Moseby Park Year 2 - July 21 - 26

 The call of the mine - this has been our call over the 24th of July since before we have been married (what's that about 47 years now).  Curt and Adrian wanted to go back this year.  Brent and Clare Padilla and their kids - Audrey and family, Whitney and husband, John himself, and Addie and husband were also there.  It was a very good time and well worth the time getting to know Brent and Clare's family.

The kids played with cousins and entertained each other.  We were invited to celebrate Hadley's 7th birthday by making ice cream in a bag and eating cake the Audrey had brought.  We shared Camp Chef's with each other and several people learned how to ride motorcycles - Mel, Jesse, Brooke, Lauren and Colton.

Yup, that's little Jesse riding all by himself under the bike's power!

Go grandpa!!!

Inside the mine with only cell phone lights.

Island Park - The Family Together Again, July 6 - 12

 Last year, during the pandemic, our entire family gathered at Rich Poll's cabin in Island Park, Idaho, and had a tremendous time.  They all wanted to gather there again this year.  Last year it was the first of June and lots of mosquitos; this year it was July and hot weather with lots of horseflies.  Only the triplets got bad bites that bled; they looked like they had chicken pox.  I guess they must be sweet little morsels.

Each year, Rich has had a project for the family.  This year it was taking down a 1/2 mile of pole fencing so the people who lease the property for cattle could put up new barbed wire fencing.  What they anticipated to take 2 days only took a few hours.  Our family is a great work crew.

No one went to Yellowstone this year because we had lots of other activities such as shooting, feeding the fish in Rich's fish pond and riding motorcycles and side-by-sides.  Sometimes, the activity was just sitting around.

Grandma and grandpa planned a t-shirt activity this year to tie-dye shirts.  We all had a great time designing our shirts and loading them up with lots of color.  We hung them out on the branches of the pines for the initial dry and the next day, grandma made the mistake of taking them to Simonsen's and drying them in a dryer.  I've got to think of a good parable for this mistake - all the shirts turned out with a gray tone.  The wet shirts in the dryer all hit against each other and transferred some bluish gray overtones to the white parts of the shirt.  Next time, just rinse them out and line dry them for nice white color!  BUT - it was a great family activity for everyone!

This will be our Christmas card picture for 2021!!!

Let me tell you, that water was cold.  I had to keep taking my feet out so they wouldn't freeze.

Perhaps the best activity was the day we went down the Buffalo River.  Rich and Brett loaned us kayaks and Brett had a five-man raft.  We thought that would be best for the four five-year olds and smaller children - but, they all ended up double in a kayak and Curt and Marc paddled the raft.  We saw four moose that just watched us float by.  The river was very calm and slow.  A great day.

The best part of  this whole trip was just being together.  I love watching our children be parents, our grandchildren learn and talk to us about stories we remember and the joy of being with each other and having fun!

And sometimes you just fall asleep from all the fun!

It's May of 2021

 The end of May brought new neighbors for us - Anita and Joe Walker and John and Carol Padilla.  They bought Terry and Annette Larson's home and moved in just before Memorial Day.  It will be a nice time having family close like this.  We have shared meals already and will share lots of things in the future.  We even have John and Carol going to the movies with us on Tuesdays.  Anita comes when she is not working.  I look forward to getting to know Joe; a very talented guy.

News from the Family March and April 2021

 I've never been much of a gun person, but I felt it was time to buy a gun.  We bought two .22 caliber pistols.  This is mine; a 1911 Browning.  Just a little gun for my little hands.

Kacy lost her first tooth in March.  She is very proud.

Just this last week, April 23rd, Kacy participated in her first dance competition.  Wow, what a beautiful young lady.  Does she have to grow up so quickly?

It was hat day at pre-school for Lauren, Brookelyn and Jesse.  It's been fun to hear them read, also.  They call me on Facetime and read to me.  They are certainly ready for kindergarten.  Jesse is playing baseball, the girls are playing basketball.  Curt said that Brookie dunked the ball at their last game.

The end of March, the house next door to us (south - Terry and Annette's) went up for sale.  Anita and Carol have been looking for a home to build or buy for over 6 months and so we had them rush down.  It was one in Brio they had considered building - until the lot bidding process went into effect.  So, because we knew Larsen's we were able to get them a preferred buyer status.  That didn't stop the price bidding on the home.  Within 24 hours, there were 30 bids, 10 were more or less cash offers.  The final price was $625,000.  That's ridiculous for this home, but that's the market today.  Too many California and Washington buyers coming in with cash and escalating the prices.  Anyway, they are going to be our next door neighbors.  They move in May 27.  Welcome neighbors.

Adrian and Todd are taking the boys to CanCun in mid-May.  She can't wipe the smile off Cameron and Taylor's faces because the trip came with scuba diving lessons.  It's a dream come true.