Cottonwood Picnic

This afternoon we grabbed a bucket of chicken and headed up to Cottonwood Lake for a picnic.  The cool mountain air was a nice relief from the heat of the valley.

Cottonwood Lake

Molly, Ruby, Spencer, Angela and Preston

Spencer, Ruby and Preston

The Biggest Kid of Them All!

Spencer

Ruby

Preston

(look at those teeth)

Wildflowers

And of coarse, in typical Wyoming fashion, we had to have a hail storm before it was all over!

She's Eleven

Last Friday was Ruby's birthday! The last two years she has wanted to go camping on her birthday, but the weather was so bad that we haven't been able to. This year looked like it was going to be a repeat. The month of June was very wet. We had one dry day....that is up until Friday! Friday and Saturday turned out to be great weather. We went on an over nighter to Diamond Creek. Ruby invited four friends, and three were able to make it. Ivy, Savannah, and Kennedy.





Ruby, Savannah, Ivy, and Kennedy enjoying dinner Friday night. Ruby picked the menu. We had her favorite mustard pork chops, and a vegetable medley of Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and Onions.





Mom made a peach cobbler for desert! It turn out awesome and was a huge hit!






Ruby opened up her presents. Mom and Dad gave her a Nikon Coolpix camera. It was a big surprise for Ruby. She took some great photo's. I will post some of them in the next post.






The girls had a great time. They spent most of their time around camp with Mom, while Dad took the boys on quad rides, to keep them out of the girls hair.

Spencer Made us breakfast Saturday morning. He did this to pass off part of his Cub Scout requirements. He did an Awesome job. Preston made everyone lunch! He did a great job also!

She Still Makes Me Smile!

Angela

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!

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

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

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

Gifts From the Heart

Last Christmas Grandma Howes made all the grandkids fleece blankets. Grandpa didn't think the blankets were that good of an idea, but the kids have absolutely loved them. They were a huge hit. This year Angela made the boys robes and PJ's to match their blankets. Thanks to Grandma Wooner for finding the material needed to match Spencer's blanket.

Angela did a great job, and the boys love them!

Preston and Spencer Wearing Their Robes and PJ's

Photo taken: December 25, 2008

Christmas Morning

I know it is hard to believe, but it's true! The kids had us up at 5:30 this morning... The sun wasn't even up yet.

Think Preston is Excited?

Spencer in His New Chair Sporting His New Cap!

Ruby Checking Out Her Hair Dryer!

Santa was pretty good to the kids this year. Their big present was an Xbox with 4 different games.

Mom made the boys fleece robs and PJ's. I will post a blog about them next.

Photo's taken: December 25, 2008

The CHRISTmas Tree - 2008

The Hunt

Ruby, Preston, Spencer

The Perfect Tree
Preston, Ruby, Spencer




Loaded
Angela





Is it Straight
Spencer





The Decorating Begins
Spencer, Ruby, Preston




Getting it Perfect
Ruby, Preston







Almost Done
Ruby, Spencer, Preston






Great Work
Spencer, Ruby, Preston

Photos taken: December 6, 2008

Ruby's Costume Creation

Since joining 4H, Ruby has really taken an interest in sewing. This year she decided to make her own Halloween costume. Last time we were in Evanston, Ruby picked out the pattern and the material. She worked on the costume for about a week, finishing it up on Halloween.

I think Ruby did a stupendous job, don't you?

Ruby and Angela Prepare the Pattern

Ruby Sews on the Collar

Ruby Models Her Costume

Photos taken: October 26th and 31st, 2008