First weekend of Oct

So this is a little late, but I just looked at my camera, and the last thing was when my roomie Katie and I went on a little jont in between conference sessions to a little river trail. We didn't exactly get dressed- I mean it was conference why should we? But we did explore the little new donut shop in Rexburg. Man it sure is growing!! A donut shop! ha. But if you look close you can see we were there... We are good picture takers

SPUD DAY 2010

First of all, I can't miss spud day. Mostly because I love going to parades with A. Here she is waving down the firemen. She simply MUST get a idaho spud. And all the kids are way cute.
I brought Em's Sydney with me and she was sure fun to watch. She was the best waver and everytime music would go by she'd wiggle her little bum and dance away. And she wasn't the fastest at getting the candy but she wasn't the slowest either.
And this is the part that warmed my soul! The ol' chain gang back in business!! Chad and Bruce Christensen are in a band again and they were selling cds for $5. I can't remember their new name.
And here we all are chowing the free spuds. For some reason these are the best baked potatoes of the year. The cheese was finely shredded instead of that think stuff, but still good. And the choc milk is delish!

I'm a homemaker!

or at least I can sew a couple pieces of fabric together. I made this body pillowcase today. These are my favorite colors. Just something to brighten the room as you can tell from my comforter that it isn't bright enough. But the other one kind of clashed. the embroidered pillow I made long ago. But this is the first time I've ever made anything without the help of my mother telling me to sew colored sides together. Or threading the machine!!! But I got a new- or rather really old- sewing machine in July (thanks Gma!!) and I just barely this week opened it. I was just scared of it. But I figured it out, and threading it was the hardest part. But now, I am ready. This was to sample it. I'm gonna be a sewing fool.

And now, for the Rents' mission

These are not in consecutive order, but random spurts of Nauvoo, IL from Aug 5-8. Nick and I journeyed across half the US to visit the parents on a mission there. They are lovin life and seeing more general population than probably 5 of their lifetimes in Firth. They love the 'spirit of Nauvoo' and everything that goes with it. Here is a view of the beautiful temple from down below. and (below) mom and I love these hibiscas. who knows how to spell that?
And there was an adventure of riding the oxen team. I think I'm not allowed to get the word out of what 'really' happened. but you can ask me later.
Dad is a true blacksmith. ANDERSON BLACKSMITH here he is. like father like son. the finished product is a baby horseshoe. the process is man bonding. The capturer is yours truly. All the other elders are jealous of Dad's skills.

On Sunday we watched the Joseph Smith Restoration movie in the visitors center. But a couple evenings earlier we found the special arch where Joseph and Emma made out...
So whenever the band comes around and plays, Pa grabs any children he sees and starts to boogy with them. He's not sure it's in the rules but he hasn't gotten kicked out so far for dancin' out those kicks.
Ma gave the tour at the schoolhouse and we also played a version of madgab. I guess they taught phonetically. She is very knowledgeable.
Here's Dad giving the tour at the Browning shop. Who knew the gunman was a mormon? Dad does! Nick is quite into learned about the multiple bullet theory. (round?) So basically every site we went to the people would offer for the rents to give the tour to their "beautiful glorious children"
We are good at being the 'parents': filming and waving and seeing the children perform and do their best and singing, dancing, and acting...

My ma loves the band and so they love her. They pulled up and started blasting after our tour with the Community of Christ tour. I cried.
Oh wait. This should have been first. The very first morning: My ma's got out the planning and the calendars and the different sheets of paper for each day's activities. not a minute of down time. Unless it's planned of course. and Nick still chowing...
And also, I'm famous. We ran into Dean Hughes and wife who are there acting as public affairs with the City of Nauvoo and the church. (he is an author. Children of the Promise and such)
Here is about the only fam shot. In the home of Brigham Young. I feel like I could practically give the tours around Nauvoo now.

I was going to play catch up and put a bunch of pics on from when me and A and little Oliver went on a road trip to WA, but then Adrie posted them all already and they look good, so go look at her link if interested and haven't already done so... :)

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

I don't know about you, but we had quite the traditional festivities for the holiday weekend. Parade, bbq lunch, lounging around the afternoon, hanging out on the grass at Freemon Park awaiting the long anticipated Idaho Falls fireworks, and crashing the whole drive home. (I wasn't the driver) :) But these are just a few friends from the ward playing phase 10...
And Brian


And today, since we both had the day off, we decided to be adventurous and visit some local tourist attractions... er... some waterfalls. Cave Falls and Mesa Falls. we tried to find sheep falls also but there aren't as big of signs and we looked for a good while and finally gave up only to succeed with some different ones. They're cool. and big. and splashy. and I felt so outdoorsy and one with nature. (it doesn't take much for me) (next step is real camping)
And here is the rock Basalt. Not to be confused with the town Basalt. They're different.
I really do love water. In many forms. Love just watching it go by. And who doesn't love a lovely breeze as well?



This is the other looking down side of cave falls. There used to be a cave here. This is evidence of it 'caving' in. haha. but like in the past couple years or something. Scary. imagine if you were the one that was exploring the cave when it happened to cave...

Cold. Numb.

I did my very first triathlon at Rigby Lake on May 29, 2010. First and only? I don't know. But I do know I trained for it at least a good month and felt I was ready- but nothing prepared me for the bitter cold Idaho day that it was. My face pretty much captures the chill of the lake. The first step in and I knew I would not feel my feet the rest of the race. Which proved to be true. They said it was 58 degrees but I think more water added = colder temp. It was absolutely the coldest water my body has ever been in.


oh the relief of finally getting to get out of the water! swam 1/2 mile


They had wetsuit strippers up by the grass. Just lay on your back and they give you a good pull. It was so hard to get my shirt on! It took probably 2 whole minutes just to get it on. I could barely move! Kal and Brian were there cheering me on and couldn't hardly believe how slow I was moving. But I was lucky to be moving at all! haha. shoes were a challenge also.

This is the bike I borrowed from a new girl I just met in my ward. Aren't people sweet?
The biking was definitely the easiest part. Actually quite fun. Biked 14.4 miles.
This was after I'd already run around the lake and was heading out towards the road. Now I could not feel my feet at all at this point. or ever... Who knows what I was running on. Also it was pouring rain the whole time and in the low 40s.

And I made it! Ran 3.1 miles. It was fun to train and get in shape. Not a fun swim. But a 'good experience' haha.