Early Cake

Elsie's birthday is actually tomorrow...but tomorrow we are gonna go camping and we thought we would celebrate a little bit tonight. The cake was Cassi's idea. Elsie got the nickname cricket when she was born...cause she kinda looked like a cricket...anyway...it stuck. She thought the cake was great...not sure about it sticking to her hands...but she had fun anyway!
Love this...she is not too sure about the fire!!!

Cheese...I mean Cake!!!

We know what the baby is!!!!!!

It's a perfect little BOY!!!!!

Can you believe it!!! We were very scared to go find out what we were having....we love our girls of course....but to have a boy...what a dream!!! The doctor teased us quite a bit...making us believe that it was a girl knowing how much we wanted a boy....but when he told Brent to get up and take a closer look, we knew it!!! It's a boy!!! A boy!!! I started crying! What a great day! Can't wait to meet the little guy!!!
Sorry to the new little man for embarrassing him before he is even here...but I just gotta prove it!!! We're having a BOY!!!

Back to Work

Brent went back to full duty last Friday. He was very ready to, as he said, "Drive the firetruck" We hoped...I hoped and prayed that he and his shoulder were actually ready to go back to full duty. Well, he went back just in time to test how much his shoulder could handle. After all day Technical training on Friday, they got back to the fire house and were called out to a massive three alarm structure fire. Now to the person who's stuff is on fire, it is a pretty bad day, but to firemen...there is nothing better! So he spent all night, from 6'ish to after 11, fighting the fire at the Boise Timber Plant. They made an awesome stop and kept it from spreading to the other buildings around. When I heard it on the radio and then watched it on the news I couldn't help but be excited for him...but I was also worried about how his shoulder was taking the weight of his turn-outs, air tank...the works. He called me late that night to let me know all was okay.

So then the next day (he works 48 hour shifts) they got slammed with call after call. The Fire Department also runs medical calls...a lot of people don't know that...but if you call 911, most likely a fire-truck will show up before the ambulance...to give you something good to look at while you wait for the ambulance...just kidding, but I am sure that does help, right! Anyway, they got another structure fire Saturday night. This time it was a residence , with 9 people living there. They kept the fire confined to just the kitchen living room part, so that was a great stop too. Great job boys! And I am happy to say that his shoulder held up great, besides being completely exhausted and dehydrated...his shoulder might even feel better then the rest of his body. Not too shabby for his first shift back, huh!!!

Boise Timber fire

The Boise brigade!

The residence...the small part of the house was where the damage was.

And I had to include a nice shot of him in his turn-outs...this is from a different fire, but...oh, what a man!

Lowes Project

My little sister told me about the summer projects they do at Lowes stores...we decided to go and do it today. What a success...they provide the wood and pattern and nails...the girls had a great time. They provided stickers...but we decided to take them home and paint them. That gave me a project to do with them at home...they have been so bored this summer (at home)...so having something fun to do at home was a nice change of pace. They actually didn't fight for more than an hour today including the painting time and playing time! YAY!!! I know...way too many pictures for one dumb little thing...oh well!

She has been 'driving' it all day!

Please excuse the homeless-looking kids!!!

I painted Elsie's with bright colors-she loves it!
Madi painted hers as Herbie the race bug...I love the shadow of the driver in the window with her pony tails...
Cassi has a cute little face on hers...

Matthews Family Reunion

One more year, another amazing time at the cabins! We went to Meeks Cabins in Wyoming for the Matthews side reunion. We went last year and we always have such a great time! But even better this year, because Grandma and Grandpa could join us. Last year Grandma was still recovering from her many back surgeries, so this year was so fun to have them there with us! First day we got there, got cabins all settled then hung out in the lodge and listened to cousins Andy and Matthew play guitar and sing. Next day after lunch we went to the reservoir with canoes and had a great time there! Then a lot of 4-wheelin', fishing, a few naps here and there. A big group picture and then S'mores wrapped up the day. Then we got up the next day, cleaned it all up, said our goodbyes and headed for home. It was so much fun and such a relaxing time! And as it is always said when the Matthews family gets together...we are lucky to not just love each other, but we LIKE each other too!!! What a great family to b e a part of!!! Sorry to those who missed it...maybe this will make you feel bad and you will be sure to join us from now on!!!

Nice bath in the kitchen sink! I just had to include this one! This is how she is for EVERY bath she takes!

Hangin' out in the lodge the first night.

Elsie hangin' out in the Mule with Grandma and Bumpa

Finding all kinds of treasures!

Brave uncle Russ!

Watching the fire

Almost everyone in the family! Missing 9, I believe!

Grandma Ene and Bumpa sitting by the campfire

Smiley Elsie with Dad

My beautiful Bell

Making S'mores with Aunt Cindy

We forgot to take Madi's easel...she wanted to paint something from the cabins so I told her to take a picture of what she would want to paint...this is what she took, not too shabby!

Dustin and Elsie think Dad is pretty funny!

This is about the cleanest she was the whole time!!!

Elsie, loving the swing!

Cassi and her buddy Nathan...when asked what they were doing they said "making mud with dirt and water!" Like that was just about the dumbest question I could ask!

Uncle Dave...a.k.a Aunt Babe...was tormented by these kids! But to be fair he did his share of tormenting!!! (Madi is also showing off her Hannah Montana clock given to her by Aunt Sandra)

One last shot of our cabin that we stayed in

Woodruffs great in '08

After watching parade after parade this summer...the girls finally got to BE IN ONE!!!

Brent remembers growing up always being a part of the Woodruff Utah 4th of July parade. His Dad owns a feed store in Evanston and so the nieces got together...(actually Dustin, Dani and Mindi and Sandra did all the work...thanks guys) and made a float to go in the parade. The girls hopped into some feed bags...which I think they look pretty darn cute and away they went throwing candy to the crowds! They had such a fun time! And Elsie sat with us and we got more candy then all the parades we have been to this year combined!!! Fun times in small towns!

The big girls ... Lauren, Madi, Heather, crazy Cassi and Morgan.
The little girls ... Lexi, Taylor, and Elsie.

This is Elsie's new obsession, so I had to put the picture. She will sit and play with buckles for hours! Such a funny kid!
Elsie picked up a ton of candy!
There they are...

Keith's Feed Making Woodruff great on 2008
(the theme was Woodruff is great in '08, so this is how we added to the theme)
Hangin' out with Grandma and Grandpa! We had so much fun and it was a perfect parade day!

Triplets July '08

Once again we attempted the 'triplet' pictures...we were in a hurry, and it was really hot...but they didn't turn out too bad...Reagan really didn't like it...but at least she wasn't crying!

Then we thought it would be fun to throw Uncle Andy in the mix...Abi and Reagan both weren't sure of him at all...but I love Elsie's little smirk!