Crew Turns 5!!!

Last Friday, my baby boy turned 5!  

Of course, we started the day off with the traditional birthday song wake-up call.

And presents...he is really in to Star Wars right now so he was super excited to get anything Star Wars related.

 Nanny and Papa came down to go to Crew's favorite lunch spot, Arctic Circle.  They gave him a great wild west town figurine set.  He loved it!

Then he went over to the house and carved his name in one of the footings.

We had his friend party the next day.

The View Today

Breaking Ground!

After 5 years of wondering, dreaming, planning, stressing and changing our minds back and forth a few times (about several things) we have finally started building our house!

We broke ground on October 6, 2011.

Just in time for the snow :(

Luckily it was a fluke and the weather has cleared up.

Here's our hole.

The kids have mixed feelings about moving.  Even though it's just across the road they would have to change school districts.  I guess they don't look too upset here.

This was the view this morning.

And this was this afternoon.  It doesn't look that dramatic in the pictures but they made a lot of progress today!

This is the view from our bedroom (in our house now).  I'm going to try and take pictures every day.

I can't believe it's actually happening!

Boating Adventures

Last winter we had a little mishap with the drift boat Jim had been using (I can't say it was ours because it technically wasn't).  It got crushed in a shed when the roof caved in from snow.  Jim thought that it was time to get our (his) own boat so he found an old jet boat that he figured would be a little more "family friendly" because it can hold more people and is more kid friendly than a drift boat since you're not having to row constantly.  We've taken it out a few times.  The first time the engine died on Blacktail in the middle of the lake.  I think Jim was having some buyers remorse.  But, after some tuning up we've been able to take it out a few times as a family on the river.  It's fun, I guess.

Jim loves it.  This was at Red Fish Lake.

Can you tell it's not my favorite thing?
(I look pretty awful...I was just getting over the stomach flu).  

I'm trying to like it.  Maybe it'll grow on me.

I'm not sure it's Paige's favorite thing either.

Unless she's driving.

Hailey and Crew like it because they get to drink soda which is a rare treat.

Indie LOVES it.

Crew is happy anytime he's hanging out with his BEST BUDDY Dad.

It is really neat when you spot some wild life. 

We saw a pair of moose one day.

A bald eagle.

Wait....what is that?????

A rare spotting for sure.

It was Papa Red when he had to dive in and untangle some moss from the engine. 

What a trooper...I'm really hoping that's never me.

First Day of School 2011

Summer is over and in some ways I am sad, in others, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was glad. August was a had a hard month. It started out with a really fun with a trip to Red Fish Lake (photos hopefully posted soon), then a weird sickness which we thought was maybe West Nile Virus, followed by Crew getting salmonella poisoning and then a bought of the stomach flu this last weekend of which Crew, Hailey and I suffered through. Poor Crew, he's gotten all three and his little body is tired and skinny. And in the middle of all this our friend and neighbor was killed in an accident. He was a husband and a father of 4, 3 adorable little boys and a brand new baby girl. His 2 oldest boys, Parker and Joshua are Crew's best friends. Things have been heavy and stressful. So, I haven't felt much like blogging or writing.

Crew started school last week and I forgot to get pictures. I didn't send him this morning with the girls because he is just tired and doesn't feel great. I don't either. I'm ready for a routine. I am hoping now that with a little more time to myself, I can get back to documenting and writing. Sorry to be such a Debbie-downer....at least these pictures make me smile.

Someone obviously loves the camera. Paige holding up 2 fingers for Second Grade, her teacher is Ms. Wood (her best friend Sofi's aunt).

Hailey holding up 4 fingers for Fourth Grade, her teacher is Mr. Rakel, a Harry Potter look-alike.

Paige making Hailey laugh.

On the way to school Hailey told Paige she was going to miss her and that she was her best friend (sometimes). Those are the moments that make all of this worth it.

This Is The Place 2011

We happened to be in Salt Lake again this year for Pioneer Day so we took the kids to This Is The Place for a bit of pioneer fun. I often hear my kids (and myself) complaining about how hard something is whether it be a bike ride, a hike or chores around the house and quickly remind them (and myself) how hard the pioneers had it. I know we probably have no idea how hard it really was, but it always seems to help put things into perspective (at least for me).

The animals are always a hit, especially with Paige.

Crew loves the train rides.

And how can you not do a little jig with the fiddle music going? This sends Paige into a fit of embarrassment as you can see from her desperate attempt to keep Jim's feet on the ground. Hailey covers her face in pure shame for her strange parents. In the spirit of how hard our forefathers had it, I often tell stories of all the embarrassing things my own parents did, especially grandpa.

Ahhh, how nice it was to go back home to Grandmommy's air conditioned home. Paige held my mom's new dog, Rosie, any chance she could get while we were there.