The Finished Product!

Kitchen Makeover

While on our vacation, we had our kitchen redone. I have always hated the green countertops (and there are a lot of them!) The backsplash was also very boring. We had wanted to do concrete countertops, but after a reality check of the price, we went with less expensive laminate. It wasn't my first choice, but it turned out absolutely gorgeous. It made the rest of my house look really dated. Needless to say, the rest of our house will follow shortly. I already have big plans for the tile in the entryway and fireplace. I can't get my memory card to download the "after" pictures, so for now you get to see the "before."

There are pictures of the "before" and after Chris busted out the old tile. That even looked better than that ugly white tile!! Hopefully, I will get the memory card to work tomorrow and get the finished kitchen. All I can say, it's worth the wait (and all the money it took!)

The Rest of the Trip

After we left Yellowstone, we headed to Red Fish Lake. Chris has never been there before and wanted to check it out. The lake was beautiful, but it was really rainy there. We want to go back and try out the activities on the lake.

Next, was just a short drive to Grand Jean. Chris used to go there as a kid and wanted to see if it was still the same. Many things had changed, especially the shorter drive back to the camp. The best thing there was the empty pool, we were the only ones at the campground that night. It was nice and warm.

After our one day visit at Grand Jean we headed to HorseThief Resovoir. We stayed there for two nights and had fun fishing and riding 4-wheelers. It was still a little rainy, but it kept the trails nice and dry. Chris caught the biggest one of the day, but I was already back at the trailer and didn't even get a picture. The picture is of the one Zach reeled in. The first day we were there, Christian decided to wreck his bike. Beware of the pictures, they are pretty graphic. We had planned on staying another day, but the rain got the better of us.

On to Silver Creek Plunge. We figured that if it was going to rain, we may as well have a warm pool to swim in. Chris, Zach, and me spent many hours in the pool while Christian sat on the sidelines playing the GameBoy. I felt so bad for him, but he asured us he was fine. The pool was great, the 4-wheeler trails were muddy. It wasn't the best place to be that day.

Our last visit was Crouch, Idaho. I really wanted to go to Starlight Mountain Theater, so we drove in to stay closer. I was so excited until it started to rain and rain and rain. I was so sure we were going to be there and not even get to see the play. I waited until the last minute to buy the tickets and it was well worth it. It drizzled on us a little throughout the whole play, but not enough to really bother us. We saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I would highly recommend it and Chris and I plan to go see the other plays. Enjoy the slideshow!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Yellowstone

For our second anniversary, Chris and I planned a 10 day camping trip. We started in Island Park and went in one big loop around, finishing in Crouch. This slideshow has just pictures up until we left Yellowstone. We didn't see many animals, unless you count buffalo. When we went for our honeymoon, there were elk too, but only one this year and I didn't even get a picture. The weather was a little rainy, but nice. It didn't stop us from doing what we wanted to do. We took Zach and his friend, Christian. They enjoyed the bike trails around Yellowstone, no 4-wheelers there!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thunder Mountain Line

The weekend of Memorial Day, Chris's family went camping. Since, we were leaving the next week, we stayed home, but we headed up there for a day. They were going to ride the Thunder Mountain Line to Banks and back. It was the same one we went on at Christmas. This time was even more fun though, because we were able to ride on the outside car. That was my favorite part. It was also fun to talk with and hang out with Chris's family.

The outside car

Idaho potato, Jazmin, Aleeah, Nicole

Aleeah and me

Aleeah waiting for the train

Quinn's Graduation

The Tuesday following Braden's graduation, Quinn graduated from Kindergarten. He saw what a big deal it was for Braden's graduation and expected nothing less. He made sure we knew that money came in all those graduation cards. (He is too smart for his own good!) He sent out numerous invitations and had quite the turn out at his graduation. We also had a party for him afterwards. I forgot to get pictures of the cake, but there are a few of his gifts!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Braden's Graduation

Braden graduated from Melba High School on Friday, May 22. It was a great day, but boy do I feel old. I guess that is how every mother feels when her kids graduate! I was always like a second mother to him growing up and it is great to see what a great kid he has turned into. He has always been so willing to help me with anything and is the best dog sitter I have (except, of course, maybe Zach! It's a toss up!) Anyway, Melba graduations are always a lot of fun and it was fun to see Braden with all of his friends. They have a slide show of all the graduates as babies and now, it's crazy to see how some look just the same and others look so very different! After graduation, we had a party to celebrate Braden and his accomplishments. By the way, he received 3 scholarships and has most of his first year of school paid for. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, BRADEN!

Mother's Day

I know, I know, it's way over due! The week before Mother's Day, grandma Black had a brunch at her place. She was a part of the fashion show. Grandma was the fashionista that she always is... and struted her stuff. The food was good and it was great to be with everyone to celebrate a wonderful woman.

Jeanne and Natalie

Jeanne, Grandma, Mom

Me, Mom, Grandma, Jenna, Beth

Jeanne, Grandma, NatalieGrandma struting her stuff

Stay Tuned....

I know it has been far too long since I blogged. I have so many pictures to post, please be patient. Over the next couple days keep checking back, hopefully there will be many new posts!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Anniversary Inn

Just an FYI for all those who were wondering. You can go to the Anniversary Inn website and send different texts about different rooms to get a deal. Click on the room you want and it will tell you what to text and you will receive a text about special promotions for that room. Also, there is one general text you can send for an exclusive deal. The deal I got was in December, they do it every year and offer any room, any night for $159.00 (I think). If you want me to let you know when I hear about it, leave me a comment! I just looked at the website and there are also monthly specials and rooms of the month. Be sure to check them out!

Romantic Getaway

In December, I bought a night at the Anniversary Inn (I got a killer deal!) I have wanted to take Chris there since we got married, but "it just isn't his thing." Finally, I convinced him that he would enjoy a getaway as much as I would. I think he really didn't want to spend the money, but I guess that is why I still work! I decided to stay in Hollywood Romance. There was a really comfy chaise lounge that Chris loved, I think he wants one for our house! This room also had a soda machine in the room with unlimited drinks. We ate dinner at the Blue Canoe early, so we were hungry soon after we got to the Inn. We ordered chips and dip to be brought to our room. We also enjoyed the complimentary cheesecake. Good thing we had soda because the bottled water in the fridge was $1.5o each. Needless to say, we drank soda. When we left the next day Chris realized it wasn't such an awful idea after all.

Easter cont.

The Friday before Easter I wanted to decorate eggs and sugar cookies. It is always a bigger undertaking than we plan on. Mom and I each made a batch of sugar cookies, so there were lots to go around. We made a big batch of frosting too!

You can see the finished products turned out pretty good! We had a lot of fun.

The next day was Melba's Easter Egg Hunt, or Mad House. There are so many people. They line the kids up in age groups and have the eggs just scattered in the playground. There is no hiding these eggs! When the whistle blows, the kids just run. It was funny to watch the different age groups. The oldest kids were finished before the youngest ones were halfway through.

Jenna and Quinn with big smiles and all their loot!

Easter 2009

The first thing we did for Easter this year was the Sunday before Easter. Grandma Black's retirement center had a big Easter egg hunt for residents and their families. The had a great brunch, songs, and games. They kind of did things at a slow pace, I think they are used to dealing with older people, they aren't used to being in a hurry for kids. Overall, I think the kids had a lot of fun. They definitely got a good amount of candy!

Braden's Unlucky Day

So, most people know, but Braden was in wreck on Wednesday. Megan (his girlfriend) was driving the car and didn't see another car coming. Braden was stuck between the console and the door. The paramedics used the "jaws of life" to cut the door away and get to Braden. He was pulled out on a stretcher and he and Megan went to Mercy in the ambulance. We spent the next couple hours in the ER waiting for news of what happened. Many of Braden and Megan's friends showed up at the ER, along with family and teachers from Melba. It was a long wait before we learned he was being transferred to St. Al's trauma department. The next day he went to surgery for 7 1/2 hours. It seemed like forever. He is now recovering well, he has been up walking and even stepped up a couple stairs. Braden was able to come home today. He has a hospital bed, wheelchair, and walker at home. He can get around pretty well, but still needs supervision. We get to keep a vigil for him for awhile.

Sophia Catherine Miller

Since Deidra doesn't blog, I thought I would post some pictures of her beautiful baby. Sophia was born Wednesday, February 25 at 4:08 pm. She weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. Deidra did great during the delivery and is now a great mom!

McCall Again!

For Valentine's Day weekend, my mom and I decided to take the kids to McCall for a break. Before we left for the weekend, Mom, Natalie, and me made Valentine's Day treats. We made sugar cookies and homemade fortune cookies. We dipped most of them in chocolate. It was a bit messy, but loads of fun.
Dad was busy with tax season and the kids didn't have school Friday or Monday. Chris willingly brought 4 snowmobiles for us. Beth and Matthew came up for a couple of days too! Friday, Chris took Zach and his friend Chrisitan for a ride. Saturday it started snowing....and snowing.....and snowing. I think there was over 6 inches by the end of the day. Of course, that is the day we decided to take the kids on a long ride! Being the great rider that I am, I loved being in the almost whiteout! (Not really, I actually hated having to drive my own sled, but I did it for Chris!) We found a hill to slide down and had a heck of a time climbing to the top. Jenna had a crazy run down the hill and had an encounter with a tree. The sled stayed in the tree and she flew over it and her helmet flew even further. Everyone ended up okay, despite the headache she had the rest of the day. The times we weren't playing in the snow, we hung out in the cabin and played the wii or watched movies. Unfortunately, when Dad tried to come up on Saturday, he wrecked Mom's Envoy. The car is still driveable and Dad is okay, it just doesn't look very good! Overall, it was a fun weekend! I love having family time!

I forgot to mention that on Valentine's day we made red pancakes, red eggs, and heart shaped sausage. Zach's friend is a foreign exchange student from Germany. I think he thinks we are all crazy after eating that meal. Zach wouldn't even eat the eggs, but Quinn and Jenna loved the heart shaped sausage! (Thanks Chris!!!!!)

Chris wanted to make sure everyone knew the rough time he had! He had to put up with us crazy snowmobilers for 2 days and on the day we went home, he had an even bigger surprise! The van wouldn't start. Mind you, we had a fifteen passenger van and a four-place enclosed trailer in a normal driveway. Needless to say, there wasn't room in there for a car to jump start us. Chris, Zach, and Christian spent Monday morning digging through the snow and pushing the van back enough to fit a Toyota in the driveway to give us a jump start! (Dad says the van needs started everyday when it's cold. I guess that's what we get for not driving to church on Sunday!) Poor Zach, Christian, and Chris : (