In search of adventure

Last year the young men in our ward went to Cloud Peak Wilderness area for three days of fishing and adventure.  Neil really wanted to go along, but it happened to be the same time as Joshua's fontan surgery.  Neil told Matthew he would take them this year.  Neil, Matthew, David, MaryAnne, and Dallin set off on an adventure Thursday morning.  They had to backpack in (about 4 miles) of uphill and downhill.  I think it was about all MaryAnne and Dallin could handle with their packs.  Here are a few pictures before they started out. 

Boys and Water what a combination

A few weeks ago it was finally warm enough for the children to play in the sprinklers.  They had been wanting to for awhile and they were thrilled.  MaryAnne was sad because she had Activity Days and didn't get to play in the water.  I let her the next day though so hopefully she forgave me for the timing and her having to miss.  The boys had  a great time together.  Lydia got in at the end and had a good time with the boys.  I love the part in the video when it looks like whichever boy has the hose has the power.  I love how Matthew keeps Kodi off the tramp and away from the children playing.  I think the whole video is fun and I love seeing the children playing together and Matthew playing right along.  I am glad that boys will be boys and don't grow up too fast.  I love summer togetherness!

Fourth of July weekend

We were lucky enough to have a reunion planned for the 4th of July.  Actually, we were double lucky because we got to see both sides of the family for the 4th of July.  How fun is that?

We started the holiday out on the 2nd when we drove to Grandma Karan's house.  We didn't leave until Emma got off work at 5:00 so it was late when we got there. It was fun to visit with Karan and Jim the morning of the 3rd.  While we were there Dallin and MaryAnne found a caterpillar on one of Karan's bushes.  They looked around and started finding them all over the bush.  They ended up with a whole jar full of caterpillars.  They took them with us when we left.  We ate lunch with Karan and Jim and left about 11:30 in the morning so we could make it to a temple session at the Twin Falls Temple.

We drove to Sam and Anne's house and visited for a little while before leaving the children there so we could go to the temple.  It is a beautiful temple! I have a picture of it that I have been wanting to put up on my temple wall.  Now I can put it up because we have been there.  It was a really large session.  There was a family being sealed after the session.  They just kept bringing in chairs.  The session took longer than we expected because it was so large, but it was a wonderful night at the temple.

We got back to Sam and Anne's the same time Sam did.  It was fun to see him.  We did family scriptures together and then put kids to bed.  Most of the kids were sleeping out on the trampoline.  They were excited to be together. Ben and Dawn came and got Tyler and then went back to Twin Falls for the night.  We stayed up and visited with Sam and Anne quite late.  It was fun to be together.

The morning of the 4th Anne and I went for about a 4 mile walk. It was fun to see Jerome.  Sam and Anne seem really happy there.  When we got back Ben and Dawn, Johanna and Tyler were there.  We all hung out for the morning and enjoyed being together.  Sam cooked hot dogs and hamburgers and we had a great lunch together.  I brought Mom's chocolate chip cookies so I could feel like Mom and Dad were involved with the reunion.  They were a hit and disappeared quickly!  We all said goodbye about 4:00 that afternoon.

We drove to Twin Falls to see Shoshone Falls.  They were beautiful, but it was a hot day so we didn't stay and look very long.  We headed down the road to Idaho Falls.  We met up with Neil's sisters Candice and Molly and their families to watch the fireworks.  It was really fun!  We got there early (at least for us) because there was supposed to be about 50,000 people there to watch.  Candice had found a nice spot to watch.  There was a grassy field where some of us played Ultimate frisbee. I was really wishing Matthew was there to play.  The girls sat together and talked and made flower pens out of duck tape.  They had a good time.  It felt like I spent an hour waiting in the convenience store to take Lydia to use the restroom.  Next time I'll be smart and have Neil take the children because there was no waiting in the men's line.  There was one dad who let the girls in his family use the men's room and he guarded the door.  It was kind of funny to watch when he explained to the other men who came why they couldn't go in.

The fireworks show was amazing. It was set to music on the radio.  I love celebrating the freedoms we enjoy by watching fireworks.  There was a lot of traffic after, cars were not moving at all.  Molly and Scott had bought some fireworks to light off after.  Kaden and Jonathan had fun being our firework masters.  It was a late night, but a great time together.  We all went back to Candice's and put kids to bed.  Most of the children slept out on the trampoline.

Saturday the 5th we got up and started a family work project at Candice's house.  We cleaned up her yard and worked on her fence.  She had some slats that needed replaced and the whole fence needed stained.  Neil, Scott, and Gerry worked on the fence while the rest of us cleaned up, moved rocks, and then stained.  It was a good time, even though it was hot.  The children were good helpers.  I think it is neat to work together with our family.  We all had lunch and then we headed home.  To cap off our trip we saw a bear in Yellowstone, that doesn't happen very often.  It was on a hill right by the road. It was scratching around in the dirt.  When Lydia saw the bear she thought it was a baby bear.  We were trying to tell her it wasn't a baby, but she was determined.  We asked why she thought it was a baby and she told us that it was crawling like a baby.  She is so cute!!

We had a great fourth of July!! We missed having Rebecca, Bethany, Julia and Matthew with us.   It was great to see both sides of our family and spend time together, and to attend the temple. I am so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy living in this amazing country!

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XOXO, Sarah

Fishing

I have a confession to make.  I am not a good fishing mom!  I feel terrible even typing that out for others to see.  I am sure both my grandpa's shake their heads at me from heaven.  I'm sorry.  I don't like the smell of fish. I really don't like it when the children want to touch the fish.  I am not a good fishing mom.  Neil is a good sport despite my lack of enthusiasm and takes the children fishing each summer.  Matthew loves to fish and he was so excited that the younger children wanted to go to the fishing pond this morning.  I enjoyed taking pictures of him helping Joshua and Lydia catch fish.  We spent the morning and came home with three catfish.  Lydia really wanted to catch a dogfish, but she was happy with what they got.  I tried really hard to not tell anyone to wash their hands and just be a good sport.  I hope they will have happy memories of fishing and not just of their mother not handling the experience. 

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What's happening at our house this afternoon...

This afternoon we have all kinds of playing going on.  There are 5 Waite children, 5 George children and 4 Andreasen children all playing together.  I think I am slightly outnumbered.  I do have Julia and Matthew here as back up should I need them.   All the children have been very good and enjoyed playing together.  I guess today our house qualifies as the Kool-Aid house of the block.  I always wanted to be the Kool-aid Mom and have the children hang out at our house.

 As I type this I am listening to the children play football together in the yard.  I loved playing football growing up and I love listening to the game going on.  Sometimes I join in, other times I just enjoy listening.  Before I know it, it will end up with someone hurt or upset, but I'll enjoy it while they are happy. 

Happy Father's Day!

This post is dedicated to Neil. He is such a good dad! Neil is willing to do things with the children and for them.  He is a good sport about all the craziness that happens at our house.  Thanks for being willing to read to us, play games, talk sports, give bike rides, and all the other things that come with being dad! Neil is a good example for each of us.  He is great at presiding, protecting and providing. Thanks for enjoying life's adventures with us. Thanks for making life fun and exciting.  We love you!!!

Good Citizens

Emma and David started public school this year.  They both had very successful first years.  They did well socially and academically.  I think they both liked going to school.  Both Emma and David were awarded good citizenship awards this year.  At Parkside each class voted for one boy and one girl who were good citizens.  I was so proud of David when his name was called out.  At the middle school the teachers selected the student the was a good citizen.  Emma's teachers all had positive things to say about her.  We are grateful that both David and Emma did well in school this year.  It was a big adjustment at first, but they were both up to the task.  We are proud of you!!