Paige's Trip

Paige got to go on a trip with Grandpa and Grandma Smith and her cousin. They went to Phoenix by way of St. George. The highlight was staying at Paige's great aunt's place! She was gone for a week, and we really missed her. It was pretty quiet around here without her!

Paddle boating in Clara's pond.

Clara's library.

They had to pass Grandpa's driving test before they could drive around on their own.

In Phoenix they went to an aquarium.

The awesome play house at Clara's. I think Paige was ready to move in!

Pretending to fall out the playhouse window?

Grand Canyon. Paige took great pics don't you think? She loved staying at Aunt Laurie's and seeing her cousin off on his mission. It was a great experience for her. We firmly believe that Grandpa just turned off his hearing aids in order to survive the giggling girls in the back of the car! Two girls that have only brothers enjoyed having a "sister" for a week!

For a tour of the playhouse, watch the video by Paige and Autumn.

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Brady went on his first Scout campout as a deacon. It was a "Shoe Box" campout. He came home and told me they could only bring what they could fit into a shoebox. Uh - huh right. I promptly called his leader's wife. Seriously? Seriously.

We pulled out a boot box. This is not just any old boot box. This box holds the mountaineering boots that my brother Steve bought not long before his death. We decided together that Steve would love to have his box go on a survival campout. The boots have been used quite often. They fit Darren and he has ice climbed in them several times. We have used them as a visual aid numerous times for lessons for the youth. These boots look like serious business when they have the crampons attached - stand firm, be immoveable type of thing.

We taped it up in weak spots and filled it to the brim.

Brady did well that night with only a fleece blanket to sleep in. He had an emergency blanket, a pot for boiling water, food, extra clothes, and gummi worms. Important stuff first, you know.

I think he slept about 1 hr. They froze and got rained on. Just what the leaders were hoping for. They can do hard things!

Into the Pioneer Mountains

The Pioneer mountains hold some of the most beautiful lakes and peaks in Idaho. Justin is lucky to have a scout leader that wants to "bag" a few of these peaks.

You can see the Pioneers best from Twin when they are covered in snow on a clear day. They are North and little East. Whenever I see them I am in awe of how giant they are!

Why Him?

Enough already. This poor kid and his head. This happened while he was ASLEEP. He and a friend were sleeping out under the Wing (a shelter we use on the river, held up by raft oars). A wind storm came up and BAM! Raft oar to the face. How is that for a rude awakening.

I'm just mad he hasn't been wearing his full-faced helmet to bed. What did we get that thing for anyway?

More of Paige and Guns

If we ever moved back to town we would be in serious trouble.

I love where we live!!!!

PHS class of 1990

Last weekend I attended my 20 year class reunion. I was half excited and half dreading it. It ended up being so much fun! Darren was bored out of his mind, but was such a good sport. I got to see some dear friends. I have to say all the girls looked more beautiful than ever, and the guys...well, they all looked older!

This is eight out of the twelve of our Varsity Cheer squad. We seriously were the best cheerleaders that school has ever seen! These girls were great friends of mine and influenced me in such a positive way!

OK so they called us up to do the Provo High Fight Song.....It was really funny that some of us could actually remember parts of it! Emilee wanted me to run out doing back handsprings! At that point I really did feel 20 years older!

I laughed so hard that night! We had a great program and remembered some great times. I went to school with really good people. High School was a positive experience for me and it was nice to see some of those friends who had a profound influence on me!

The Drops

Yes, we Idahoans swim in canals. And it is dang fun! This was our first day at the Shoshone Drops this summer. The kids have been begging for weeks to go there, but the water has been too low - those dang farmers think they need the water more than we need to play in it?

Justin surfing the wave.




Three boys on the wave at once. This is the biggest we have ever seen the wave.

Brady getting ready to jump.

Paige would only jump in if someone was already on the wave and would follow her down if she got flushed out. Here her board was getting away from her....

It kicked both of them off.

It was only in the low 70's here today and the water was freezing, but they had a blast. The wave was easy to surf at this level. The kids are such fish, they can never get enough of the water!