Bunnies

We had to go to Cal Ranch last week for dog food and Hallie was with me.  They had a display of these sweet bunnies.  Hallie instantly fell in love.  She needed one right now.  She has been saving her money and said she would pay for everything, food, cage, whatever.  So obviously there is more to it than just buying a bunny.  Plus, we have to get Grampa's approval since it is his house too.  It took a good day of Hallie debating the pros of it that we finally told her that if she gets a cage built than that would prove to us that she is responsible enough.  Brad helped her put the cage together.  Grampa had some bunny wire screens already made for some chicken project in the past.  So it went together fairly smoothly.  We stopped the next day to make sure they had some and I had Savanna with me.  She fell in love with the bunnies and needed one too.  She agreed to help pay for supplies too.  We finally were at a point where we were ready to pick up the bunnies.  My other kids stayed home while we ran to town.  They called us every 10 minutes wondering when our bunnies would be home.  We finally arrived.  They have loved it here.  The girls have been good care takers.  Just today they went out and cleaned up poop and organized their cage.  Brad even helped Hallie build a bunny
house because Hallie didn't like the cardboard box.  She was ready to buy them a mansion.  We have learned that Hallie's, Cookie, the gray one, LOVES watermelon.  Savanna's, Lola, LOVES carrots.  They are fun to watch.  They love to snuggle under your neck like a kitten.  Craziest thing.  Savanna and Hallie even sneak them to their room , and have a bunny party with them.  Crazy girls.

Road Rash

Jase was over playing at The Mitton's this last week.  He was running next to the 4 wheeler, on the road, trying to keep a hold of it and he tripped and just rolled down the road. Surprisingly he hasn't even complained about it.  Tough kid.  Ouchers.

Birthday TIme

I had another Birthday this year.  I am now officiallyl 38.  Time flies.  My actual birthday was just a regular day.  I did get a couple goodies.  My visiting teacher Jan, brought me a cute family board and my neighbor friend Kendra, brought me a bath and body gift.  Kell came over and we just hung.  I made some peanut butter cookies that looked so yummy on pinterest that were ok, not as good as I was hoping.  

Brad worked on my gift, a picnic table, most of the day.  It looks great.  And we use it all the time. 

 Us ladies went out on the town a few days later.  Unfortunately, Kell couldn't make it.  I think one of her kids had baseball and Amy had a work day.  We went to dinner at Rock Creek in Twin Falls.  It was so yummy, and so fun.  We always have good laughs together.  The craziest thing was that my waitress's name was Liberty.  And when she ran my card, she said her middle name was Ann.  She was super fun and nice.  It was strange calling someone else my name.  We tried to take our own picture but about peed our pants laughing so we went in and found someone to come out and take it for us.  

Thanks everyone for a great birthday. 

Pioneer Day Celebration 2014

This last week was Oakley's Pioneer Days Celebration.  It is in Honor of our LDS Pioneers that crossed the plains back in the 1800's.  It was a busy week for everyone.  Tuesday night starts off with the Bump-n-Rub Car Demolition Derby.  Aleena sang the National Anthem at this event.  It was too windy so the video didn't pick her up.  She did awesome.  Also that night, Savanna and Hallie and I worked in the cook shack.  Each organization gets a turn in the cook shack and in return earn a few dollars toward their sport.  This was for volleyball.  Wednesday afternoon I headed to Burley to get food for the 20 yr reunion. Wednesday night was the finals for the Bump-n-Rub.  Brad's work, Idapro, had a car in it.  Jamie drove it.  He took the kids and went and I stayed home to get some house work done.  Thursday was the kids Gymkana rodeo.  My kids begged to go.  I let them go except Livee.  I stayed home to get last minute yard work projects done for the upcoming 20 yr reunion I have coming up.  We got the big canopy tent up and some tables and chairs, and the house a bit cleaner.  Friday, there was a grass volleyball 4 0n 4 tournament.  Hallie had to be there to take score and Savanna was on a team.  They were there til 3 ish.  I cut fruit, cooked meat, sliced veggies, cleaned house for guests and reunion, put the tent up again, and again, and got tables ready.  It was a bit challenging because the wind was blowing most of the day.  Brad thankfully took off work a couple hours early and they got the tent secured and Kell came over and helped me.  After we started at 6, the wind died down and it was a beautiful night.  In the mix of my reunion, Savanna sang the National Anthem for the Rodeo.  Brad said she did great, but he could only record half of it, his phone was full.  After the party, was the clean up.  It wasn't too bad, but we finally got dishes done around midnight.  Linden and Michelle pulled into town about 11 pm, just in time to keep me awake while doing the dishes.  Saturday, Hallie and Savanna had to be to the park by 7 to help serve the big breakfast.  They then, helped me out and went and cleaned the showhouse for me.  Kaydee and her kids came into town about 12.  Aleena sang at the park as part of the entertainment about 1:00.  We then just hung out at the park and had some food, the kids swam, and we talked to some friends.  Linden and Michelle went to the Matinee Play at 2.  Around 4 we parked our cars for the parade.  It started around 5.  It was short and sweet.  Hallie marched with the Drill Team and Savanna rode in the truck with Talon.  He was pulling the float.  After the parade, we went home for some dinner.  The rodeo started at 8, I am not much of a rodeo fan, but my older kids went, and Aleena hung with Gracie and Livee went with Linden and Michelle.  We then met up after for the fireworks.  This year we sat at the baseball diamonds.  It was perfect view and the kids could run around.  It was a perfect ending for the week.  I have spent most of today doing nothing.  And my kids aren't sure what to do with no one here and nothing to do.  It was a great week, should have got more pictures.

 Hallie is the middle back.

20 year Class Reunion

I hosted our 20 year class reunion.  I can't believe how time has flown by.  Facebook made it actually quite easy to get a hold of people.  We only had a handful that weren't facebook people.  I served a taco bar/fruit and Steve volunteered to make everyone dutch oven cobbler, which was divine.  It was a great night catching up with friends.  Thanks Dad and my family for the hard work in the yard and house, and thanks Kell for being there for back up.  

Eggs again

We have been waiting patiently for our new hens to start laying again.  Dad came in this morning with a treasure.  Our first egg.  It is a little cute one.  It has almost been exactly 4 months since we got our new baby chicks.  Hopefully we start seeing more eggs.  There are 50 of them and on average they lay one every other day.  That is lots of eggs.

Swimming Lessons

I decided to Aleena and Livee in swimming lessons this year.  Aleena has actually passed the swim test and can go in the deep end but she isn't a super strong swimmer.  The first day Livee and Aleena started out in the same class but they moved Aleena to the next level.  

 Livee is such a great floater and is really learning to swim fast.  Livee is in the green bottoms and Aleena is to the far right.

 Here is Aleena's bigger class.  She is already improving so much.  She doesn't have to plug her nose to dive anymore or wipe her eyes like crazy when she comes out of the water.  It has really made her stronger.  

3 more days til it is finished.

Ladies River Float.

We planned our annual river float for the same weekend as July 4th because Michelle was in town and I wanted her to be able to go with us.  It was fun as usual.  There was a bit of stress because we were all worried about Oscar the dog and Kaydee was feeling sick about it, but she was a good sport and came anyways.  We ended up having 16 of us.  Me, Savanna, Tansy, Hallie, Jase, Kaydee, Gracie, Kell, Lexey, Alice, Isaac, Sam, Michelle, Tyler, Kristen, Sherri.  It only took us 3 hours to float.  Usually it is more like 4 hours, but the wind picked up and we were afraid we would never get there, so we paddled quite a bit.  It was still fun and a nice get away.  The kids were wild and crazy but stayed in their own group and the adults stayed in their group.  Of course we did lots of laughing, talking, and eating.  I didn't get the greatest pictures.  We weren't sure we were going to actually get there because Captain Ron's Scooby doo van wouldn't start, but after a little rearranging we got there and got in the water.

 Savanna is going to be mad about this one.

Here is when we were paddling.  Everyone was kind of going at their own speed. 

Fourth of July

We spent the fourth at our regular spot, Harris Pond.  We got their around 1 and stayed until about 7.  The kids would have stayed all night.  We went home exhausted and didn't even do any fireworks.  The older kids were disappointed we didn't go see any, so for next year I promised them we would go watch them or do them.

 Everyone loved the Hammock.  I want one at home.

 This bridge is always a fun place to jump in.

 Savanna and Kyanna are in the paddle boat.

Hallie, Lexey, Analise and Kyanna are having some swing time.

 Here is the zip line start.  Even Livee was brave enough to go on it.  Maybe one of these times I will get brave.

This is of Hallie, Analise and Livee going on the zip line.  This is Livee's first time.  Hallie drops half way across.  Livee has had to miss out on Harris Pond the last two summers because of injuries so she was so excited to be participating.

 Aleena and Zane having a boat ride.

 Here is where we dumped all our stuff.  We had stuff everywhere.

 Hallie and Kyanna are trying to ride the board.

Trying to catch some fish or frogs.  Did not succeed in that.

We ended up having lots of us there.  Me, Brad and kids plus Kyanna.  Kell, Matt and Lexey, Macey, Tate.  Amylee and Sage, Analise.  Kaydee and Gracie, Faith, Cooper (Quincey was camping with a friend), Michelle, Linden and Tyler, Zane, Kaicey, Broxton, Selena.  Gramps.  And I had invited our neighbors, Kendra and Jeff and their 4 kids.  It was a great time and all the cousins just had a ball hanging out.  We don't really plan it being a family reunion but it felt like one.  I am glad we all live close enough that we can have weekends together often.

The worst part of the day was when Kaydee's dog Oscar got out of Kell's fence and went missing.  Everyone was sick about it.  He did finally show up Monday morning around 2:30 am.  The poor little guy came back skinny, dirty and tired.  Poor thing.  Everyone is much happier now that he is home safe. 

Cousin Time

On June 21, Saturday, Michelle brought her kids to my house to stay for a week.  She then came the next weekend and stayed through the July 4th weekend.  We had a busy couple weeks but lots of fun.  Not sure what to do with myself now that everyone is gone.  

 Snowcone time.  

 This is bright and early in the morning.  Everyone usually just found a spot somewhere and plopped for the night.  

 We did lots of swimming.

 These two are washing the lettuce and spinach from the garden.  They are so silly.

 Aleena was my helper.  Her and Broxton are buds.  She got right in the tub to help him wash his hair.

 Again, Aleena was my helper.  The older girls were at girls camp and so she stepped it up.

 More snowcones.

 We decided to give them a break from swimming and took them to Hop 2 It.  It was a fun bouncy house place.  They actually lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes.  

We had a great time.  We had a few other events like the actual 4th and the ladies river float but I will post them seperately.  I am blessed to have such a great family.