Part 3, Two Boys on a Hike

Steve and his Dad had started planning a serious backpacking trip in January. They really wanted to go to the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, but when we found out that the Christensen's were having a reunion during July, they adjusted plans to fit that travel route. They settled on the Sawtooths and a 60 mile trail was on the agenda. They were disappointed to find that the trail was still berried in snow and they had to cut the hike short.They were only able to do 30 miles, but saw some beautiful country. They now know that if you are going into the Sawtooths you have to wait until the end of July or early August, after the snow pack has melted.

Taking in all the beauty

Wow, look at that backdrop-It's real

A reflection of the Sawtooths

The boys at the trail head.

On their way out they herd "that these 2 guys from, of all places, Phoenix were to first 2 who made it to the Lakes for the year." They enjoyed hearing that. I am so grateful that Steve was able to get out with his Dad and have such an amazing hike. I know that they were bummed that they couldn't go any further down the trail but enjoyed what they did get to see. I know that this will be a hike that they will try to do again.

Be Kind Please Rewind -Part 2, Gross Details Included

Gathering the Eggs

The Chiecken, that came before the egg

Yeah, I know it was like a month ago but I am just gett'n around to the details. So while we were in Idaho, a sweet sister in my parent's ward needed help,

butchering the chickens.

***This will get a little descriptive, not for the chicken lovers or tender hearted***

I was SO excited to get to share this opportunity with my girls. I can't say that I grew up on a farm, we just had a cow or two and some chickens. But I remember when we butchered the chickens. It is something that I never thought that I would get to share with the girls, let alone my sister Hailey who never got to be part of this process at home. So we put on some grubby clothes and went to Gina's. A couple other ward members where there too. They had already started the fun without us but there was plenty to do. Steve and Colton were assigned to catch the chickens, Hailey said she would join them. It was so fun to hear her squeal while she was trying to catch them. You have to be careful when you catch them so that you don't bruise them or break their legs. I didn't realize that Steve had never butchered chicken either. So after you catch them, you have to do the awful, use the ax to chop off their heads. Then you have to let them bleed so that you can dress them. It is true that they will flap around with their heads chopped off. Gina wanted skinless chicken breasts so we didn't have to pluck them-that is even messier. My Pops had to prove that he is still a rancher at heart and got one dressed fast enough to produce a beating heart. When you would cut the breast off the bone, sometimes it would pulse a bit-kinda freaky. Hailey was getting good at catching and chopping heads and I even got to do the honors. Ki and El watched one chicken head fly and thought that was enough. They went inside to play after that. It was great to see Steve work like that, and to hang out with my Pops watching him do something that seemed so natural to him. He was telling us that when he was growing up his family would do about 200 chickens a year. That is what they would eat every Sunday. After all the meat was in the freezer Gina invited the girls to come the next day to gather the other chicken's eggs. They liked that part a little bit more. It was great to hear Hailey a few days later when she said, " I killed chickens, and it was AWESOME!" I am so proud of the city kids (Steve and my youngest siblings) for taking the opportunity to do something that we don't get to do everyday.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I am so proud of my Ki girl!

She was so excited for school to start on Monday, that she asked me to wake her up at 3:30 am to get ready. I told her I'd think about it, and darn it, she is catching on to when I say I'll think about it.

She goes, "so your not going to, are you?"

She surprised me and got herself up and ready to go at 6:30 am. That is more manageable, at least for Steve. I stayed in bed for a little while longer. It was Ki's first day of 1st grade. She is glad to be back in school. She has Mrs. Tropea this year and we are very excited about that! She is amazing and I've known her for less than a week. Ki is glad to have 3 friends from our ward in her class. That always makes things a bit easier.

Be Kind Please Rewind...Part 1

Okay, I know that I never filled anyone in on the awesome vacation that I had. I have been meaning to do this for a while. We left here on the 16th on June and drove to Twin Falls, ID. Oh, and when I say we drove, I mean I DROVE. Remember how Steve has to be seizure free for 90 days before he can get his driver's license back? And for the record, I hate driving! Steve on the other hand, LOVES driving. He really does and so painfully I drove all 784 miles to my parents house.

My mom was at Girl's Camp with my little sis Hailey. My dad was home recovering from surgery. We got to go to his post op appointment with him to hear the fantastic news that it was in fact, not cancerous but that it was old scar tissue & nerve tissue with a trace amount of dead cancer sells. He got the all clear from the Doctor to play golf and Steve was glad to hear that. They played almost everyday and had a great time. My dad even took me golfing. It was a sight to see, me and my mom had some good laughs-mostly at ourselves. It was fun to share that hobby with my parents, and with Steve a time or two.

My parent's moved to Twin Falls 3 years ago. The previous owner of their home had a decorative painting done in the master. It wasn't actually a painting, but a saying, an old Irish poem basically about death. So for the past 3 years my mom has been mentioning how she wants to paint over it. So Steve and I helped her paint over it before all the craziness started.

My sister Brandie and her family came in from VA for the Stott family Gathering. Then my brother Jeremy and his family came in from CO. My sister Hailey ended up out in a tent with those 6 of the grand kids for 5 nights. She is awesome! My brother Shiloh and his kids came down from WA and that added 2 more to the kids tent. My brother Caleb and his wife came in on Friday and we were all there until Sunday. That made a full house with 14 adults and 11 children. We took family photos, our last one was 12 years ago. We played games and had a giant marshmallow fight-the marshmallows were giant! The boys all went golfing and then Mom, Brandie, Jennifer, and I went shopping and got pedicures. We all took turns in the kitchen and really just enjoyed being together.

A Scraptastic Weekend

Ki's school award

A Date to Remember

El is SUCH a Princess

Ki's Field Day

El who loves to get all dressed up

Steve's visit to the EMU at Barrows

The girls were helping Steve with my Mother's Day surprise

They got decked out in the safety glasses and ear plugs,

or as El refers to them-ear muffs


I have been reminded one more time that I am not a teenager anymore. When you stay up till 4am you feel like crap all day! I stayed up at our crop till 2:30am and then HAD to stay up and catch up with Becky till 4am. When our children woke us up at 8:30am, let's just say we didn't jump up and get them their toast. But it was a very successful weekend for scrapping so I dare say it was worth it.

"Wordless Wednesday"

*When I am on vacation I guess the only thing I am getting done is posting pictures on Wednesdays. I have a lot to post about I guess. Like Ki's 1/2 Birthday and the trip to Kettle Falls, Washington for the Christensen Family Reunion.

"Wordless Wednesday"

Slow to Tag

Ashley tagged me like, last week and I am just getting to it. Cut me some slack, I am still on vacation!

Here are the rules: 1) Post rules on your blog 2) Answer the six "8" items

8 Favorite Shows:

1-The Office (this is a very new obsession)
2- The Mentalist
3-CSI
4-CSI:Miami
5-CSI: New York
6- Project Runway
7-American Idol
8-Reba

8 Things I did yesterday:

1-Said goodbye to Shiloh, Lenorah, and Atticus-they were Boise bound
2- Said Goodbye to Worm, Jenny, Lucas, and Rhea- they were going home to CO
3- Blew my nose 1,376 times, at least
4- Watched the movie, Stranger Than Fiction-good flick
5- Ate a fish taco and actually liked it-Jeremiah is a Good cook
6- Helped celebrate Brandie's 31st Birthday-Love you sis
7- Went to Costco with Mom for the 10th time since I arrived two weeks ago
8- made beaded necklaces and bracelets with the little girls

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1- Seeing Steve on Thursday after he's hiked 50+ miles with his dad
2- Steve being able to return to work
3- Sleeping in my own bed-next week
4- Loosing the 5+ pounds that I gained on vacation
5- The heat of the summer back home-that might be a lie
6- Seeing if El's rocks will grow-she has a bucket of rocks that she is watering
7- Seeing Steve's side of the family in WA this weekend
8- Finishing decorating my bedroom

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1- Texas Roadhouse
2- Outback Steakhouse
3- The Pita Pit-only located in Idaho
4- Red Robin
5- Stott House-my parents
6- Subway
7- Steve's kitchen-which I occasionally cook at
8- Golden Coral

8 Things on my wish list:

1- Steve to return to full health
2- Steve to return to work
3- A pilots license and a plane to fly instead of driving to WA and then back to AZ
4- A new purse
5- Brandie and Jere. to move back out West
6- Another baby
7- Scrapping supplies
8- To have my family together again for a crazy, fun weekend

8 People I Tag:

1- Brandie
2- Jamie
3- Lindsey
4- Janette
5- Mary Rhea
6- Rachel
7- Aime
8- Becky

***My own little fun, whoever completes the tag on their blog first, will get a prize-probably a card

Happy Half B'Day Steve

Steve with Ainsley and El

Steve and his girls

The half Birthday Boy

A Steve Pile

We are having so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Steve's half birthday was slightly overshadowed but still celebrate with lots of family.