Driving the Tractor

Grams let the boys drive the tractor while we worked in the yard. 

Guess the "little boys" are growing up!

Gulp!

Lander hauls yard debris in the old tractor

Grand Teton Relay

Did you know that 

12 friends + 24 hours = 180 miles 

Josh watches the sun rise over the Tetons after doing his final run in the race.

He ran through the town of Driggs and up the road towards Bates.

 Josh and Jarrod at the start of the race in Ashton, Idaho

 Somehow we only ended up with pictures of Jarrod running. Hmm... 

Josh and Jarrod relax in the one of the team cars and at the hotel between their legs of the race. Each teamate had to run 3 legs, of approximately 5 miles a piece.

Josh and Jarrod were able to run through Driggs and Bates. We thought it was very fitting. Here they pose at the last of their legs, on the road in Bates. The Tetons and Driggs are hidden in the background.

"Tough As Nails" team photo at the finish line at Teton Village in Wyoming 

 This was quite the accomplishment for Josh who is (and we quote) "not a runner.

We are proud of you Josherboy!

Simple Pleasures

“Through all of living have much joy and laughter, life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” 

― Gordon B. Hinckley

Jake climbs the aspen tree next to the kitchen in Driggs

Easter in Driggs

We celebrated Easter in Driggs. Lander and Grams pose by the fantastic cake that she made for the party.

It's become a bit of a tradition. And tradition dictates that we do an indoor (it's Idaho and cold outside - duh!) Easter egg hunt.

Cross Country Skiing

Josh decided that it was time to teach the boys how to cross country ski. They loved it!

the drive home from Driggs

The boys passed these two bull moose while driving home from Driggs. 

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Driggs this year with the cousins, Shelly and Jarrod,  Nana, Grams and Todd.

Jake, Drew, Ava, Lander, Jayden sitting at the "kids" table

living the dream

Josh lives it up at Teton Springs.

Ahh, life is good, reahh-lly good (use your best Nacho Libre voice please).

Fish Pond

No gimmicks or fakes here.

Apparently in Driggs, when they say that they are going to have a fish pond,  they mean the real deal.

building more than just a treehouse

Josh and the boys build a treehouse in Driggs out of the old redwood deck.

Paying our Respect

Memorial Day was spent tidying up family grave sites. We started at the Bates Cemetery in Driggs.

Jake places flowers at Peepaw's grave

Lander missing Peepaw 

Then we moved on to Jackson, Wyoming to the "wild cemetery" next to Snow King Resort. Jake and Lander's great-great and great-great-great grandmothers are buried here.

Lander cleans weeds and debris from Grandma Mamie's headstone

Grams was worried that she would not ever be able to make the trek to the grave site because it is steep, rocky and uneven. But, as you can see, she made it, and was so glad that she could.

Shauna, Dixie, Grams, Jake

 All done!

Shauna, Grams, Dixie & Jake, ready for a little break

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter in Driggs with Grams and Nana.

Lander counts his Easter eggs

 Jake finds eggs on the mantle

The boys enjoying their contraban Kinder Surprise Eggs, egg shaped chocolates that have little toys hidden inside. We had to smuggle them in to the US from the Netherlands. Customs will confiscate them if they find them. Wouldn't want kids to choke, right? ;)

wonderful, glorious day!

This was the view that greeted us as we drove into Teton Valley today. 

 It felt like a GIFT

even if the sun was so bright that it made picture taking really hard

especially with three very silly boys!

Keaton L, Lander and Jake

sledding at Targhee

Sledding at Grand Targhee digressed to this:

Drew, Jayden, Lander, Jake, Ava

So glad that we bought tickets!

swingsets and flying

Jake and Sam came up with the age-old game of jumping aka flying from swings. Notice the greenish colored grass and the short sleeves? This is November, folks. In Driggs. Better enjoy it while it lasts.

No children were harmed during this filming....yet...

pet mouse

The kids found this "pet" while playing outside.

Grace, Jake, Lander, Sam

I told them to keep it quiet, because Grams would have a fit if she knew that they were playing with it, and they did. Unfortunately, the mouse appeared to be poisoned, so it's life was short, albeit loved.

Thanksgiving Highlights

#1. FAMILY!

We held Thanksgiving at our house this year, with Randy & Keri and Cedric & Kelsey. We played lots of games & had a great time. Then we headed up to spend a day in Driggs with Jarrod, Shelly & Grams. It was a nice holiday...so good to see the family!!

Drew, Grams, Jake, Lander, Jayden & Ava, decorating the Christmas tree in Driggs

Raking Leaves

We all went to Driggs last weekend to take care of the leaves. And wow, were there a few! Lander raked a big pile for the boys to jump into. Jake & Lander are standing in the tree house getting ready to jump.

 

Weenie Roast

Time to get rid of the burn pile, so we decided to put it to good use cooking our dinner. 

Sad that we didn't get any pictures with Grams, Mark 

(thanks for the pirated photos, though!), Beth or Urijah.

Dixie eating smores...yummmy!

Lander chilling in the grass 

 Josh making his world famous bird squawking noise. Too funny.

 Lander getting creative while roasting marshmallows

 Jake & Sam

 Grace...so cute!

 Josh is such a poser. Love you babe!

 Eric. Love this pic!!