Beautiful Star Valley

I love camping.

But usually it takes so much work to put together the gear, plan the meals, pack everyone's clothes, and drive that it seems over half of the time is spent setting up or taking down. However, this past Labor Day weekend camp trip was EXCELLENT. Let me tell you all about it.

We drove to Wyoming Friday night after Eric got off work and camped with some good friends of Eric's (the Hall family, and they're now my friends officially too =). We got in late and so pitched our tent in the dark, but no worries. Our campground was right by the river so we could fall asleep to the soothing sound of the water, and that's just what we did after we enjoyed foil dinners, hot chocolate, and some catching up.

The next day we spent a large part of the day fishing with Brian Hall. He took Eric and I to one of his favorite fishing spots: about a mile hike in to a beautiful little section of the Salt River. We used grasshoppers as bait, and within about five minutes I had caught three fish. That is an incredible feat considering I have NEVER caught a fish before (silly). Really, I've tried. But this time I actually succeeded. And I might add, I am grateful for the men being able to handle all of the gross parts of fishing so I could just enjoy casting in my line and pulling up the fish. Thanks, guys!

The scenery was beautiful, I might add. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to put it in a painting sometime. Eric caught fish too, but he was most proud of his first fish caught with a fly. Brian showed us how to fly fish (and seriously, for a river, it was nice how often it did NOT get snagged on the rocks) and it is trickier than it looks. However, Eric loved it and I think is converted. I may be too...

Here are Brian and Kaloni, the hosts of our wonderful camping trip. Kaloni is a great cook and spoiled us all with the most wonderful camping food you could want. They lived pretty close to the campgrounds we were at, so on Sunday we were able to stop at their house for warm showers (sigh) and attend church. It made for a wonderful Sunday, being able to enjoy a spiritual sabbath and return to the mountains to enjoy Heavenly Father's creations.

This is Amber (Brian and Kaloni's daughter), her husband Jared, and their beautiful daughter Lilly. They were so much fun. I am still laughing about some of the stories shared at the campfire Sunday night. It was a roaring good time!

Here is our quaint little campsite. It got pretty chilly out (frost Sunday morning) but we slept very cozy and comfy inside our little tent. The view was great. We spotted deer on the hillside next to us, and Ellie loved to straddle the logs horse-ridin' style.

Here is our own groovy little camper. She loved playing in the dirt (and probably loved that I couldn't stop her) as well as collecting/eating rocks. She got to take a bath in a bucket Saturday while we were fishing, went on her first four-wheeler ride, and became acquainted with several new bugs.

We took a four-wheeling ride about ten miles up through the hills to a beautiful little lake. There was so much beautiful scenery there! We took a little break and Eric enjoyed skipping stones.

This picture sums up the whole experience: FUN! So many good memories created...great company, delicious food (my mouth still waters thinking of the cobbler), beautiful scenery, lots of laughs. And it was wonderful to have a few days of camping instead of one. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to when we do it again.

Happy Holidays!

It seems the past month has had several celebrations, and it has been GREAT! We've had a couple of opportunities to spend with family and to work on building traditions and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Probably one of my favorite new things with each holiday is getting Ellie involved in it. She still doesn't understand many of the events that pass, but I get excited for her. "Ellie, come find your basket!" "Okay, Ellie, now let's go outside and look for your eggs!" "Ellie, let's try some of this yummy candy!" (That last one didn't take much coaxing to enjoy) I get excited to see her reaction and let her create wonderful family memories just like I have, and I know things will only get better as the years go by.

This year we did things with "The Bunny" on Saturday. Easter Bunny gladly agreed to stop by a day early so we could keep Sunday more reverent and remember that the real reason for Easter is our Savior. It was a very good day.

And here we have May Day. Ha. Actually, it wasn't quite May 1 yet. It was April 29, but that's pretty close. And how do we welcome May here in Idaho Falls??? Like a lion! (You know, the phrase that says March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb...but our lion stays through May, or even June sometimes). I know I shouldn't be surprised, but every time I look out the window and see more spring snow I think, "Seriously?"

Another fun event was the Prom. Yes, my Eric and I went to Prom. And I must say it was wonderful. The soft rock radio station here in town hosts what is called "Second Chance Prom" every spring and this was the first year we went. Eric asked me out by sending me on an easter egg hunt and I replied with a note in his sandwich. The tickets were free, the dancing was free. Good music, yummy food, lots of people, and we TORE IT UP!!! I love love LOVE having a dancer of a husband because it is so fun. He sweeps me off my feet every time. =) Cheap date! And it turned out great. We might just have to make it an annual event.

Adding to the list of holidays: Mother's Day! We actually spent Mother's Day weekend down in Utah with lots of family. My sister's beautiful baby girl, Alice, was blessed (and her husband did an amazing job bearing his testimony and giving a beautiful blessing, by the way), so I got to see my mom and sisters and chill. It was very fun for all of us. We also visited Eric's family (lots of visiting) so it was a good trip. Mostly though, I am so so grateful to be this adorable little girl's mother. She lights my heart with her smile and makes every day chores fun by making me laugh (like when she tried eating pansies outside today =). I LOVE HER! My sweet Ellie Bellie. I'm so glad to be a mom.

And last, but not least, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HONEY! We hit our 2-year mark (woo! I know it probably seems like nothing compared to you experienced couples) and it seems both short and long at the same time. "It feels like we've been married for forever! And yet, 2 years! That went quick!" Weird oxymoron. For our anniversary, Eric took us to Boise and took me on a surprise date while my parents watched Ellie. We dressed up, ate out at the Olive Garden, and then attended the traveling Broadway musical: "Wicked"! Sweet!!! Eric watched it years ago while working a bit in Chicago and his descriptions always peaked my curiosity. I've listened to the soundtrack many times but didn't have all the pieces to the story put together until we watched it in person. It was SO FUN! Loved the music and acting. Fun story. Great ending. It was a very special treat to celebrate "us." Thank you, Eric. What a sweet husband I have =)

We parked at the public library instead of paying for parking at the Morrison Center and so walked in the rain. It made for a nice "singing in the rain" experience of our own.
And finally, I must thank my parents for all their help and support. I only regret that on these visits I haven't taken any pictures of them! I know they wouldn't want them, but I do. And my kids will. So, we'll see what we can do about that in the future...

I love holidays!

"Paint Your..."

WAGON! Yes, folks, we have a wagon. Here up in I-da-ho with our pitch forks and buggies, that might not seem a remarkable thing, but to all the rest of yous civilized people (no, I'm not trying to make fun; just being silly), it's downright COOL. And coolest of all is that it is homemade by my Honey himself. Yes, Eric made this fine piece of work. He let me co-design it with him and then he put his own sweat and blood (real blood) into it. And if any of you need to walk across the prairie in the near future, you oughta just hitch up with us because this wagon will do the job. It is STUR-DY. Way to go, Eric! I'm doubly impressed because I'm pretty sure it can hold Ellie and I at the same time (Eric says he's absolutely sure). Doesn't that look fun? So here's to Ellie's birthday wagon of fun, finally done (and rhyming), and for many "wagonderful" rides in the future. =)

Ellie Meets Grass

Woohoo! Two posts in one month! I'm on a roll! (That's for you, Grandma and Grandpa=). Here are our random happenings:

First, we had a stake 50's night. Everyone got to dress up in their poodle skirts and leather jackets and come enjoy a diner type dinner (really good hamburgers) plus some dancing. I had to sing in a little doo-wop musical number, and so I made Ellie and I matching skirts. She looked like a sweet little swinger =). And then Eric and I tore up the dance floor! YAY! I must say, dancing with my husband is definitely one of my most favorite things.

Here's our cute little 50's family. They had some fun music from back then. I think I would have liked to eye Eric from across the "soda shop."

And here is Eric modeling his beautiful "Chinese Cut Pineapple." Apparently, this is the common style for displaying pineapple in China. It actually looks really cool. I feel bad cutting into it. But I guess the best remedy for that is...BUY ANOTHER PINEAPPLE! Yum! So good!

And here again is my handsome man. He surprised me one evening home from work with a truly Idaho Falls-ian April rose: an ice sculpture! (Isn't Eric sweet?) Yes, we've had snow on several occasions. It just keeps going and coming, and going and coming. Every time I want to pull out the short sleeves I remind myself of where I live, and by the end of the day when the sunshine has turned to cold I am grateful. Do people really get used to this? Oh well. If that is the price to pay to live in such a great little city/neighborhood, then I will pay it.

And finally...
Ha ha! I can't help but smile when I think about Ellie and our first excursion to the back yard this year. I'm sure she's been carried out there before, but this was the first time she was left to sit in the grass. Those of you with older children probably already know what is coming...SHE HATED IT! And it just made me laugh. Poor girl. She has been looking longingly out the windows the past couple months. Perhaps the grass looks softer from inside the house. Once she felt it for herself however, she was instantly repulsed by so many pokies. (Unfortunately here in our lovely eastern Idaho, the grass is NOT green in April...it's just starting to wake up.) Eventually Ellie started to venture out and Mommy was able to do a little weeding (and wow, did it feel good! I never thought as a little kid that I would grow up to love pulling weeds). It felt SO NICE to be outside! I loved it. Hopefully a green spring is on its way.

1 Year of Ellie-Delight!

Happy birthday, Ellie!!! I know you've heard it time and time again, but seriously, "Where did the time go!?" That was a quick first year, and so full of fun memories. And no doubt, they'll just keep getting better and better.

For Ellie's birthday, we had no major party plans (since this birthday is more exciting for us as parents and she won't remember it anyway, AND because Eric would be in work/school all day) but we did decorate over the weekend and prepare a cake. Unfortunately, she came down with a fever just in time (on Sunday she was super cuddly and mellow and I kept thinking, "Wow, she's being so good! What's wrong?"). We tried to make it as exciting as possible under the circumstances, but she was just not in the mood. After a few days when she was feeling better, I anxiously waited with the video camera for her to cream her face with cake, but once she got the sticky on her fingers...she wasn't too happy. It must be a girl thing. In any case, she at least enjoyed the taste of the cake, and we enjoy the laughter and smiles she brings us every day. She fills our lives with light; I can't imagine how life would be without her! Every day I thank my Heavenly Father for sending us this beautiful little girl and for how she is teaching me to be a better person.

Photos from the wonderful year gone by.

Newborn!

Recently home from the hospital.

Her first ride on a swing.

Being silly.

Ellie in her blessing dress.

Peas! Her favorite.

Our hoppy little bunny for Halloween.

Her silly sniff face in the tub. I LOVE THIS GIRL!

Christmas!

Fell asleep again in the jumper...

This is her practicing "winking."

My little monkey! To her, I think the whole world is a jungle gym. She's so CUTE, and sneaky. She gets in some crazy places...

Daddy and Ellie while listening to Conference. I enjoyed the sweet view =).

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa Bird, for coming to visit (and fixing EVERYTHING in our house while you were here!). And thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jones for the birthday gifts. =)

The Month of Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes, I am horrible at updating our blog; I'm resigned to the fact. But life goes on, so here we go.

This is a fruit pizza we made for our holiday festivities (which actually didn't consist of too much more than that.) I found the recipe for the custard on The Sisters Cafe blog and it was SO YUMMY!!! We had leftovers that we also enjoyed on our french toast the next day. I would like to make it again one day, though next time I will remember that it makes well more than two adults can eat by themselves. Anyway, yumness.

And here is Princess Ellie, showing off her runny nose. (It seems like it takes forever for those to cure in little ones.) And I don't think it is possible for moms to NOT catch their children's sicknesses because despite all my attempts to keep the germs from spreading, she somehow wipes her nose EVERYWHERE, including me, in many places. Ew! Oh well. I thought this picture was funny because the Cheerio is stuck in the runny nose guck, and then we move to the next picture...
And the Cheerio has moved down her face!!! Ha! I couldn't help but crack up as the Cheerio traded places but still wouldn't fall off. Kind of gross, but funny too at the same time. (Simple minds are easily amused...=)

And finally, this little clip is Eric and I trying to teach Ellie to play the game of "run away." She is slowly catching on to the fact that she must move AWAY from the person trying to get her, but you'll see in the video that she's not very accurate yet in her direction.

We love this little girl. She keeps us laughing and smiling every day, and makes us feel so grateful to be her parents. What a HUGE BLESSING CHILDREN ARE!!!