Finally...updates!!!

Conner and a dinosaur stampede during bath time!!

The "boys" had a great time at the Father's & Son's outing.

Jason and Scott went on a Scout High Adventure bike ride. They rode from Stanley, ID to Donnelly, ID - about 130 miles (I think)!

Tyler met with Bishop Ririe to complete a project on the LDS Star Wards.

Erin performed at the Spring concert.

Jason had his braces removed (doesn't he look excited?)!

Conner "graduated" from Kindergarten!

Scott & I took a drive to McCall on a Saturday. It was a beautiful day!

Memorial Day

We are so blessed to live in this country! Many people throughout the history of this great land have given their time and often times their lives to protect the divine rights afforded us in the Constitution. Thank you seems so small but it is how I feel. Thank you to all those who have served this country to keep us free and to keep us safe. Thank you to all of those who lived to return home to teach us the lessons learned in service to all of us. Thank you to those who have died to give the rest of us the hope for a bright future of liberty. Thank you to those who are serving this day to protect us all. Today, during all of our activities, let us take a moment or two to express our gratitude to those around us, but especially to our Father in Heaven for His blessings that are given to us each day.

Builders

I think all boys are builders. I remember many, many hours spent with Lincoln Logs and Legos just letting my imagination take over. Creations great and small, complex and simple brought much enjoyment to a simpler time in my life. Jason has all kinds of Legos too, but they are lots different from the ones I used to play with. He has Bionicles and Star Wars sets - those didn't exist in my day. I was content with the "city" sets, making houses and cars and other vehicles.

Tyler and Conner are builders too. Well Tyler is a builder, Conner is on demolition detail. Mostly when they build together, Tyler makes it stand up and Conner makes it fall down. This picture was a day when they were having fun together. Tyler is starting to be more interested in Legos than blocks, so I'm sure the days of cooperative building are numbered for them.

Time to Tango!

On Saturday last week, Jason participated in a 6-stake regional dance festival. It was held at the Taco Bell Arena on the campus at Boise State University. As you can see from the pictures, there were tons of kids there dancing. Our Stake had a part in the grand entry and finale with everyone else and then had an individual performance where they danced the tango. Other Stake's showcased line dancing or swing or cha-cha, but I think our kids did the best, even though I don't know the first thing about what's involved with dancing the tango!

Jason had lots of fun with his partner (she's a Junior and in the Beacon Light Ward). I sometimes wonder if he is getting more interested in girls now because he passed up an opportunity to take driver's education in order to not miss any dance practices! Maybe he is just becoming more of a social guy and likes to hang out with his friends. Either way it is fine with me; Jason is a very responsible 15 year old.

Eerie Silence

I don't know very many parents who have never had the experience of eerie silence in their house. You know what I am talking about - when you are sitting downstairs in the family room watching TV or something and there is no other ambient noise coming from upstairs or anywhere else. That is what I'm calling eerie silence. Normally you hear jumping, crashing, yelling, and the miscellaneous bump or thud. These are common noises when kids are in the house. No noise is so unusual. When things get quiet, you have to get up and investigate. Where are they? what are they doing? and so forth.

Kristin and I had a couple of those moments this past month and this is what we discovered. We caught Conner asleep under his basketball shoot out game. On a different day, we found Tyler asleep on his bed with the book still open to the last page he had been reading. Well at least they weren't tearing up the house!

My lamp is full

This was a wonderful weekend of being able to watch General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a blessing it is to be able to literally sit at the feet of the Prophets of God and be taught. The older I get the more I need the encouraging words of the Lord's chosen leaders. It is a special time of the year for me. My lamp is now full and I am determined to try a little harder to be a little better (as Pres. Hinckley would say).

Duke is done

As most of you know, Duke lost in the Sweet 16 to Villanova...and it wasn't really even close. Villanova was just the better team on that night. Duke had a great season this year and next year looks to be even better. They have some highly touted freshmen coming in and there are only 2 or 3 seniors on this years team. So, the good news is...only about 6 1/2 months until the next college basketball season begins :-) The final four is this weekend and there is the potential for some great games. It will be fun to watch!