Slip n Slide!

We rented the PTO's bouncy slide a couple days ago. As if swimming lessons wasn't enough, there was a big group of friends at the park playing on the other slide and I made the mistake of driving by and not stopping. I had guys waiting for lunch and it was already 2:00 in the afternoon. Justin would not give it up about the slide so I called Jolene and asked if we could use it. Thankfully she said yes! The weather didn't stay warm very long though, Justin and Jaci were diehards though and just kept going down, down, down. No one else was as tough.
This was a "staged" picture, and the water was already turned off, the only time Ash went down!
They had a great time. We were hopeing to have Kache, Ryder, and Dallie too, but they had car troubles and didn't make it to our house until 1:00 in the morning. Maybe on the way back home they can play?! Fun cousins, fun summer days!

Claire's favorite accessory lately!

I had just mowed the lawn so there was grass EVERYWHERE, next time I wont do that!

This kid is SO FUN! He is at a really fun age!

My little buddy, he would rather hang around with me more than my own Buddy!

What a kid!

Gettin Ready!

We are so excited to be going camping next week. We have been digging out the camping gear and just HAD to set up the tent.
Who needs a camper when you have got a tent as great as this one!

Emma was the only kid who would hold still long enough for a picture, kind of surprising???

Justin Working

Justin is VERY motivated to get his sandbox done. He has been wanting one for at least a year. Ryan finally spared one guy for us to dig on Justin's sandbox. Justin helped every bit. It was a little chilly, but that didn't stop Justin. He was so excited. He would shovel with his shovel and fill his dump truck while the other guy filled the wheelbarrow. Justin would watch and when he put his shovel down, so would Just and they would roll aross the lawn, Justin was the shadow! I was worried about him, I would have pooped out after a load or two, but he didn't. He stayed right with it. We still don't have any boards or sand, but the hole is done, now should be the easy part I would think???

Primary Activiy Day

We had a Primary Activity Day about following the Prophet. We had four stations set up learning about four different Prophets. The kids had a great time, so did I actually. I was a little sad because I planned this the same time as the annual Farm Credit BBQ. We LOVE going down to the Snake River and picnicking with everyone. We were sad to miss it this year, BUT we had a great time at the church too. It is funny how everything lands on the same day sometimes..... We also had to come straight from swim lessons so we were all wet and cold, and funny looking! We had almost the exact amount of kids we planned on and so it all went really well. We have lots of great parents, A LOT! Jaci leaned over to me twice and said, "Aunt Mijken, this is a really, really fun activity day!" I think we succeeded! Justin making his "Title of Liberty"

Claire eating the marshmallows she was supposed to be slinging at Goliath.

Most of the kids who were there.

First Camp Fire of The Summer and The Pony

We had a weenie roast on Saturday night. We worked so HARD on Saturday, all day long out in the yard and then in the swather. We were tired and dirty and I have a hard time wanting to cook when it is warm outside. We decided it would be a perfect night for dinner on the fire. Jared and Jenna were here for the weekend helping out so they came over too. Sara had her kids in the tub and smores were NOT a very good idea for a couple of kids who were already ready for Sunday, so they didnt come. We had a great time though, the weather was beautiful all day. We had one really fun surprise, Ponies have been a HOT topic at our house lately, we are ALL begging for one. Well Jared's pickup and trailer were in our yard while they were swathing. I could hear a horse in it so I thought I would go check on it, it was a hot day. As I got closer I could still hear the horse but I couldn't see it. I climbed up the side and looked in and saw the pony {its actually a mini, something, I don't know}. I just about cried. Ryan had kept telling me not to buy him anything for fathers day, I didn't know why, but I though this is why, he was buying a pony, and that was going to be the gift!! I ran to the house and tried to call him, of course he wouldn't answer my 10 consecutive calls. In my mind I am getting more and more excited, I chose not to tell the kids yet because I thought he would want to surprise them on Sunday, smart choice by me. I could no longer wait so I called Jared. I knew I would be able to tell if he was fibbing to me, or was trying to make up a story to cover what the deal was with the pony. SO Jared says, yeah do you like my little pet? I am thinking...YES, it IS for us!! Then he goes on to tell me a REAL story that he is just transporting it for some one in Rexburg. I could tell it was the truth, I was DEVISTATED. I went ahead and told the kids, and quickly told them it wasn't for us either. We spent a lot of time staring at him in the trailer. When Jared got back he and Ryan gave the kids a little ride. He was a naughty pony. He was trying to bite Jared, buck the kids off, and kick the dog all at the same time. But he was CUTE! We enjoyed him for a couple of minutes then loaded him back up. We thought of all sorts of names for him and enjoyed our pony that wasn't! Just my imagination getting the best of me again....someday if I am really good I might get a pony......

Coloring Contest

Ashley and Emma hosted a coloring contest, they were both also the judges. I loved to see how they "scored" every one. It wasn't too hard to score Justin, they agreed on that, he got 3rd place.

Claire was next in 2nd place{please remind yourself that it is finally summer and we are playing outside like crazy, I didn't take any of them out into public looking this way, they are yucky filthy and having fun!}

Can you sense that a fight will be coming next.....

Ashley of course scored herself in 1st place, Emma not to be out done scores herself in this place:

{Goodest Place Ever} OH EMMA! Hey it works! Everyone is happy.

Summer Shots

I WILL get caught up on my blogging, soon, real soon, I hope! We Celebrated Outlaw Days with the rest of our little town the day after we got home from our trip. It was fun like always, but I forgot my camera the entire day. SO- no pictures of the parade, or of Ryan winning the rescue race AND the hide race. It was a great day, the weather was P-E-R-F-E-C-T! First time EVER, it wasn't poring rain or BLAZING hot. We loved it! Justin has been roping us all ever since though. I caught him trying to rope the cat, the cat just tolerates him, poor thing-



Now he is tired of it and trying to get away, Justin is relentless. Finally the kitty ran and hid!
We were waiting for Ryan and were sitting in the pickup when a family of skunks came out in the road. There was a Mom, and Dad, and 5 babies. She was moving them somewhere, she didn't quite know, I think we had somehow foiled her plans. They were cute little buggers. Bella went right after them and got a mouthful of skunk spray. She was wiping her tongue on the grass trying to get some relief. Ryan threw her in the pond immediately, which really helped. He tolerated her smell the rest of the day in the pickup and swather. Speaking of the swather I got my first "turn" of the year on Saturday, the kids were NOT good, it was NOT fun, which was sad, because I do enjoy swathing a little, but not when kids arent happy, maybe next time....

Cody came and stayed a few nights while he was spraying all of the corn. I cant wait to have a tall corn field out my back door. I LOVE all of the green, thank goodness for Summer!

Best Little Bead Shop

For Christmas my MIL got me {and all of her Daughter in laws} a gift certificate to a little bead shop in Paul. Ryan and I ran in one night when we were on a date, I didn't even look around, I just bought a watch they already had made and left. They practically BEGGED me to stay and make my own, I didn't think I would really care for such a thing, besides Ryan was with me and we were late for our movie. SO a couple of my SIL's had not used their gift certificates yet and wanted to do a girls trip. I can NEVER say no to a girls day, so we ran down again. I let Ashley and Emma come too and we had a BALL! It was SO MUCH FUN!! Two sisters run it, its called Starr Country Sisters. They just have a couple of tables set up to make bracelets on in their cutesied up garage with tables and tables of beads all over to choose from. We made 8 bracelets, the girls made 3 each we made one for Claire and I bought one more too. The best part was I only spent $17 on it all, the prices were really reasonable! We had such a great time, it was hard to leave! I feel sad that I didn't take my sisters when they were all here. It was so much fun, maybe next time!

Swim Lessons

ARE ON! We are into our first week, it has been miserable cold weather. Finally today {Saturday} When we don't have lessons it has been a whopping 80 degrees- go figure! All the kids and I are in the pool. Claire cant "legally" take lessons so I am just doing it with her while the other kids are swimming. It has been fun, minus the cold. We are hoping for warmer days this week! Lunch in the park- Emma, Tayson, Jaci, Claire, Ashley, Justin.

Little Pig, Little Pig....

Ryan was telling stories the other night. I couldn't resist taking some pictures, they were SO into it! These kids LOVE their Daddy!
Or I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!

An Afternoon Stroll

We haven't been having the best weather, still, but we did manage a little walk Sunday night, it was pretty. The kids love to walk down to the bridge and throw rocks. I love Summer!

Day 7 HOURS in The Car

We spent a lot of time in the car this trip, the kids did really well, but, not all that great, we were all ready to get out when we finally got home. We drove the rest of the way across Wyoming which was pretty un-eventful. We did get into snow going over Towgote pass and Jackson Pass. We saw lots of wild life, almost hit two deer, some were a little closer then we would have liked. There was a traffic jam of buffalo in Jackson. A herd was crossing the street which took quite a while, but was fun to see. We had a FANTASTIC trip. For sure one of our best ever. We didn't want to come home, but were glad to not be driving anymore. Thanks to all of our family for letting us stay and play with you, we cant wait to do it again!

Mount Rushmore {Day 6}

Jason and Kiley live about 3 hours south of Mount Rushmore. We decided we just couldn't be that close and not go. It ended up adding an extra day to our trip but we were SO glad we went. It was AWESOME! I felt such a spirit of respect and gratitude there for those men who built our Nation! It was for sure the high light of our trip, it is something everyone should see. We just loved it, as did the kids. We spent a couple of hours there, it was raining off and on, but they have a beautiful museum/visitors center so we didn't get to wet. Interesting fact, they spent almost a million dollars {999,999} on carving Mount Rushmore, but the new facilities around it have cost about 56 million. That was a bit dis-heartening, but we did enjoy all of the facilities. We made our way back over to Casper Wyoming for the night. We had a borderline dumpy hotel {I have much higher expectations now that Ryan has taken me to places like the Davenport, and some of those great 5 Start hotels we have stayed in, I'm a tad spoiled, I will admit it} But it did have an awesome pool. It was as warm as a hot tub and we were the only ones in it! We had a great time playing with the kids and we were all ready for a break from driving.

The Branding Day 5

The day had arrived! Ryan and Jason were gone by 5 AM, Kiley was up preparing already. We had to have everything in the oven and the snack out to the cowboys, we left the house at 8:30. The kids got to wrestle a calf, well we forced them to wrestle a calf, and then spent some time playing. It is quite a fun site to see all of those cowboys and cowgirls going to work like they do. We counted and re-counted 56 in all. We had to get home to put more potatoes in, we only planned on 50, which was fine, we had plenty in the end. The cowboys get to a good stopping point and then take a break to have a snack and a drink, most of these guys have to drive hours to get to the branding by 6, so a lot of them are up at 4:00, 4:30 {yes am} and the cold cereal runs out fast when you are working hard! Kiley took out glazed donuts, they were a hit. We then drove the half hour back home to get lunch on. It all turned out great, we had a spoonful of baked beans left, but the rest of the food we still had plenty of. Cowboys don't care much for fluffy jello salad, they go for the beef and the beans! It started to poor rain right at the end and so everyone went home quickly after, which was kinda nice too. It was definitely a success, Kiley and Jason are old pros now at this stuff!