FREE Camping...we're hooked!

Somehow, we found a really wonderful camping spot. It's now turned into our favorite. We like it so much we'll drag everything out to the trailer for even just one night, even to celebrate somebody's birthday and even if we have to give the dog 2 baths!. Here are our top 10 reasons we like it so much:
#10 FIREWOOD - free firewood and lots of it! (You know how they charge you $5 for this little bundle of sticks!)
#9 QUIET & peaceful- not a soul around...maybe an occasional car, 4-wheeler or a moo from a cow passing through
#8 TRAILS - lots of trails to explore with very happy, sniffing dogs
#7 SHADY - nice cool shady pines which smell so good and the gentle breeze drifting
#6 DOG FREEDOM - they don't have to be on leashes and can run and play and explore
#5 CLEAN - no dirty dirt just nice soft grass
#4 NO MOSQUITOS - it's almost like paradies...there are a few pesky flies however
#3 CLOSE - 22.4 miles from our house and less than 30 minutes to get there. No busy freeways or highways to manuvure. A gorgeous drive through the dry farms of grain & potatoes
#2 FREE - yes! totally FREE - no annoying and exhorbant hookup fees
#1 HUCKLEBERRIES!!! Yes, it's right in the middle of LOTS of huckleberries!

Moving Day...

Well, today is moving day....not from my house (I wish) but from my wonderful, darling office into a dreary space. My super kind boss so kindly gave away our offices and agreed for us to move into the old dungeon.....UGGG!!! When he so kindly gave away the offices he unknowingly also gave away our wonderful parking spaces...we now have no parking spaces unless we want to pay the city $75 for the privledge of parking on their streets as an employee who had free employee parking! Double UGGG!!! So today I'm sad and I kept hoping it was all a bad dream but the movers are coming today...I guess it didn't go away. Sad, sad day.......I guess the only thing that keeps me going is remembering that one of the reasons I like work so much is my super kind boss....It is his kindness that does keep me going day after day.

Gentry Street, Oakdale, CA

"Gentry" St. in Oak"dale" California...get it?

4 years later.......

Yes, 4 years later...I finally have an Idaho driver's license. In Idaho you are supposed to get your license within 90 days of moving to Idaho but you have to take a written test. Well, I tried to do it a couple years ago and got an F!!!! yes...you read that right, I flunked! I was so, so, soooo mad! So since then I've been afraid to take it. However, my Oregon license expires on my birthday in a couple weeks and if I didn't do it I would have to take a driving test TOO!
No way! So...I got a book and started studying-yes studying--with 5 colors of high lighter markers. Then my very smart & brilliant son told me how to pass the test....he told me that there are hundreds of questions in the testbank. Just skip the ones I'm not sure about and go to another one and keep answering easy ones til you get 34 correct answers. So that's what I did...and my score: 100% YEAH!!
So, now all I have to do is lose 4 lbs. so that my driver's license weight is correct....ya, I was a little embarrassed to tell her I'd gained a few pounds!

Girls Camp: Rock Solid "Live as you believe"

I'm a Girl's Camp survivor! It was my 4th year as a leader. We had an awesome camp theme and I came away having had a spiritual feast at Girls Camp. A special thank you to my Asst. Camp Director - Kristina R. and the YW Pres. Debbie L. They were fantastic. We went to Rock Creek Camp Ground and it was beautiful. The weather was also really hot but beautiful especially considering we were suppose to get rained on and freeze. It didn't rain until we were driving out of camp. Amazing. I got a terrible sunburn on my forehead and then it swelled up with fluid which has now dropped down into my eyes so I have huge puffy eyes and jelly bean size water pockets below my eyes AND a red and peeling forehead. Nice! TONS!!! of mosquitos up there too! We had to cook our own food which was different and challenging. We had some fun food, Bajio night, Stone soup with amazing scones, Reflector oven pizzas and Terriyaki Chicken kabobs. Of course the usual too...marshmellow roasting, homemade rootbeer and apple crisp made in a dutch oven. But the amazing part were the girls in our ward. They were helpful and kind and treated each other so nice. FUN! FUN! (Pics to come later)

13,000 Feet up and free falling to 8,000 ft.

Working hard and playing hard, that's the name of the game this summer. The boys all decided to go skydiving. I just told them "call me when you're on the ground". Why should a mother be nervous about those things???

May..O..May..O...May!

What a May! Such a fun, busy month.

It started with me running (and a little walking) my very first 5K with Missy. So fun! Jentry & Kylie go to Prom and Grandma makes her last coursage for the gang.

Last day of Public School.Grandma Dorothy comes to visit for Seminary Graduation...and for High School Graduation! YEAH!!! I am so happy...

And what more could we pack into May?? A new family addition????