Fall 2009

I've been called to repentance by Rose and Andy. Andy, here are your Halloween pictures. Rose, yes, I will try to do better. It's not that I haven't had anything to blog about. I just haven't been motivated to sit down and get it done. So here are a hodge podge of pictures from the last 6 wks.

We (Darren and I) were in charge of our first pinewood derby in September. It was also Kevin's first pinewood derby. So we got the experience of making a car (okay the neighbors actually helped Kevin with his car but Darren helped Ethan make one).

Here are three of the cars starting out on the track. I was the scorekeeper so Kevin took this picture.

The course set up and ready to go.

The score board

Kevin turned 11 yrs old in the past 6 wks. One of his presents was a bottle of Amazing Sauce from Wingers because he loves Wingers wings so much --- not that he gets them too often.

These are my two sick boys. At the beginning of October I was supposed to go with Darren to CAlifornia and Rose was going to watch the boys. But two days before we were to go, Jacob came down with the flu (I don't think it was swine flu. All we know was that the nose swab they did came out positive for flu.) Ethan started with fever the next day. It was also the week Eastern Idaho kids have out of school for potato harvest. So my kids spent their vacation days sick in bed and I spent my CA vacation days taking care of sick kids. Kevin didn't get sick but he was not happy about staying in ID when he could have been playing with Jared in UT.

There was a straw maze advertised in the newspaper and I thought it would be fun for the kids. So we took the neighbor boys and tried it out. It took us about 40 minutes to get through the first time. The older boys did it a second time and were done in 10 minutes.

Boo at the Zoo -- what better place to trick or treat than at the zoo? Especially the day before Halloween. That's two nights of trick or treating.

Jeff and Tracie were good sports and tagged along with us.

A leopard and a witch. Not a traditional witch's cat but it works.

And, last but not least, I made applesauce with the many apples on our trees. My co-worker lent me her fruit/veg grinder attachment for a kitchen aid and it sure made applesauce making easier than the last time I tried it. It took two days and a big mess but we now have many jars of yummy applesauce -- that my kids actually like.

Table Rock

The Rexburg 16th Ward went on a hike to Table Rock this past Saturday. For those of you not familiar with our part of Idaho, it's a very popular hike. It's located right next to a scout camp so many scouts hike it every year. But so do a lot of other people. Someone in our ward said it is listed among the top 20 hikes in America to take. Table Rock is on top of a mountain that is right next to the Grand Teton Mountains and is on the very edge of Grand Teton National Park. Our two youngest kids were too young to make it so Darren said I could go and take Kevin. When I found out it was a 15 mile hike I decided not to take Kevin until I had tried it first. Now I wish I would have because three of the boys a few months older than him did it with no problem. But I will definitely do it again so he can come. And anyone else that wants to go can come, too. Don't let the length scare you. It took us pretty much all day with lots of rest breaks. It's 7.74 miles to the top with an increase in elevation from about 5000 feet to 11000 feet. It took us 5 hours to get to the top and four hours to get down due to someone twisting their ankle. Here are my pictures to prove I was there:

Me by one of the four creek crossings. The trail was very pretty with creeks, lots of trees, wild flowers, etc. Some of the people in our group saw a moose but it was gone when I got there.















Table Rock from far away. It is the round looking mountain on the right. The other two mountains sticking up in the background are part of the Tetons.















I was trying to show all the ant like people walking on the ridge here but they don't really show up.















Another view from far away.















Here it is a little closer...















And closer...















And closer...















until it's really close. But the last bit was the very hardest. It doesn't look that hard in the picture but it is very steep and has a lot of loose rocks. I wish I would have taken a picture of the huge pile of big rocks you have to cross right before you get to this spot.















Finally on top of Table Rock!! The Tetons look close enough to touch.















My friend Kimber, and I on Table Rock.















A view of the canyon between Table Rock and the Tetons. Can you find the little lake down there?















The Tetons.















Some of our ward sitting on Table Rock and a different view from the top.















Another view from the top.

Labor Day

Over labor day we had two clone troopers visit our house - one was tall, the other short. I thought they used guns but these clone troopers used light sabers. They must have been Jedi clone troopers.







































We also had Harry Potter visit. It was a busy weekend with strange visitors.















This is produce from out beautiful garden.



















This is our compost pile that is going to make a beautiful garden and beautiful flower beds next year.















This is a picture of a helpful insect that lives very abundantly in our garden. When I was out there last I saw 10 on one little plant.















And this is our beautiful garden.

Clark family reunion 2009

At the beginning of this month we attended the Clark family reunion in Island Park. It was only Darren's parents and siblings with their families. Just the perfect size. Pat used some of her inheritance to rent a "cabin" (someone's summer home that is much nicer and bigger than the one I currently live in). We stayed there for 3 nights and spent one day in Yellowstone. The house was on the Island Park reservoir and had a private boat dock so we brought canoes and spent a lot of time by the water. The following pictures might not all be in order but they tell the story.















The last night we were there we (meaning Curtis and Sam) built a fire in the firepit and roasted smores. This is one of the only pictures I have of Jacob sitting calmly.















Kevin, Curtis, and Carson roasting marshmallows (actually Shandy is the third one roasting marshmallows but you can't see her in the picture).















Dexter came upstairs one morning with his giraffe shirt on. Jake was wearing a different shirt but as soon as he saw Dexter's shirt he had to put his matching shirt on.
















Headstand competition between Camilla, Curtis, Courtney, and Kevin. Dexter and Jacob were attempting it, as well. I think Courtney won but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
















Uncle Mike and Curtis kept the boys entertained one evening with a little fun rough housing.















I had to take a picture of Carson's shoes because they look so much like my own boys' shoes. Boy's shoes do not last very long.



















Ethan managed to find bugs even in Yellowstone where there were so many other things to see.
















Darren, Carson, and Jake looking down at the bottom of a beautiful water fall and canyon. We had to take a nice little hike with switch backs to get there. It was hard to keep Jacob from running down there but it was even harder to get him to walk back up.




















The canyon at the bottom of the falls. I found a cool puzzle in West Yellowstone with this same place to take home as a souvenier.



















Picnic lunch in Yellowstone.















Another lunch picture.















Dexter, Ethan and Jacob at the mud pots.















A bat we saw flying through the air and then crash landing in the water. Darren rescued it with the oar and let it go on dry land.















This picture amazes me and gives me a new respect for Sam. He has his 1 year old son, Cameron, my 4 year old son, Jacob, and my 6 year old son, Ethan, in there with him. And the only help rowing is from the 6 year old. No one forced him into doing this, either. Pretty amazing Sam.



















Jacob on the dock. Most of the kids jumped off the dock into the water. Not Jacob. He wasn't brave enough. But we had a rule that any kid by the water had to wear a life jacket. I knew one of the kids would fall in the water without trying and Jacob was the one that did it. Thank goodness for life jackets and for Uncle Sam being there to pull him out when he was crying and sputtering.

After the Clark family reunion in Island Park we were home for one night, went to church in our home ward and then headed down to Utah. We first stopped at Curtis and Shandy's house for some yummy fish and chicken tacos -- and good company. Then we went to West Jordan. We hung out with Darren's family and had family pictures taken. Tuesday morning we went to Fayette. Darren went fishing up in the mountains and the boys and I stayed in Fayette. We spent the morning hanging out with my mom, playing with leggos, catching grasshoppers and trying to find chickens. Fayette is overrun with grasshoppers this year and Ethan loved that. My mom gave him a glass jar and lid and told him to catch as many as he could. She wanted him to catch them because she hates them. He wanted to catch them because he loves them. I would have taken a picture of 20 grasshoppers stuffed in a pint jar but it was pretty disgusting with everything grasshoppers leave behind. You'll just have to use your imagination. My mom had to leave in the afternoon to take care of Rose's kids up north. But we had a little time with her before she left.

The boys and I also took a walk down to my grandparents house. They were out on the porch so we all sat out there and talked until the boys started to fight and I could tell it was getting to grandpa. I didn't have anyone to run interference. But it was a great visit while it lasted. And I got a cute picture.
















When my dad got home from work we ate dinner and then went to the Fayette Spring. I grew up swimming at the spring. This is also where the town of Fayette gets their water and one of the main reasons my early ancestors settled here.




















I had to wade into the spring to get this picture.
















My dad on the four wheeler and the boys getting used to the water. The dragonflys and bugs on the water made them a little nervous.



















The spring is not very deep but Kevin found a short rope swing that he had to try out. (This is the deepest part of the spring where kids sometimes get baptized.)



















Letting go.















Because the Fayette Cemetary is on the way home from the spring I wanted to stop by and check it out. It's been a long time since I've been there. I have a lot of ancestors buried here but my great grandpa and grandma Lyman I knew so I had the kids pose by that tombstone. Kevin had fun checking out the dates on the tombstones and seeing that there were children buried there.

Catch Up

I've had a lot of things to post but seem to be getting lazy with my blog. So this is my catch up update.

Happy Birthday to Jake! His birthday fell on a Tuesday, which has been a very hectic day this summer with work, soccer, scouts, and more. So he got pizza for dinner, a store bought cake and a quick celebration betwee all of our other activities. But he didn't seem to mind.






































A couple of weeks ago, the boys hair was driving me crazy so we got out the clippers.















The "before" shot.















And "after" - doesn't that look so much better?




















When my mom and dad were here visiting around the 4th of July they surprised me with these beautiful flowers. When they gave them to me the lillies weren't open yet so I told my mom I would take a picture for her when they were. Aren't they so pretty?















A couple of weeks ago we went to the drive in movie. It's a fun night but not something we do more than once a year because it is so late. The movies were Ice Age 3 and Night at the Museum 2. Ice Age 3 was cute, Night at the Museum 2 was boring, especially since it was 1 am and I was tired. But it's always fun to watch the movies from your own car, especially if you have room to stretch out.

Monday night Tracie thought it would be a great idea to spend family home evening at the Idaho Falls Chukars game. Jared was visiting for a few days so we all had a great time at the baseball game -- minus Jeff - poor thing had to work.















Here's the whole crowd except me.



















Ethan and Jake - Ethan isn't grumpy, he's just being serious.



















Kevin and Jared are not being serious. After the game the kids get to run the bases. We were all down by the gate waiting for the players to get off the field so the kids could go out there. As the players pass by all the kids are trying to get broken bats and baseballs from them. Jared was one of the lucky kids that got a bat and Darren caught one of the balls.

4th of July Weekend

Here are a few pictures from our 4th of July weekend.
















While we were waiting for the fireworks to begin we broke out the glow sticks. Darren had the boys moving them around so he could get these cool photos. He's done the same thing with sparklers at past 4th of Julys.















Between the parade and fireworks the guys went fishing (since they couldn't the day before like they were planning - see sprinkler disaster post below) and the girls/kids went to Rigby lake. Here is me after getting buried in the sand by my sons.















Jake buried - he was hard to keep buried because he kept wiggling.















Everyone had to have a turn - except Tracie and Kat (chickens :-))
Ethan getting buried.



















Kevin buried.















Jacob and Ethan at the beginning of our sand castle. It turned out to be much bigger but Tracie has it on her camera. Maybe she'll post it.




















Kat was worn out and slept for most of the parade. When it was time to go Andy decided to help her wake up.




















Kat waking up
















Andy and Kat















Ben and Darren















Tracie and Ben















Jake waiting in line to spray the fireman hose. We were sitting near the fire station and while everyone was waiting for the parade to start they let the kids try to knock a cup off of an orange cone. They also had the fire truck there with the ladder fully extended. You could pay $3 and climb it. Since it went about 3 or 4 stories none of us were game.




















I love this picture. My brothers are all great uncles. Jake was climbing all over Ben and Andy and they just endured it. We went to Idaho Falls for the fireworks and this is them just waiting.

Sprinkler System

This past week my brother, Ben, took a week off of work and came to Idaho to help Tracie and me put sprinkler systems in our yards. What a way to spend a vacation, huh? Monday we rented a pipe puller - the first half of the day was spent at Tracie's house and the second half of the day at my house.




















Tracie holding the pipe for Ben















Ben with the pipe puller.

They worked on Tuesday and Wednesday at Tracie's house and finished her sprinkler system. I had to work those two days so neither Darren nor I helped there. Late Wed night Andy and his girlfriend, Kat came up to Tracie's house. So Thursday morning when I came back from my run I found Ben, Tracie, Jeff, Andy and Kat already hard at work in my yard. We spent the day digging and putting in the sprinkler system. By the end of the day most of it was done. There were only a couple of things left to do when they all went home (to Tracie's house).















Me - I must be taking a nap or something.















Darren















Ben - I think he's letting Jacob listen to his I-pod. Hopefully not an Alice in Chains song.















Andy















Kat
















Jeff















Tracie

Friday afternoon they came up again. Unfortunately this day didn't go as smoothly. The last step was to cut into our main water pipe and install the sprinkler. This was the part Darren was very nervous about. Because our house is over 50 years old, something seems to go wrong every time we do a project. After several trips to the plumbing store there were no parts that would work. It was Friday night, the day before a holiday and after 5 pm. We had no water in our house. Darren's worst fears were realized. We had to call a plumber, hoping that he would have the right parts. But we found out plumbers don't have after hour privileges at plumbing stores, either. He only had the parts on his truck. He was able to fix it temporarily so we would have water over the weekend but can't fix it permanently until Wednesday. So we still can't see the benefits of Ben's hard work and our new sprinkler system. Hopefully that will be a future post.

Oh, and before anything could be done, Ben told us we had to dig down to our main water pipe, which was about 6 feet down. So Darren, Tracie, Jeff, and I all took turns digging. We didn't have it finished by dark on Saturday night. Since Ben was going to start Monday morning we had to finish digging the hole on Sunday. Darren said it gave new meaning to keeping the Sabbath Day holy :-)





















Darren digging the hole



















Ethan kissing a huge worm Darren found in the hole. This picture is for Mary Ann since we were told she likes kissing worms.



















Another worm photo















And still another one
















This toy dinosaur was also found in the digging. If only it were a real one and we could sell our house for lots of money.















This is just a random picture of my beautiful rose bush. The only thing I don't like about it is that it's only in bloom for a couple of weeks.

Teton Dam Marathon weekend

No, I didn't run the marathon -- at least not yet. This weekend Rose came up to run the 10K race at the Teton Dam Marathon races with me. And of course, the rest of her family came to cheer her on.

This is the before picture when we still looked fresh. Since I didn't have my regular photographer there (Darren was in Southern Utah with students) I gave my camera to the older kids. I think my nephew, Jared, was the one taking all the pictures. I had a few interesting photos on the camera when I got back from the run. I decided some of them were blogworthy, so the following are Jared's photos.

Luke laying on the grass with his spiderman.

Kevin, I guess posing?

Luke, Jacob and part of Dave.

Me, about to cross the finish line. I was very impressed with this photo. He caught me at just the right time.

One of the kids waving a clapper thing they passed out to all the onlookers.

Kevin's mouth

Kevin scratching his head.

Then, I took over the camera. This is the boys wrestling in the grass while we were waiting for the awards ceremony.

Ethan doing a trick for me on the playground.

The kids waiting for the slide. A little while later a boy peed his pants at the top of the stairs. Luke and Jacob were following right behind. The boy's mom was trying to get him down but the kids behind him weren't about to get down and give up their place in line. I had to pull them off the ladder. The mom took the boy off but then the kids tried to go back up and there was pee dripping off the stairs. The little boy in the gray shirt was putting his hands right on the steps and his mom wasn't around so I tried to get him to put his hands on the railings. Someone had a water bottle and poured it on the steps but I'm sure that didn't kill the germs. Gross.

Best buddies Luke and Jacob.



















This is one of my favorites.  Rose with Michelle and Heather.

Heather climbing the rock wall.  I think she made it half way up.

Kevin just getting done with the rock wall.  He only went up a little way and then wanted down.  I didn't have enough time to actually get a picture of him on the wall.  Jared did 

the same thing so I didn't even get a picture of him.  And Ethan wouldn't do it at all.  

Kaitlin made it all the way to the top.

The twins after the race - not looking as fresh anymore but with our medals.  We got a lot of twin comments.

Luke and Jake forming 

a train down the slide (that was before the pee incident)

I thought this was funny.  We only have one bathroom in our house and Dave was in there taking a shower.  Luke and Jake both needed to potty so they were both standing in line right outside the door.  

Sunday morning - Luke, Michelle, Ethan, and Jake on my bed playing army guys.















Sunday morning breakfast

We also went swimming at Green Canyon (indoor thank goodness).  The hot pool has a roof that is sometimes on and sometimes not.  This time it wasn't on and it started pouring rain so we went out and sat in the hot tub.  I hadn't even gotten my hair wet but by the time I had sat in the rain for a few minutes it looked like I had dunked my head under the water.  We ended Saturday with pizza at Dave's sister's house and a game of Ticket to Ride with me, Rose, Ethan, Kevin and Jared.  It takes a lot of something to be very tired at the end of a long day and play a board game with three not so tired boys.  Overall it was a very fun weekend.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Darren was there having fun with us.