ben's family time in ID

We consider our time in Idaho to be fairly sacred. We only go as a whole family once a year. It is so hard to squeeze everything in and see everyone, but we do our best. This year we were able to see Ben's parents, 2 of his sisters, and his brother. It is always so much fun to catch up and enjoy each others company. Now that there are more grandkids its fun to watch cousins develop relationships we each other. We met Ben's sister Liz at a park for a quick visit. She is the closest to Ben's age and I think it's fun to watch them interact and tease each other (she can call Ben things I could never getaway with). Thanks for loading up all your kids and meeting us Liz!

Liz and her 4 girls.

A slide full of cousins!

Rhone really warmed up to Emmie. I was surprised he let her carry him around for half the night- oh the life of a little boy with big sisters.

We headed over to Ben's brother's house in Twin Falls. They were gracious enough to even have us for the night. Ben's parents and sister met up with us too, so it was a full house. We are delicious food, let the little boys jump at the bounce house, and watched the big boys shoot guns. Thanks for having us guys!

Jacob and Rhone finally warmed up to each other.

We all played just about as much as the little boys.

Rhone watching Ben and Erich play like brothers do.

Ben, Jacob, and Erich at the gun range.

Jacob and Rhone playing with their new dump trucks from Grandmommy. They are pretty cool and Rhone is really into dumping. He will dump out anything imaginable and then with a proud look of his face say, "Mum, I dump" like he as really done something great.

Park City Getaway

For some reason I have had such a hard time getting motivated to blog about Idaho. Not because we didn't have a great time, but because I think writing about it will make me miss it too much, especially with Ben gone. So finally here's the first installment of our Idaho trip and it isn't even about Idaho, it's about Park City. Months ago my parents were gracious enough to offer to watch Rhone so Ben and I could have a little get a way. We settled on Park City since the drive was short and we were hoping for weather that would allow us to be a little adventurous since we wouldn't have a little boy in tow.

The weather was drizzly, but we still managed to ride the alpine slide, the alpine coaster, and take a trip down the zipcord. We rode the ski lift up and did the alpine slide down. It is basically a huge slide that goes down the side of the mountain and you ride on a little cart. It was fun and a little scary (at least for me). Next we did the coaster which was, far and away, our favorite. They pull you to the top of the coaster on a cable. Then once at the top, they release you and you ride the roller coaster based on gravity. We got going so fast, we did use the brakes a few times (it's all rider controlled). The scenery was gorgeous, the company was cozy, and it was the smoothest roller coaster I have ever been on. The weather didn't hold out for the zip line that day, so we headed to the hotel. We scored an amazing deal at the Waldorf Astoria. It is definitely the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at (but not the most expensive). We had a view of the changing aspen trees and our own fire place to snuggle up to. It was pretty magical (and I'm not really a romantic).

That night we got a couples massage at Aura Spa and then ate dinner at a quaint restaurant called the Purple Sage. The concierge recommended it so certainly that we didn't think of eating anywhere else. She was right, the setting was just what we had in mind. Later we enjoyed the whole outdoor hot tub/ pool to ourselves with outdoor fireplaces. It was one of the most enjoyable and relaxing days I've had in a LONG time. We did some shopping the next morning and hoped the rain would stop long enough for the zip line to open. Luckily it did. We had such a great time, we might have to make it a yearly thing.

Riding the ski lift up the slope

Getting ready to slide, there were no lines since it was drizzling.


An idea of what the alpine slide is. Even the white at the very top is the slide.


Right before was started on the roller coaster. Told ya it was beautiful.

Dinner at the Purple Sage. I had a huge basket of fries that had herbs fried with them. They were delish.

Hotel hot tub/ pool area. I love the open fire pits they had everywhere.

Ben in the hotel lobby.

Getting ready for the zip line. The guy didn't give us any warning. He just opened the gate and away we went!

I'm starting to think this doesn't look like that much fun anymore.

But I did it anyway.


You gotta check out the video to get an idea of how steep the zipline is and how high we are above the ground. It's basically a zip lining down a ski lift. I'm glad I did it, but next time I would just ride the roller coast 3 times and skip the other stuff.

Halloween Galore

It seems like Halloween went on for a long time at our house. I guess it did since we started celebrating before Ben left. I had a pumpkin party for Rhone and his friends (plus their moms are my friends). We painted pumpkins, went on a pumpkin hunt, made treat bags, played a pumpkin/ghost game, went trick or treating, and ate snacks. It was a marathon with 5 little boys. Hopefully they had fun.

Some of the boys and Tami laughing. Rhone had been saying "cupcake!" all day waiting for the party to start.
Rhone and Damon painting pumpkins.

This was the little boys favorite game. They had to make the ball land in the bucket. I made a jack o'lantern face on a orange ping pong ball and put ghosts on the white ones.

It was a feat to get this picture. At least you can see everyone's face.

Our church had a little Halloween party on Friday night. There was lots of food, trunk or treating, and an authentic Amish hay ride (I even took a picture of the Amish boys in case you are doubting me).

Rhone the train engineer (he absolutely refused to wear his monkey costume) and his friend Travis who was the cutest Nemo I have ever seen.

Just pretend Rhones eyes are open. It was a fun hay ride behind the 2 huge horses.

We didn't hit too many trunks, but Rhone was really impressed with the flying bat at this one.

Rhone and Travis could have sat in there all night just enjoying their candy together.

On Saturday night the base held trick or treating and they had a little festival too. Rhone and his friend Tyson hit a few doors then we headed down to the festival. There was a bounce house, orange cotton candy, a hay ride behind a tractor, and even a horse ride- all for free. It was a hit!

I am a cowgirl- pretty easy costume huh. We are accompanied by Bart and Marge. Tami looks great, don't ya think? Just pretend our eyes are open again.

At their very first door.

Playing while the adults hand out candy.

Rhone and me

Hay ride on base.

Horse ride on base.

On Halloween day Rhone and I made sugar cookies. We decorated them in front of the web cam while talking to Ben. There were sprinkles were everywhere, including in the keyboard. My friend Amy invited us over for dinner. She made pumpkin bread bowls that were so adorable. I gave the boys one last "treat"- a glowing swords. The amazing part was that no one really got hurt.

Rhone and Tommy with their pumpkin bread.

The boys fighting I mean playing with their swords.

Doesn't he look really fierce with that sword. I have no idea where he came up with this, but it was funny.



Decorating our cookies. We made pumpkins, planes, and trains (he was an engineer).

We saved our "great pumpkin" cookie in the freezer for Ben. Maybe one year he and Rhone will get to be together for Halloween festivities, in the mean time, we are extremely grateful for good friends to celebrate with!

around here

We try to stay busy around here when Ben is gone. Nothing too exciting, just everyday things that keep us going. One of my favorite things was playing in the puddles with Rhone. We had a big rain storm and tons of puddle. Rhone and I wandered out early in the morning with boots on. Of course, by the end Rhone was laying in the puddles, so it didn't matter that he was wearing boots. It was an hour of watching delight on Rhone's face as we splashed, kicked, jumped, and threw mud. Moments like that make me absolutely love being a mom and grateful that I get to stay with Rhone during the day and share these experiences with him.

Rhone helping make his great-great grandma's home made noodles. It was messy, but so much fun to carry on the family tradition. I loved going to Grandma Pete's house for noodles. She had special bowls that we only ate the chicken noodle soup out of.

Making puffy paint ghosts.

Facinated with the goo on his hands.

Rhone checking out his new boots. I didn't take my camera down to the big puddle. It was too wet, so I missed out on the best pictures.

Rinsing off after the wet muddy mess. He was still having so much fun.

While I was mowing the lawn Rhone found a pile of dirt on the sidewalk and proceeded to make "dust angels". This picture really doesn't do the dirty factor justice.

Still more Halloween coming.

Pumpkin pictures

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I posted. We had an amazing trip to Idaho. Ben left on a mission shortly after we got back. So in an attempt to catch up, I'm going to skip Idaho pictures for now and come back to them later. This way Ben can see what Rhone and I are up to without him.

We only had 1 day where we could pick our pumpkins with Ben. So we trudged the mud and rain to pick our "pump". We had warm chili and apple cider donuts afterward. It was the perfect fall evening.

Deciding if the pump is gonna make the cut.

Rhone was really more interested in finding rocks than pumpkins. He has the funniest personality.

We got together with some friends to carve our pumpkins the night before Ben left. It was so much fun having 2 little boys in the mix.

Rhone and Travis gutting a pumpkin.

My boys hard at work.

Rhone snuck into the kitchen and started carving our pumpkin with cream cheese frosting cake. It was tasty even with a few spoon gashes.

I love seeing them together, it means so much more when Ben is gone.

All lit up. Rhone's favorite thing is blowing out the candles before bed. He always says, "more hot, mum."

Rhone got to paint the pumpkin that we didn't carve. He is really into googly eyes lately.

Many more Halloween festivities coming soon!