look who made it in the paper afterall. . . taken while in WA during Thanksgiving Break

Lego Labs spur creativity

Doug Ramsay photo, dougramsayphoto.photoshelter.com

Talmage Bacon, 5, of Monroe places a roof on to his "tractor car" he was building during Snohomish Library's monthly Lego Lab on Friday, Nov. 28. The library event lets people build objects using Lego blocks, Roylco Straws and K'NEX to promote discovery and self-directed learning. The event, which has become popular, is held each fourth Friday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m.

Donuts are delicious!!

Read closely

We never knew Idaho Education could be so sleazy...

Fwd: Your amazing son

FROM HYRUM'S TEACHER.  

I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know Hyrum.  He has such a positive attitude toward learning and always willing to try new activities.  We hiked together for awhile on our camping trip and I enjoyed learning more about your family and the things he likes.  I'm really glad that you have chosen to make P.C.C.S. your school of choice and Hyrum is a great addition to our learning community. 

Chris

Friends

I have been blessed with some amazing friends in my lifetime.  Good, solid, true, loyal, wise friends.  While I am far away from many of them (okay, all of them since I don't really have any friends here yet) I am so grateful for ways we stay connected.  I was so grateful for my friend Tiffany and our conversation today.  Here's a snippet:

I think more than anything I'm simply annoyed that I still struggle with selfishness.  Like so many things, I just want to conquer it.  I never thought that selfishness and pride would be such a personal plague.

perhaps that is pride of me to think that pride wouldn't be my issue 

22 mins

Maybe selfless ness is not a destination

Tiffany

 • 

21 mins

No, but I imagine the beaches there to be very very nice.

21 mins

Fwd: bouldering

The kids charter school does so many fun things.  Last week Talmage went bouldering (okay, so he's in kindergarten and they opted for playground equipment).  They've all gone hiking, today Hyrum is camping overnight and Warner went a couple of weeks ago.  Warner has been to the Potato Museum, gleaned potatoes for the food bank (the school loves giving service to the community), and packaged them for distribution at the foodbank.  

Fwd: Pics

Bro. B

A failed attempt at a homemade slip 'n slide (what I thought was a roll of plastic turned out to be garbage bags) turned out to be one of the boys favorite family days.  Eric is one of the most entertaining goofy dads around and the boys had fun doing all sorts of silly potato sack races in their water filled bags.

Also, we went and said hi to Eric on his first official day at work.  

All Smiles

Someone likes the swing.  

Change

Change is always hard because it simply is change. Moving 2800 miles away from friends and familiarity is a BIG change. Good to be in Idaho? Yes. Hard to be in Idaho? Yes. Our whole family loves this quote.

As a side note: The simplest act of kindness (a hello, someone remembering a name, stopping by on a Sunday walk to welcome us into the neighborhood, complimenting one of our boys, dropping off a tiny bag of garden deliciousness) can bring glorious rays of hope and happiness during the loud loneliness of transition.

Hole

I've never been so excited about a hole...

Ode to the chore chart

Chore chart how I love thee
You keep our house in order

I do not spend my time giving our fake money, sticker charts, or counting beans for a rewards jar. (I've done that in the past but it becomes work for me and quickly falls by the way side). Chore chart, you've made me into the helper not the taskmaster.

Since the kids know you and how you work I do not get the brunt of the complaints. You do chore chart. Thanks for taking one for the team.

The kids love that you rotate their jobs weekly. They hate you when it is there week to do the dinner dishes but LOVE you when they get to clean the living room.

You are beautiful.
For some reason you just work for our crew.

I thank you. I adore you. Together we make a great team.

And so it begins.

This is our before photo. In six or seven months we hope to be the proud owners of a custom built home. It only took us four months to come up with our house plans but we are thrilled with the finished product.

Today they stake out the house. Monday they dig the hole. Later in the week they start pouring the foundation. And so it begins...

Rub a dub dub

Fwd: [Dingleberry's] HyGuy is our High Guy

[nuding would have gotten hyrum out of his comfort zone alright, but the word should have read nudging.  i'm still smiling just thinking about the nuding. . . ]

This has been a season of courage for our HyGuy. Let me just say that
Hyrum has never been one to seek out adventure, danger, or a hard
challenge. He likes things that are comfortable, predictable, secure.
We thought we'd try nuding him out of his comfort zone this summer.
Our first attempt was at Lake Powell. He was the last to go, but
eventually humored us when he went down the waterslide. It took a
significant more coaxing, but when given some space he jumped off the
top of the houseboat. I believe it was at the point that courage
began to truly run through his veins. He then amazed us water skiing
and knee boarding. He has continued to conquer his fears rock
climbing not only suprising us but more importantly surprising
himself. I was shocked when he asked to climb to the top of this 150
climb at the City of Rocks. Wow! He fearlessly climbed his way up
and up and up. It is hard to even see him in some of these pictures
but my HyGuy was truly a High Guy today.

--
Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 9/01/2014 09:03:00 PM

Fearless Family

[pictured Tanner, Christian, and Warner (Sam & Eric not pictured)]

My fearless family didn't even bat an eye at tackling this climb
today. It was a delight to watch them.

HyGuy is our High Guy

This has been a season of courage for our HyGuy. Let me just say that
Hyrum has never been one to seek out adventure, danger, or a hard
challenge. He likes things that are comfortable, predictable, secure.
We thought we'd try nuding him out of his comfort zone this summer.
Our first attempt was at Lake Powell. He was the last to go, but
eventually humored us when he went down the waterslide. It took a
significant more coaxing, but when given some space he jumped off the
top of the houseboat. I believe it was at the point that courage
began to truly run through his veins. He then amazed us water skiing
and knee boarding. He has continued to conquer his fears rock
climbing not only suprising us but more importantly surprising
himself. I was shocked when he asked to climb to the top of this 150
climb at the City of Rocks. Wow! He fearlessly climbed his way up
and up and up. It is hard to even see him in some of these pictures
but my HyGuy was truly a High Guy today.

City of Rocks

I was thrilled when our dear friends from our Flagstaff days agreed to
join up with us at the City of Rocks for a Labor Day hurrah. It was a
picture perfect day with blue skies and a gentle breeze. It was just
what my soul needed. I especially enjoyed reconnecting with the
Hopkinson family. They are dear friends with whom we share so much in
common. I am grateful to have Tiffany as a resource for womanhood and
motherhood. Tanner was especially cute oohing and aahing over the
rock formations as we drove around the National Reserve. I think this
may be the first of many trips to the City of Rocks.

Museums of Curiosity & Ancient Life

Garn was wonderful to get us into all the museums at Thanksgiving Point.  The kids had a blast exploring.  Holland was a bit of a bear that week and extra clingy.  I think all the transition and then a cold made life extra interesting for him and for me.  It was nice to have daily doses of family to distract us from the whining and whimpering.  

Wow, I didn't get may pictures.  Please post some of your favorites.

We went to the Museum of Ancient Life during their anniversary week
and they had lots of extra fun activities.

--
Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 7/24/2014 02:17:00 PM

Fwd: [Dingleberry's] Fwd: FHE at Nunn's Park

It is moments like these that I think, "This is why we decided to move." 

We spent the evening with Garn and Papa up Provo Canyon at Nun's Park.  It was a beautiful evening without the threatening of rain or mosquitoes.  It felt refreshing to be able to simply enjoy being outside.  Garn and Papa treated us to Pizza and a game or five of Golf Ball Toss.  It such a treat to be closer to family!