Rhett

The week after school got out Rhett and his best friend Raegan decided they wanted to do a jump rope camp together.  It was 3 days of fun learning some cool tricks with their jump ropes.  They loved it and they loved being together!

 On June 12, Rhett's scout group hiked to Lower Palisades Lake in Irwin.  It was a LONG (8 mile) hike, but these 10 year olds did AMAZING! We were all hurting, especially our feet, by the end but all had a great time together!

 Mark, Jackson, Rhett and Koah

What troopers! So proud of them that they made it to the lake and back again!

What a Joke!

Sometimes when Ryan and Dale need an extra hand I become "that" extra hand! I have done some crazy things with these two.  I usually love every minute of it.  This day.....not so much! 

Stan was sending these two to treat the lake at the ranch for the moss.  They thought they would go up, fire-up Dales old little motor boat, hurry and treat the lake and come right back home.  The kids were in their last week at school so I headed up to help.  When we got there Dale's boat was full of rain water from sitting outside.  And not only was it full....it was the NASTIEST WATER EVER!! There were some mice that had made a nest in the boat at some point so this water was full of that PLUS stunk like NOTHING ELSE!! It took us 15 minutes just to drain the boat, then another 30 to fix the two popped tires on the boat. Then we had to put it on the charger for a good 30 minutes because the battery was dead.  Once we finally got to the lake the place we had to put the boat in was SOOOO MUDDY Dale's truck about sunk and we were worried it wouldn't make it back out pulling the boat. We finally got in the water and had a system where Dale drove, Ryan spread the moss killer and I kept his bucket of moss killer full.  The moss killer is nasty and can make you sick if you don't wear a mask.  It started out pretty good....till the boat DIED! So Dale and I ended up rowing Ryan all over the lake in this big heavy boat so he could spread this chemical that kept getting all over all of us while riding in the stinkiest boat EVER! We survived and we were able to pull out of the lake in the super slick mud even.  What a crazy day with these two!! I sure love the time I get to spend with them! Most of those times are ones I will NEVER forget! :)

Floating the Canal

One Saturday just before school got out Ryan came in late afternoon and started to change from his work boots to his tennis shoes and announces to the kids, "Put your shoes on if you want to go kayaking with me!" WHAT??!! That is TOTALLY NOT Ryan! He had only been on the kayak once even! The kids immediately started getting their shoes on. We thought he was taking us to the cabin, but when we got outside he was loading the kayaks on the flatbed truck to float the canal! They had let a bunch of water out of it because of how much rain we had gotten and so it was shallow enough to even kayak under the bridges.

 The three big kids are off! Scary!

 This little girl went too.  We had forgot their life jackets at the house but decided since we could see the bottom that they would be ok.  Just after Laiklie went under this bridge she got pulled to the side where a branch caught the under side of her kayak and flipped it.  When it flipped it she went under.  It was cold and scary! Luckily I was there on the bridge watching it all.  I had to yell SEVERAL times to "just stand up!" She was in such a panic she didn't realize she could touch.  Poor thing! It was the last time she got in the canal for the day! I don't blame her!

 

 We even talked this big guy, Uncle Dale, into climbing out of the swather and trying it out.  So fun! He kept racing the kids! He also helped rescue the shovel that Ryan lost when he was trying to use it as a paddle. Hahahaha!

What a fun time! Ryan is a great dad and this was a great surprise.  We floated it 3 times in a row that evening and other than Laiklie falling in and Ryan falling in (it was his own fault BAHAHAHAHAHA!!) we had a blast!

Cows, Ugh!

This year Ryan and Dale decided to AI the 140 heifers we had between us and Stan instead of spending the money to buy bulls.  It ended up being a long process of heat checking, AI'ing, chasing cows and running them through the chute a million times. We learned pretty quickly we didn't get to choose when it was time to AI and sometimes it was cold, miserable weather....and other times it was hot miserable weather.  Either way I was so grateful to see the tail lights of the semi as it hauled the heifers off to the ranch for the summer!

 This is Ryan out in the POURING RAIN on one of the days we had to run them through the chute to AI.

There were several days he enlisted the help of the kids and on one such day by the time I got to the porch to put on my muck boots all pairs my size were gone.  My kids are getting too close to my size!! So I hurried and threw on my cowboy boots thinking the ones wearing the muck boots would be the ones in the poop. 

 I was wrong. When cows decide to fight, as heifers do so often, they scare the kids.  I don't blame them, they scare me too.  I was the lucky one that got to dart infront of a couple heifers that were being a pain and I ended up right in the nasty! It was about as thick and slick as it could be. 

 You might notice I only have on one sock in my boot. Yep, my boot on the other foot got stuck in the crap and my foot flew out and landed right in the same crap. YUCK! So my sock had to be stuck in my pocket and bare foot in the boot.  Nasty! Good thing I like helping Ryan with this kinda stuff!!

 I also got the crappy seat this day! I was next to the chute when Laiklie yelled, "Mom, that cow is farting and pooping at the same time!" just then it also swung it's tail through it and I ended up covered! So gross!

You can see my sock in my pocket. What a crazy few days! Darn cows!

Memorial Day 2015

We did our usual visit to the cemeteries Memorial Day morning.  This year it was a little different because it was the first time visiting my Grandpa Jacobson's grave.  It is hard to lose grandparents....even when your 35 years old. Then we went to my Aunt LaNae's for the usual family picnic.  I LOVE memorial day.  I get to see a lot of my cousins and their kids and it is always fun to visit and let the kids play. Such a nice day!

 Dallin going in for a lay-up.

 They pulled out the high jump bar again this year.  My aunt has had this since I was little and we loved it then and they love it now! It is always a crowd pleaser! Rhett can JUMP! He was REALLY good at this!

 Laiklie has some incredible jumping skills too.  I was surprised at how long she lasted as they raised the bar.

Dallin and Oakley on the other hand struggled a little bit. Hahahaha! It is amazing to see the differences in all 4 of my kids.  They are all given different talents and abilities and it is fun to see them all be good at different things!

 Then of course I forgot my cell phone and had to have my sister bring it...so I got several super fun selfies of her and these kids! :) Love it! What a great day!

End of the School Year! YAY!!

We had all sorts of fun things happening at the end of the school year.  Field trips and programs and parties!

 Rhett was in 4th grade this year so he learned all about Idaho History and a lot of other historical things.  His field trip was to a place that showed them life in the olden days.  So cool.  It had a general store, a old school house, an indian pueblo and a place to pan for gold even.  They had a great time even though it was a cold rainy day!

 Rhett's class also did a 4th grade play.  He was James Monroe. He wanted to be the dog and even tried out for it.....but so did 12 other kids.  He got called back for a second round and his teacher told me they picked a boy from the other 4th grade class so they had to pick a girl from his class.  She said if they had needed a boy from hers it would have been Rhett.  She said he did great on his speaking part and song solo for tryouts.  What a BRAVE boy.  I NEVER would have done a solo in front of my class at that age.  He teacher wanted him to have a speaking part and so he was given James Monroe.  He was good at it, even though it wasn't his favorite. :)

The same day as Rhett's class play was the 6th grade track meet that Dallin was in.  Each 6th grader had to do 2 events.  After practicing for weeks and weeks Dallin was given the 400 meter run and the Frisbee throw as his two events.  He did great on both!

 They were told they would throw 3 times and count their best.  When they got there though that isn't how they did it.  They got ONE throw is it! He didn't know that till after his throw and he was TICKED! It took a little while to get him to settle down (the teenager is coming out in him!! AHH!) He was upset....but out of 25+ kids he took 5th! So we were very proud of him!

 Dallin and Nathan with their Frisbees.  They had a great year in 6th grade and came home pretty blue the last day of school.  They are going to miss elementary, but are on to bigger and better adventures!

 This was the two 6th grade classes last day of school party with their teachers! These are some great kids and some of Dallin's very best friends!

Laiklie got to go on a "walking" field trip this year where they walked to the city building to meet the mayor, then to the police/fire station, the candy shop (my favorite) and the park for a bbq.  It was a fun day to spend with her and her class.

Look at that smile! It's the smile of a girl that just got to honk the horn on the fire truck!:) 

Laiklie met Blaire this year at school and have become very best friends! Life is better with a best friend! We have prayed for this for the past 2 years and are so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that put Blaire in the same class as Laiklie this year. 

 We had the awards ceremony at the end of the school year again and all 3 of these littles got awards in the physical fitness program! Yay!

 Dallin also got an Academics award.  They announced about an academic award where you had to score 1 year above your reading level in either math or reading, and have a 3.5 GPA and when Dallin's name wasn't announced it didn't surprise me too much.  Dallin struggles with reading and we were just proud of his good grades this year.  Then they announced they were going to give out an award to the kids that tested 2 grade levels above on BOTH their reading and math tests and kept a 4.0 GPA and I kind of tuned out thinking NO WAY would Dallin get it.  But then what do you know.....about 1/2 way through the list of about 10 kids THERE WAS MY BOYS NAME!!! I seriously about fell off my chair! I had NO IDEA his grades and test scores were SO GOOD! I had to hold back the tears right there in the gym!! And of course I didn't get a picture of it because I didn't have my camera ready not knowing he was getting the award! SOOO PROUD of him and my other 3 that worked hard this year and had a great school year! Summer break HERE WE COME!!

National Dance Competition '15

It's time again for our National Dance Competition! Yay!! This is what we work so hard for year after year! And it was another incredible year for both Oakley and Laiklie! Other than the miserable weather.....:(

 Friday Oakley danced all her individual stuff.  This year she danced 3 long duets (One in Champ and two in Pro), 2 short duets, an acapella duet, freestyle, acappella and her 5 solos (plus the 3 group dances she danced Saturday).  She also danced most of her individual events off again Friday night at the "Dance Off."  Friday the sun was shining and the girls danced great.  They don't do any awards till Saturday night so Oakley danced and danced and danced and then went back to the hotel knowing that she had done all she could do and then she just had to wait.

 Laiklie on the other hand did all of her dancing on Saturday.  She danced 2 group dances, 5 solos and a short duet. It was SOOOO COLD! And hard to even take off her jacket, but once she got on stage she put on her smile and danced great! Her short duet was my favorite!

 Laiklie (skinny legs on top picture and Left of the teacher on bottom picture)

 After dancing we hit the extremely cold, extremely wet rides! Once we were all good and wet and cold we ran back to the hotel.  We left the 3 little kids there to swim with grandma and cousins and Ryan, Oakley and I ran back over for the awards ceremony.

America Onstage puts on a great show that night.  They have a Pro Dance Off so you see the very best of the best and then they announce awards for Friday's dance off.  I prayed and prayed and prayed that Oakley's name would be announced with the All-American Dancers again this year.  She has worked harder this year than ever before.  She has spent HOURS at the dance studio trying to get ready.  She deserved an All-American Award and I knew it! So......when they announced her name I CRIED! I was beyond excited for my girl!

Oakley and Brooklyn LOVE to dance.  Oakley told me the other day that Brooklyn makes her want to be a better dancer.  Those are the kind of people I was my daughter surrounded by.  The kind that make her want to be better! These girls teach at the dance studio together so during down time they work their guts out! They both got All-American awards this year on top of several firsts, seconds and even a high gold! Soooo proud!

Laiklie came home with 3 firsts and 3 seconds this year too! She is turning into an amazing dancer just like her big sis! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE watching my girls dance!