HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THIS NEW YEARS, WE WENT UP TO THE BERNT'S CABIN IN LAVA WITH MY FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP THERE AS USUAL, AND THANKS TO THE BERNT'S FOR LETTING US BORROW IT. WE WENT UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND CHRIS AND JARED TO GET OUR TRUCK UNSTUCK, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TIL THE NEXT MORNING BUT WE HAD A FUN NIGHT. WE THEN WENT TO SLEEP AND WOKE UP AND DID SLEDDING, EATING, SNOWMACHINING AND HALLE GOT TO RIDE THE KITTY KAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT THERE. HALLE THEN WENT BACK FOR A NAP, WHILE THE MEN BURNED SOME WINTER SLASH PILES AND MY MOM AND I PLAYED ON THE SNOWMACHINES AND KEPT TAKING TURNS CHECKING ON HALLE. THAT EVENING EVERYONE STARTED TO SHOW UP. BY THE TIME WE ATE DINNER, GOT EVERYONE UNPACKED AND RELAXED. WE PUT ALL THE KIDS TO BED AND GOT TO PLAY A FUN GAME WITH ALL THE ADULTS, IT WAS A BLAST. THEN WE DID WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS WHICH AS ALWAYS, WAS A TON OF FUN! TRYING TO STAY AWAKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT'S SAD THAT WE ARE SO OLD IT IS HARD TO STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT....BUT WE DID IT! AT 12:01 WE KISSED EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT, WITH OUR EYES HALF SHUT! THE NEXT DAY, IT SNOWED A TON AND WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ALL DAY, BETWEEN THAT AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND EATING, WHATS A BETTER WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD DINNER AND DID GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER THIS DAY. THEN SANTA SHOWED UP TO SURPRISE THE KIDS-THEY LOVED IT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT UP AND CLEANED AND WENT HOME. THANKS AGAIN BERNTS FOR THE FACILITY! ALSO, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND GETTING ALL OF US THERE. WE LOVED IT AND HAD A BLAST WITH EVERYONE! (PS KEEP GOING, THERE IS ANOTHER POST.)

PAPA CHRIS HELPING HALLE TO GET STARTED. THANKS PAPA FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY (AND EFFORT) YOU PUT INTO THIS LITTLE THING. THE KIDDOS LOVED IT TONS-WHAT A HIT!

HERE IS HALLE DRIVING THE KITTY CAT, ALL BY HERSELF-SHE LOVES IT!

HALLE AND NANA HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW WITH JARED~

MOM AND CHRIS CHILLING AT THE CABIN....

THIS POST WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS COOL WITHOUT THIS PICTURE OF MICHAEL. WHEN PLAYING THE GAME THIS IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH. ARE COURTESY OF MCKAY-NICE GUYS! MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ENJOYED SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOON ON YOUR MISSION! WE LOVE YOU!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.


OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.


HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS ALOT OF FUN! ANYWAYS, WE SPENT THIS YEAR, AT MY PARENTS AND JARED'S PARENTS AND THEN JUST HANGING OUT. ON THANKSGIVING WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT JAREDS EATING THANKSGIVING DINNER OF TURKEY AND ALL THE FURNISHING-SO GOOD. THEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND ATE SOME THERE. WE PLAYED GAMES, THE WII, TALKED, ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY, SAW ALL OUR FAMILIES, PLAYED GAMES-YOU NAME IT. OVER ALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND FEEL SO BLESSED. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALL OUR FRIENDS AND THE BLESSING WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS! AS ALWAYS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ATE TO MUCH. THE WEEKEND ENDED WITH ANNA, NIKI, AND I SHOPPING EARLY MORNIGN SALES THE DAY AFTER-WHICH WAS A RIOT! THEN WE TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THEIR DADDIES AND NIKI AND I WENT AND WATCHED, THE NEW MOON-CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT SHOW OR EDWARD! LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE LIGHT PARADE HERE IN POCATELLO AND HAD A GOOD TIME. THE FOLLOWING DAY OF COURSE WE WENT TO SODA AND CUT DOWN OUR OWN XMAS TREES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR-SO FUN! WE FOUND SOME GOOD TREES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT! BUSY WEEKEND~

KIM AND JOHN GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING LUNCH~

TREG AND HIS WIFE, TIFFANY~ JUST CHILLING

KEN GETTING READY TO CARVE THE BIRD....

JARED AND I GETTING READY TO EAT!

THE BIRD-WHAT A GREAT PIC, HUH? JARED MADE THE BIRD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

TIFFANY, KIM, AND I IN OUR NEW APRONS FROM RENAE! WE EVEN GAVE OURSELVES NAMES, HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF THEM NOW

TREVOR AND HALLE AT THE LIGHT PARADE....

NANNA, HALLE, AND I HANGING OUT!

JARED AND HALLE ON OUR HIKE UP THE MTN TO GET OUR TREE!

HALLE IS BORROWING THIS HORSE FROM GRMA NAISY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT-SHE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN NOSE DIVES WHEN SHE GETS GOING FAST ENOUGH! (JUST LOVED THE PIC!)

MY BABY IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD!

MY TIME HAS FLOWN-WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR HALLE'S BIRTHDAY. WE DID FAMILY STUFF ON SATURDAY AND A PARTY ON HER BIRTHDAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO A KNOCK-OFF BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP HERE IN OUR MALL. HALLE GOT TO MAKE HER OWN STUFFED ANIMAL AND STUFF IT AND ALL-SHE SEEMED TO LOVE IT. FROM THERE, WE WENT TO BAJIO FOR LUNCH WITH AUNT NIKI, UNCLE TROY, AND CUZZY TREVOR SINCE TROY HAD TO WORK ON SUNDAY. HALLE HAD ALOT OF FUN, THEN WENT HOME AND TOOK QUITE A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT AND VISITED GRANDMA AND GRUMPY SINCE GRANDMA HAS BEEN SICK HALLE HAS MISSED SEEING HER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SUNDAY SHE WORE A NEW DRESS FROM GRMA NAISY AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME TOOK A 3 HOUR NAP, AND THEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SNACKS. THE THEME OF HER PARTY WAS HAPPY FEET AND IT WAS FUN. THOSE WHO CAME WERE: NANA AND PAPA TORGESEN, GRUMPY AND GRMA NAISY BERNT, AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR, UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT BOO, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S. WE OPENED GIFTS, ATE, WATCHED A VIDEO OF HALLE OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND JUST HUNG-OUT. IT WAS PRETTY RELAXED AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THAT NIGHT I HAD A BREAKDOWN AND CRIED FOR A BIT SINCE MY BABY IS GROWING UP SO FAST AND LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS DAILY. THE NEXT EVENING PAPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL CAME IN TO DROP OFF A GIFT AND STAYED FOR DINNER WITH US AND AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR. IT WAS A FUN NIGHT TO BE TOGETHER. ALL IN ALL HALLE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALOT OF FUN AND TURNED OUT GREAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE-WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! PS..THANKS FOR ALL THE GIFTS-SHE MADE OUT WELL! THEY'LL KEEP HER BUSY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!

HALLE IN HER NEW DRESS-GETTING READY FOR CHURCH!

LATELY HALLE ENJOYS SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD FRIDGE-ADORABLE!

HERE IS SOME OF THE DECOR~

THANKS NANA FOR THE AWESOME CAKE. I HELPED MY MOM (OKAY NOT MUCH) SHE DID THIS ADORABLE CAKE-WITHOUT A PAN OR ANYTHING! THANKS NANA IT WAS PERFECT AND SO YUMMY TOO!

TREVOR AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT!

FAMILY PHOTO SHOT~

HALLE SITTING IN HER NEW DOLL BASSINET-IT WAS HILARIOUS! GO FISHER PRICE THAT THING DIDN'T EVEN BEND!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER EVERYONE LEFT AND HALLE COULD ACTUALLY CALM DOWN AND SEE EVERYTHING SHE GOT~IF IT WENT ON AS CLOTHING, IT WAS ON AND IF SHE COULD PLAY WITH IT~SHE WAS PLAYING! IT WAS SO CUTE AND SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!

THIS IS THE NIGHT PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL CAME OVER-WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA BOB!

IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A TRADITION THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO THROW MY GRANDPA A BIRTHDAY PARTY BEFORE HE HEADS OUT TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER. THIS YEAR, MY SISTER HOSTED IT AT HER HOUSE. AS MANY OF YOU READERS KNOW, I LOVE MY DAD'S FATHER, BOB. HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST GRANDPA'S AROUND AND I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE WITH HIM-DUE TO THE FACT HE IS A YOUNG GRANDPA AND THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVED CLOSE WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. WELL, HE TURNED 76 THIS PAST WEEK. MY SISTER'S FAMILY AND MY FAMILY INVITED MY DAD AND KAREN, AND GRMA AND GRPA OVER LAST NIGHT FOR A LITTLE SHINDIG. JARED AND TROY MADE DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN, POTATOES, AND COBBLER. IT WAS AMAZING AND GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE. MY GRANDPA LOVES HIS BIRTHDAY AND IS KICKING RIGHT ALONG. HE IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM AGE BUT HE IS STILL DOING PRETTY GOOD. I AM GLAD WE COULD ALL GET TOGETHER BEFORE THEY LEAVE ONE LAST TIME. HE LOVED IT AND SO DID WE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA WE LOVE YOU~

(SORRY FORGOT THE CAMERA BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

BERNT CAMPING TRIP IN HEISE!

SO I AM JUST A BIT LATE WITH THIS POST BUT I HAVE HAD ALOT GOING ON AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DO IT UNTIL NOW. THE END OF AUGUST, WE WENT TO HEISE CAMPING WITH THE BERNT CLAN. STEPHANIE AND JOHN, WITH EVA, WERE UP SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GET AWAY. WE GOT TO USE MY SISTERS TRAILER, THANK YOU WE LOVED IT. AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS, THE BOYS GOLFED, WE HAD THE OLYMPICS, THE KIDS WATCHED MOVIES IN GRMA AND GRUMPY'S TRAILER, WE PLAYED MINI GOLF, WENT SWIMMING (IN WHICH HALLE LOVED THE SLIDE....) AND JUST HUNG OUT. IT WAS SO FUN, THANKS BERNTS FOR TAKING US. HALLE DID BURN HER FOOT ON A LANTERN AND THAT WAS BAD-NO SLEEPING ONE NIGHT, THEN SHE SLAMMED HER FINGERS IN THE DOOR, WHICH SOMEHOW MADE HER PUKE, AND JARED WHO IS ALLERGIC TO BEES, GOT STUNG BY ONE WITHOUT HIS EPIPEN. THAT WAS IT IN A NUTSHELL, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND MADE MANY GREAT MEMORIES. HOWEVER, THE BEST WAS THE COOKOFF WHICH NOONE WON, SINCE GRAMA COULDN'T VOTE FOR ONE, AND THE KIDS BATHING IN A BOWL OUTSIDE THE TRAILER. LOVED IT. ( SORRY DIDN'T TAKE MANY PHOTOS, CAMERA WAS ALWAYS IN THE TRAILER...) THANKS AGAIN, WE HAD A BLAST WITH THE FAMILY AND IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND TIME ALL TOGETHER!

THE CLAN JUST CHILLIN!

ANNIE AND STEPH JUST BEING GRUMPY-HAHA!!

FAMILY PHOTO, HALLE IS EATING A MOUTH FULL OF CHOCOLATE PRETZELS, WOWWEE!

MENDENHALL REUNION!

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE GOT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MENDENHALL REUNION IN PALISADES AT CALAMITY CAMPGROUND. I WAS A BIT NERVOUS SINCE IT WAS HALLE'S FIRST CAMPING EXCURSION BUT SHE DID GREAT, (BESIDES THE ONE TIME SHE RAN ON THE TRAIL AKA ROAD AND ALMOST GOT PLOWED-OK NOT REALLY BUT SHE DID RUN IN THE ROAD AND SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!) MY DAD AND KARED, NIKI AND HER CLAN, ME AND MY CLAN, MY COUSIN WOODY, TODD AND KIM, DEON, AND GRPA AND GRMA M WERE THERE. IT WAS A 3 DAY EXCURSION OF FUN. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST CONVERSATIONS, AMAZING FOOD, AND JUST TONS OF FUN ON THE BOAT. THIS YEAR, IT WAS SO COLD, RAINED ALOT, HAILED ALOT, AND WAS FLAT OUT COLD. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T DAMPEN US, WE STILL HAD TONS OF FUN. WATERSKIING WASN'T THE BEST THIS YEAR SINCE THE WATER WAS A BIT ROUGH, BUT IT MADE FOR GREAT TUBE RIDING. WE MADE SNOW CONES, WENT ON WALKS, SLEPT IN, TOOK NAPS,WATCHED A MOVIE, FISHED, ATE, TALKED, WENT ON THE BOAT...YOU NAME IT. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLANNING SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND. WE LOVED IT! WE ARE SAD THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, SINCE IT IS GETTING HARDER ON GRPA AND GRMA BUT WE HAVE HAD THE GREATEST PAST SUMMERS WITH EVERYONE AND ARE SO GREATFUL FOR THE TIMES WE HAD TO CHERISH! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

HALLE IS PLAYING WITH "UNCLE TOY'S" FISHING GEAR, SHE LOVED IT!

HERE IS HALLE AND I PLAYING WHILE TREVY IS FISHING. ACTUALLY I AM JUST TRYING TO KEEP HALLE OUT OF THE WATER BY DISTRACTION. SHE LOVES THE WATER SO MUCH!

NIKI AND I TUBING WITH HALLE AND TREVOR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. THANKS DAD FOR THE NICE RIDE! WE HAD TONS OF FUN! (SO DID THE KIDDOS!) AFTER THIS, JARED TOOK HALLE AND THEY HAD A BLAST TOO!

JARED AND HALLE TUBING-THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN!

JARED AND HALLE CHILLING ON THE BOAT WHILE I WAS IN THE WATER!

NIKI, KAREN, AND THE KIDDOS CHILLING ON THE BOAT!

PAPA TAB LET HALLE "HELP" DRIVE US TO THE SHORE! SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SO BIG AND DID SUCH A GOOD JOB!

IN THIS PICTURE, HALLE LOOKS HOMELESS-SAD! ACTUALLY SHE LOVED THAT LIFE JACKET AND THE ZIPPER ON IT-SHE WOULDN'T MOVE!

BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF PALISADES IN THE MORNING WITH STEAM!

THE MORNING AFTER ALL THE FUN IN THE WATER, THE BOYS AND NIKI, GOT UP FOR AN EARLY FISHING TRIP. HALLE AND I SLEPT IN UNTIL ABOUT 9. I THOUGHT IT WAS TO COLD FOR HER, AND SHE WAS EXHAUSTED. BUT THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AND OTHER STUFF!

LATELY, IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT GOING ON. OUR FRIENDS, THE HIGBEE'S HAVE BEEN UP FROM BOISE FOR AWHILE FOR MIKE TO DO AN INTERNSHIP AT FORT HALL, THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH JEN'S PARENTS AND WE HAVE ENJOYED HANGING OUT WITH THEM. THE CADYS, JARED'S BEST FRIEND MIKE, AND HIS WIFE ANGELA WERE UP FROM FLORIDA FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM TOO. THE DUDLEY'S AND MARSHALLS WERE AROUND TO PLAY ALSO, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. I HAVEN'T TAKEN A LOT OF PICTURES SO THIS WILL JUST BE A BLOG...BORING SOME MAY SAY! WE HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED WITH THE SAME OLD SUMMER STUFF-WORKING ON THE YARD, HELPING FARM IN SODA, SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY, AND JUST OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PAST COUPLE WEEKENDS HANGING OUT WITH AUNT NIKI AND TREVY AS WELL AS NANA. WE WENT TO THE FAMILY LIVING FUN DAY LAST WEEKEND AND THAT WAS ALOT OF FUN FOR THE KIDS. IT HAS BEEN RAINING A TON SO ANYTHING TO GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE WHEN IT'S NICE FOR A BIT, HAS BEEN IDEAL. THEY ENJOYED JUST WALKING AROUND ROSS PARK SEEING BOOTHS, KIDS, FOOD, ETC...NIKI AND I ENJOYED GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR FREE ALSO. THIS PAST WEEKEND STARTED WITH JARED, TROY, MY STEP-DAD, AND MICHAEL TORGESEN HELPING WITH OUR GARDEN. YES, WE FINALLY GOT THE RAILROAD TIES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. WE ABOUT GAVE UP AND THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED-YIPPEE! THEY PUT THAT TOGETHER AND I WENT TO LUNCH WITH HAILEY DYE, BRITNEY OFISA, AND HEATHER JENKS SINCE HEATHER MOVED YESTERDAY. WE WILL MISS HER AND WISH HER FAMILY TONS OF LUCK. THEN FRIDAY NIGHT, NIKI AND I ALONG WITH OUR FAMILIES, HAD MY DAD AND KAREN, AND MY GRPA BOB TO NIKI'S FOR FATHER'S DAY DINNER. GOOD FOOD AND FUN WITH GOOD CONVERSATION-WE HAD A GREAT TIME. SATURDAY, WE WENT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET WITH NIKI, TREVY, AND NANA AND JUST HUNG OUT-THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY BUT NO RAIN. WE THEN WALKED AROUND SHOPS IN OLD TOWN POCATELLO AND JUST PLAYED, SO FUN! THEN NANA CAME AND HELPED ME MAKE HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP AND THAT WAS FUN AND TURNED OUT SO YUMMY. WE THEN WENT TO THE RIVERFEST HERE ON THE GREENWAY AND LISTENED TO BANDS AND JUST WALKED AROUND, MOST THE BOOTHS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WEREN'T UP DUE TO THE WEATHER BUT IT WAS STILL FUN. WE THEN CAME HOME AND JARED AND I WATCHED THE MOVIE, "TAKEN" AFTER HALLE WENT TO BED. WE HAD A FUN DATE NIGHT AND IT WAS A GREAT MOVIE.

TODAY, WE GOT TO CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY. THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO ALL THE FATHER'S OUT THERE, WE LOVE YOU! I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE MEN IN MY LIFE AND ALL THE IMPORTANT LESSONS THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME. I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR INFLUENCE. ESPECIALLY, MY HUSBAND. HE IS A GREAT PERSON, A WONDERFUL FATHER, AND AN OUTSTANDING HUSBAND. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR HIM AND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR HALLE AND I. HE IS A GREAT PROVIDER, CARE TAKER, AND LISTENER, AND I AM SO GREATFUL FOR HIM. I LOVE YOU JARED! WE SPENT THE EVENING WITH HIS PARENTS AND SISTER KIM, AND HUSBAND JOHN AT THE BERNT'S HAVING A BBQ. IT WAS GREAT AND WE HAD A GOOD FATHER'S DAY!

OTHER THAN THAT AND BEING BUSY, NOT A WHOLE LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON. WE DID FIND OUT JARED HAS AN EYE INFECTION WHICH ISN'T FUN AND DUE TO LASIK SURGERY LAST YEAR, HAS LOST SOME SIGHT IN HIS RIGHT EYE AND WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO SURGERY AGAIN SOON. THEY ONLY PAY FOR IT WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF SURGERY-WE ARE GOING ON A YEAR SO IT WILL BE SOON. HOWEVER, WE ARE THANKFUL HE IS OK AND NOTHING MAJOR IS WRONG, AND HE WILL GET BETTER.

WELL, THATS A LONG POST, SO HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL FOR EVERYONE.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AGAIN TO ALL THOSE MEN OUT THER!

WE LOVE YOU!

JUST KEEPING BUSY!

SUMMER IS ALWAYS BUSY FOR US AND THIS YEAR IT SEEMS TO BE NO DIFFERENT AS OF YET. JARED AND I HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT IN THE YARD, ALOT WITH HIS FRIENDS THAT COME HOME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS EACH SUMMER, AND JUST BEING TOGETHER AS FAMILY. THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS A BLAST. THANKS TO NANNA AND PAPPA FOR WATCHING HALLE FOR HER 1ST OVERNIGHTER AWAY FROM HOME, NANNA SAID SHE DID VERY WELL-WHAT A RELIEF. JARED AND I WENT TO SUN VALLEY FOR THE KENNY LOGGINS CONCERT FOLLOWED BY A NIGHT AWAY WHICH WE BOTH NEEDED BADLY. WE LEFT SAT MORNING AND GOT TO SUN VALLEY AND PLAYED AROUND FOR THE AFTERNOON, CHECKED IN OUR HOTEL, THE SUN VALLEY LODGE, WENT TO DINNER, AND THEN TO THE CONCERT. IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE SHOW! I KNOW HE IS OLD AND I LOVE HIM TO DEATH-WE HAD TONS OF FUN! AFTERWARDS, WE WENT TO OUR HOTEL FOR RELAXATION AND NITE-NITE. I ENDED UP GETTING SICK WITH STREP AND A BUG AND SO NEEDLESS TO SAY DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP AWAY AND ENDED UP COMING HOME EARLIER THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BUT IT WAS STILL A BLAST!! THANKS FOR THE GIFT JARED-LOVED IT AND LOVED BEING WITH JUST YOU! I LOVE YOU!

(DIDN'T GET LOTS OF PIX SINCE WE WEREN'T TO HAVE OUR CAMERA IN THE CONCERT, HOWEVER; JARED SNUCK A FEW!)

HERE IS OUR HOTEL OR, "THE SUN VALLEY LODGE!" SO OLD SCHOOL, LOVED IT!!

JARED AND I IN FRONT OF THE PAVILION WHERE THE CONCERT WAS!

OK-LOOK CLOSE AND YOU WILL SEE KENNY LOGGINS-HE IS THE HOTTIE! ALSO, LOOK EVEN CLOSER AND YOU WILL SEE ME IN A PURPLE HOODIE ON MY WAY TO TOUCH HIM......

JARED AND I DURING THE CONCERT, SO FUN!

WHAT CAN I SAY? THIS COUPLE WAS SO FUN. THEY WERE IN THERE 50'S AND THEY WERE FROM EAGLE, ID. WE GOT HIS NAME, IT WAS TOMMY AND WE NEVER GOT HERS. WE HAD RAN INTO THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES THE DAY OF THE CONCERT AND THEY EVEN TOOK OUR PICTURE FOR US, THEY WE ENDED UP SEEING THEM AT OUR HOTEL, AND THEN AGAIN AT THE CONCERT-THEIR SEATS WERE RIGHT NEXT TO OURS. THEY WERE THE NICEST, FUNNEST COUPLE EVER. THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING AND THEY WEREN'T HIDING ANYTHING. TOMMY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO THE STAGE WITH ME SO I COULD TOUCH KENNY LOGGINS! YES, THAT IS RIGHT I TOUCHED HIM-NEVER BEEN THAT CLOSE TO SUPER STAR! THEN THE REST OF THE NIGHT THEY DANCED WITH US AND GOOFED AT THE CONCERT, NICE PEOPLE!