Sunday, August 14, 2011

Family reunions

We've had a couple family reunions the last little while. The Hurst family (my mom's mom) and the Hill family. I don't really know too many people on the Hurst side. We mostly hang out with our immediate cousins, but it is fun to let the kids get to know my cousins. I thought that I better share a few pictures to keep people looking at our blog. I know, I know, stories of motorbikes don't thrill everyone. So as promised, a few pictures, and since it's me posting, some witty commentary to accompany them.

Gavin and Jamison had a blast playing air hockey together (or with anyone else for that matter) at Shauna and Michael's house. It was so fun to see them play together. They would both laugh and laugh.Gavin is an air hockey fool! Just ask him. In fact Gavin would like to explain now why he is so awesome. This is Gavin typing. oppp[]]]\fffffgml;poo9i8u75rxzsdzaq1jhyy6gygnnnn444444444[ppp
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The kids got to ride in a wagon behind these mighty steeds. This photo was not altered in any way. Those really are tiny little horses!

Great Grandpa and Grandma Hurst had this nativity scene that somebody liked so they brought it and set it up so everybody could remember it. This picture actually has a couple extra wiseguys in it. See if you can find them...

McKinley is so lucky that Aunt Shauna is so awesome! She did a way better job doing McKi's hair that I would have. Erica had to work and stayed home so I was in charge. I am a way good delegater.

This is a beautiful picture of two little girls. Nakona is actually my cousin but she's just a year older than McKinley. They had fun playing together.

We used to go camping every year with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins but haven't made it the last couple years. I kind of miss it. There's just something about being camping that makes people seem more real. You see them groggy in the morning, you see them dirty, you laugh, you play, you burn things. It's a real bonding time. That is a tradition that I would like to see carried out in my family. Amen.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Ride Night!

Tuesdays are my favorite day right now. It's the night that I get to go for a motorbike ride. I've been going with a friend who lives three houses down the street. It's great to get out and enjoy the beautiful mountains around Pocatello. In fact, we were just talking tonight about how different the mountains look from the top of a mountain. We can load up and drive for 10-20 minutes and unload at some great trail heads. I was surprised to find out how many good trails there are not too far from home. There is some good single track even!

I love my bike!

Erica and I went for a ride a couple weeks ago when the kids were in Salt Lake at Grandma's. We took a few pictures on my phone so as soon as I figure out how to get them off my phone I'll post them.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Looky Looky We Like Bookies!!

Matthew would like me to inform you all that we added a favorite kid book list to our side bar. He says to mention that we don't own "traction man" or "seven hungry babies". Just in case someone needs an idea for Christmas or birthday presents. We really do like books!!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Mean old big sister!

It rained today. This one forgot his raincoat. Then his lovely sister decided to kick the puddle empty. Guess where it landed?
He didn't seem to mind too much. It was a bit chilly. Matthew bathed him-clothes and all. Doesn't that look yummy?
I love his smile!! We cannot get over how cute this kid is!! I'm sure we thought that of the other two as well, but when they are in the midst of stinky 3's and horrific 6's, you kinda forget. We love them, too! (if you double click on the pics, you get an idea of how blue Jamison's eyes are.)

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Looky Looky-I'm blogging!

I guess I feel like nothing exciting has happened to me lately. Same old, same old, being a stay at home mom with summer activities. Actually, I've been rather busy and by the time I sit down to veg at the computer, my brain is too tired to think! I do have some news though.

News #1: our ward boundaries were changed again. Its been about 5 weeks now. I've now been in my new calling for that long. I'm the ward Primary President. I love the kids!! Absolutely love them!! I do not so much love the calling of teachers to classes and deciding if they are exciting or loathing the fact that they are in primary. And nursery is even harder!! We have a super small, young married student like ward. My primary consist of 32 kids and 20 of them are 6 and younger. We have a fairly good size nursery-about 10 that come on a regular basis. Its been a trip getting my small primary staffed! I'm so glad for the experience I've had with bigger primaries.

News #2: McKinley graduated from Kindergarten. That's been a couple weeks ago, but I'm behind on blogging. Matthew loves the picture of her holding her duck upside down. It was while they were singing their color song. She learned so much in Kindergarten, but most of all, she learned to have lots of friends. She is reading pretty good and I'm so proud of her!! I worry about the future of public education here in Idaho, but I would never pull her from the system as there is no equal to the social aspect of school! ( and I can't afford the private school)

McKinley and Mrs. Darley. (Gavin and dad in the background, with Jamison on the bleachers.)

News #3: my youngest brother in law returned home from his mission-June 2 to be exact. The boys now have the band back together-except that all three brothers went out to work as river guides for the summer. Garrett had never met Jamison and Gavin didn't really remember him, as he wasn't even two when he left. Its so fun to have him back.

News #4: McKinley turned 6. She wanted to make a pinata. That was a fun adventure!! They actually helped with the paper mache, but the decorating was a little difficult to do with lots of kids. My awesome little niece, Zoe, helped me though. It turned out pretty good. We went down to Echo reservoir to celebrate with my family. Heather, my little sis, celebrated her birthday the day after McKinley. It was her idea to meet at the reservoir. It was a little cold, but all the kids ventured into the water. My mom, my brother Adam, and I were the only adults brave enough (or dumb enough) to go for a swim. Someone had to supervise the kids!!

McKinley takes after me-she doesn't care for cake. I haven't made her a cake for 3 years now. This year she opted for fruit pizza. Delicious!!

News #5: My garden is GROWING!!!! So excited!! I took pictures today, so I'll show you what it looks like. I had to replant all my green beans. The first set I planted didn't grow. I have no idea why. Too cold, too deep, root rot, bad seed? I really don't know. I think it was probably too cold. 16 rows!!! We originally planted pole beans, but replanted with bush beans. I'm glad now because we don't have to stake them all up!! Also had to replant my cucumbers and yellow crook neck squash. They are starting to come up too!! I'll take some pictures later in the summer when everything is big and green and fruitful. I'm so excited about this! My landlords were nice enough to let us plant on their property. We are sharing with them and our next door neighbors. Even sharing, I think we'll have plenty!! I go out and check the garden at least 3 times a day!! I'm so silly, but I'm proud of the accomplishment. Not very often do I start something and see it through. But there is such an intense sense of fulfillment to see something grow and be able to provide for your own table. One day I'll have an orchard too!!
There are my freshly replanted green beans, starting to come up!! I'm so glad they are coming up! I bottle these, and we love them!! It would have been a disaster not to have them.
Here are carrots, onions, and red potatoes. We only did one row of onions. No worries though, my father in law planted 300!!! No, that is not a typo!
My peas came up nicely! Some of them anyway.
Far left, middle of the side you see my zucchini plants. They came up beautifully. Not sure why the crookneck didn't. Oh well, they are also in this picture, but too small to see right now. All those covered things are the tomatoes. Two cherry, one early girl, and 3 normal.
And last of all, the corn. We have 10 rows, but some of the seeds didn't come up, so who knows how many ears we will get. But they seem to be growing well.
I'm so excited!!
It seems I've been rather busy. Maybe that's why I haven't posted. And here I though my life wasn't exciting!
Until next time!

Monday, June 6, 2011

New word of the day

Jamison is so awesome. He is really small for his age but he is starting to speak and learn new words. His new word for today is "vegetable". He says "vegeble" but says it really well. It is pretty funny. Smart little fella. We sure think that he is cute.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Two ways to look at it

Gavin had a recent "experience". There are two ways to look at it. Erica insists that it was a near death experience. The other view point would be a science experiment gone wrong (think Benjamin Franklin and the kite/lightning thing).

Just look for yourself.




Kids, this is what happens when you put a quarter on the two prongs of any electrical device that is plugged in. In this case, a nightlight. Neat, huh!

Gavin is okay in case you were wondering.

The black smudge on the wall of our neighbor's house, who was babysitting him, is pretty cool too! It is the same neighbor's house where he hit his eye and needed stitches. Coincidence???