Photo Shoot!

We wanted some pictures of the kids to replace the ones we took last fall. Jamison is not a baby anymore. There are lots of spots in old town that spark my interest on my way to work.

DISCLAIMER: I make no claim whatsoever to a photographer of people. My theory is to snap enough pictures of the kids and a couple are bound to turn out.

Doesn't always work but there are usually a couple that work. I am still very much an amateur. I look up to my sister-in-law Sophie. We bought the same camera she had a couple years ago. We have loved it. She really works hard at learning how to use her camera and what a shot needs. She made the jump to a DSLR this year and is loving it. I'm still too intimidated. I need more practice.

Anyways, enjoy some shots of our beautiful children. We are open to votes on which picture to put on our wall for each of the kids. I'll number them

We'll start with the baby first to change it up. He is the cutest, but the least likely to hold still and smile for the camera.

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I guess that makes Gavin next. He is a photogenic little fella. I don't know where he gets it from, it must not be hereditary. I think that Sophie has trained him. He'll take a few pictures and then he's ready to run off and play, but they are usually pretty cute.

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Last but not least is McKinley Magoo. She is getting better at taking pictures, Sophie needs to work on her some more. She didn't make the goofy happy chipmunk face once on Sunday. She is sure growing up into a beautiful little girl. A little ADHD sometimes, but still beautiful.

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Our backpacking expotition

Yeah, you know expotition. From Winnie the Pooh Heffalump movie. It's like an expedition, but with kids involved. Anyways, we took our first family backpacking trip over labor day. We hiked to the lower Palisades Lake which is about 4 miles. Erica carried Jamison, McKinley and Gavin carried their sleeping bags, and I carried as much of everything else that I could. Morgan, Sophie, Devin, and Garrett came too. They helped carry what I couldn't.

We started Saturday morning just before noon. Jamison walked for about 45 minutes. He is so funny to watch. He doesn't actually walk, he runs. McKinley and Gavin were little troopers. They walked all the way there. Here's some pictures of our little hikers.




We camped just above the lower lake at the main campground. Devin and Garrett let us use their tents and they slept in their hammocks. Here's our little home away from home.

Sunday we got up and made our way up to the upper lake which is another 2.7 miles. Mom and James met us at the bridge where you cross the creek and head up the switchbacks to the upper lake. It was fun to just "happen" to bump into them. They helped carry Gavin up the switchbacks. McKinley almost made it to the top. She stopped about 100 yards from the top where you can see down to the lake and just said "I'm not walking any farther". Erica carried her the last little bit up the hill until McKinley saw the lake and then she got down and started walking again. It was kind of funny.

My brothers and I have been to the lower lake quite a few times but none of us have ever been to the upper lake. We would ride our bikes to the lower lake and fish but had never gone the rest of the way to the upper lake. The fishing is not that great up there, but the lake is a lot bigger and really pretty.

We had lunch up there and then headed back. We fished in the creek on the way back to the lower lake and caught a load of fish for dinner. Gavin had fun fishing with me, Morgan, Devin, and Garrett.


That night the kids ate so much food! They had burned a lot of energy walking that far and they were hungry. The 7 lb watermelon that Devin packed in tasted pretty darn good that night!

We packed up and headed out on Monday. The kids walked all the way out too. We were so proud of them that we promised that we could stop at the (old) Swan Valley Commissary (I don't remember what it's called now) and got square ice cream cones. It was a fun weekend. The kids had fun and did a great job walking. We walked about 13.4 miles in three days. Gavin got carried a little bit on Sunday but McKinley walked almost every bit of it.

Erica and I are so proud our our little hiker children. It will be a weekend to remember. It went pretty well, so I think that we will have to go again sometime. Sophie had some fun pictures that she took with her camera. We'll have to get copies and post some of them. She posted some on her blog but it is private.

Thanks for your help bros (and Sophie), we'll return the favor some day!

Sophie, this one's for you

Sophie is my dear sister in law. I've never had a sister so it's been a learning experience. We all really like Sophie, especially the kids. Who else would teach my children how to say 'echinodermota'? Anyways, Morgan, Dad, and I made the annual pilgrimage up Red Ridge on our motorbikes. Dad has been going since he was in his teens, 40 years ago. All four of us boys have gone at different times though we've never all been together. I would like to see that happen at some point. We'll have to acquire some more motorbikes to make that happen. Anyways, part of this marvelous adventure is the hunting of blue grouse. (Keep reading Sophie, I'm getting to the whole reason for this post, I have two pictures to post and then the one for you).

Here we are at the rock slide. This is my new motorbike's first trip up Red Ridge. My old white one has made it numerous times and Morgan's bike has been even more times.


Here is the elusive (not really) blue grouse. Sometimes they block the trail and you have to shoot them to get by.

Okay, Sophie this next picture is for you.
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Morgan clearing the trail by shooting birds with his .22 pistol. Yes, he is still sitting astride his trusty steed, wearing his helmet and gloves!

I hope the suspense was worth it Sophie. Your husband (aka my brother) is so rad. I would like to say I taught him all he knows but unfortunately it is probably the other way around.

We ate our birds on Sunday. BBQ Blue Grouse is Jamison's new favorite recipe. I cooked them in the crock pot for most of the day in some salt water and then shredded them and put the BBQ sauce in and simmer for a couple more hours (kind of like shredded pork).

Tasty!

My garden!!

I just wanted to post these pictures really quick. I've been so busy between work and gardening. My house is not very clean, dishes aren't done, laundry is washed, but not usually folded, and poor McKinley still doesn't have clothes or shoes for school!! I'll have to remedy that last one tomorrow.
Here's what I've been doing:

All those beans are bottled now. I've got 35 quarts so far. I need to get outside and pick again today. I'm hoping to get up to 80 quarts and then I'll split them 50/50 with my next door neighbor who helps me pick and who paid for half the seed.

Bean plants and carrots. I planted a lot of beans!!!

My yellow squash came on after the zucchini, so now I have a bunch of yellow squash and not a whole ton of zucchini. But still too much to eat every night. Made some delicious chocolate zucchini bread the other day. Yum!!! Oh, and that big green thing on the left-that is zucchini. Its a plant that was a volunteer in my pea patch. But they grow like that instead of long and skinny. We don't eat them, they are just fun to see.
I got my first ears of corn last saturday. They were yummy.
The tomatoes are starting to ripen. I call the tomato plants "monstrous nightmares" because they are so big and out of control!!
I'm very proud of my garden and go out to check everything once a day. Its a lovely feeling to be able to eat out of your own garden. We've been eating red potatoes and using the onions as well.
Until next time........whenever that will be.

News from last week

So, this is really news from two weeks ago, but the pictures are still cool. There was a fire in Pocatello below China Peak which is east and south a little bit from our house. We watched it burn from our driveway when I got home from work and I took these few pictures. I don't think that anyone was hurt though it did burn down one house unfortunately.

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
4wwqkomttyty GAVIN 4MNw

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.

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.