No Turkey Day

Our Thanksgiving did not go anything like we anticipated, but that doesn't make us any less grateful for our blessing. Right now our little family is grateful that November is almost over. It has been a month filled with separation and illness. We are looking forward to December! We spent Wed night at a cabin enjoying nature and good company. Our Thanksgiving meal was thrown together pretty last minute, but it still turned out tasty. There wasn't time for the turkey to defrost, so it's still in the freezer, but I heard that the rolls, pumpkins bars, and pie were a hit with Ben's crew.

In front of our cabin.

Roasting dinner

Rhone and his friend Travis showing me their sticks (the flash made everybody close their eyes)

Our family

Relaxing around the campfire (well as relaxed as parents can be with 4 little boys and fire).

Rhone was a huge help with a the meal prep, we did this on Wed. He likes scooping, dumping, and I like practicing counting.


He knows how to work the mixer too, but he was a little disappointed when the discovered it was potatoes, not frosting.

Not a great picture, but it's the best one we have with Ben in it.


We worked on a foam ginger bread house while we waited on the food. It has been disassembled and reassembled many times since this photo. This is Rhone's "CHEESE" smile.

Just because I think he's handsome

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.