Jammin'

My Music Man

Ruth is very expressive as seen in the picture below, she really gets into the music. It's fun to listen to her making up lyrics. And she's getting better about singing notes that are in the same key as Brad is playing in!Will has gotten to the point where he just wants to do everything Ruth does. He doesn't ever want to be left out, so he hopped right onto that microphone and sang his little lungs out.

Ruthie's Song

Labor Day Weekend

My parents came into town for the weekend and we all had a really nice time. Matt joined us on Saturday for the fair and rodeo. These first couple of pics were taken by my dad.

We went to the Discovery Museum:

Roaring Springs:

Brad and I had a ridiculously good time here running around like kids. Ruth had fun but was cold the whole time. Will hated the water, but loved hanging out with grandma and grandpa.

Twin Falls County Fair on the Ferris Wheel:

And today we went to the fish hatchery and the Perrine Bridge Festival:

We also went and picked red and golden raspberries from the agricultural department at the college here:

August Pics

Will's Quilt:

Ruth's Quilt:

I'm really proud, especially of Ruth's. They were both my own design.

Canoe-e-oo-ing

Ruth was SO excited to be this close to the waterfalls.

Brad was mountain-goating it like always!

Will was so enamored by the falls that he didn't even realize we were surrounded by tons of rocks he could be throwing!

Then we rented a canoe and paddled upstream on the Snake River. Will screamed the whole time and the last 10 minutes of rowing was super hard due to a really strong current...but we made it.

We pulled the boat up on some huge rocks in the middle of the river to eat our lunch.

We were eating lunch on the Pillar Falls. "Pillar" because of the rock formations:

The Falls:

Sun Valley Ice show

Yesterday I received free tickets to attend an ice show in Sun Valley. So, Katie and I packed up the kids and the bikes and went to have some fun!

Along the bike trail

We went to a nice restaurant where we received both praise and criticism for how our children behaved. Then we got some ice cream and wandered around the river.

When we got to the ice show Ruth stopped a blond fellow and said "HI". He seemed real impressed and said "hello" enthusiastically. As it turned out, it was this guy:

Josef Sabovcik, Olympic bronze medalist, European champion and one of the nights performers. Ruth now has a friend in the business.

We also saw Sasha Cohen, Scott Hamilton, Kim Navarro & Brent Bommentre, Dan Hollander, Craig Heath, and Elena Leonova and Andrei Khvalko.

It was great fun and the kids loved it.

Dear ...

Dear Rain/Mother Nature,

Why is that you decide to visit Twin Falls every time we (finally) decide to water our lawn. It would be really great if you'd let us know you were coming ahead of time.

Sincerely, Sick of Paying to Water Our Lawn

Dear People Who Stay At the Days Inn Jerome,

Please stop using the hand towels as toilet paper. I don't know what kind of mother you had, but I'm pretty sure you don't do this at home...don't do it at the hotel either. It's just disgusting and the laundry person does not appreciate washing up after you. If you don't have toilet paper in your room please call the front desk.

Sincerely, Totally Grossed Out

Dear Will,

I wish your last tooth would come through. I don't like it when you're teething.

Sincerely, Sad for my Sad Baby

Dear Raleigh Bicycle,

Thank you for coming home with me. You complete me.

Sincerely, In Love

Transportation

I am overjoyed to finally be a bike owner. We splurged and got really nice bikes and a trailer. The kids enjoy it, although at first Will hated his helmet (which was baffling since it is a Spiderman helmet!). Ruth on the other hand could wear her helmet all day...it's pink with stars. We can't wait to take our bikes everywhere with us! And now I finally have a way to get around town that doesn't require walking. Granted I won't be able to go grocery shopping without the car...but at least we can go walk around Target if we need to get out of the house...until it snows that is! Oh, and of course I get great exercise that I actually enjoy.

In other news: the kids are still cute, I joined Facebook after years of avoiding it, I'm almost done with a quilt for Will (pictures when I'm actually done) and I am somewhat successfully growing zucchini in a pot...fingers crossed on that one.