Ruby is 10!

Ruby turn 10 years old on Thursday. We went to Agava's Mexican Restaurant to celebrate the occasion. The staff there adorned Ruby's head with a Mexican hat and gave her an awesome surprise desert. Ruby told her mom not to tell the waitress it was her birthday and have them sing, so Angela snuck off to the restroom and happened to let out the surprise while she was gone. It was a great time for the family, with good food and a great atmosphere!

Spencer, Ruby and Preston

Ruby's Cake

Friday was sunny all day long! It turned out to be a great day for Ruby's party. She also had a sleep over Friday night. The girls spent the night in a tent on the front lawn. It was the first rain free night we have had in 3 weeks!

History Fair

Ruby recently participated in the History Fair. She chose Amelia Earhart as her subject. She spent many hours researching and preparing her presentation. She developed the story board, complete with a timeline, all on her own. She did an outstanding job!

Lady, Molly and Ruby

Photo taken: May 19, 2009

Dad's New Truck

I have wanted a new truck for years. Well the time has finally come. Dealers are sure willing to deal at the moment, so I pulled the trigger and bought me a new truck.

Spencer, Ruby, Molly, Preston and Angela

Photo taken: May 19, 2009

Oh My Golly, Meet Miss Molly!

I have been prodding Angela for several weeks now to get a dog. She hasn't been to keen on the idea. Our friend Katie had some puppies to give away, so she started to bug Angela also. She finally caved in and we surprised the kids with a puppy yesterday. She is mostly black lab, with a little border collie in her. The kids decided that Molly was a fitting name, so meet Miss Molly!

Angela, Lady, Spencer, Ruby, Molly, and Spencer

Photo taken: May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day

A Happy Mother's Day to all those special Moms. Especially to my Mother Hazel, to my Mother-in-law Janet, Sisters Susan, Kerrie, and Rachael, Sister-in-laws Angie, Jackie, and Mary, and Daughter Ashley. But most of all to my wife Angela!


Ruby made this very nice bouquet, at activity day, for Angela. I think she did an excellent job.

Photo taken: May 10, 2009

White Belt Ruby

Ruby and the boys have been taking karate lessons. Ruby recently earned her white belt. Since she earned her belt, Mom forked out the money to buy her a new uniform.

Photo taken: May 5, 2009

Spencers Itch!

Early this morning Spencer had an 'itch' to take a hike to the pond up the draw from our house. He tried to get the other kids to go along, but they didn't have an interest. I told Spencer if he would let me get some breakfast in me, then I would go along with him! He was excited. Spencer and I made omelets together, and after our hearty breakfast we headed out for our hike. Now that Dad was going along, the other kids decided that they wanted to go also.

Ruby crosses the stream on a log. Spencer is following with a large bone that he just had to take home!

Jacob Walker, Preston, Spencer and Ruby. Spencer still has that bone in hand.

Preston decides he has to take home a big stick! Why do boys always have to carry home something?

Halfway home Preston gives his stick to Dad to carry.

Photos taken: May 2, 2009 The last photo taken by: Preston

Montana

Last week I spent in Montana, receiving some professional development training. On Monday the group toured the Apollo Gold's Montana Tunnels Mine. I opted not to take the tour, and spent the day on my own little tour of Western Montana. I drove from Butte to Missoula on I 90, and then followed Montana Highway 2 from Missoula to Helena, then followed I 15 back to Butte.



I took this photo on highway 2 at the turn off to Glacier National Park.

This photo was taken at Fleshier Pass, on the Continental Divide.

Photo's taken: April 27, 2009

Aye Maties - Spencer and Preston are 7!

The boys turned 7 last Tuesday, the 21st of April! They had there party yesterday. They had a pirate theme. They even went on a treasure hunt and found a lost bootie! They had a great time.



Pictured clockwise starting with Preston (front left); Preston, Bryson, David, RJ, Spencer, Trent, Jacob, and Hazen.

Photo taken: April 24, 2009

Window to Zion

While on our recent vacation to Zion National Park, we let the kids each buy a poster. Spencer picked this HUGH poster and had me hang it at the bottom of the stairs tonight.

After it was hung Spencer said; "it looks like a window with Zion Park outside our house".

Spencer

Photo taken: April 15, 2009

EGG-TASTIC

The kids enjoying the annual egg coloring!

Ruby, Savanah Walker, David Walker, Spencer, Preston

Photo taken: April 11, 2009

Come To Zion

This past week was spring break for the kids. This year we decided that it would be a great time for a vacation. You see spring in Star Valley is 'snow' much fun! We picked a warmer clime to spend a few days. We decided to go to Zion National Park. Some how we talked Ashley into coming along. We met up with Ashley, in Ely, at Grandpa and ma Howes' house. From there we traveled to St. George and Zion.




Along the way we stopped at the Salt Flats. The boys seem to have a blast each time we take a break on the Flats.








Near Panaca Nevada we stopped for a break at Cathedral Gorge. It was sunny, but windy.

Angela Enjoying the View

Ruby

Wesley, Ruby, Ashley, and Mellany




Wesley, Ashley, and Mellany

We arrived at Zion Wednesday afternoon. We checked into are motel room and relaxed!

From the Deck of Our Motel Room

From the Front of the Motel

Thursday we spent hiking the trails in the park.

Mellany, Spencer, Ruby, Wesley, and Preston - Watching a Deer Feed

Ruby, Spencer, Me, Mellany, Preston, Ashley, and Wesley

Angela, Spencer and Preston

Near Lower Emerald Pool

Preston, Ruby, Wesley, and Spencer - On the Trail to the Narrows

Preston, Ruby and Spencer - Middle Emerald Pool

Wesley and Ashley, Middle Emerald Pool

Saturday we visited a Dinosaur Muesem on Johnson Farm, in St. George.

Spencer and Preston

Wesley, Ruby, Mellany, Spencer and Preston

Spencer and Preston

Photos taken: March 31, April 1, April 2, April 3, and April 4, 2009 By: Craig, Angela, and Ruby

Where In the Heck Have I Been?

I have now received 3 emails asking where I have been lately.

Most of my weekends have been on the road. Mostly to Salt Lake. Grandma Howes had open heart surgery about a month ago. I spent a week in SLC when she had her surgery, and have returned most weekends to see her.

This past weekend the family spent the weekend in Idaho Falls.

In between I have just been busy. I do have some catching up to do and will make the effort over the next few days.

Craig

10 Year Washcloth

While traveling to Idaho Falls this past Saturday, Angela began to knit on a washcloth that she has been working on. After keeping at the task for some time she held it up and said to me "look how far I have got, I now have 30 rows completed!"

I began to laugh. I couldn't help myself. "Wow!", I said, "What an accomplishment! You are averaging 3 rows per year!"

She slugged my arm and told me "Your not very nice". But she had to laugh too. You see Angela started this washcloth one night at home enrichment about the time Ruby was born! It has traveled with us through a couple of moves and has been packed away for all these years. Angela came across it again just before Christmas, and began to finish it. Yesterday when I came home from work, she held up some knitting of a washcloth of about 10 rows. She told me she lost her stitch and had to start over. She was just kidding me, she actually finished it and had started another so she could have a match set. Maybe I'll be doing another blog in 2019!

Washcloth - 10 years in the making

Photo taken: January 12, 2009 By: Ruby

What a Head of Hair!

Emily and Isaac Walker

Little Isaac is 7 weeks old. I visited Emily and Isaac in the hospital the day he was born. I have never seen a new born with a head of hair like Isaac's.

Photo taken: January 11, 2009

What a Cartoon!

You may remember the photo above from a post I did back in October. The 3 friends in this photo all work at Simplot with me. Ki Ealey is the Maintenance Manager, Robert (Whompa) Roberts, is the safety specialist, and Jeff Miller is the HR Manager. This particular hunting trip caused a lot of 'talk' at work. You see Jeff shot an antlerless elk in an antlered only area. It was a mistake and it was reported. Jeff received a $210 fine, and was allowed to keep his hunting privileges and the elk! But of coarse, at work he took a lot of ribbing.

Recently this cartoon started popping up on the walls in the office at work! It was drawn by Harold Sweeny, a Mechanic. I think it is great!

Each year at the annual Howes Christmas party, we have a gift exchange. For the adults this consist of everyone bringing a $5.00 gift. We draw numbers and the fun begins. This year I drew number 1, which isn't the best number to draw. The first person picks a gift from the pile. Then number 2 has the option of taking number ones gift or picking his own. Number three can take any gift or choose one from the pile. This goes on until all the gifts have been pick. So the last person ends up with the pick of the lot! Gag gifts are common at the Howes party. This year Angie (courtesy of Jared Smith), picked the gag gift of the year! For some reason no one took it away from her!

Isn't She Pretty?

Photo taken: January 3, 2009

Annual Howes Family Christmas Party

Saturday, January 3rd, the annual Howes Family Christmas party was held at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Troy Takes the Kids for a Sled Ride!


Ruby, Spencer, Preston, and Carson Taking Their Turn

Kerrie and Kyle

Connie Lou and Ruby

Jared

Jay Taken Care of the Dogs

Jackston Enjoys the Homemade Pizza

Yumm! Homemade Pizza

Dalton Enjoys a Dog

Zachary Enjoys a Banana

Tyden is Cool!

IN THE AFTERNOON THINGS REALY PICKED UP!

Randy

Troy

Jessica and Gabriel

Jay and Connie Lou

Angie Looks Happy

Angela is Looking?

Jessica and Gabriel

Look at All Them Boys! At least Ruby Now Has Some Company There On The End!

And The Gift Giving