Shoshone Falls

This year on Memorial Day we went to the Shoshone Falls with the Ficek Family.  It was absolutely amazing!  The falls are known as the Niagara Falls of the west and is one of the most impressive views along the famous Snake River. The waterfalls are nearly 1500 feet wide with water dropping a staggering 212 feet it is even a longer drop than the Niagara Falls which drops 176 feet.  I have never seen so much water going over the falls!  There were so many vehicles that we had to wait for cars to leave before they would let more cars come down the canyon.  The road was solid cars and we had to park way up the hill by the entrance to the Canyon Rim Trail because there was no where else to park.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  The mist was coming off the falls so thick that we could feel it as we

walked down the hill towards the road.  The closer we got, the more it felt like it was raining.  Crazy!

The parking lot and sidewalks were all wet from the rain and the grass was so wet it was almost muddy.

 See the mist coming up from the falls...it was so beautiful!

 Normally, most of the water comes from the left side of the falls, but not this time.  It was so thick on the right side of the falls that I was awestruck by the amount and power of the water coming down.  This picture mostly shows the left side of the falls.

 Another picture of the mist...

 People on the lookout.

 There were some amazing rainbows because of the mist. 

 Here you can see both sides of the falls.  Look how much is coming over that right side! 

 The right side again...I know, I am obsessed with the right side.  :)

I am grateful to live in a beautiful place.

Roller Skating Field Trip

Carter went on a field trip at the end of the school year.  I had the opportunity to go with him.  All of the 3rd graders went to Skateland for a couple hours and then they walked to the movie theatre and watched the movie Rio.  I just went along to watch Carter at Skateland.  Going there, took me back to my childhood years where I used to love to go roller skating. 

These first couple pictures are a little blurry, but I love the effect.  Carter did pretty well, considering he has only roller-bladed and never skated before.

It was fun spending the morning with Carter.  He would skate for a while and then come over and sit by me.  Every once in a while he would introduce me to some of his friends, which I was grateful to meet.  One little girl came over and asked me if I was Carter's mom.  Then she told me I was so pretty, which made me smile.  I watched all these kids and felt grateful we are blessed to have Carter in our home.  He is a kind, gentle, loving and caring boy and I really am grateful to be his mother.  He radiates a genuinely good spirit and sincerely desires to do what is right.  It was a peaceful morning spent with my sweet son. 

Notice the school signs in the background.

Loosing his balance, just before falling.

What a handsome boy you are Carter!

I love you Carter!

You are growing up into a great young man.

Mason and His All Purpose Boots

Got Boots?

Mason just needs one pair of snow boots and they can be

converted to anything he needs! 

They are his  new All Purpose Boots!

Can't wait to see where his

 imagination

takes him next!

Carter's ISAT Test

Carter was really nervous this year (3rd grade) when he had to take the ISAT tests for the first time.  He asked his dad for a blessing the night before each test and he was amazed how those blessings helped him perform during the tests.  Carter's testimony is really growing about prayer and the power of priesthood blessings.  He was excited when he came home with this paper showing how he exceeded the classroom goals on each test.  We are pleased with his ability to learn and test well.  Great job Carter! 

Goodbye Birdy

This afternoon we found a little egg that had fallen out of it's nest.  The shell was cracked and the baby bird was still breathing.  It was very tramatic for the kids, and myself as well.  The baby bird didn't live very long and so Carter and Chloe came to me asking if they could bury it in our little flower garden.  They took care of all the details, including making a grave marker and naming the bird.  They were so creative in their naming of this sweet baby.  She was given the special name of "Birdy."  (Carter just asked me how I knew it was a "she" and well, we didn't really know the gender of the bird.)  Anyway, after they got her buried, they decided we needed to have a funeral.  Again, they were in charge of making the funeral arrangements.  They each said a few words about the short and sweet life of Birdy.  Chloe talked about how sad it was that Birdy didn't even get a chance to live a full life. 

It was tender to see the kids worry and concern for this little baby bird.  I even felt a sick feeling in my heart about the little baby, maybe just because I am a mother and have a more tender heart for the living.  Anyway, it was a sweet experience for me to watch my children witness the short and tender life of Birdy.

I want to mention that we have seen a couple other baby eggs that have fallen out of the nest.  One afternoon we found one egg where the baby had just died.  The kids picked up the baby with a shovel and came to show me.  The bird fell off the shovel and fell on the ground.  Percy, the dog, came up and ate it.  We all kind of freaked out and Josie just went running around with her hands up and shaking.  She was so upset with Percy.  It was really sad.  Kind of a gross story, I know, but one worth remembering.

Idaho Garden

We are so excited to plant our family's first Idaho Garden.  We grew gardens in Arizona for several years and planted raspberries in New Mexico, but we are especially excited to have a garden in Idaho.  We have recruited the help of all the kids in preparing the soil and getting ready to plant.   

The kids have been really great helpers and very hard workers.

We have had so much rain this spring time so there are weeds and wild grass growing everywhere!  We had to remove all of them before we could find our soil.

Josie even showed up for some of the pictures,

and she really did help.

Little gardener's in training.

There is one handsome gardener, if I do say so myself!

Here is Mason in his "all-around" boots. He wears them for anything and everything! Maybe we should stop calling them "snow" boots since they have been used for so much more!

Tough, hard-working kids.

Today is finally planting day!  While Mason and Josie were at their Pirate Party, we went shopping for seeds and plants.  It was so much fun!

We divided the garden into sections so each of the kids have their own garden spots.  They get to choose what they want to plant and then they will take care of the weeding and watering. 

With a little help of course. 

Carter was so excited to plant corn in his whole spot.  He worked so hard in making his rows nice and getting all the seeds planted.  He can't wait to see them grow.  It is fun to see

how excited the kids are.

Chloe is planting cucumbers and carrots in her spot because they are some of her favorite veggies.  She has loved cucumbers since she was a little girl.

Josie and I planted 12 tomato plants and now she is planning what to do with our pluthera when it comes!

Chloe is taking great care in her garden.  She is so excited!

Mason wants to plant peas.  So, he and Memaw are going to take care of the beans and peas.  We can't wait!

We also have planted some blackberry bushes.  They will be really nice within the next year or so.

Here is a nice little tomatillo plant.  We can't wait to make cilantro ranch dressing when this plant produces!

Four more little cherry tomato plants.

Here is daddy's hot and spicy salad garden.  He has all the peppers, lettuce, cabbage and broccoli plants.  We are really excited for these to grow!

Chloe's cucumber plants.

We are hoping for some yummy strawberries.

These are some  pretty flowers and a couple eggplants for Memaw.

Then, we have an herb garden.  The chives and mint are coming back from years previous when Memaw planted them.  We have planted some more herbs as well.

We are so excited to receive the fruits of our labors.  There is a really great article in the Ensign March 2011 about gardening.  It is titled Seeds of Self-Reliance.  A couple references about gardening are...

 Doctrine & Covenants 6:33  "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward."

Elder L. Tom Perry "Our labors will continue to bring forth a more abundant harvest each year as we follow the Lord's law of the harvest.  He has bound himself to provide us with abundance so long as we will live his law in righteousness and labor for that blessing.  Have your own experience in planting a garden.  Then make application in your own life of this great principle of the law of the harvest."