The last of the Big Sky April 2011

I know a little late but here they are. So we got a season pass to big sky last season and we really had a blast. Sadly we were gone most weekends this winter but some members of our family hate to stay home. Dylan learned to ride this year and did awesome. Sawyer and Keller have had a full year off but it was like riding a bike and they both improved big time this past year. I love the one of Sawyer going off a jump. We tried to replicate it but never could. It was perfect timing on Jarens part. They were soooo into jumps by the end of the season. Even Dylan. He just wants to be like the big boys. I had an "aaha moment" (or thats what Oprah calls them) sitting on the chair lift with the 2 older boys on the chair infront and me, Dylan, and Jaren on the back chair. Its what I always wanted and funny how it has worked out. My little family on our winter "ski" vacations. I love little moments like that when you realize just how blessed your are. Anyway here are a few more pictures of our last weekend.

Huntington Beach

So after Disneyland this past winter we drove to Huntington Beach. I can see why people love the whole beach thing. We crossed the street to the pier and they had a farmers market thing on one side, beach volleyball courts as far as the eye could see, guys fishing off the pier and surfers!!! Who doesn't love a good looking surfer dude?!?! Am I right??? We walked down the pier and ate at the Ruby's Diner at the end. We love this little 50's themed restaurant. Then we walked down to the beach. The boys loved it of course. I shockingly was a nervous wreck. It was funny to watch the boys get braver and braver and go deeper and deeper into the water. At one point Dylan (who was not listening to his mothers stern warnings)went into the water and big wave came up and knocked him completely off his feet and down into the ocean he went. Not only did he go down but it drug him a good 5-6 feet deeper off the shoreline. Oh I was freaking out! And so was he. Then he was cold and the fun party was over. Poor kid. But it sure was pretty. I wouldn't mind going there again just to visit and stay a day or two. So after that little episode Jaren wanted to drive to a particular town along the coast.....well lets just say here is S.E. Idaho that is doable but in S. California, that's another story. We drove what seemed like for ever in traffic that never ended. And then that pushed us back onto the freeway right at the beginning of rush hour traffic. I was so happy to only experience that for the one day instead of everyday. It made me love home that much more. Snow and all! I hope we can take the boys to the beach again soon and just camp out for a day or two. We sure did have fun.

Grandma Ball's house

At the beginning of summer, Gram Ball invited the kids to come over and spend the night with all of the cousins. They had a big fire (she lit a dead tree on fire) and Jaren brought the camper over and stayed the night. The next morning grandma flooded the lawn. Flooding the lawn is one of the funnest things for my kiddos. They love it! They always have a great time playing with that many cousins. There is never a shortage of new friends you dont see every day. Here are a few pics of some of the younger kids.

last of the 8 day camping trip...

okay so here is the end of the photos for the camping trip. Just to warn you its most likely going to be a good 3-4 months before I post again. Hahaha just kidding I will try not to dissapoint my avid followers. Anywho, so the boys love them a good hot springs. Many of our camping trips revolve around hotsprings. Well rest assured they found more than one on this trip. I particuraly like the big pot. It just reminds me of a grimm fairy tale or something. I kept waiting to hear about some nice old lady that was feeding them full of delicious baked goods in hopes of fattening them all up and cooking them in her big pot but....they came home around the same size and all in one piece which I am pretty happy about. The next best thing to a hot springs is cooking smores around the campfire. Those pics are the last night at "the camping spot" They did spend another night in Macky I think but just wasnt the same as "the camping spot" so they took photos to remember it by. Then one last day riding 4wheelers because heaven forbid they hurry home to their lonesome momma! Just kidding I really was enjoying myself but to be honest if they had been gone too much longer I think I would had had to go to Kates and borrow me some Ryker, Reesie and Daxie Pooh! So glad my family is home safe and sound. I sure missed you guys!

more of the 8 day camping trip

So Jaren's friend Kasey came out to Smiley Creek on Sunday and had breakfast with them all. This is the first time he has ever meet the boys. Jaren was sick (like throwing up sick but that is a whole nother story)that day and sadly had to leave our 3 roudy boys in the care of Mr. Lindsay who only has one 14 year old son. Im sure he is well behaved especially compaired to my boys. Jaren was there of course but had to keep excusing himself so he could make trips to the bathroom. Aaahhh! doesnt this always happen when mom isnt there??? Anyway Kasey brought a friend from Colorado. Jaren just happened to have his Silverton & Durango railroad hat on. Kasey's friend commented on the hat and wouldnt you know that he owns a railroad that we are planning on riding this fall over potatoe harvest. It was like Keller meeting his verion of Indigo Girls!!! He was giddy. This guy gave Jaren his number and said to call him when we get there and he would make sure that Keller could ride in the engine with the conductor!!! How awesome is that! He is super stooked. Anywho here are some more pics of the trip.
The scenic pics are of an area called Bayhorse or Loon Creek. The boys were hiding from the rain a bunch while they were out there. If you know Jaren at all you know that the boy loves a good drive in the pickup (or whatever vehicle is close). They boys figured out how to run the self timer on the camera. Which is good because now we have pics of all of them together. They found some great hot spring as well. The one of them all in a big pot....well it looks like Jaren is cooking them up for diner. Love it! Well I thought there were too many pics with some of the cutest camping faces this momma has ever seen so I had to include them all.