40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS UNTIL.....

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

SORRY IN ADVANCE THAT I HAVE NOT BLOGGED FOR AWHILE. IT HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY AROUND OUR HOUSE AND I HAVEN'T HAD TIME. (BESIDES, JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES-SO I GUESS IT WASN'T ALL MY FAULT!) ALSO, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A LONG CATCH UP POST, JUST BE WARNED. WE HAVE BEEN DOING NON-STOP WORK IN OUR BACK YARD TO GET IT FINISHED AND IT HAS TAKEN ALOT OF TIME. JARED GOT THE RETAINING WALL WITH THE RAILROAD TIES IN AND ALSO THE GARDEN AND I GOT TO HELP HIM LOAD BEHIND IT WITH ROCK FOR REINFORCEMENT. (OK-MAYBE NOT "GOT TO", HAD TO BECAUSE I FELT BAD FOR HIM.) IT WAS HARD AND TOOK ALOT OF TIME BESIDES THE FACT, IT WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES THAT DAY AND SMOLTERING. BUT, WE DID IT AND IT LOOKS NICE. THEN JARED GOT THE OTHER RETAINING WALL OF BRICK DONE, I RE-DID THE WALKING PATH ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND OVER THE 24 OF JULY-OUR FAMILIES CAME AND HELPED LAY THE SOD-ALMOST HAD ENOUGH BUT NOT QUITE! THANKS EVERYONE-YOU DID A GREAT JOB! NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE PROJECT TO UNDERTAKE BUT IT IS ALMOST DONE. WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH HOW IT IS LOOKING THUS FAR!

HERE IS THE GRAVEL TO PUT BEHIND THE RETAINING WALL YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT! DOESN'T LOOK BAD BUT IT IS LONG AND DEEP!

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE BEEN SLOWLY STARTING TO POTTY TRAIN HALLE. I KNOW SHE IS STILL YOUNG BUT I WANT HER TO GET IT! SO, NO DIAPERS! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RUN HER TO THE "DORA POTTY" DURING THE DAY WHEN I HEAR HER GRUNTING OR JUST RANDOMLY TO SEE IF SHE'LL USE IT. IT HAS WORKED PRETTY GOOD BUT NOTHING TO CONSISTANT ON HER OR MY PART. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TUB, I HEARD GRUNTING, AND GRABBED HER TO PUT HER ON THE SEAT, AND..........TOO LATE! (THE FOLLOWING IS GRAPHIC!)

YES, GROSS! ABSOLUTELY FLOATING TURD BALLS IN THE TUBBY!

THEN, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME, WE ARE GETTING IT!

YOU CAN'T SEE IT ALL-BUT YOU GET THE GIST! YEAH

WE THEN TOOK THE KIDS TO ROSS PARK TO SPLASH AROUND ONE DAY, OF COURSE JARED HAD TO WORK SO THAT STUNK BUT UNCLE TROY, AUNT "ICKY" AND "KAY-KAY" AKA TREVOR GOT TO COME WITH US! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND THE KIDS LOVED THE KID POOL AND TOYS! SO FUN, THANKS FOR COMING~

TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE TIRE SWING IN THE KIDS POOL-THEY LOVED IT. WHAT A NICE DAY! WE WENT ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY SO WE GOT IN CHEAPER. THE KIDS BOTH WON A FREE HOT DOG AND WE GOT SOME FUN TOYS-WHAT A GOOD DAY TO GO!

HALLE KAY PLAYING WITH UNCLE TROY! SHE HAS A CRUSH ON HIM AND LIGHTS UP WHEN YOU SAY OR MENTION HIS NAME, LET ALONE WHEN SHE SAYS IT!

THIS IS A RANDOM PICTURE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SO CUTE. HALLE WAS ALL READY FOR BED AND GETTING SLEEPY AND I NOTICED THIS....SHE HAD MY OVEN MITTS ON HER FEET WALKING AROUND. IT WAS SO CUTE! WHAT A GIRL AND A FETISH WITH "SHOES!

GRANDMA AND GRUMPY GOT OUT THE BIG WATER TOY THIS PAST WEEKEND SINCE EVERYONE CAME TO PLAY. HALLE HATED IT LAST YEAR AND WOULDN'T KEEP OUT THIS YEAR, SHE LOVED IT AND IT WAS SO FUN!

HERE IS HALLE LOVING THE WATER!

THEN CAME THE SOD AND A GREAT BIG THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING. THEY GOT IT DONE IN NO TIME AND IT LOOKS GREAT-COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EVERYONE! THANKS, KEN, CHRIS, TREG, JOHN, AND TROY (WELL, HE CAME LATE DUE TO HIS AC BREAKING BUT HAD FULL INTENTIONS OF COMING TO HELP!)

NANNA AND HALLE PLAYING AND EATING RAMEN WHILE I TOOK PIX AND THE MEN WORKED! THANKS NANNA FOR PLAYING!

HERE IS JARED, JOHN, CHRIS, AND TREG AT WORK! GO BOYS!

HERE IS GRUMPY, PAPA, AND JARED WORKING HARD IN THE HEAT!

THEN CAME THE 24TH OF JULY PARADE! THIS IS ACTUALLY BEEN THE FIRST PARADE THAT HALLE GOT INTO. GRUMPY WAS IN THE PARADE AND SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT! SHE LOVED IT, BUT WAS WAY HOT WHEN IT WAS ALL DONE SO BACK TO GRUMPY AND GRANDMA'S TO THE BIG WATER TOY!

HALLE AND I ENJOYING THE PARADE!

SINCE THE PARADE'S ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE L AND K, JARED GETS TO COME OUT FOR THEM, THAT IS FUN! WHAT IS GRANDMA DOING?

AUNT NIKI, TREVY, AND NANNA AT THE PARADE!

GRUMPY'S FLOAT IN THE PARADE!

AND I MUST ADD, THE FLOAT IS THE MULE! THIS LITTLE THING IS A MUST. WE HAVE HAD IT AT OUR HOUSE WHILE REMODELING THE BACK YARD AND HALLE WENT ON A RIDE NIGHTLY WITH JARED ON IT. THEN IT WENT TO GRUMPY'S AND HE WOULD COME GET HER NIGHTLY TO GO ON IT. NOW IT IS BACK AT THE CABIN AND HALLE IS DEVASTATED! SHE LOVES THAT MULE MORE THAN ANYTHING!(OR IS IT THE PEOPLE SHE GOES WITH? EITHER WAY, SHE LOVES IT!)

ALL IN ALL SUPER BUSY AND HAVING A TON OF FUN!

CONTINUATION OF PRIOR POST....

WE GOT TO ATTEND MY STEP MOTHER'S FAMILY REUNION THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING IN ROBIN AT HER MOTHER'S HOME. IT WAS A GOOD TIME AND REUNIONS ARE FUN NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW-HALLE HAD A BLAST PLAYING IN THE WATER, THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, AND ITS NICE BEING WITH FAMILY. I WAS ADOPTED BY KAREN'S SISTER ANNETTE FOR A GAME-IN WHICH WE WON-TOTALLY CHEATED BUT GOT 2ND! SO FUN! WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

HALLE CHILLING WITH HER SHIRT OFF SINCE IT WAS SOAKING WET FROM THE POOL! GETTING IN THE POOL FULLY CLOTHED-IS THAT BAD? ONLY WHEN YOU DON'T BRING OTHER CLOTHES SINCE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WATER WILL BE INVOLVED, HALLE COULD CARE LESS IF SHE WAS DRESSED, MORE COMFY NUDE

LOTS OF KAREN'S FAMILY!

THEN ONTO SCOUT MTN WITH CHRIS, MOM, TROY, NIKI, AND TREVOR FOR A SPUR OF THE MOMENT WEINIE ROAST. SO FUN TO GO OUT THERE-REMINDS ME OF SODA! SO RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL!

HERE IS HALLE WHEN GETTING TO SCOUT MTN-SHE IS ADORABLE IN THIS PICTURE I THINK!

HALLE AND TREVY IN THE DIRT! OF COURSE WHERE ELSE WOULD THEY BE!

JARED AND HALLE HANGING OUT!

NANNA AND PAPA TAKING THE KIDDOS TO WASH UP AFTER EATING DINNER! SUCH A CUTE LITTLE CLAN!

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS HILARIOUS! PAPA PUT HALLE IN THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR TO PLAY AROUND AND SHE LOVED IT! SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT, SHE WAS HAVING TO MUCH FUN!

YESTERDAY HALLE WANTED TO PLAY SO BAD, I BUILT HER A FORT AND SHE WAS IN HEAVEN! JUST ONE OF THE FUN THINGS WE DO WHILE DADDY IS AT WORK!

WE HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY AND LOVING THIS SUMMER. IT IS GOING SO FAST. ENJOY THE NEXT POST, IT IS NEW AS WELL! SORRY THEY ARE LONG BUT WHEN I GET TIME I GOT TO CATCH UP!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! AND OTHER RANDOM THINGS!!!

(P.S. SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THIS POST, WILL BE LONG, THERE WAS ALOT FOR ME TO CATCH UP ON...)WE USUALLY SPEND THE 4TH OF JULY IN SODA. THEY HAVE SUCH A FUN SMALL TOWN CELEBRATION, THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT ALL YEAR. I ALSO, GET TO SEE OLD FRIENDS THAT I ONLY SEE THERE SINCE WE HAVE GRADUATED AND MOVED ON. IT WAS KIND OF SAD TO MISS IT, BUT WE DID GET TO GO TO BOISE. JAREDS PARENTS AND ALL OF US WENT DOWN TO SEE, HIS NIECE, ANNIE GET BAPTIZED AND BE THERE TO SUPPORT HER. WE WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY AND STAYED THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL. JARED WENT TO HIS BRO'S TO WATCH FIREWORKS WITH EVERYONE AND HALLE AND I WENT BACK TO GET READY FOR BED. I HAD A MISERABLE SORE THROAT, SO I WAS OKAY WITH GOING BACK. HOWEVER, THAT NIGHT, TREG HAD A FUN BBQ AT THE POOL. GREAT FOOD AND FUN! THE NEXT MORNING, THE 4TH, WE GOT UP WITH INTENTIONS OF GOING TO A PARADE IN BOISE, HOWEVER, IT WAS TO HOT AND WE WEREN'T SURE OF WHERE IT WAS AT. GRUMPY AND JARED WATCHED HALLE FOR A BIT WHILE THE REST OF US WENT SHOPPING. WHEN THE SHOPPING WAS DONE, WE GOT READY FOR THE BAPTISM AND WENT TO PANDA EXPRESS TO EAT BEFORE. HALLE HADN'T NAPPED AND FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR SO JARED ATE AND I SAT IN THE CAR WITH HER AND TRIED TO GET SOME SHUT EYE TOO. ALSO, I MUST NOTE, KIM AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION THAT DAY, AND LET ME TELL YOU, I JUST LOVE HER. THANK YOU KIM FOR BEING YOU AND BEING SO KIND AND CARING. I LOVE YOU. ANYWAYS, BACK TO THE STORY....THEN OFF TO THE BAPTISM. HALLE WAS EXHAUSTED AND SO WE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME RUNNING AROUND IN THE SUN OUTSIDE. WE CAUGHT THE POINT OF HER COMING OUT OF THE WATER AND WE WERE THERE FOR HER CONFIRMATION. VERY NICE BAPTISM ANNIE AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. THEN, WE CAME CLEAR BACK TO POKY. WE WENT TO MY MOMS TO CELEBRATE WITH FOOD AND THE FIREWORKS. GREAT NIGHT AND HOLIDAY BUT TIME TO GET SOME SLEEP. HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT 4TH OF JULY AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIE DAILY FOR THE FIGHT OF FREEDOM HERE IN THE USA~

WE DID STOP AT SHOSHONE FALLS ON THE WAY DOWN, TO SHOW HALLE. WE ALSO COULDN'T BELIEVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN, HOW FULL IT WAS! BEAUTIFUL!

HALLE AND DADA AT SHOSHONE FALLS!

HALLE FINALLY AT THE CAMPER IN BOISE TO SEE GRUMPY AND GRANDMA AT THEIR CAMPGROUND. SHE DID BIG GRINS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND OF COURSE, IT MAKES ME MELT! LOVE IT!

ANNIE AND TREG AT THE BBQ ON FRIDAY. THANKS TREG, SUCH GOOD FUN AND FOOD!

LOVE THIS PICTURE OF KIM AND JOHN-AREN'T THEY ADORABLE?

HALLE, JARED, AND BRIDGET IN THE KIDDIE POOL. IT WAS ONLY 2 FT DEEP AND HALLE LOVED TO WALK IN IT! SHE LOVES THE WATER THIS YEAR, YEAH!

HERE IS ANNIE AND TREG AFTER THE CONFIRMATION AND BAPTISM!

FAMILY PHOTO AT THE BAPTISM: TOP ROW: L TO R: JARED, KEN, RENAE, TREG, (TREGS FIANCE') TIFFANY, KIM, AND JOHN

BOTTOM ROW: L TO R: ME WITH BRIDGET, HALLE HANGING OUT, AND TIFFANY'S SON, COLE

STEVEN, CHRIS, MOM, HALLE, AND JARED WAITING FOR THE FIREWORKS, "THE BIGGEST SHOW IN IDAHO", IT DIDN'T START UNTIL LATER DUE TO THE WEATHER, AND IT WAS FREEZING. YES HALLE IS IN A HUGE FLEECE BLANKET ON THE 4TH OF JULY!

MCKAY, JENNA, ANNA, JANEY, NIKI, AND TROY WITH TREVY, WAITING FOR THE FUN TO BEGIN. GRPA TOM JUST CHILLING IN THE BACKGROUND!

THEN, LAST WEEK ON TUESDAY, HALLE AND I WENT TO LAVE SWIMMING WITH TREVY, NIKI, NANA, AND NANA'S FRIENDS. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THE KIDS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT. WE STAYED FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, AND OF COURSE I GOT BAKED. WITH HALLE LAUGHING THOUGH, TOTALLY WORTH IT! THANKS FOR TAKING US TO PLAY. WE ENJJOYED IT ALOT! THEN JUST FUN WITH SPAGHETTI, AND YES POTTY TRAINING TIME...I HAVEN'T REALLY STARTED YET, TO IN DEPTH. HOWEVER, IT IS GOING TO BE HERE SHORTLY! SHE PICKED OUT HER DORA CHAIR-WE'LL SEE IF THAT HELPS AT ALL!NIKI, TREVY, HALLE AND I AT LAVA!

NIKI, TREVY, AND NANA GETTING READY TO GO SWIMMING!

LOOK AT THE SPAGHETTI MESS.....LOVED IT. I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS MESS TO SHOW HALLE IN THE FUTURE, HOW SHE USE TO EAT. LOVE IT!

HALLE'S NEW DORA CHAIR TO START POTTY TRAINING HER SHORTLY!