Keyton and Lola

No snow, but lots of sun!

2012-02-15T15:06:00.003-06:00

January 4, 2012

project stairway

2012-02-15T14:33:00.006-06:00

We're aiming for one project a month. January was painting the stairway and installing a much needed handrail.

Before:

After:

Publish Post

January 2-12, 2012

family movie night

2012-02-15T14:25:00.001-06:00

January 1, 2012

It's a boy!

2012-02-08T15:18:00.000-06:00

Due June 26th

Happy New Year!

2012-02-01T16:13:00.000-06:00

January 1, 2012

My sister Natalie is Very Hungry or Chronicles of Bad Haircuts my Mother Gave Me

2012-01-25T21:46:00.002-06:00

80's flashback

Trip to SLC

2012-01-19T21:58:00.004-06:00

Christmas day we decided to get out of town and head to SLC to visit family and friends. Although I only have pictures of the time we spent with Mike and Natalie and family, we saw other people too.

Here we are exploring the new Natural History Museum of Utah. It was pretty awesome - I highly recommend it.

We did a fair amount of this.

Hike up Mill Creek Canyon.

The kids decided all the snow off this rock had to go.

Look Dad, we're using our shnazy-snow-trax-things. Worked like a charm!

Nick and the kids walked around temple square while Briana and I had a moms only morning.

Nick drives (safely?) and documents our exciting trip home.

December 25-28, 2011

December the 25th

2012-01-17T22:24:00.004-06:00

He came to our house!!!!

December 25, 2011

Christmas Eve

2012-01-13T13:54:00.004-06:00

Christmas Eve festivities included. . . .

A visit from the big man in the flesh,

(Keyton had a long list of reasons why this was the real Santa: his beard was greyish white, you could see through it, etc. He also slipped in a brand new last minute request for a Wii. Sorry bud, Santa needs a little more notice than that.)

3 generation pictures,

dress-ups,

Minute-to-Win-It games,

right-left story,

new jammies,

and finally sleep.

So this could happen.

December 24, 2011

Winter Garden Aglow

2012-01-08T15:28:00.003-06:00

We thought seeing the lights at the botanical garden was a fine winter solstice activity. And it was.

At the last minute Lola changed her mind and decided to give Santa her Christmas list: a princess and a flower-blow (pinwheel). Keyton requested Lego Starwars.

December 21, 2011

passing through

2012-01-08T15:25:00.002-06:00

Kyle, Elise, Scott and Cathy passing through.

December 19/23, 2011

Random December picts

2012-01-03T15:25:00.002-06:00

K shows off his winking skills and hairdo just like mom's.

Why is there a goat in my backyard?

All three of our chickens decided to lay eggs again beginning on winter solstice. The stars must be aligned.

December 2011

Family Pictures

2012-01-02T11:12:00.004-06:00

Septeber 2011

KASP's production of The Polar Express

2012-01-01T15:19:00.003-06:00

The hilarity of the program included:

- K in PJs he got for Christmas last year = a bit risque

- Complete and utter chaos peppered with teachers assisting with lines in a slightly panicked stage whisper

- K's dedication to the Rudolph hat and commitment to playing the part of a reindeer which required, in its entirety, parking it stage left

- The part of Santa played by Aviv, the only Jewish kid in the class

- The whole thing turns into an existential crisis when K deduces that Aviv likely can't hear the jingle bell ring because he doesn't believe in Santa

December 16, 2011

K. Kinder Holiday Program

2011-12-17T22:14:00.001-06:00

December 9, 2011

Thanksgiving in a yurt!

2011-12-13T21:25:00.008-06:00

After a hearty breakfast of pumpkin pie, we headed off to Banner Ridge Yurt, part of the back country yurt system in Idaho City. We thought we'd be able to drive our car to the summer parking lot, but 20+ inches of snow thought otherwise.

No worries, we had snowshoes, two sleds, and plenty of pack mules.

Nick clearly was the weakest link refusing to shoulder his fair share and complaining the entire 2.5 miles.

The hike was so quiet and pretty. I was glad we couldn't drive in!

Just when it seemed we were on the verge of total meltdown, we made it!!

Scott vows to eat all that food so he won't have to hike it out.

Lola was a bit cold, but warmed up in a jiffy.

In fact, we all warmed up. The wood stove kept it a balmy 80 degrees in there. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast of turkey, rolls, cranberries, and gravy. Lola forgot to pack the potatoes.

The top bunk quickly became the favorite play spot.

After a loud night of wind and what we feared was rain, we awoke to fresh snow and sunny skies.

From the top of the sledding hill.

Kyle makes a good faith effort to break his back.

The view was amazing as were the stars that night.

Roasting hotdogs. Keyton, apparently on the carb free diet.

Lola fell asleep.

Fast asleep.

Group shot and then the hike out. Sunny skies and a downhill trek puts us all in good spirits.

All except Lola that is, who tolerated riding on the sled for about 5 minutes then INSISTED on being carried. As that wasn't an option, and mere mention of the sled sent her into hysterics, she walked. The whole two miles. Happily, but at a 3-year-old pace.

Keyton, on the other hand sledded down, sometimes for quite a long stretch. He and Kyle were back to the car about an hour ahead of us, which was enough time for a random dog to pee all over Kyle's bag. Good times!

November 24-26, 2011

Christmas lights are up

2011-12-11T17:28:00.003-06:00

I'm usually pretty adamant about not putting up Xmas decorations until after Thanksgiving/my birthday, but freakishly warm temperatures in the 50s was compelling enough for me to wave this hard and fast rule - just this once.

November 22, 2011

Lola turns 3!

2011-12-11T17:07:00.005-06:00

Lola was looking forward to her birthday for quite some time but on the big day she wasn't so sure. She cried when her classmates sang to her, did her fare share of moping, and was emphatic that "it's NOT my birthday!"

A birthday nap, presents, and lots of frosting seemed to lift her spirits.

Notice the fine wrap jobs on the right - a Scott Hansen legacy.

The kids got new shoes but it will be a while before they are wearing them, it appears I am a little over eager.

The party continued that weekend where Gma Becky knocked it out of the park with balloons, ponies, and Minnie Mouse dress up doll to name a few.

November 15/20, 2011

Random November picts

2011-12-11T11:29:00.004-06:00

November 2011

The canning totals are in

2011-12-11T11:22:00.005-06:00

Apple Juice - 5 quarts

Applesauce - 36q, 10 pints

Apricot Jam - 18p

Green Beans - 7q, 17p

Pear Butter - 6p

Salsa - 2q

Spagetti Sauce - 16q

Tomato Chunks - 1q

Tomato Sauce - 11q

Tomato Soup - 6q

Vegi Soup - 2q

(Last years leftovers: 10q applesauce, 23q grape juice, 26p/4q carrots)

Fall 2011

Halloween bonanza!!

2011-12-08T21:53:00.004-06:00

Halloween - a trifecta of fun!

The kindergarteners are the only ones that get to dress up, then parade around the school. Keyton donned Yoda, but may have been confused with the Easter Bunny.

Lola was frantic to join the parade. I'm thinking about just starting to send her to school with Keyton.

In the afternoon we headed to Gpa Terry's to trick-or-treat at HP and stock-up the candy coffers for handing out at home.

Last but not least, epic Harrison Boulevard.

October 31, 2011

out the door

2011-12-08T21:50:00.001-06:00

October 30, 2011

carving pumpkins

2011-12-08T21:32:00.004-06:00

Cathalee La, Tay Tay, Htoo K Pru, Muddah, and Laura joined us for carving pumpkins!

October 26, 2011

Nike Women's Marathon San Francisco

2011-11-27T11:04:00.005-06:00

At last the big race weekend had arrived, and it was a good thing because Natalie and I were so sick of running. Also, we were excited to see San Francisco for the first time. First off, packet pickup, a disappointing Nike commercial without much swag.

Having it on good authority that spending the day on your feet is good marathon prep, we spent the rest of the day walking around Nob Hill, China Town, and Union Square.

The next day Nick joined us and we tackled Berkley, the Mission, and Financial Districts. We took loads of pictures as you can see.

Lola, being the generous soul that she is, shared the plague (AKA the flu) with me before I left. I was feeling pretty yucky Thurs/Fri/Sat morning. Sat afternoon we stopped in this coffee shop where I napped on this pleather couch and woke up feeling much better!

In the meantime Natalie caught up on all the local gossip.

Race time!! There were a million women in our start chute and afraid of being trampled, we started with our slower sisters in a less crowded section.

This ended up being a problem as there were a million runners ("about 22,000 women and a few good men" the MC repeated ad nauseum) to dodge. It probably took us 4-5 miles to get out from behind all the slowbees. We didn't mind too much though. The weather was a perfect, the course was pretty, and the company was good.

We soon discovered that we missed the matching memo. The purple duo pictured here isn't the best example as their footwear, socks, hair ties and hair color do not match, but you get the idea. The race was filled with these BFF combos. Who knew?!

Here we come at mile 16!

Our key to success: slow pace, lots of bathroom breaks, food/water. Natalie reveled in the novelty of running in temperatures below 90 degrees and I did a lot of complaining about how the race organizers turned the race into a stupid shopping weekend and Nike commercial. . . . .

On, on!

We passed a heaving women around mile 20, and fearing that she was going to throw up on us, we motored to the finish. Here's the last stretch.

We rolled in around 4:30. Not too shabby.

We were met with a fairly ugly finishers necklace, meager food (a plain bagel, water, and brown banana) and long bus lines to get back to the start. Never mind, we had a taco truck waiting for us at our cousin's house!!

Yeah for our first (and last?) marathon!!

October 13-16, 2011

Kinder Soccer

2011-11-01T21:12:00.002-05:00

Keyton the over confident, fashion forward, almost-the-worst player on the team proudly dresses himself for soccer. We don't do him any favors by equipping him with baby pink shin guards ($1.99 at Ross!!) or soccer cleats 4 sizes too big (great deal at a consignment sale!!).

Keyt spends most of the game removed from the action smiling and dancing and somewhat oblivious to the action.

There are or course occasional moments of glory.

But mostly he trails at a safe distance looking concerned and positioning himself into a strategic spot 20 yards away.

Keyton, team Lightening Bolts back-up man, or more accurately: man in the back.

October 8, 2011

Jog-a-thon

2011-10-27T14:55:00.003-05:00

Keyton and his kindergarten class braved the downpour.

October 5, 2011

Prologue

2011-10-23T16:50:00.000-05:00

September 28, 2011

haircut and a hotdog

2011-10-23T16:30:00.004-05:00

Lola screams bloody murder every morning when I fix her hair. Solution: cut it off.

A post haircut sucker served as a crucial bribe for sitting still and worked like a charm.

Bonus, Lola's new hair goes well with mustard!

September 28, 2011

"You're trying to kill me!" or 20 miles in the foothills

2011-10-17T18:44:00.005-05:00

Nick volunteered to accompany me on his bike for my 20miler. Plodding along the greenbelt for hours was not tempting so I opted to head deeper into the foothills than I had gone this summer what with Nick to ward off the cougars and carry all the food and water. Being the queen of the too-long walk, I of course took us longer and deeper than we cared to go leaving us on bumpy motorcycle trails far from home. Classic.

September 24, 2011

face paint

2011-10-17T18:35:00.002-05:00

DIY face paint.

School carnival face paint.

(This isn't face paint, but check out this wicked long line for balloon animals slowly tied by this 9 year old girl at the carnival. She made Keyton a fine giraffe which he later popped causing a huge melt down.)

Grandma Great takes face paint up a notch.

September 23, 2011

K&L Show

2011-10-17T18:31:00.002-05:00

September 2011

Keyton grabs the camera

2011-10-17T18:20:00.003-05:00

September 11, 2011

Gpa Terry's 60th Birthday Celebration!

2011-10-12T10:33:00.004-05:00

Gma Becky finally pins down a date for a big breakfast celebration for Old Man Terry (AKA OMT, as close as this family will get to calling him MEO).

Grandpa Smith decided to liven things up when he passed out prompting a visit from the paramedics. Never fear, he is home and doing well.

September 5, 2011

Gpa Terry's awesome boat!

2011-10-11T13:52:00.003-05:00

A day of fun at a reservoir in Emmett included tubing, playing in the sand, sitting under a shady tree (with relentless comments from myself about the greatness of the lack of crowds on Labor day weekend), and cracking jokes about the quality of our fine sea craft.

September 3, 2011

Spirit of Boise

2011-10-10T17:02:00.002-05:00

If I have my facts straight there used to be a Boise River Festival, a week-long hoopla that hosted many festivities including hot air ballooning events. The city got cheap and the festival got the axe but the ballooning part has hung on, under a new name: The Spirit of Boise.

Saturday morning a million (or 18 by our count) balloons are launched over the city. Adhering to the rule: never wake a sleeping baby, we got to the top of Camel's Back park a little later than ideal. But we still saw a few, which excited everyone.

September 3, 2011

Mt. Borah

2011-09-23T16:23:00.005-05:00

Nick's little brother Tom invited Nick and I to join him and his friends (Tai, Brent, Tyler) in their annual climb of Mt. Borah, the highest peak in Idaho. Feeling hip and cool to get the invite, but not so young to drive overnight with the group, we headed out early and got the last camping spot at the trail head and slept out under amazing stars. We started at 5:30am and slowly made our way up the 5,200 vertical feet over 3.5 miles to the summit. The weather was perfect: not hot/cold/windy. The views were awesome. Our knees hated us on the steep decent.

Aug 26-27, 2011

Keyton's first day of Kindergarten

2011-09-09T14:37:00.005-05:00

Half of me can't believe it is here already, the other has been counting down for some years now. We were all pretty excited for the big day and celebrated with the traditional ice cream for breakfast.

Keyton, the literalist, wanted a bowl of ice cream. I guess I should have been a little clearer in explaining by ice cream I meant waffles and fruit with ice cream. Oh well, it's important not to have tears on the first day, so a bowl of ice cream it is.

I can tell he was excited / nervous, because he actually let me take a picture. Epic.

School is 6 blocks, about a 1/2 mile.

Everyone lines up when the bell rings.

All the parents followed that line of kindergarteners right on in with cameras and tissue.

We get settled.

Then Mrs. Hartman kicks all the family out.

By the time I get home, it's time to go back and pick him up (Kindy is not quite 3 hours long). K is feeling hip and cool with his super dorky "Keyton had a beary good first day of kindergarten" necklace. Awww.

August 24, 2011

Last days of summer

2011-09-08T22:31:00.004-05:00

Yummy summer.

Homemade cherry pie with cherries fresh from the trees.

Evidence.

Lola makes potty training look good.

Lots of this.

Keyton (the stinker) REFUSED to let me take his picture with the wonderful Teacher Claudia, who's science classes K has absolutely adored this past year. Here she is with her aide instead.

Makings of the best spaghetti sauce ever.

Finally finished.

Lola as blue butterfly.

Lola with the big kids.

Farewell popsicles, see you next year.

August 2011

Bug Day at the Botanical Garden

2011-09-07T15:51:00.003-05:00

I crush the kids in the dung beetle race,

and destroy Nick in the grasshopper race.

Catching bugs.

There is no way she was going to touch that Mormon Cricket.

August 20, 2011

If you don't go to sleep we'll throw you in the lake!

2011-09-07T15:40:00.002-05:00

On a whim we headed up to a super classy campsite at Lucky Peak for a quick camping trip. The kids loved the sand. Keyton jumped off the dock (?!). Nick caught a fish. I loved how close it was to home. And Lola screamed all night long. . . . .

August 12-13, 2011

Keyton&Lola Show

2011-08-31T14:23:00.001-05:00

August 7, 2011

Fishing with Tom

2011-08-29T14:28:00.001-05:00

Here we are on some fork of some river on the way to visit some friends at their cabin which is also located somewhere.

August 6, 2011

Floating the Boise River

2011-08-29T13:58:00.002-05:00

Floating the river after work on a hot day.

Rock candy from Gma Becky occupied the kids on the 3 hour float.

Keyton took a swim with Auntie Em, probably because he didn't believe her when she said it was cold. It was a short swim.

K's uncharacteristic bravery continued as he "rode the bull" on the front of the raft through a few rapids. Although bravery doesn't necessarily equate skill and he was eventually thrown from the raft. Luckily Auntie Em was there to rescue him in a hurry. As for the rest of the crew: Nick navigated us into trees and rocks, I obsessed about staying dry, and Lola stayed clutched in my lap asking to go home.

August 3, 2011

Camping at Last Chance

2011-08-25T21:07:00.004-05:00

Looking fine camping with the family.

And comfortable.

Mallows for breakfast? Why not?!

At house rock. . .or dog house rock. . .or garage rock. . . or something like that.

Twiners.

Terry devised a clever scavenger hunt leaving Becky to come up with impromptu prizes.

Hiking to the hot springs.

We had the coolest hot spring ever all to ourselves. It was so warm and so nice!!!!

While not featured, Tom and Becky came on this trip too. Other camping highlights included a trail run to Goose Falls (and I didn't get eaten by a bear!), fishing with Tom, Bomb.com foil dinners and lots of other yummy food, Grandma laying down the law to get Lola to nap, and letters on the trail left by the mystery dog. Lowlights included Lola at 11pm, 12am, 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am. . . .

July 29, 2011

Escaping the heat

2011-08-22T19:01:00.004-05:00

On a hot Saturday we decided the options were to get wet or head up where the elevation would protect us from the heat--we chose up to Shaffer Butte, endearingly referred to Nick as Shave Your Butt. Nice Nick.

K. finds a gun, big surprise.

1/4 mile hike will really take it out of you!

K. artfully demonstrates how to eat around the cherry pit.

Lola plays in the dirt while taking care of buisness.

July 23, 2011

Cheetah performance

2011-08-22T15:37:00.003-05:00

Keyton's class, the Cheetahs, at summer-camp school put on this show.

Lola debuted big girl underwear for the event and used the church restroom no less than three times before the performance.

And a video only a grandma would watch to the end:

July 15, 2011

Eggselent

2011-08-19T15:45:00.003-05:00

Look what I found in the flowerbed today.

A few days later the brown eggs have gotten almost as big as the store bought white ones.

But only because it was a two yolker.

**Egg update: now at the end of August all three chickens are laying eggs (2 lay brown and one lays blue) and we get about a dozen or so a week. Cool!

July 15, 2011

finger paint

2011-08-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

July 15, 2011

4th 'o July

2011-08-14T15:54:00.003-05:00

The best part of the day was driving back from Utah with ridiculously-fabulously-surprisingly-well-behaved kids! It was epic. But the fire works were cool too.

July 4, 2011

JWS Family Reunion

2011-08-14T15:32:00.003-05:00

While Keyton and I waited for Nick and Lola to join us in Utah, we headed up with Natalie and her kids to this seriously awesome botanical garden.

Where we found an elf, which apparently was a really big deal.

Then to a super duper orchestrated family reunion with 100 and some odd of Nick's relations. Also in attendance was 120-degree weather (at least it felt that way to me).

The highlight was a luau headed up by Kevin and Naomi which showcased the family's general lack of dancing abilities and predisposition for skin cancer.

Well, there were a few that could dance.

To round off the event, Nick leads the crew in various contests: push-up, plank, etc. I think he was just trying to get out of cleaning the building.

July 1-2, 2011

The Gardners

2011-08-10T17:51:00.003-05:00

While in Utah we saw our good old CTC buddies, the Gardners. Good times!

Then.

And now.

June 30, 2011

Pools of Provo (POP part III)

2011-08-07T21:55:00.004-05:00

Banana wins the banana of the year award by clocking some serious hours in the pool with Keyton. While fun for K, she has created a real danger. He used to say close to the edge, but now because he thinks he can swim, he starts across the pool and sinks right to the bottom. You can't take your eyes off him for a second!

Keyton rides about the BYU quad.

We take a break to people watch.

The Cougar Eat, enabler of the freshman 15. Check out the size of that kid cone!

Hiking around Timp. on our way out of town.

On and around June 30, 2011

Colleen's house

2011-08-05T14:12:00.004-05:00

Part two of the POP tour was spent visiting my mom's family in Eastern Idaho. Here is the newest edition, just a week old.

As usual, Grandpa challenges any willing participant to a race.

Keyton snaps a few family pictures.

Never fear, if you change the effects, it's art

June 26, 2011

Craters of the Moon

2011-07-31T17:05:00.004-05:00

Banana, Keyton and myself headed out for a POP adventure (pools of Provo). First on the agenda was to stop at Craters of the Moon en route to Idaho Falls to visit family.

What I remembered as a dessert of black lava rock was covered in tiny wildflowers in pinks, purples, blues and whites. But I didn't get a good picture of that, so here is Keyton at a scenic vista.

I was sort of sad that our late morning departure was going to put us there in the heat of the afternoon. Much to my surprise, cool temperatures and a breeze made it not just tolerable but pleasant. I was SO HAPPY!!! You didn't have to die in an oven to enjoy the place. Hooray!!

Equal to my excitement about the cool weather, Keyon was in little boy heaven jumping rock to rock in the caves. "I'm a good hiker! I'm a good leader! I'm good at finding the best path! . . . " The paparazzi followed close at his heels until it was time to head back to the car and motor off to Idaho Falls.

June 25, 2011

8 mile death march

2011-07-31T17:02:00.002-05:00

In the heat of the afternoon my mom and I headed out the backdoor and into the foothills. It was beautiful and green and also hot as hades.

June 23, 2011

Banana's Boise Bash, photo highlights

2011-07-27T15:19:00.011-05:00

Chocolate ice cream

Family power points

Getting beautiful

Spanish story time

Lemonade and veggie box lasagna on the grove

Bare what you dare

White elephant

The Keyton show

Becky's bike!!!!

Kazakh tie

Knock-off Laura Ashley dress from Thailand

Larry, the best pineapple ever

June 2011

Banana + ice cream man = heaven

2011-07-19T22:07:00.002-05:00

June 22, 2011

Our broken chicken.

2011-07-17T21:54:00.004-05:00

When what I thought was our neighbor's son 6am daily cry turned out to be a rooster crowing in our back yard, it was time for him to get the axe. Being well versed at a young age in chicken de-heading, I graciously let Nick and Tom have a go at it.

Like a chicken with his head cut off. . .

"It's broken!" Lola decides.

Never fear, "Larry's fixing it."

Chicken feet, what a great toy.

Ta-dah. What yummy mole you will make soon.

June 12, 2011

Saw Your Teeth Off Relay

2011-07-09T22:59:00.004-05:00

The Hansen siblings form the mighty "Runs in the Family" team to conquer the Sawtooth Relay, from Stanley to Ketchum, Idaho. Here we are at the race's beginning looking chipper and well rested.

Katie dances away her pre-race jitters.

It soon becomes evident that Katie has nothing to fear as she smokes the svelte athletic looking chap in the yellow vest. "Do you normally run this fast?" he gasps.

Take it away Katie.

Kyle, our other speedy runner, counts road kill in the dozens.

Carolee and Brent our superstar volunteers braved the coldest spot on the race starting at 5:30am.

Here comes Lachelle, the beginning of our soft middle section.

Did I mention how scenic this run was?!

Natalie contemplates fainting from altitude sickness.

It was SO pretty.

Nick counts road kills in the one.

Here is the hill that Katie climbed. 1,400 feet over 4-1/2 miles. Better you than me.

We preferred to drive. Hurry up Katie, it's cold up here.

Kyle thought losing 1,400 feet over 6 miles would be easier. Boy was he wrong.

It might look like Nick was speed walking, but there was nothing speedy about it.

Katie and Kyle were really thrilled to pick up a third leg.

Kyle's reaction to finding out he'd been scouted to run the Wasatch Back the next weekend.

8 hours and 20 something minutes. It is finished!

June 12, 2011

Owls Roost Trail

2011-07-09T22:34:00.003-05:00

Several times the week before I saw 4 baby great horned owls in the trees near this trail. They were adult size but fluffy and very cool to see. We ventured out with the kids to spot them, but they had sprung the coop by then so we had to make due with logs and beetles.

June 6, 2011

Weekend w/ Gpa Scott

2011-07-08T21:42:00.003-05:00

My dad came up for the weekend and given that he was baking cakes in bedpans, the kids decided they needed more protection.

May 27-28, 2011

Happy 30 Nick!!

2011-06-22T16:26:00.002-05:00

May 22, 2011

Nick's last day being 29

2011-06-22T15:53:00.004-05:00

Becky (who is awesome) took the kids so Nick and I could spend the last weekend of his 20's hiking around McCall. Good times!

May 21, 2011

Keyton Preschool Graduation

2011-06-22T15:35:00.004-05:00

I told K his friends may be dressed up for the program so he could wear his church clothes if he would like. Instead he chose his "special kindergarten shirt" given out at kindergarten registration. I thought the track pants were a nice touch. Stay classy Keyton!

Teachers Jennifer and Kathie.

With buddy Ewan.

May 18, 2011

Nick's Big BBQ Bash!

2011-06-22T15:11:00.003-05:00

We invited Nick's extended family over for a BBQ as an excuse to get a grill. In order to impress, Nick spent the morning vacuuming the dandelion "wishes" out of the yard. Stay classy Nick!

May 14, 2011

Bust out the swimsuits

2011-06-06T16:38:00.004-05:00

Incidentally while the kids were doing this, I was weeding flower beds and giving myself the worst sunburn I have had in a very very long time.

May 13, 2011

Foothills hike

2011-06-04T23:46:00.003-05:00

Our kids have two speeds: very slow and running. Here is a rare moment of the latter. To keep Lola moving, Nick promised her we would see a buffalo just around each next bend. She cried bitter tears of disappointment when we headed home and still hadn't seen that buffalo.

May 1, 2011

Easter Weekend, in reverse

2011-06-01T14:45:00.005-05:00

Keyton stuffs his face with marshmallows after our post east egg hunt BBQ.

Nick and Tom duel it out and break Gma's bikes in the process.

Gramma Becky . . . er the Easter Bunny, really hit a home run with this one. Two words: Zuzu Pets.

The family porks out at Fanci Freez famous for their change-your-life milk shakes. Here Lucy models a bucket of tater tots.

Lola screaming. Story of our life.

At the farmers market.

Crafts with Gma.

April 22-23, 2011

Random stuff we did in April

2011-06-01T11:48:00.006-05:00

Nick makes a bow tie for Bow Tie Tuesday, a weekly event he has initiated at work.

The final product.

Lachelle finally embraces her Intermountain Mormon-ness and allows a trampoline. She also allows Nick and Tom to unassemble-reassemble it.

Lachelle gets a grant for free seeds and frantically tries to unload them on family and friends.

We find more uses for dusty tools in Terry's garage.

April 2011

Nick's shoe gets a wash.

2011-06-01T11:18:00.002-05:00

April 15, 2011

Chicken Coop

2011-05-23T16:40:00.005-05:00

At several weeks old, the chickens are starting to turn into teenagers and need a place of their own in the backyard.

A rainy March didn't help but slowly and surely with the help of Lola and Terry, Nick got 'er done.

Made from recycled 4x4s and with Terry Smith perfectionist influences, this coop doubles as our family bomb shelter.

Voila!!

March & April 2011

Multitasking

2011-05-18T14:10:00.002-05:00

April 1, 2011

"It's Summertime!!"

2011-05-17T21:28:00.005-05:00

We had our first warm day and the kids were bursting at the seams to put on their shorts and hats and ran around in the backyard with their child abuse prevention month pinwheels shouting: "It's summer time!!!!"

April 1, 2011

Random March picts

2011-05-16T15:18:00.003-05:00

Not sure if it's art or a science experiment or why exactly Lola is sticking her quesadilla to the window.

Nick has picked up the guitar again.

Lola practices her shoeing skills on the bunny.

Keyton and Lachelle sport matching aprons and photogenic tendencies (thanks banana).

Star Wars remains a constant.

Grandma helps Lola stay warm, and fashionable.

Nick takes the opportunity to turn spilt syrup into a crime scene.

Nick cleans out his mission boxes and reminisces with each article before throwing it away.

Keyton is tortured yet again by another hair cut.

Grandpa Smith tickles the ivories with polka he composed.

March 2011

Family Movie Night

2011-05-16T15:04:00.003-05:00

Sundays are a long day at our house. Winter makes them longer. To get us through we instituted family movie night. Now that it's light and warm, we've replaced it with family bike ride and/or walk, but no doubt FMN will make a come back this winter.

March 27, 2011

rainy day activities

2011-05-09T20:23:00.002-05:00

March 21, 2011

Bikes

2011-05-08T14:35:00.003-05:00

The kids got bikes for Christmas. Keyton officially dropped the training wheels this month and Lola is figuring out the kick bike. Although her parents apparently haven't figured out how to wash her face. Stay classy!

March 27, 2011

Let's go fly a kite.

2011-05-06T17:22:00.003-05:00

Like many others, we headed to the park with our kite on this very windy day.

March 20, 2011

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2011-05-03T21:47:00.002-05:00

March 17, 2011

Blokus!!!

2011-04-26T22:32:00.001-05:00

March 12, 2011

Keyton turns 5!!

2011-04-25T23:40:00.002-05:00

Special Bday breakfast. After all the talk of "When you're 5, you'll go to kindergarten!" K was confused when we headed to preschool in the morning.

Grandparents Becky, Terry, and Rasmussen came over for dinner but K&L assumed they were there to read to them.

Red velvet cake by request, sprinkles were a bonus.

Keyton was thrilled about his gifts; Star Wars dress up was one of many big hits. Oh man, this kid is obsessed! His mean parents think he's too young to see the movies yet but that hasn't stopped him from knowing all the characters, creatures, and Star Wars facts gleaned from books, Star Wars Legos Wii at Gma's, and Q&A with adults. Here's hoping this isn't a gateway obsession to Dungeons & Dragons.

K does Yoda.

March 10, 2011

K's Ladybug preschool class and their art.

2011-04-17T21:24:00.000-05:00

March 2011

Chunky Cheese (K insisted it was called)

2011-04-13T14:34:00.004-05:00

In the first part of Dante's epic poem, Divine Comedy, he discribes Inferno or hell as having 9 circles or layers. I will sometimes think of what my own layers of hell would be. Chucky Cheese definitely makes the list. Nick is a saint for taking Keyton and sparing me.

February 26, 2011

A yummy Valentines day cake

2011-04-13T14:22:00.005-05:00

Courtesy of Gramma Becky. Keyton was very enamored with the red velvet variety and requested it for his Bday cake a few weeks later.

February 21, 2011

Lola&Keyt

2011-03-30T22:49:00.002-05:00

Keyton (Peregrine Falcon)

Lola (baby goat?)

Keyton & Lola

(They wanted their picture taken because they were opposites. Pink on top, blue on bottom and visa versa)

February 21, 2011

Chickens

2011-03-27T17:29:00.004-05:00

Nick's first step toward full-time urban homesteader. These chicks (Scott, Featherweight, Kyle, Artemis and Dora) are headed for our backyard as soon as they get their feathers and we finish the coop.

February 16, 2011

Lola

2011-03-23T16:47:00.002-05:00

February 15, 2011

backyard

2011-03-21T16:02:00.003-05:00

I'm inside, they're out. Awesome. Also, this is our kitchen and the white structure in the back is the garage.

February 2011

Glorious

2011-03-20T16:12:00.002-05:00

February 7, 2011

This is the way we trim the tree. . .

2011-03-16T13:56:00.005-05:00

We had a tree in our front yard that desperately needed a haircut. Nick did the cutting.

Keyton found treasures and hauled branches.

Lola occupied the teepee.

February 12, 2011

Blossom??

2011-03-11T17:19:00.003-06:00

February 11, 2011

It's always fun when Grandpa comes. . . .

2011-03-07T14:11:00.004-06:00

My dad called me Thursday and asked if he could come the next day for a weekend visit to see the kids and our new house. He hurt his back and instead of lamenting a lost ski trip, he did the second best thing and drove 12 hours in less than 24. It was fun to have him.

Keyton showed off his bike riding skills on the big bike.

Lola was not impressed.

Here we are dining at the Boise Fry Company, the ketchup is clearly the best part.

February 5, 2011

rub-a-dub-dub

2011-03-01T21:42:00.002-06:00

February 2, 2011

Carrot pie

2011-02-13T21:22:00.003-06:00

I bet you were wondering what we were going to do with all of those canned carrots. The winner so far: pumpkin. . .I mean carrot pie.

January 2011

Newton's laws

2011-02-09T14:18:00.005-06:00

#1: An object that is at rest will stay at rest.

#2:

#3: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

January 15, 2011