Summer Pics

Weston's second set of stitches. Follwing in his brothers footsteps. Both boys now have had 2 sets of stitches on their face. Hopefully the last we go to the ER!



Uncle Brian got Russ into the BSU football camp this year! Russ was one of the youngest kids. Russ loved every second of it! He enjoyed the drills, games, and being on the blue turf. He was on the same team as his cousins Devin and Dane. They were the "Sabercats". The camp was intense and challenged the kids to work hard and to "come out of the stance shooting like you have a pair of sixes in your hands" ... a bit different approach than I had to take with T-ball. Thanks Uncle Brian!





T-mobile company picnic is always a great time. The Bills Boys first tug o war. They also participated in the leaky bucket race and limbo competition. We had the picnic this year out at Boise Outfitter Ranch. A great setting of an old western town just down the road from the call center.




We slipped down to spend the weekend with Rory and Natalie. We had a lot of fun getting caught up with them and seeing their family. A highlight of the trip was playing Rock Band on the wii. Too bad we missed the picture of all of us jamming to Bon Jovi ... we got boo'd off the stage a few too many times, but a great time. We also had a great time together in the Dinasour Musuem and Jumpin Jacks.





Fun at the Rino's! Who needs to go to a water park, when you can make your own. The boys were exhausted and quickly crashed in the car when we left. They played hard with thier cousins.



Lagoon was a blast. We hit the amusement park and the water park. We were pleasantly surprised with our Lagoon experience as it was more than our expectations. We went with the Harsin's and enjoyed the two days at the park.



The boys simply love hanging out with their friends Gage and Bailee Goodwin. It has been a great summer being back in Boise and living close to the Goodwins. It is guaranteed good time when we hang out with the Goodwins.

Weston is 3!

Weston has taken on the name of Speed Racer, just ask him his name and he will tell you that it is Speed Racer. We had no question on that he wanted Speed Racer as the Theme of his party. We wanted to have a big party for Weston as last year he did not get an official birthday party. Last year we went up into Canada to Dino World with just our family for Weston's Birthday. This year he wanted a big boy party with friends. We rented a water bounce house, pinata, and invited a good group of his friends over to our house. Codi has been going to cake decorating classes and made the Speed Racer cake. It was delicious and commented on by all. Weston received a variety of gifts including a back pack, water guns, cars, and clothes. Weston was all smiles in the party. He loved everything about his party. I loved seeing him so excited, everything was as big as the moon to him as he ripped through the presents. He made sure that he gave everyone a hug and thanked them for thier present. He is a hugger.





Weston is full of personality and has quite the little temper. Tell him no, and he quickly puts out his bottom lip and says "Don't say That" and then promptly looks around the room and throws the closest thing to him. It is entertaining to watch him get upset.

1st Year T-Ball (Russ)

Russ started the season with a hit that landed further than any player on the other team. It was a great kick off to a his baseball career. Russ absolutely enjoyed playing baseball and as he hit the ball, we would laugh as the people in the crowd would always gasp and ask who is it that #1. Russ was the slugger on the team. He had a routine of three practice swings (swing the bat just up to the ball on the tee) then focus in and SMACK. Russ is a south paw and can also really throw the ball. Many times the other Coaches would say, nice throw #1. I also had the fun opportunity to be Russ' first baseball coach. I teamed up with Garrett and it was a good time. Russ and Gage (Garrett's boy) are good friends.



It was funny what the kids would say as they would come up to bat. Conversation would range from their favorite color to what cartoon show they watched before the game ... anything but what they should be focused on. Our team cheers had to include "cookie or popcorn" because that is what would keep their attention. It is interresting/funny to see the different personalities of kids. I was proud of Russ as he kept sports minded "most" of the game and really enjoyed being a part of the "Twins".

Eastern Idaho Trip - 2 Bday Parties

We just enjoyed a fun and relaxing weekend over in Eastern Idaho. It was mom's birthay on Friday, so we loaded up and joined her up in a cabin in St. Anthony. We stayed up late and visited with Grandma McMurtrey as well as other family members and friends of mom and Ron. The cabin was really nice and the boys kept busy playing horse shoes, baseball, ping pong and throwing things off of the 3 story stairs.

We also went up to Warm Springs and feed the fish. It was a lot of fun and I was reminded of the times as a kid going on "drives" with grandma and grandpa. The scenery was beautiful and it was really nice being with family up in the simple life of Eastern Idaho.


Codi's Birthday is this week. I had initially planned on surprising her with a trip to New York with her friends. She is turning 30 this week and for my 30th birthday she surprised me with Sam and Jason coming out to Seattle and bought us Mariners tickets and a Salmon fishing trip. So, I want to make her 30th just as great. Codi has been sick in her first tri-mester, so the big travel plans to New York were not possible. I called Sam and we organized a surprise party on Saturday night at his partent's place in Driggs. It worked perfectly, we left mom's cabin and headed to Driggs. Codi often does not catch directions or locations over there, so I was pretty confident that I could pull this one over on her. I also told Russel the secret and he did a gret job not telling Codi. A couple times he mentioned are we there yet at his friends house, but Codi never caught it. As we were driving in the midddle of fields, Codi did ask a question about the plan. i told her that I had googled some property and thtat I wanted to swing by and take a look at it. She fell asleep and when we got there, I told her that I had to stop and ask directions. I knocked on the door and walked right in, she had a worried/confused look on her face. Sam's family (his boys are pictured with Russel and Weston, their names are Caden (5) and Ethan (3) walked out and we met Codi in the car. She was excited when it all started to make sense to her. We had a great time with the Grovers. We relaxed and let the boys play in the fields. They collected rocks and explored all around the property.

On Sunday, we had a great breakfast (Master Chef Sam) and then headed to Ririe to grandma McMurtrey's house. We only stayed a few minutes, but long enough for the boys to throw rocks in the canal, share with them the surf board memories, and load up grandma so that we could head to Bear World and meet up with Mom and Ron.



We had a great time at Bear World and spent a good 3 hours there riding rides and driving through the park. It was funny, Weston and some kids were feeding a deer and it decided to kick and charge Weston.
He did not get hurt but Weston was so scared and did not want anything to do with the deer after that. We also had a bear get right infront of the car and prevent us from driving as he ate the bugs off the front of the car.











We stopped by the Jensen's for a short hour to say hi before we got on the road. The Jensen's just returned from a cruise. It was nice to hear of their vacation and see their family.

All in all it was a great get away. I forget how much I enjoyed growing up in Eastern Idaho. Life seems to slow down, simplify, and people just spend time with each other. It was fun driving through all of the small towns and not feeling the run around of big box stores and traffic. I had forgotten that the towns are truly small and simple. It is a shame that there are few large employers in that side of the state, or I could see us wanting to pack up and raise the boys in small town Idaho.