however, he is a very immature writer that should progress with time. Eragon seems to hang on the coattails of books/movies like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. It is about a boy who was destined to become a dragon rider. His adventures take him throughout a fictional country and through extremely exhausting adventures (they never seemed to end!) This book should not be considered an "easy read" - it has a lengthly 600 pages! But it is very entertaining and I will be reading the other two books soon.

Twilight - 5 STARS!!!

Loved, loved, loved this book! I could not put it down. I had heard about the craze and I fell victim to it as well! This story boarders "cheesy" but it so creative and different! It is about a girl that moves to a small town in Washington. She meets and falls for a vampire who thirsts for her blood (and just so happens to CRAVE her blood...I thought that was cheesy.) But I was soon caught up in the story and couldn't put it down. Highly entertaining and exciting. I would recommend this book - but be prepared with book 2 and 3 - you will want to pick them up the minute you finish this book.

Eat Cake - 4 stars. This is an "easy read." But sooo charming! It made me want to hurry home and bake a cake. It's about a lady who loves to bake. She suddenly finds her life upside down -her husband lost his job, her mother moved in with her and her father (who is hated by her mother) broke both wrists and needs care. She finds herself baking cake daily to deal with her stress. Then finds she can create a business with her talents. This book is both motivational and humorous. I loved it.

I actually read "Vanishing Acts" by the same author on the way home from Montana. That story is interesting. But this story is controversial and addicting. I am actually on page 178 and can't put it down. It's about a couple that had two children. Kate, the youngest, is diagnosed with Leukemia. The parents decide to genetically create a third child that will be a match for Kate and will donate bone marrow to help Kate survive. The story takes place as Anna (child #3) is 13. She sues her parents because she doesn't want to give her kidney to save Kate. The thing I love about this author is she writes a story from different perspectives. You can easily understand and feel for each characters point of view. I HIGHLY recommend this book. At least at this point. It will be interesting to see what happens.

So, that explains it - the reason for not blogging weekly! I am behind on just about everything, but at least I have enjoyed my summer of reading!

Wild Montana Skies...

AMAZING!
We were fortunate enough pay homage to the "motherland" (birthplace of my dad) for a week. We went mountain biking, hiking, swimming at our secluded lake. We always (well the two times we have been) camp at Murphy's Lake - the most beautiful lake in Montana (in our opinion.) We had been planning this vacation since last July. Wow! What a trip!

This photo is of me. I do NOT know how I got my body to go into this position. I just have one thing to say: some people can do rope swings, other people can not...
This is Martin's Lake. There is no road access - you either have to bike or hike it in. We went daily (it was about 2 miles from Murphy's Lake.)
Juliana LOVED getting dunked by Papa at Sunday Falls.
This is a REAL LIVE Bear print! We decided to hike/bike up to Martin's Lake one evening. As we walked up to the little natural cove where you can enter the water, we found the area wet as if someone had just left the lake. Weird. We NEVER see people at this lake. Then Jeff found a pile of extremely fresh poop...except it had grass in it. Obviously it wasn't human poop! (Well, we hope not anyway!) Just then, Ryan found this print - among others. As if on cue, we heard growling up on the hill about a quarter mile up. We couldn't see what was making the noise - but the detective in us decided we had missed a bear by just a few minutes. I kind of think it would be cool to see a bear - but then I decided I didn't really want to find out!
Murphy's Lake at dusk.

And More...

We all got a kick out of this photo of Karlos...He looks like he could be on the cover of the brochure to promote "Handicap Week" at the lake. I think it would be perfect to show "Rope swing day!" HA HA !! Love you Dad!