Pioneers and Dads

Last Wednesday Nate and I left to be a "Ma and Pa" on a pioneer trek with teenagers from our church. We were over six great kids, four girls and two boys. Here we are all: Brett, Rikki, Katrina, me, Blaire, Ryan (Bandito), Maigan, and Nate. What a great bunch of kids. Being with them for four days made me excited, not so scared anymore, for my own kids to turn into teenagers. Nate and I had so much fun with these kids. They were real troopers.

We experienced all four of Wyoming's seasons in the short four days. The wind was unbelievable. We kept on moving though, and we made it through. Nate made quite the handsome pioneer! He's so wonderful and I am so glad to be married to him. Also, we had a fun father's day yesterday celebrating what a great dad he is. I have yet to meet someone that is as involved with the kids and loves his family as much as Nate does.

Nate says that he was born in the wrong era. He especially loved the pioneer experience. I have to say that I loved the pioneer clothes, and all the walking, but I really missed baths, showers, sinks, and sturdy houses. We take so much for granted today!
Nate and I laughed so much with these kids. It's been a long time since I have laughed that hard. It's amazing these kids could still crack jokes, while the wind blew and the sand pelted our dirty faces, and the rain poured, and the ash cakes baked in the fire. We would do this again in a heart beat.

My mom and Dad came out to help us with the kids while we were gone. It was over their anniversary, so my sister Jill took the kids over that day. It was so nice to be able to be away and know that my kids were well taken care of. Dad brought out fishing poles for the kids and set them up. Then he went worm hunting in our yard with them. They loved that! They still talk about fishing and worms, and all that, even though their attention spans didn't last long while they were actually fishing. My dad is so great and I am so lucky to be his daughter.

My mom is incredible too. She seems to never tire while she endlessly serves the kids. I am so grateful for her too.

May!

These pictures are backwards, but we'll take what we can get.

We headed up to the mountains on Friday for some family camping time. There is this incredible place called Cub River just over an hour north of us in Idaho.






Water was everywhere!
This is the bridge in front of our campsite. We literally were on an island and had the whole thing to ourselves. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
My kids like to pose!
They sing "cheese" more than they say it for the pictures now!

Deven turned three on the 19th of May! We had a little party for him outside.

Uncle Thain entertained the kids well.
Handsome Deven in some new clothes from Grandma. A week ago we got to camp with the Floyds. Even though we live only a half hour away from them, every time we get together I feel like that's too far! We love hanging out with them. It's funny, Jeremy is the Elder's quorum president is his ward, Nate's is the same in our ward. Stacey is the 2nd counselor in the primary in their ward, and I am the same in our ward. Fun times. It's good to have "old" friends that we can go a long time without seeing, and then pick up like it was yesterday when we do see them. Thanks guys!
All seven of the kids kept the fire going. They were all great campers! The rain didn't bother them a bit.

Nate and the kids by the Boise river. We went up there for his nephew's wedding. We stayed at a little hotel right on the river. They have a super biking/walking trail all along it.
April and me. It was really fun seeing so many of the Blaines. Hopefully most will come out to our house for the 4th of July.
The happy couple, Corey and Melanie...
Ben and Deven finally got to blow up a Christmas present from Grandma. Ben did a lot of the work himself.

Ben and Deven inside. These kids are living the dream. I hope being so spoiled doesn't ruin their adorable personalities!

That was May! We'll see what happens in June.