Blaine and Kristen

Our Blaine has found his first (and hopefully only) new love! We met her and everyone has fallen in love with her too. She is very sweet, genuine, and happy. She makes you happy you're you. We're all cheering on the sidelines that things will work out. If not, it's sure good to meet someone like her. Good job, Blaine! :) But I'd also like to say for the record that she has herself a pretty special "catch" herself! Cuuuuuute! :)

Campbell Field Trip

As Campbell's first field trip, we were scheduled to go to the City Fire Department downtown as well as to Albertson's Food Store. This was one of a few firsts for Campbell because he'd never ridden a bus before! He loved it! We were split into groups to go with volunteering moms. The first picture was of the 3 boys I had with me. We were to do the buddy system and keep track of each other. (As a side note: The blonde boy with the yellow zip up jacket is Campbell's buddy in class.)

The boys decided to sit at the VERY BACK of the bus. (In the olden days, that was always my preference also!)

There was a nice man (Probably Blake's age so it's weird to say man!) that showed us around the firehouse. We didn't go upstairs to the living quarters, but we saw the fire trucks, ambulance and even got to hold his very heavy helmet. He said he weighs 60 pounds more when he's all suited up! Then the BEST thing of all was when he showed us what happens when the fire alarm rings and how they get to the trucks from upstairs! The firepole! It was so cool!

Now we're off to Albertson's!


The nice lady was there to greet us and talked to us about food groups. She let us have a taste of a cut up loaf of bread. Then (since we were running late) we quickly went to the front of the store where she passed out grocery bags with goodies in it like a toothbrush, floss, cereal in a baggie and a banana! The boys all gathered around and all at once, they decided what the banana may be better used for---a telephone!





There were a few minutes left when we got back to the school, so the kids sat on the grass and examined their goodie bag from Albertson's! It was a pretty fun day! Campbell agreed.

Boys will be Boys

(Push the little speaker in lower left corner
of slide show to hear coordinating music!)

Craters AGAIN

Last time we went to Craters of the Moon, it was a rushed trip so that I could get back for my night shift. When I didn't have to, we revisited. This time we were a little better prepared and had a such a blast!

The boys (including Gary) had a great time discovering caves and holes and climbing all the rocks! My job was just to keep up, which I barely managed! I don't have the best built-in balance so it truly was an achievement! :) Anyway... if you have not been there, it's a great family activity! They have GREAT camp sites, descent restrooms and paved trails everywhere!

There was a LONG staircase going down to the biggest main cave. There were cool rocks all over the place. We went down one place and out another and there were actual wood fencing posts marking the way back to the trail. It was a good thing someone thought of that or I'd STILL be there! When you climb out the other side, there is just a huge "field" of lava ripples everywhere and I lost direction pretty easy.

After reading plaques at the visitor's center, we learned that if a rock was orange, it was broken and exposed secondarilly and not the original settled lava. Some of the BIG rocks were previously the roof of the caves that have collapsed. (A litttle freaky!) I was so impressed that Hayden did such a good job keeping up with everyone. He "helped" me climb all the rocks too and he did it dutifully! He would say, "Mom, I will help you climb this rock, hold my hand." Such a big boy!

A little refreshment after all that hiking was DEFINATELY in order!