Bruneau Sand Dunes

(WARNING: may include an obscene amounts of pictures...sorry!)

We decided to take a little trip. We were all itching to get out and do something fun, so we took our camper and headed to Bruneau Sand Dunes. Things didn't start out so great. First of all, we didn't make reservations cause we figured...who in the heck wants to go camping for Mothers Day??? Well, we were wrong. They were completely full, but they had an overflow spot in their equestrian area....where they keep the horses. Well, I think in this case equestrian means 'crappy windy sandy camp spot'. We thought it would be a terribly long night with sand blowing in our eyes. So we drove around seeing if there was any chance that another spot would open up...no chance. So we decided to do back and make the best of our camp. There was a pavilion there...and since there wasn't very many people there we decided to hog the pavilion. It had two sides to it, and we parked our campers on the third side, blocking the wind pretty good. It actually became a pretty great camp spot. After we had everything all set up, we went and did some fishing and playing in the water. We didn't catch any fish, but had fun trying. Then we went to the sand dunes. The sand was so nice and warm, and it was a little windy, but it wasn't blowing in our eyes. Madi climbed the hill 6 times the first night...and two times the next day. She made me race her a couple times, and that is seriously a hard workout...I can't believe she climbed it so many times! Then we went to the observatory to check out the little telescopes...by little I mean...not the huge one they open up at night, but these we could spot the people on top of the dunes with and other areas...they thought it was fun! Then we went back to our camp and made some s'mores...and stayed up really late cause we were going to go the the observatory there...but it ended up being a cloudy night, and we decided to go to bed. Then we woke up on Mother's Day......

The girlie's fishing...


Elsie fishing with Dad

And playing in the water with Mom...

The sandy dunes

Elsie had so much fun! Just one giant sand box...

The girls at the top...

If you look close you can see the trail behind Elsie...she crawled and crawled...like a little turtle...it was so cute!

Looking through the telescopes



Elsie wouldn't look at me...so I told her to look at my nose, so that is why she is pointing out her nose. What a cutie!

Making s'mores with dads camp-made s'more makers...what can't you make with a hanger, stick and duct tape???
MMMM...s'mores!

She is covered in Marshmellow...and doesn't want to be cleaned up!
Our neighbor camper offered to take a famly picture for us...too bad we all look goofy! Well, all except for Brent, but he is always cute!


MOTHERS DAY
I had such a great Mothers Day. We woke up and I was told I was not allowed to do anything. So what else did I do...I took pictures. The girls got up with Dad and made Breakfast. Not just any breakfast...but french toast. My favorite! And let me tell you...it is even better while camping! The girls did a great job cracking eggs, cooking the sausage and eggs...seriously..I was very proud of them. Then Dad cut one into a heart and made me a beautiful breakfast...complete with Madi's tissue paper flowers that she made for me. Then they let me take a nap with Elsie while they went for a little hike. Then we came and picked up camp and took one last trip to the Sand Dunes before we left for home. It really was a great trip and we are so glad we got away and got to spend such a great time with each other! I am so thankful for my perfect little family...I am so lucky for all I have been blessed with!


Elsie loved to open and shut the camper door...

LOVE this picture of Elsie!
Cassi is dipping the bread in the eggs for the french toast
Madi, cooking the sausage
Cracking eggs for scrambled eggs

Cassi is a pro at cracking eggs

Madi, making my eggs for me.

Little Elsie...doing what she can to help.

Isn't it beautiful???

Me and my kiddos before my Mothers Day breakfast

One of our neighbors dogs. The girls had fun throwing the ball to her so she could fetch it.

Elsie had great time exploring EVERYTHING!
Last visit to the dunes.

I like this shot...it was very windy at the top, you can see the sand blowing.

Yep...really windy...the girls look pretty silly with their faces! I just thought it was a great picture.

Walking along the ridge

There's our little set-up!

You can barely see her...but his one is Cassi rolling down the dunes!

Madi at the top
Madi running down...fast!

Cassi finding cool rocks...they are all so smooth and soft. The sand dunes are basically a big rock tumbler!

Getting cozy...

Daddy with his little girl

Sand angels
(and pants full of sand)

Fun Run 2008

The girls ran the Fun Run this year, and did a great job!!! These are my future running partners in training!!! They run a whole mile! Great job girls!!!
Cass, before the race
Bell, before the race
And little Elsie waiting so patiently!!!
We didn't sign up in time to get the green shirts, but the girls didn't care, as long as they got a medal in the end!!! They got to run with their friends Kara and Aubree...along with Drew who did a great job keeping track of everyone! The stretch to the finish line!
I think this is so sweet, Madi turning around when she realized that Cassi wasn't at her side.
Cass, proud with her medal!
Madi and her medal. She is now a very proud owner of two medals, (this and last years fun run) a trophy from Soccer and a big blue ribbon from her art in reflections. She will be sure to let you know all about them!
Great job girls!!! Can't wait for you to start running races with me!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day to the two best Mom's in the world!!!

I will start with my Mom. Does anyone else know a woman who has raised 9 children, 8 of them GIRLS, and still sain???? That is my Mom for you. What an amazing woman. Supermom I would say. This woman can do anything, and I do mean anything, including catching bad guys, Turn a yucky old chicken coop into a cozy family get together spot, and work full-over full time! Mom I think you are the greatest. I love you Mom!!! Happy Mothers Day, and here's to many more Mothers Days to come!!! And my other Mother. What can I say about his lady. I tried to find a picture of just her, but since she ALWAYS has a little one with her, I thought it was appropriate to use one with her doing what she loves! Loving her grand kids! This is the most unselfish woman in the world. She would give you the shirt off her back, literally. I have learned so much from her. Since I have married into the family it has never been 'daughter-in-law' It has always been 'daughter'. Happy Mothers Day! We love you so much!

I am so lucky to have such wonderful women in my life to be such great examples of Motherhood. Thanks for all you do!

Brent was finally blessed with a 'clean freak' child! Poor Dad likes things neat and clean, oh, I do too, just I can't seem to do it. Give each of us the same room, same mess, and I PROMISE you no matter how clean mine gets, somehow his is always better. And with Madi and Cassi, they are like me...poor kids. We like it clean, like I said, we just for some reason can't pull it off.

Well, then along came Elsie to join Dads team against our world of messes! She will grab a wipe and be kept busy for over an hour just wiping stuff. She has always been just as excited about putting stuff away as she is about pulling stuff out, something the other two did not inherit! So yay, clean team, you are catching up!

Fun with friends

We were so lucky when we moved here and were so welcomed by what is now our adoptive Idaho family. Our great friends the Youngs and Drew's awesome Mom and Dad just took us under their wing. They really are amazing people. So we had the opportunity to go and hang out with them last night...and as always the kids had an awesome time and came home exhausted!!!

Elsie is getting along really good with her walker!

Cassi and her buddy Aubree

Madi and Kara

'All smiles' Elsie with Daddy

Elsie has been really starting to pick up the sign language that she has been learning...she is signing 'mom' here...her own way of signing 'mom' anyway, sometimes she remembers to use her thumb...but we know what she means anyway!

So thanks to the Youngs for a much needed night out on such a beautiful night!

A little help for Elsie

Elsie's Physical Therapist brought this to us today to try out. Elsie knows what she needs to do to walk. She just has trouble with her balance and her legs tend to buckle under her. So we have been thinking about getting a pediatric walker for her, but we weren't sure if doing that would hinder her from walking on her own some day. We didn't want her to become dependant on it. But we decided to give it a try. She loves it. This one is an old model, and we are going to go next week to a open house thing where there will be many vendors and we can figure out what would work best for Elsie and her needs, but for now this is our loner, and you can already see how much she is loving it.
Madi had to help her out on the grass, it was a little harder to push around there.

Finally!

Well today we had a lot nicer day than the last few. So the girls went outside to soak in some sun!!! Swinging, Jumping, and of course POPSICLES!!! (we got through literally a TON of these, no matter what season it is!)

Elsie loves her Popsicles!