It's Official.......

It's official!!!  Rory and Abby have announced to everyone that they will be expecting their first child in September.  Brian and I are thrilled of course and can't wait to find out if we will be having a grandson or a granddaughter.  Rugger (pictured above) is such a big poser for the camera.  I wonder if he even has an idea how much his world is going to change.  I thought this idea of announcing the pregnancy was way cute.   

What do you think?

We received an e-mail from Rory and Abby today that said the following:

We are working on this new project. Here is the first phase? What do you think?

Love,
Rory and Abby


 To which Brian replied, "I've got to ask what is Phase 2?"  Abby said that would be poopy diapers!!!!  Needless to say we were thrilled.  Baby Bell should arrive sometime in September of this year. 

Going on a bear hunt.........Kade killed a bear!!!!

Kade started working for Trophy Mountain Outfitters in August 2011.  As Kade made his way up and down the mountain day after day, he saw quite a few bear.  Kade being the avid hunter that he is thought it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to kill a bear.  He asked his boss Dustin Child if he bought a bear license if he could shoot a bear while he was working for him.  Dustin agreed and Kade bought a license.  Kade was able to kill a cinnamon colored blackbear just a few days before he left to come home.  His friend Dan helped him skin it and bring it off the mountain. 

Non resident hunting license:  $300
Cost to have bear rug made: $1100
Opportunity to shoot a bear:  PRICELESS

For some must push and some must pull...........

Brian and I come from a long line of ancestors who immigrated from another country and came to the United States to be with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Most of these ancestors came across the plains by wagon train.  A select few, however, came by handcart.  My 3rd great grandparents William and Rachel Stiff (Neville) came with a handcart in 1868.  They were 63 and 59 years of age respectively.  Brian's great great grandmother Elizabeth Panting (29) and her two children Jane (1) and Christopher (5) were part of the tragic Willie Handcart Company.

Left to Right:  Elizabeth Crook Panting, William Stiff (Neville) and Rachel Jennings Stiff (Neville)

When Bishop Holmes got up and announced in church, "if you've ever wanted to go on trek this is the year.  Anyone who wants to go this year can go", I knew it was time for me to do something I've always wanted to do.  I knew that physically I wouldn't be able to walk to entire way but I thought perhaps I might be able to help with setting up tents or cooking or something like that.  I hoped that I would at least be able to walk to Martin's Cove.  Brian was supportive of me and agreed to go.  Kade also agreed to go (this was the third trek for Kade.)

Trek was everything I had hoped it would be and more.  The spirit you feel when you visit historic sites is incredible.  I was able to be part of a quartet with Bishop and Cindy Holmes and Chris Hopking that sang in the Dan Jones Cove.  We sang Remember the Journey by Jenny Phillips.  Brian and I were able to walk up to Martin's Cove and pretty much had it to ourselves as we were in between two groups of trekkers.  I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to go.  It's an experience that I will remember forever.

Thanksgiving in Idaho

How funny is it that I decided to update my blog after much time has passed and the very thing I'm going to blog about it another road trip to Idaho. Hey at least I'm consistent right?

A few months ago, we received a cute e-mail from our daughter in law Abby asking us to join Rory, her and her family for Thanksgiving in Rory and Abby's new home in Idaho. We bit the bullet and decided to go. Neither Brian or I had ever been away from our families for Thanksgiving (well except the two years Brian was serving his mission). I told Abby I would furnish pies, noodles (its a family tradition for my family) and a fruit salad. I baked four pies the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Pies!!! Lemon Meringue, Pumpkin and Cherry!!!

Our traditional noodles that we love over mashed potatoes!!!

We were quite upset when a major storm closed I-84 Tuesday evening. We didn't know if we were going to be able to get to Boise or not. Turns out where there is a will there is a way.  We made it and enjoyed a great dinner with Abby's parents, Gene and Julie; her brother Jesse and his wife Melissa and their family and her sister Katie and Katie's friend Kim.  Lots of good food and lots a good conversation.  The highlight of my time was the oranament exchange that is a tradition of Abby's family.  Abby's niece Lauren wanted the ornament we had brought that was a hunter dressed in camo.  Hahahaha!  No matter how much they tried to get Lauren to trade for a different oranament she wanted the hunting ornament. 

Road Trip to Idaho

Rory and Abby recently purchased a home and Brian and I thought it would be fun to take the weekend and go visit with them. We haven't been back to visit them since we moved them up there after their wedding. We left early Sunday morning and after about a six hour drive we arrived there just in time to see Rory leave for work. Abby was a very gracious hostess though. She kept us busy the rest of the day. She took us to see the new house and also on a tour of downtown Boise (where we had never been). We visited a place called the Westside Drive Inn where we experienced an ice cream potato. Seriously, this thing looks so much like a baked potato if you didn't bite into it and find out it was ice cream you wouldn't know. It was yummy!!!!

We had a great steak at Texas Roadhouse for Brian's birthday. We helped put new tile in the master bathroom and fix a few light switches. The house is really cute and it will be nice for them to be buying something rather than throwing money away on rent. It was fun to get away for a few days and spend time with them.



The famous "ice cream potato"!


Rory in front of the new house.
(I never did get both he and Abby there at the same time.)

My youngest son. . . .

Just wanted to share this darling picture of Kade, Tyla and Haydee. He loves these little girls so much. This is after Church one Sunday in their sand box. As you can see he is still in his Church clothes. Tyla didn't care....she grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at him anyway!!!


So I haven't really updated my blog for awhile now but today for some reason I feel like I need to write about Kade. I haven't written anything on my blog about him coming home from his mission in New Zealand. I guess its really not a big secret....everyone knows he is home. I've written pages and pages about it in my journal but those comments are really not for everyone's eyes. As a parent you just don't anticipate this turn in life. You expect when you send your son on a mission that he will be gone for the entire two years. Life has a way of surprising us! Heavenly Father gives us these trials in our life so that we can learn and grow and while I would rather not have experienced this particular trial I am thankful for the blessings our family has received because of it.

Kade will be fine. I know that. Kade was gone long enough that he was able to recognize the Spirit touching his life and the lives of those he served in New Zealand. I sent out a boy.....but in those few short months.....a man returned. A man with a strong testimony....a man that knows the power of prayer....a man that wants to return to live with his Father in Heaven someday. I'm proud of Kade and that he did what he needed to do (even if it meant coming home from his mission early.)

Kade I want you to know how much your dad and I love you. We will always be here for you no matter what happens in your life. Stay strong and keep your head held high! Make wise choices and decisions that will keep you on the path back to your Heavenly Father.