Hell's Canyon Camping

After I got off of work Thursday morning I slept for 2 hours and then we left for our first camping trip of the year. Ahh, it was so nice to get out. A bit chilly but great fun. I am ready for spring and summer. Hopefully it will stop snowing soon. While we were camping we did some fishing, hiking, playing hide and seek, chase with the dog, ate lots of marshmallows, read books and just relaxed. We had to come home after two nights because we are headed up to the ski resort for yet a final round of snowboarding, skiing and snowshoeing for the year! The pictures above were after the long 3 hour drive, setting up camp! The kids were excited to finally be there. They would have had us set up on a rock cliff if they had the chance to stop sooner.

Nojah and Lex think it is great fun to help cook breakfast, aka playing in the fire.

Nojah setting up the tent.

Funny story, when we told everyone we were going to hell's canyon and trying to get ideas and what not because it was our first time camping in the area, we were told that it would be packed with kids partying for spring break. This was not the case. We were the only ones around besides this dead cow who obviously died while trying to give birth. It was pretty sad. I told Alexyss and Nojah what happened and when they finally got to check it out the next day Alexyss came up to me very seriously and said... Mom, I don't think the cow died having a baby I think it was pooping. Isn't she sweet.

While hiking Toby and Nojah spotted this little deer. Tob loves it when those things shed their antlers, thus another set to come home with us. YEAH!!!

Ahhh, Myah's new shoes. She has had this sore on her back paw that hasn't been healing and we figured she would benefit from shoes with all the hiking we do in the summer anyway so we purchased a pair. That was hilarious. After she fell on her face a dozen times I really started to feel bad for her and fear for her life since she almost fell off a rather large cliff. She scared me more then the kids. I'm sure she'll get used to the shoes and break em in just like we all do :0)

The fish, Bass?? Hazard of the area Prickly pear cactus! Lot's of live cows as well, who didn't appreciate our wolf like dog :0).
Hide and Seek: Nojah is looking for Alexyss, can't find her so he yells out, SAY SOMETHING and she yells out NO!! He found her, she cried! Kids are great. Have a great week!

The Triple Super Penguin

The triple super penguin! (if you were wondering what the title was all about!)

Toby and Nojah watching Isaac snowboard!!

Nojah attempting a snow angel

Lex and Jamie as the Easter Bunnies!

Isaac's first snowboarding adventure! What a trooper!

Isaac, Alexyss, and Nojah after their easter egg hunt!! Brr, Cold hands.

Well the fact is I must sleep, but we had another fabulous weekend in the snow & I thought I'd better get some pictures up before my next 3 nights of work. Next Sunday is our last day up snowboarding and we will miss it but we are ready to start all of our spring time activities. I think we are camping this weekend for spring break, I'll let you know later how that one goes. Anyway, this weekend we took Isaac (our nephew for those who don't know) up to the ski resort for his first snowboarding adventure. He did incredibly well and never gave up or even looked frustrated as most kids might their first time. Way to go Isaac! The kids had a busy day snowboarding, cross country skiing, playing on the snow skate, and hunting for easter eggs. They had a lot of fun and were pooped by the end of the day as always.

~*~DiAL Up~*~

So we haven't had internet service at all for the past week. It is amazing how much we depend on it for balancing bank accounts, paying bills, checking email, and of course keeping up on blogs. It has been so frustrating so we just broke down and purchased dial-up. This past year has been a real wake-up call living in "very" rural America. I thought we were rural before the move and so coming here would be no challenge. I was wrong. I love my job, the beauty, peace, and the people however there are a few things that bother me and I need to work through. The lack of fresh produce, lack of internet service, as well as, the sports programs and opportunities for kids. This past week we received sign-ups for t-ball. Well we signed Alexyss up and then received sign-ups for Nojah to play t-ball. Huh?? He played t-ball when he was 5. He will be 8 May 3rd. He also has played 2 years of coach pitch and now they want to place him in T-ball. FABULOUS! Well, I went to the school and picked up the form for minors (if you are unaware, minors is kids pitch to kids, just another level up). Turns out he has to be 8 by April 30th, 3 days from his birthday. I wrote a letter explaining his past experience in baseball and asking that he be allowed to play minors this year. I called the lady in charge last night to check and see what the verdict was. She said NO. Nojah is very athletic and is way beyond t-ball and playing with 5 year olds who run the wrong way on the bases. We sat down and told him last night that he would have not be able to play minors this year and he has decided not to play at all. I can't believe in such a small community that they would do this! The actual minor league rules are 7-12 but their insurance here only covers 8-12. In LG he would have been able to play. Grrrr! If they don't have enough players to have both t-ball and coach pitch then do away with t-ball altogether and let the kids who can't hit off a pitch use the tee but don't make the kids who can hit a ball, hit off a tee until they are 9. Nojah is so athletic and this is a huge set back for him, but hey what can we do. We have talked about taking him to LG but it would be too much of a hassel not to mention huge gas expense and tired kids. Anyway enough venting I am sure I will work through this. Beyond the gripes, Tob and I were up at the ski-resort on Sunday working with the 5th graders and ditched out for a couple hours and did a run, bike, x-country ski triathlon. It was so much fun! We laughed talked the whole way and had a blast. We were in it for a good workout, not to win obviously. I wish I would have gotten pictures but we didn't . Anyway the pic of myah has nothing to do with the post although she has had a sore paw for the past 2 weeks and I have to take her to the vet this afternoon but I just wanted to see how quickly or if I could get this to download a pic on dial-up. Hope everyone has a great day!

Alexyss' Weekend of Fun

Wow, what a crazy, fun weekend! I worked Thur and Fri nights then got home Sat morning slept for 2 hours got up, we packed our stuff and left. At 2:00 we took the kids swimming which was so much fun. They loved the water slide! By the end of the day I was getting a workout taking Lex, Katie, and Karsen down the slide, when they realized I would actually do it with them. It was a workout, but I didn't drown. I also was pretty daring jumping off the diving board and playing in the big pool with Zoe (that pool is much colder). After we swam we got ready for her party. The kids all seemed to have a good time, we ate pizza, they robbed all adults of quarters, had cake and opened gifts. Alexyss was given a lot of cool things and she loves them all. Thank you so much everyone!! As of yet she hasn't had a real opportunity to open most things and it is driving her crazy. Ahh, maybe after school. After the party despite lack of sleep I decided to do a police ride-a-long with Sandy so that we could visit since she just got back from New Zealand. I really missed her and was glad we got to catch up. I got back to my parents house at 10 then realized I had to set my clock ahead to 11 and my alarm for 6am. That stunk but I did have a good day and most importantly Alexyss did too! Sunday morning we headed up to the ski resort to do our annual volunteer work with 5th graders as the kids played with grandma, did some snowboarding, and cross country skied. Lex got x-country ski's for her birthday and was eager to try them out. She loved it. All in all I believe she travelled almost 5 miles that day on them and wore grandma out. Nojah snowboarded most of the day but then traded the board in for some family x-country ski time. Anyway the last pic of lex and grandma Val says it all. She was pooped. We got home at about 9pm, read books and crashed. I just went out to the car to get the camera and realized I have a lot of unpacking to do so I better go. We hope everyone else had a great weekend as well.

Happy Birthday Alexyss

Alexyss had yet another birthday today. It is so amazing how fast time goes by. I can't believe that my youngest is 6. How does that happen anyway? Today we didn't do much to celebrate, I had to sleep as I am working this evening. Her and Nojah went to a free after school program that they offer and they have it on Friday's as well from 10-4 even though they don't have school. SCORE. I consider this free daycare. Gotta love it. I have a friend working for me on Saturday night so that tomorrow we can take her swimming and then out for a pizza party. Hopefully I don't drown due to lack of sleep. On Sunday we will go to the ski resort and she will get to try out her new skis that she has been begging for. We told her she needs to master snowboarding first but we broke down and got her some x-country ski's for her birthday. At least she will learn on flat ground. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

6 of Alexyss favorite things:

1. Hannah Montana

2. Art projects

3. Talking

4. Playing with her friends

5. The color Green

6. Her dream that someday her daddy is going to buy us a farm and buy her a horse. :0).

(little does she know if we can pay for the farm we probably won't be able to afford a horse)

Girl Time

Last night I was able to go stay the night at Dort's house! It feels like it has been forever since we have gotten to hang out and it was sooo nice. We were pretty much inseparable during school and after we graduated and became grown-ups it seems like we see a lot less of each other, although moving didn't help. I really miss skipping school to go for bike rides, I wish I could do that with work. Anyway we spent the evening shopping for Lex's birthday, ran some other errands and then we watched a movie, got up visited for awhile, then went snowshoeing visiting some more, drank coffee, finished shopping, then I made a mad dash home so that I wouldn't miss the kids assembly and reading awards they got today. Alexyss did some awesome Dr. Seuss sign language (green eggs and ham) and Nojah sang fabulously along with his other classmates. They are pretty cute. Anyway had a great night, I think we both needed it.