Get Ready to Explore Southeast IDAHO 2011

The kids and I are up and runnin'. We've explored lots of things and it's only been a week into the vacation. Swimming, BBQ's, Madelyn's Baptism, caves, scavenger hunts, fishing, and the library. We've done so much already I don't know how we'll keep the momentum.

Somehow we will! And pictures are coming soon. I "hired" my brother to take pics of Madelyn's special day. And by hired, I mean I had my eight year old look at him with her sweet little eyes and ask in her cutest voice, "Uncle Jeff can you take pictures with your really nice camera". Oh, the power of a child.... :)  Thank you Jeffy!!!

And I have a camera full of everything else we've done. Stay tuned because those of you that have never been to Idaho will see JUST HOW AMAZING it is. And we've just hovered around a very small southeastern part of it so far.

Better LATE Than NEVER....

It might be JULY 6th, but that didn't stop us from making the bags of July 4th goodies I MEANT to have done PRIOR to the 4th...lol. Better LATE than NEVER :)

The kids had fun...I had fun...my afternoon activity took all of about 30 minutes. Hmmmmmm.....

But the reward was SWEET!

*Sugar cones
*Stick Pretzels
*Strawberries
*Candy Melts
*Sprinkles

 Though this picture depicts Brian as actually concentrating on his work, I think what was really on his mind was, "when can I like the bowl..."

 Though this picture depicts Madelyn as really concentrating on her work, I think what she was really thinking was, "how much chocolate and sprinkles can I get on this pretzel and claim it when it's time to eat it!!"

And I think Marcus is really thinking, "why do I have to put chocolate on this! I just want a pretzel..."

 Time to try out our desserts!!! Seriously, is there anything better than chocolate covered strawberries!

HAPPY JULY!!!

Now...how many hours until Brent gets home so we can dig in???..... :)

ANOTHER TRIP From the Tooth Fairy

Madelyn lost a tooth on the Fourth of July. I pulled it...only when I pulled it, the tooth went flying. So she left this note for the fairy....

The tooth fairy found the note and left a surprise.
Guess who else found a surprise...
Brent stepped on Madelyn's tooth this morning...hehe
So the tooth fairy gets another note...

LET FREEDOM RING!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! 

I'm so grateful for the men and women that fight constantly for the good of our country. I'm grateful for my father for serving his country so diligently. For my Grandpa Hill and Uncle John, and my nephew Josh, for doing the same. Thank you!

And though the Holiday has become somewhat of a commercial holiday(as any other celebration is), my heart if always heavy when I see the AMERICAN FLAG flown in all her glory.

LET FREEDOM RING!

We spent the morning in COMFORT, TX(about 35 min away from us). It's a small town of about 3000 and I was hoping so much to just experience the small town celebration - a good parade with lots of candy, activities and food in the park, and kids everywhere. And you know what...we got most of that :)

 Passing the time until the parade starts...

 I couldn't resist posting this picture - look at them holding hands. Ahhhhh, Brothers!!

 Activities in the park were hoppin'...we had some super yummy BBQ, and let the kids play a carny game(so uncharacteristic of us...), and then we went home

 A lot of the neighborhood got together at the pool. From this picture you can't really tell, but by about 6:00 there were a LOT of people at the pool. Almost too many for me, but the kids had so much fun. We spent from 3p-7:30p at the pool.

No fireworks this year...banned because of the drought. But we enjoyed the day as a family. And all the "commercial" things I bought to do with the kids to make it an "extra special holiday" are still sitting in the Wal-Mart bags....ooops - no regrets! Loved the day :)

MADELYN TURNS *8*

JULY 1, 2003 - I woke up around 2am with VERY sporadic contractions. By 4am I had Brent take me into the hospital HOPING I was in Labor, but not really knowing for sure. I was 4 days overdue, I was HUGE, and I was dilated...about halfway. In any other case the nurses would have sent me home because I, in fact, was not in labor. BUT....they weren't busy and they took pity on me.

A pretty uneventful day. The biggest worry-when the doctor tried to break my water...there was no fluids. About a week or 10 days prior I had made an emergency visit to the doctor because I thought my water had broken. I tested positive for Amniotic Fluid, I had started to dilate, but the doctor sent me home. So delivery day and there was no fluids, wasn't a surprise to me, but a HUGE worry to my doctor. He had full NICU on call for when Madelyn was born. He was afraid she wouldn't come out screaming like a baby normally would. He prepped us for silence. Internal and external probes were placed on her and on me. And hours and hours and hours passed.

Finally at 6pm-ish my baby girl was born. Madelyn came into the world screaming and throwing a huge fit. She was fine, perfect, and healthy.

Now eight years later. There are still times she's screaming and throwing a huge fit. But she is still FINE, PERFECT, and HEALTHY. I wouldn't change a thing!

We celebrated Madelyn's birthday with some swimming, Chuck-E-Cheese, Jason's Deli, and more swimming with daddy. It was a great day.

 Started out the morning opening cards, a gift from her primary teacher, and two from the family...

 Headbands from mommy...I have to say I LOOOOOOVE this one!

 Strike a pose...

 We told the kids that their eighth birthday was the last time they could choose to go to Chuck E. Cheese. YAY! Only like 4 more years!

 Madelyn loooooooves Jason's Deli. Partly because of the salad bar, and partly because of the soft serve ice cream at the end of your meal...ahhh the little things that make us happy

 Gift Time!!! We might have overdone it! But I just have so much fun shopping for my kiddo's. Any VALID excuse I have to give them gifts and I go for it :)

 NO! It's not a real puppy... FURR REAL

 She's gonna be beautiful on her special day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! WE LOVE YOU MADELYN! Can't wait to celebrate another 100 birthdays!!