Boys and Mud

The weather today was awesome! The rain let up this afternoon and the sun came out! Spencer took off on his bike. Do you think he missed any mud puddles?

Photo taken: May 28, 2008

Yonder is Jackson Hole

I snapped this picture at the top of Teton Pass. We stopped there Saturday, on our family adventure, and let the kids play in the snow. Jackson Hole is in the back ground.

Photo taken: May 24, 2008

Family Road Trip

We had plans of camping this weekend, but the weather did not cooperate at all. We opted for a day trip instead. Yesterday we went on our family adventure, and we had a blast!

We began by traveling north on US HWY 89. We stopped for lunch at the 'Wolf Den', a local roadside tourist stop, located just outside of Etna. They have a pretty good burger, along with the 'gimmicks', to get the tourist to stop! They have some buffalo for the kids to see, along with some old west style props.








The only time we had a handle on the kids is when we locked them up in the paddy wagon.

They have several teepee's equipped with picnic tables inside, so you can enjoy your meal inside one if you wish.

After enjoying our lunch we proceeded north to Alpine, and then into Idaho to Swan Valley. There we stopped at another roadside attraction. In Swan Valley there is a gas station, that also sells "World Famous Square Ice Cream".

The place is truly amazing to me. It is out in the middle of 'nowhere'. Idaho Falls is 50 miles away, Star Valley 40 miles, Victor is 30 miles, and yet the place is always packed with people. They are there just to buy an ice cream cone, that is square! If you click on the picture and enlarge it you can get an idea of the kind of business this place does. The sign at the top and right shows the sales they had last year. Memorial weekend they sold 11,462 ice cream cones. On the Forth of July - 18,761. And Labor day - 10,332. That is some kind of sales for a gas store along the highway - a long way form anywhere!


Enjoying our cones! Notice the color of my cone? It is licorice flavored! The kids all got cotton candy flavored cones, and Angela tried 'Moose Tracks'.

From Swan Valley we drove over Teton Pass and into Jackson Hole. There we visited the National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The place was a huge hit with the kids. These geese were camping on the roof with their new babies!

There were several boardwalks along the river to view waterfowl from. Many of the ducks and geese had newly hatched chicks.

While in Jackson we also visited the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. This bear was on display there. He had been quilled by a porcupine and then having his left eye blinded by the quills he ran into a highway and was struck by a passing vehicle. Talk about a bad day!

We had a blast on our "mini vacation". A family day well spent.

Photos taken: May 24, 2008. Picture of us eating our cones in front of Rainey Creek taken by: Ruby

Commando's Take the Bridge

PFC Spencer and PFC Preston storm the bridge and take control of a key enemy supply route!

Recently the boys celebrated Bryson's birthday with him. The party had an army men theme. Everyone wore their camouflaged fatigues and all the boys were given marshmallow assault rifles, helmets and dog tags. The boys had a great time and continued the fun at a recent trip to Canyon View Park, in Afton.

Photos taken: May 20, 2008

First Game for the Boys

Ruby's games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Preston and Spencer play on Mondays and Wednesdays, so it is 4 nights a week at the ball park again. They are playing together for the Padres!

Spencer Makes it to First

Preston Hits the Ball!

Photos taken: May 19, 2008 - By: Angela

Play Ball!

The spring sports season is once again upon us. Ruby is playing in fast pitch softball this year. She is for the White Sox. In her first game she came up to bat 4 times, and each time she got a hit on the very first pitch!

One of Ruby's four hits

Ruby Playing Catcher

Photos Taken: May 20, 2008

Wired

I haven't been feeling to good lately. I have been to the doctors office more times in the last 3 months than the rest of my life combined. I have been poked with needles, had MRI's and some other 'fun' test, that we will not get into detail about here! Below I am "wired up" for a sleep study. I had nearly 30 wires attached to various parts of my body. Then they give you the most uncomfortable plastic covered pillows you can imagine and tell you to get a good night sleep! Ha!


Because I haven't been feeling to good I have been behind on the blog. So I am going to have to do some catching up! So over the next day or two, hopefully, I'll get some post up!

Mothers Day

Wishing a Special Mothers Day to all The Special Mothers in My Life

Wife Angela

Niece Jessica

Sister Kerrie

Sister Rachael

Mother Hazel

Sisters Kerrie and Racheal

Sister-n-law Angie

Sister Susan

Niece Marie

Wife Angela and Daughter Ashley

Mother-n-law Janet

Daughter Ashley

Mother Hazel

And I must mention sister-n-law Mary, and sister-n-law Jackie. I couldn't find a decent picture of them to add to this post...but they too are special!

Ruby's Art

Ruby has been drawing a lot lately. She has always liked to draw. Below is some of her recent work.




If you would like to see more of Ruby's art click here.

Snowy May Day

From the Back Porch

Snowy Windshield

From the Back Porch

The Patch to the Aspen

From the Front Porch

The Horses are back

From the Front Porch

Heidi's House

Angela snapped these pictures today.

Photos taken: May 9, 2008 by Angela

Reesie

This has been a somber week. Our neighbors lost their little girl this past Sunday night. She was only three years old. Reesie was born with a heart condition that she has struggled with since birth. She had surgery last week to help make it better, but she never recovered. The kids sure miss her.

May her family have comfort knowing her place in heaven is assured.

Potatoes au Gratin

Preston likes this dish so much, that when there is leftovers he will have Angela heat it up for his after school snack! It is a top family favorite! Try it, it may become a favorite in your family too!

First Trip of the Spring to the Aspen

For the first time this year the thermometer hit 50 degrees, at our house, today! The snow has melted enough that we were able to hike to the aspen grove above our house.


Preston, Spencer, and Ruby just have to get their feet muddy! The pond is still about half covered with snow!

Flowers are already blooming! These little yellow ones covered the hill near the pond.

Last weekend the valley floor was still covered with snow! What a difference a week makes. Notice Angela and Ruby in the bottom right corner of the photo.

Photos taken: May 3, 2008