Ice, Ice, Baby...

 Have I mentioned how glad we are to be living back here?

It means that we can do things like go on a triple-date with my two little brothers & their lovely wives!

This weekend we went to dinner & then ice skating, the entire evening cost each couple under $20 because I had coupons for the restaurant & the ice rink for buy one get one free!

Bargain!

 I left my phone in the car, & Erin was the only one who took any pictures. Thankfully she didn't get any of my embarrassingly hilarious fall...although I would like to have seen it.

The front of my skate caught on the ice & I fell forward, landing on my knee, hard. I have the bruise to prove it.

Then I sort of decided that I was done, so I did a chest-plant (instead of a face-plant) onto the ice and laid there while Charly tried not to pee her pants from laughing so hard.

Realizing that people were skating past me while I lay there, sprawled out on the ice, I figured it would probably be safest if I got out of their way. So I rolled over & managed to pick myself up...it was the only crash of the night for our little group.

  

& a BIG THANK YOU to Wade & Lauren for entertaining our little guys, they always love spending time with their awesome aunts & uncles!

a-POX-icillin

I took Kamden in to the Dr last week because he'd had a cold but had started complaining of his ear & throat hurting.

Since Kamden isn't really one to complain about that type of thing, I figured I'd better get him in to see the pediatrician. Turned out he had an ear infection so they put him on Amoxicillin, which he was supposed to take for 10 days. 

A week later, I was helping him change his shirt & discovered he was covered in little red bumps which hadn't been there the night before when I helped him with his bath. My first thought was that he had Chicken Pox, but then I remembered my brother is allergic to Amoxiciilin so I called my mom & told her what was going on. She said it sounded like the same thing so I called the Dr & they had me bring him in. Since he didn't have hives, they said it wasn't a technical allergic reaction and that he could still use the antibiotic in the future. His ears looked clear so we could stop the Amoxicillin and give him an allergy medication for the itch. 

Luckily my mom was in town & was able to help me out with the boys while I got Kamden checked out. He is doing much better & his a-POX-icillin spots are almost completely gone.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

 So I'm not a football fan.

Not much of a sports' fan, if you must know.

But, if you know me, you already knew that.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the occasional sporting event.

If it includes figure skating (which IS a sport) or if my kids are on the team. I also like watching some of the Olympic events, but those only happen every so often, there's enough time in between them so I can get excited about them again.

Track was the only sport I participated in during school, but that left me with a bum knee that likes to start aching every now & then. There was also my short stint on the 8th grade volleyball team & a sad attempt at 7th grade basketball tryouts which resulted in a broken wrist for me.

Maybe my personal experiences with sports contribute to my dislike for them?

But then I married a Stoker and I had to change my ways a bit.

Or maybe HE changed my ways.

Yep, that's probably more accurate.

Especially since I NEVER saw my dad sit down and watch a football game on tv, ever. Until I married him:

He changed my Dad's ways, too.

Because now he is a devoted football fan, especially if it's BSU.

So anyway, we like to have football parties and I AM SO THANKFUL that we don't live on that mountain anymore and we can actually have people over now.

But I'm also glad that last week was Super Bowl Sunday because that means that football season is over!

But I don't know why I get excited about that, because it's always someone's season, weather it is golf, basketball, baseball, or whatever. But that also means that there is always an excuse for a party! Here are some random pictures the boys took on my phone during the big game last week: 

I know I have said this a bazillion times, but 

I AM SO GRATEFUL to be living back here near our family.

It is so awesome and has really meant so much to us, especially to see how much each of our family members means to our boys.

The greatest blessing in life is FAMILY.

And, if football gives us another reason to get together with them, then bring it on!

When My Phone Goes Missing...

 I find pictures like these...

 

 

 I am so thankful for this kid.

He has for sure been my biggest challenge so far, but someone once told me that we clash the most with the child that is most like us...

Not sure if I wanted to hear that, but it's beginning to make sense to me. I was reading a book titled 'Contentment' by Maria Covey Cole & she tells a story about one of her sons that caused her to feel frustrated and angry. When she went to his room with the intent to reprimand him, she found him lying on his bed and she writes, "For just a moment, my soul comprehended who he truly was, and I felt overpowered by a profound love and reverence for him. The Spirit chastised me, inquiring, 
"Do you have any idea who this boy is?"

I love that.

It has strengthened and comforted me at times when I felt I was completely failing as this boy's mother.

But I love him more than I can describe and I am thankful to have him in my life, and I feel so blessed as I begin to learn "who this boy is".

Mangiamo la Pizza!

Let's eat Pizza!

A few Fridays ago we went to Ryan & Charly's house for some delicious pizza, I always LOVE when they cook for us! 

There were lots of different toppings and combinations, and I had an artichoke for the first time...it was YUMMY!

There were a few mishaps, like when the food processor took on a mind of it's own and sprayed parmesan cheese everywhere, or when the eggs kept rolling off of the pizza and burning all over the bottom of the oven (yep, we put eggs on top of one of the pizzas...it's pretty tasty!) or the sad pizza that clung on for dear life to the pizza shovel thing that Ryan used to put it in the oven, and their new pizza stone cracking in half while baking...but we sure had a fun time!  

Thanks Ryan & Charly!

Scooby-Doo Pajama Jedi Cowboy

2o11 Happenings...

Our family had a wonderful year in 2011, full of surprises, challenges, and even some heartache. Jeff and I both lost our grandfathers just months apart, two amazing men who were such great examples during our lives. Though it was sad to see them go, we are so grateful to have known them and especially for the blessing our children have of remembering them. Even right now Owen is standing beside me, pointing at the computer screen and saying excitedly "Grandpa!"

Grandpa Earl & Kamden Earl

My Grandpa & his son, Dan.

One of the last times we worked at the farm.

2011 also brought my entire family together for the first time in 2 years. I am so thankful for my family, and this past year really helped me to realize just how much they mean to me.

In April we decided to accept a job offer in Orofino, Idaho...which meant that we would be leaving our home of 5 years and moving to a tiny town where we knew no one. It was a huge leap of faith and at times I prayed that we would all survive life on the mountain and that we would someday be able to move back closer to our family.

 The boys' last picture together at 316 Maple

Look how little Owen is!

 Jeff left in April while the boys and I stayed behind so Ethan could finish Kindergarten and the boys were also in the middle of their soccer season. I can't believe how young they look in this picture!

It wasn't easy being apart, even though Jeff came back on the weekends. The day Ethan finished Kindergarten we took off for our new home in the mountains. 

I tried to have an open mind during the 5 hour drive away from Emmett, but as we started driving up a mountain at 11:30 at night, I started bawling, wondering what I'd agreed to. I didn't see how this place could ever feel like home and I was looking forward to the end of the 12-month commitment we'd given.

However, most things in life don't go the way we plan.

Despite my efforts, Orofino did find a place in my heart and, somehow, became a home. We grew closer as a family and realized that there are so many good people in the world as we began to get to know the people in that little community. 

Some of the best moments during our time there were:

Huntin' Turkeys... 

 Goin' Fishin'...

Golfin'...

 Playing at the river...

 Makin' S'mores...

 Enjoying the wildlife...

 

 Goin' to the Pumpkin Patch...

 Hot Tubbin'...

 Going to Lumberjack Days...

 Attempting a Camping Trip...

Owen turned TwO!

Ethan started 1st Grade...

 Walks to the pond...

But only until Rattlesnake season started...

 Building Slip 'n Slides in the front yard...

(Look at Ethan's hair!)

 We added another member to our family...

And enjoyed visits from our family!

  Jeff bought a boat...

 

So I put him in the dog house...

We took a trip to Couer d'Alene...

In November we received another job offer back in the Boise area.

We were SO excited to be able to move back near our friends and family, we packed quickly and found a place to live in Meridian.

*Yesterday while driving in the car, Kamden said that he missed Orofino. When I asked him why, he said "Because I miss that nice green carpet. It was sure comfy." 

I, on the other hand, do not miss it.

 Although we had committed to 12 months, they let us go after only 7...but not without a fight :) 

I was so thankful to be getting off that mountain before the winter, but I do miss the quiet and the beauty there. 

 Orofino the day we left:

 It was Kamden's birthday the day we left Orofino, so we celebrated a few days earlier with the requested Angry Birds cake as our little 'Babe' turned FiVe!

 

We quickly got settled in our new home and hosted Thanksgiving a few weeks later...

 And watched the Broncos play some Basketball...

 We celebrated Christmas in Declo...

 And also Ethan's SeVeNTh birthday!

 So many great memories from 2011, and we are looking forward to many more in 2012!