Solar Eclipse

 We used Josh's spotting scope to track the progress of the eclipse until it reached its max. Unfortunately, the clouds covered the sun for the 10 minutes that the eclipse was as its best. The boys eventually lost interest and decided to play a rousing game of monkey in the middle. We were able to snag a couple of photos as the sun peaked out of the clouds.

Jake, Keaton L and Lander

Riding to the Tunnel

Lately our days have centered around work, work, work and then when that work was done, more work. We decided that the work could take a break, and that our family needed a bit of fun so we took our boys on a bike ride up the old railroad grade that starts at the Warm River campground (on the way to Mesa Falls). In 1908 a train would pick up passengers in Ashton, Idaho and take them to West Yellowstone, Montana so that they could tour Yellowstone. After the train was no longer needed, the tracks were removed leaving a nice trail.

 This tunnel is about 3 miles up the trail. It was built because slides kept blocking the train.

 Overlooking the Warm River near the tunnel. It is very beautiful. We love living in Idaho!!

 Of course, the boys had to all throw rocks off the cliff and into the river.

We started a tradition when the boys were little. When Dixie would take the boys on trips to visit grandparents and cousins, she would always take a self portrait when we stopped for our little "adventures" along the way. This seemed like a fitting time to renew that tradition.

 Who are these hooligans??

Lander soaking after our 6 mile ride. You should see the gynormous trout that were 

swimming around. They looked like the huge ones that you see at the fish hatchery!

Spring Cleanup

It seems like we've had an unusual amount of yard work this spring, most of it caused by my lack of "Preening" last summer. I love Preen. I live by Preen. Preen saves my life. And when I get too busy to use it like I should, Preen makes me pay. Oh, Preen, couldn't we have had a bit of mercy this year? No? I didn't think so. 

Because I didn't use Preen (a pre-emergent), we have had zillions of little weeds, mostly a from few of my overly zealous perennials, to pull from our flower beds and the garden. It's been a mess. And then there are those raspberries. My plants were quite proliferate, and this is just one batch of canes that I stuffed into the garbage can. Josh was betting that the garbage company wouldn't take it. I was crossing my fingers that they would...and they did!

Then came the 10 yards of bark that we finally put down in our beds. It looks so pretty. It's like Christmas in the Spring. Seriously. I could almost bow down to the bark. Almost. But first, we had to shovel it into place, which took a bit of work. Work that, as usual, I underestimated.

Jake, Keaton L and Lander helped us out a bit. They thought it was fun, silly boys! And check out "the island", all barked up and pretty.....sigh...

Jake Brake

Josh teaching Jake how to change the brakes on the car

Sprinklers

We turned the sprinklers on this weekend. With 70 and 80 degree weather, 

the boys couldn't help but play in the water. I love how they are such good buddies.

Bus Stop Blues

Josh has had a weird month. First he got a call out of the blue asking if he wanted a new job. A new job? And in this economy where jobs are really hard to come by?? Crazy! He was hired to be a Fire Protection Engineer by the same company that he currently worked for. Then, he was told by his old boss that he needed to cover his old job, indefinitely. We are not exactly sure what job title Josh will end up with, but just glad that amidst the rumors of impending layoffs, that he has a good job. And, in the meantime, Josh just takes it day by day, not knowing which position he will be covering. Each job is located at a completely different facility that each require a different bus route to get to work. One is an hour from our home. The other requires an almost 2 hour bus ride, each way. Several days in a row, Josh got on one bus, and then was required (without his knowing in advance), to ride the other bus home. This left him waiting for Dixie to pick him up. Josh took this picture one day while he waited for a ride home.

Hubby Points

Josh earned some major hubby points when I came home to find this. He was pouring the base for one set of steps off of the deck...the deck that we started, what, maybe 3 or 4 years ago??

the Surgery Club

Lander joins the surgery club when he needs to have a hernia repaired. 

This is Lander, still in the operating room, just after the surgery before his breathing tube was removed. 

Dixie got to watch the entire surgery!!!

 Eagerly waiting for his surgery.

He was so, so, so (!!!!) excited to have surgery....until afterwards. 

Jake piled Lander's animals on him to comfort a hurting Lander.

 a brave little boy, trying to smile with mom & Jake. 

Oh yeah, and Lander's other best friends (Kitty, Donkey, Fu-fu, Gecko, and Froggy).

Jakster

Here are few tidbits about Jakey from this spring.

He had a band concert,

 coveted a car,

 and a hat,

 read a lot of books and did several book reports/projects,

and played with lots of friends.

(Jake, Devin and Brianna in St. George)

fire!

We woke up (EARLY!) to the sounds of firetrucks driving by the Chipmans' house while we were in Utah. Apparently, a hay barn had caught fire and trucks were filling up near the house. This nice fireman let us take his picture.

 Jake, Sydney, Jenna, Lander

General Conference

Jake was so impressed by Temple Square when we visited in February, that he asked if we could attend a live General Conference session. How could a parent say no to that?? We were able to get our hands on tickets for the Saturday morning session. Jake LOVED it. He told us many times in his most sincere and respectful way, "that is so much more entertaining that watching it on tv." Entertaining, huh? Well, okay. I'm not sure that was the exact response we were looking for, but we'll take it.

Grams 79th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Grams!

She was princess for the day while celebrating her birthday at Shauna's with most of the family.

 Dixie, Beth, Grams, Shelly, Dayna

Grammy, Shauna, Samantha, Kylie, Ava, Grace, Tre

Spring is HERE!

I shouldn't be so excited to see spring, after our barely-there winter, but I just can't help it! The boys have been exhausting themselves outside in the balmy fifty-something weather and it's been simply wonderful! Our little garden seedlings are growing in the window seal. Little banks of snow are all but disappeared. Day light savings is here. Summer is on its way. Hurray!!

Here are some pictures that I took this evening as the boys enjoyed the warm weather.

Hayden W, Lander, Dillan S, Reuben W

Lander

 Reuben W, Hayden W, Lander, Dillan S

Jake

 Dillan S and Jake

Jake Graduates

from the D.A.R.E. program

a school program to help teach kids to avoid drugs, alcohol and violence