The National Aquarium + stuff

We love our daddy. We love it even more when he is home with us. After Ben got back from his last trip we spent a day in Baltimore at the National Aquarium. We have also spent a LOT of time working on yard. We went to a local nusery and bought 2 discount "blocks" of plants (you know how I love getting a great deal). It took us 2 truckloads full to get almost everything home (we left a few things behind). We aren't sure what a lot of things are since there was no tags, but we've been planting what we like and we're looking forward to the added privacy. Maybe someday we'll have "finished" pictures for you.

Ben sent me these sweet flowers while he was gone. It was a rough couple of weeks and they definitely lifted my spirits.

Rhone hanging out with his friend Tyson. Doesn't Tyson look so chill? I am so grateful to have friends to swap kid care with, especially when we are without Ben.

All of us at the aquarium. I love having Ben home to drive in traffic!

Rhone had this look of awe on his face a lot.

This bird inspired the earlier "awe". It was a live demonstration and the bird was only a few feet from Rhone.

We went to the 4-D movie. How can it be 4-D? We wondered the same thing. The seats move, air and water blow on you, and there was even bubbles and fake snow, so I guess that's what makes it 4-D. Rhone did not like it. He got scared when the seat poked him.

Taking all the colors of the sea in

Dolphin show photo

Some of our trees/shrubs/grasses

Rhone made the perfect depth gauge for the holes

I tilled up a new garden spot and a section of grass that we are going to land scape in the backyard. We also roughed up some of our front lawn so we can reseed. I got a little carried away with the garden spot, so we might have a bit of work to do next summer.

Thanksgiving is sneanking up on us so quickly. Rhone has made a few different types of turkey's. He worked really hard to get those raisins and marshmallows on the tooth picks.

Imagine Rhone saying "gobble, gobble gobble" here.

the end of Idaho

Here are a few of our other favorite pictures from Idaho and the proofs from our family pictures. The photographer was Lynn Shinney one of my Dad's friends from high school. The photos where taken right by my parents house. I love these mountains and am dreaming of the time I can see them everyday.

Rhone scouting for deer

I made this delicous chocolate cake. Get the recipe here. It is worth the work.



I love seeing my boys so happy.

Hanging out by the seeder.

We take a picture of Rhone here almost every trip to Idaho. I can't believe how old he is getting.

We took Rhone to his first live football game. My high school was playing the high school where my brother teaches. It's a big rivalry game. Mmmm ball game food.

Ben and I couldn't pass up buying this pony keg. It made a LOT of rootbeer floats!

My whole family

Everyone again. It's tough getting pictures with 2 little boys.

Our family



Brock's family (Olin was much more cooperative than Rhone)

Rhone (almost 2, he's 21 months)

The cousins, there will be lots of trouble, I am sure of it.

My parents

Meagan's family time

Being with family is always so enjoyable. The help with Rhone is amazing and taking a break from cooking is nice too. Hopefully someday we will live much closer to our families. We were able to spend quite a bit of time with Brock and Olin since Brock's school was out for potato harvest. Here are a few highlights from the trip. One day my mom's family all got together. We ate lunch and made home made caramel apples. We also got together with a lot of my cousins on my Dad's side too, but for some reason I don't have any pictures of that. My parents took us out to eat at Tepanyaki Japanese Steak House. The boys were very entertained by the chef and we all loved the food. We also spent one evening at my brother's house where we all enjoyed a dip in the hot tub. My mom and I spent a day together with no kids. It was fun to just be together with no one else to worry about.

This is my grandparents on my mom's side and almost all their grandkids and their 2 great grandsons. We are quite the crew.

This is my mom and all 3 of her sisters hard at work.


Rhone and Olin sharing tub time. Luckily Olin doesn't mind getting splashed in the face.

Enjoying Brock and Morgan's hot tub

Papa and his 2 grandsons

Olin sharing his jumper with Rhone

Ben and Rhone helping Nana install the new TV. Everyone looks concerned about Rhone helping, except Rhone who seems like he knows what he's doing.

Rhone and Papa Snuggling at bedtime.

Rhone with "Rose" his great grandma and grandpa Rose.




Dinner at the Tepanyaki. Enlarge the photo to see the look of awe on Rhone's face.

Olin eating his noodles like a little birdy

Rhone loves tractors, 4 wheelers and ANYTHING Papa is doing. Rhone was his little shadow.

Getting grain to feed the birds.

the hunts (not for the faint hearted)

We purposely choose fall to visit Idaho every year so we can spend time doing one of our great family traditions- hunting. I grew up going bird hunting with my dad and brother every year. I wouldn't trade any of the moments spent freezing in water up to my thighs waiting for ducks, or dripping with sweat as I climbed up a rocky ridge looking for chukars for anything. Every year we renew our love of the great out doors and our family by hunting in Idaho, and of course Rhone comes too.

We made it in time for Sharptail opening morning. Our dog, Ace, did a great job and even I got a bird.

Rhone waiting by the truck for everyone to get ready

Ben and Rhone during the hunt

The views are amazing, it's one of the reasons I love hunting.

Olin and a pile of Sharptail grouse.



Ben and his brother Erich met for a day of Sage Grouse hunting too.

This year Ben added deer hunting to the trip. It has been years (since we actually lived in Idaho) since he has been big game hunting. Ben, my dad, and brother all filled their tags opening morning. There were two 4 points and one 3 x 4. Then followed 3 days of cleaning, cutting, marinating, and smoking meat. We made some delicious deer jerky, but it was a LOT of work. I will stick to my bird hunting, all the enjoyment and a lot less work.

Ben sent this photo to my phone.

My mom and I loaded Rhone and Olin into the old International Scout so we could see the deer. They are such cute hunters.

Ben and Rhone with the deer

Brock and Ben with their deer (they were already cleaned by the time we made it to the mountain).
Rhone on the Scout

All three bucks skinned and curing. The tractor really came in handy.

Ben and I quartering one of the deer. He can never say that I didn't help.

Rhone helped mix the jerky marinade

....and sprayed the racks....

...and we filled and filled racks with meat......



....until we had a smoker full of free range, organic venison :)

A special thanks goes out to my Dad for being an amazing guide!