Rexberg

It was amazing to see the Rexburg temple on the top of that hill! It was so pretty! That has to be nice for those collage students to be able to go. I use to go with Neil to Idaho Falls and drive around or sit out on the freezing temple grounds while he attended a session. I met Neil up at Ricks, lots of great memories. I went back with my roommate Jen and we visited our old dorm. It was oddly exactly the same! We had been roommates 10 years to the month that we were there.

Crazy to see how we've changed, Jen isn't in the next one, but she's in the second one.

Neil and I spent many hours hanging out in this lobby!!

There was an awesome splash pad that we met some friends at. The kids had a blast!

Run Carter Run!

Carter got a dart gun while we were here, after an afternoon of sitting on the deck Grandpa got a great idea. He would shoot and Carter would try to not get hit. We had a good laugh when someone told Carter to run so Grandpa could shoot him. He had a couple glow in the dark darts so when Uncle Robby came over that night he joined in the fun!

Lunch @ Jen & Nics

Nic & Jen invited us, Pam, & Rob up for lunch and to see the horses. Carter & Sydney got a kick out of feeding the horses! Nic & Jen are always very sweet to us and the kids!

Sydney doesn't eat much herself, but she loves to feed others. Jen was the lucky and so patient candidate for lunch!

The kids loved their fish pond, Sydney loved watching the water hose even better!

When Neil came Nic took the four of us out on 4wheelers. We had such a good time!!! We ended up sticking to mostly back roads, but that was great because you could take off and go! Carter loved it and when we'd stop Sydney would sign 'more, more'. It was so much fun!!!!

Random Fun

This was fun, but nasty. Nic, Neils brother found a 'good' spider on Pam's deck and showed Carter how the spider eats a cricket. It was kind of cool to watch as it turned it in the web. We learned something new!

We had so much fun a couple nights when Robby let us come over and swim at his apartment! The entire family came one night, between dodging flying toys and dunking games I think the adults had more fun than the kids! Rob is wonderful!

We Love Uncle Robby! Sydney's face doesn't show it here, but she loves Robby!

We had a great time when we met Larry (Neils dad) and Cindy at the park. The kids loved swinging and playing Frisbee!

A huge treat when we go to Idaho is Jen and Stacy. Stacy is Neils best friend growing up who we had the chance to introduce to my roommate from collage, they got married and we have a great time when we can get together. We took advantage of the free lunch at a park program. Such a good idea!

Girls Weekend Out

Jen & I took a little trip down to Utah with Sydney & her little one Lola. We met up with a group of friends and had such a fun couple days! Something about being around fun, happy women that have many of the same challenges in life, it is great to hear their stories, and just play and laugh!There was a little pampering that went on as well!
The food was delightful!
But the company was better! While I was in Utah, Carter went with Chip & Pam to Mackay, Neils Grandpa Otto is Mayer. The Governor of Utah was coming to town for a celebration of a company opening. Carter had so much fun, but he thought it was great that he got a picture with the Governor and the Mayer. He also got one with the Sheriff. This is a photo he was sent from the Governor, it didn't scan the bottom very well, but what a treat.

Swimming

We took a couple hour break and headed to the reservoir in Blackfoot. We had a lot of fun letting the kids swim.

More Roofing

I told Bobbette she should smile, and she just stuck out her backside instead, so this is the only proof I have of her up there with us. Gotta love it!

A couple days in we had to get pretty creative on entertaining the kids. Sydney took to painting with water.
A big issue we were dealing with were these big storms that kept coming through. There were a handful of times we were getting drizzled on and a couple times when the lighting got too close we cover up and head down.
Fun with Grandmas!
Pierce & Carter Painting

Roofing!!!

Chip & Pam are always doing projects to help MerLynne (Pam's Mom) with her house. We hear about the family helping, but we are never around to help. Last year was repainting, and this year was roofing. I don't think anyone expected this to be such a major project! It's safe to say there was LOTS of family bonding on that roof! We spent about the first week and a half in Blackfoot ID working on the roof. In a way it was nice to put on the same clothes we'd thrown in the wash the night before everyday, it make dressing easy. Sunday was abnormal putting makeup on to head to church, but then after it was back up on the roof.

Rob, and I working to take the I think 3 or 4 layers of old shingles off. This is the before.This is the after we'd get them off.

Chip was truly amazing with this project he'd arrived much earlier than we did, and went non-stop. We did catch his one and only moment 'laying down on the job'. He was the one to call "BREAK" when the time was needed and was the last one off the roof every time.

It was neat to see how the family all pulled together. Nic & Jen came out when they could; everyone came on their days off or if they had a spare hour or two. Some brought some much appreciated friends to help. This was an old roof, it was a mystery to see what we would find when we pulled things up. Sometimes mold, rotting wood, or a hornets nest.

Aunt Natalie was great with the kids down on the deck when she was able to come.
A big treat I feel we benefited from was the time the kids were able to spend with Great Grandma. In the past when we'd come up we'd go to lunch and maybe spend an afternoon with everyone. But going day after day I felt like they were able to really get to know Great Grandma were by the end they really were feeling comfortable with her. It was sweet to watch as she'd get Sydney laughing.

We just love Grandma! When the kids weren't napping I'd ask if she wanted to go up or me, and she was usually more than happy to keep an eye on the kids when I was up on the roof, I never worried about them. We were all SOO dirty!!

Carter was such a trooper, after a couple days he was done with the routine, but he hung in there! He was able to help at the beginning before all the shingles were off, but after that it was too slippery. He was such a good little boy during all of this! Luckily he had Pierce around sometimes to keep him busy!

Heading to Idaho

The kids and I did the trek to Idaho. We left about 4am and started the LONG drive! I have never done the drive alone, so this was a trial run to see if we'd do it again. It was a wonderful drive! We weren't rushed, the kids were delightful! Besides Sydney unplugging herself and leaking milk ALL over the back seat, and an hour or two of constantly eating to stay a wake there were no problems! We arrived at Grandpa & Grandmas in Idaho about 8pm.

When we hit Salt Lake it was a nice break when we went to visit Grandma Paul (my Dads Mom). We missed seeing her last year. I knew she was struggling with her health, and I was a little nervous to see her in the state that she may be in. It was such a treat to have her talking and alert, it was the most alert she'd been in a while I later learned. We were able to visit, it was so nice!! She kept commenting on the kids, it was a treat. It was so Grandma while we were talking she was very aware of were the kids were in the house, even if they were out of the room.
Sydney kisses by doing what we call ET kisses. They touch fingers and she makes a kiss sound. Grandma caught on and it was sweet to watch them give kisses.
Grandma loved when we'd visit in the past with Carter, and I think he reminded her of her boys because she kept talking about them and how much she loved them. I am so glad we were able to stop by and visit. Her smile, her laugh, her painted finger nails, the soft blanket on her bed, the smell of her house, and holding that familiar hand will be things that I hope to never forget. It was a sweet visit. Grandma passed away a week later. What a joyous reunion she must have had with her loving husband, daughter, and Savior!