play hard, crash hard

My grandpa grew up in the beautiful farming community of Tetonia, Idaho.  He and his family ranched, herded sheep, farmed, and worked hard.  The stories go on forever, and the legacy will never end.

The house my grandpa grew up in is still there, and is now partly owned by 12 family members.  We use it as a cabin and as a serene, quiet, beautiful vacation get-away from it all spot.

I have numerous memories of going there and playing with my cousins, endless games of pool in the basement, telling ghost stories in the creaky old bedrooms, building forts in the trees, wading in the creek, hiking Tablerock, skiing Targhee, and on and on and on.

I was pretty excited when an opportunity came up for me to take my own little flock to the "Tetonia house" for Labor Day.

My mom got us tickets to the Playmill, in West Yellowstone, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to show the kids the "quiet life" and also visit West Yellowstone.

The Playmill did not disappoint.  We were a little unsure about the whole thing, but it was awesome! The play was awesome, and the actors were very personal and really had fun with the audience.  Mary and Sam didn't budge the entire show.  The loved it.  William and Luke did the best they could, but of course, Ben and I had to take turns chasing them out in the foyer.  In between scenes, the actors would come out there though, and play with Luke and talk to us.  It made it fun.

Before the show, we looked through some adorable antique shops where I wanted to buy pretty much everything!

 

The playmill, and the drive to West Yellowstone, took up most of Saturday, and I forgot to bring toys for the kids, so we had to get a little creative on Sunday.

 

Sam and William spent most of the "quiet, serene, laid back" trip doing this.

All kidding aside, I honestly think they wrestled 70% of the time we were there.  So much for peace and quiet.  It was a zoo!  I brought the zoo to Tetonia.  They wrestle at home, but not nearly this much.  I don't know what got into them, but I was pretty embarrassed.  Boys will be boys I guess.

 

Mary and Sam learned the "old way" of doing the dishes without a dishwasher, and somehow they enjoyed it.  Thanks to grandma.

Of course, the amazing view of the Teton's out the window makes it all a little easier.

 

Naturally, grandma fed us like kings.

 

We had fun going through some old boxes.

 

We also made some crazy yummy homemade rootbeer.

 

The kids explored the barn, and found the swing in it. 

I have pictures somewhere, just not here yet.

 

 

All was fine and dandy, aside from my insane testosterone filled boys who thought that wrestling was the only form of entertainment available...

 

and then Sunday night happened.

 

Mary and both my parents, at the exact same time (3:00am) ran to the bathroom and puked their guts out.  They were all back an hour later, doing it again.  This went on all night, and in to the next day.

 

We were thinking food poisoning.

 

The next morning, Luke began throwing up as well.  Of course, I happened to be holding him, and just added his "spray" on to what was already stuck to me from a night helping Mary empty her stomach.  Awesome.

 

We decided it would be a good time to get home.  We brought my dad with us in our car.  He was still horribly sick, and due to throwing up so hard, threw out his back.

leaving Tetonia, barf bag in hand, and wearing an awesome assortment of
"sick man" clothes.

 

On the drive home, William threw up in the car all over himself, me (just add it to Mary's and Lukes), the door, the car, and everything else around him.  Oh yeah. 

 

We finally made it to Pocatello to drop my dad off. He collapsed on the couch and looked like death. I was standing in their living room feeling bad for my parents and my kids, and then it hit me.

 

During the 3 hour drive to Utah, I threw up profusely into garbage bags 5 separate times.  I thought I was going to die.  I ended up throwing up 18 times in the next 9 hours. It got to the point where I literally couldn't get back to the couch from the bathroom, I was that weak.  I just laid on the floor and waited for Ben to carry me back to the couch, where I threw up in a bowl from then on.

 

And so the plague went on.  It infected 99% of those of us who were at Tetonia.  Some of us worse than others.  The only lucky person...Kelsey's boyfriend.  Yup, lucky sucker.  That's what he gets for coming late and staying a short time.

 

I am on day 4, and still no end in site.  No food, or water will stay in my body. My family is still sick as well, but at least feeling like they are among the living.

 

I have never been so sick in my entire life, truly.  And I have had some horrible things.  Swine flu, mono, and so on.

 

I am currently waiting a call back from the Dr. to see when I need to go in and get an IV.  Yup, they suggested it 2 days ago, I should have listened then.  It's just kind of hard to find time to sit in a room hooked up to an IV when I have a family to take care of.  Go me.

 

Happy Labor Day!

 

 

 

 

sacred ground

While we lived in Colorado, Ben worked with a guy named Gil.  They became good friends, and the week we moved from Colorado Springs, we actually had a 4th of July party at his house. 

Life has an amazing way of things falling in to place.  In the three years we have been gone, Gil and his family moved into the ward boundary that housed our ward family there.  And even better, Gil decided to be baptized into our church.  He asked Ben to baptize he, and his daughter.

So, we packed our bags, drove 9 hours to Colorado Springs, and stepped on to sacred ground.  At least, that is what I have decided to call it.  Colorado Springs was more than home to us.  It is more than just a place we used to live.  It is more than just a home away from home.  It is sacred ground. 

The memories we made there, the friendships we gained, the experiences we had, and the lessons we learned there will forever be etched into our hearts.  Every time we go there, it all comes flooding back, and I don't think I will ever feel like a visitor there.  It is home, in it's own special way.  And when I am there, it feels as if we never left.

The trip was very fast, and very full.

We, of course, drove straight to Mike and Mel's in Denver, where we talked, laughed, reminisced, and basked in being together twice in one year!!  Oh yeah.  The trip was a little nuts, so I didn't take many pictures.  I don't have any of the Fortin's this time.  Rats.

We got up the next morning, and drove to Colorado Springs.  The beauty of that drive will never cease to amaze me. 

We went to Gil's house to see all of the amazing work they have done to it, and to visit with Gil and his family for a while.

Next, we met up with Ben's other friend and old co-worker, Art.  We ate at Jason's Deli, which is kind of a classic place for our family.

We raced from Jason's Deli, and barely made it to the baptism in time.  Words can't really describe what it was like to sit in a room full of our old friends and ward members, and be there for such a special occasion.  It was surreal.  Because I had all 4 kids to worry about, dress, keep quiet, and chase down, I spent most of the baptism out in the hall.  The few moments I did get to spend in that room though, were very sacred and so special.

After the baptism, we talked, reconnected and lingered with our friends and old ward for as long as possible.

Then, we changed in the church bathroom and zoomed over to another classic place for our family, Garden of the Gods.  It's majesty did not disappoint!

 

We then drove to our good friends house, the Murdocks.  Where they put together a Bar-be-que with all of our closest friends.  Those few hours spent basking in the goodness of my closest friends, talking like time had never passed, watching the kids play, and staring out at the beautiful mountains of Colorado Springs, made my heart feel like all was right in the world.  It was wonderful.

We slept at the Murdock's, in their gorgeous home, and then headed back to Denver the next day.  We spent the rest of that day with Mike and Mel, Tyler and Trevor.  Did I mention how awesome it was to see them twice this year!

Then it was up early, packing, and driving 10 hours back home.

The trip was fast, full, stressful, wonderful, fun, hard, spiritual, and so many other things.  I am so grateful that we had a time in Colorado Springs, and that there are just some things that time and distance can never erase.

first day

It is official.  We have a 1st and a 3rd grader in our home, well actually, at the school.

I have always loved the first day of school.  The excitement of seeing your friends again, meeting the new teacher, the bus stop, the crisp cool air in the morning, the upcoming fall.  Everything about it is magical.

It was so fun this morning to see and feel that same excitement in Sam and Mary.  With lunches packed, breakfast in the bellies, new clothes on, hair combed, bangs combed and curled over and over again, to get "just right", last minute hugs,  and family prayer said, they blasted out the door to a word of learning, friends,  and fun.

I am excited for them.  Good luck Mary and Sam!  The babies and I will miss you.

Here's to a new school year!

final result...almost

OK, remember that post forever ago, where I painted our bonus room in grey stripes.  Well, purple first, and then grey.

I keep forgetting to post the completed project.  And then I remember to post it, but the room is messy, or there is still one more picture to hang, or the reading nook isn't done, and so on.

But, it will be a while before the room is totally complete, so here is a picture of the "almost" final look for the loft/bonus room.

Please keep in mind that it is Sunday, Ben is gone until bedtime, and for a few minutes of sanity, I gladly let my kids build a fort right in the middle of the room. 

So here is the room...and the fort.


the reading nook will be in the wall that you can't see, to the right.  And yes, that is an infant bath tub, apparently, it makes a great door to a fort.

All of the artwork is done by my kids.  I have a lot more to hang, I just don't have them all framed yet.

More pictures coming in a few weeks, when the reading nook is all done...yeah!!!

the yard saga

Our goal was to have our yard in, and completed by the first week of August. 

We had it all planned out, and even gave ourselves some extra time, in case of a few setbacks.

Well, it is August 18th, and guess what.  We just got the trenching done yesterday.  Yup, yesterday.

Allow me...

Three months ago, or more, we called a landscaping company, who said they were backed up 3 weeks, and would come trench our yard at that point.  It seemed like a long wait, but we did it.

3 weeks came, and went.  Nothing.  Ben called them, and we got a, "Oh, well, um, we decided not to do your yard anymore.  We are on to bigger jobs."

Oh the rage.  Seriously people, was there not any minute of time during those 3 weeks that you could have told us that.  There goes 3 weeks, wasted.

We spent the next 2 weeks finding a new landscaper.  We called.  He said he would be here in 2 weeks.  He came 2.5 weeks later, told us our yard was too rocky for his equipment, and went on his way.

For crying out loud!!!!  Maybe you could have come and looked at our yard during that 2.5 week wait, and told us then.  Another 2.5 weeks wasted.

So, we called another landscaper, who said he would come in a week. 
Never showed up, never called, never heard from again.

Are you feeling the rage yet???  Oh, my blood was boiling, to say the least.

We called another guy, and got a quote so outrageous, I can't believe he even dared tell it to us.

In the main time, we are trying to get our cement patio extended out.  We called a cement guy.  He gave us a quote, and a date.  He never showed up.

We called another cement guy.  He gave us a quote, DOUBLE what that last guy gave us, and oh yea, he is backed up a month or so.

We called another guy, he measured, and never gave us a quote, or called back.

We called another guy, he quoted us 3 times more than any other quote...but he did show up.

We are now awaiting another guy, who will do our yard, as soon as "he finds a few more to do in our area."

I am not holding my breath.

BOO!  Boo! BOO!  Boo!  RRRAAARRRR.

Back to the trenching.  We called another guy.  He actually showed up!  He actually seemed honest.  He actually knew what the heck he was doing, and had the right equipment.  He was booked out 2 weeks, but we waited.  He never showed up.

I think I actually cried at this point.

Ben called him.  He was "out of town," and didn't bother to tell us, but promised us he would come this weekend.

And he did.  FINALLY!  They never called to tell us when they were coming, we just looked out our window Friday morning, and there they were.  I was not about to complain, and the boys loved all of the tractors.

Our yard is now rough graded and trenched and waiting for us to put in the sprinkler system tomorrow.

 

Then it is the hole for the trampoline, the dry riverbed foundation, top soil, leveling the top soil, and finally...

HYDRO SEED!!!!  GRASS!!!!  GRASS!!!  GRASS!!!

Just in time for fall and winter.  Oh yeah, go us.  I guess we can enjoy it next spring.

Next year will be the fun stuff!

The playground, the fire pit, trees, flowers, the dry river bed...complete with a bridge, and probably the patio, because I am seriously doubting anyone will actually do it this year.

Shame on all of those landscaping people.  Shame, shame, shame. 

In the words of the Lorax.... FOR SHAME!

young love

William and Annabell, the girl next door.  They walked to our house, hand in hand, ate a bowl of Apple Jacks,  and then ate popsicles on the porch and talked. 

I laugh hysterically every time I see this picture.  William's face tells it all.  "Got the girl mom...got the girl."

a weekend at grandmas

Bops boat rules!!!!

sweet rewards

Mary has been working on something for months now.  It was a very big goal, and was not one that was easy to obtain.  It had to do with working through some internal things, and learning to conquer her mind.

In order for her to reach her big goal, she had to take small steps.  For each step she accomplished, we set up a reward.  The bigger the step, the bigger the reward.

A few rewards were getting 2 pieces of jewelry, getting her nails done (the real deal), getting a snow cone, swimming, and so on.

Mary finally hit her goal a few weeks ago, and her big reward (chosen by her) was to ride a horse.

So, I checked around, and found someone in our ward that was more than willing to let Mary ride her horse.  She invited Sam as well.

They learned to how to get the horse to come to them, brush the horse, put on the saddle, and then ride it.

I knew my kids would enjoy the experience, but I had no idea they would LOVE it.  I think the word passion would be adequate to describe what I saw written all over Mary and Sam.

LOVE this picture of my little Heber cowboy with the gorgeous Timp. in the background.

Mary was allowed to ride the horse completely alone and in charge of the reins.  She grinned and grinned and grinned.

Luke and William came along as well. 
William wanted nothing to do with the horse.  He kept saying that he just wanted to ride a bull.  ha!  Someone loved the rodeo, especially the bull riding. He enjoyed cheering his older siblings on though.

Luke just wanted to play in the water.  He threw his binky in there, in hopes of me putting him in there to get it out.  No such luck.  Sorry Lukie.

The morning was a huge success.  Mary and Sam talked about it the entire way home, and both are begging for riding lessons.  hhhmmm, how far away is Christmas???

this is my town

This past week has been Fair Day's here in Heber.  It was our first time experiencing this, and it was pretty cool.

There was stuff going on all week, but we narrowed it down to just a few things.

We went to our first Heber parade, and it was a serious small town, candy throwing, band playing, horse riding, prom queen waving, cool car driving, good time.  In my opinion, it was how a parade should be.

We went to a parade in Park City on the 4th of July, and were so disappointed.  No candy, HUGE crowd, boiling hot, we had to walk or ride a shuttle forever  just to get to it, and it was not a good parade.  It felt to restricted and boring.  I figured that the days of good ol' fashion parades were over.

I was thrilled that the parade here was so much how I remember parades growing up.  The kids were enchanted with all of the noise, horses, fire trucks, cars and candy.  I loved how everyone knew at least someone on every float, there was a lot of clapping and cheering, and it was easy to find a spot to watch. We all had a great time!  Heber rocks!

Right after the parade, we dropped Luke at off at home with a babysitter and headed off to the Mountain Valley Stampeded Rodeo.

IT WAS AWEOMSOME!

They had sky divers drop in with the flag.
They started the rodeo with a prayer.
There was a guy on a motorcycle that jumped over a truck and a horse trailer.
There were 18 bull riders...much to Sam's delight.
There were calf ropers, barrel racers, clowns, and everything rodeo you can imagine.


It is actually one of the bigger pro rodeos in the circuit, and it did not disappoint.  It was so much fun.  It made me want to sell everything, move to a ranch, and have all us of become cowboys and cowgirls.  It was that cool!

The rodeo ended with an incredible firework show right over our heads.  I have been sad that most shows I go to now, don't have patriotic music to them anymore. 
This one did, and it was so cool.  It was a huge production, and we all loved it!

I smell a new tradition blooming for us.  This hit the top of the awesome list for our whole family.  Mary and Sam fell asleep talking about cowboys, bull riders, and fireworks.
I went to bed feeling rich, wholesome and fulfilled... and so grateful that my children were able to experience this feeling that is so quickly being lost in society.  The feeling of respect, patriotism, hard work, love for people and God, and strong commitments.
 Wow, we live in such an awesome town! 

I'm ok

Only a handful of people know, but I feel the obligation to write my experience down, so I am doing it.

On Monday, I was 5 weeks pregnant, and VERY excited.  By Tuesday night, I was not pregnant anymore.  On Wednesday, with a big hug, and a kiss on the head, my Dr. confirmed what I already knew.

Miscarriages, are very common, and a lot of women have them, (somewhere around 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage) but it doesn't take away from the emotional toll and frustration they can take. 

To be honest, I am actually doing really well.  Of course, I am sad, and my heart dropped when I realized what was going on, but I am also OK.

I attribute it to a few things. 

#1  I was struggling, and I received a priesthood blessing from Ben. I immediately received a huge hug from my Heavenly Father, and a deep, sweet peace in my heart.  I knew that my baby was being taken care of, and that it was much better off being taken back home, than staying here.  It just wasn't the right time. The peace I received that night has stayed with me, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

#2  I have been through a horrible miscarriage experience when I was 16 weeks pregnant.  Through direct prompting from the Lord, I blogged about it as I went through it, starting here. 
Everything that could have gone wrong did.  Bleeding out, ambulance ride, passing out in hospital, MRI, D & C that went wrong, 35% blood loss, contracting mono from the hospital stay, and so on.  It took months to heal from that physically, even longer emotionally.  It was an experience that rocked me to the core.  I am so grateful that, if this baby was not going to make it, that it was taken early this time.

#3 I now know that with all of the crazy things my body is doing, I can still get pregnant.  This has given me a lot of hope and joy.  We weren't sure this would still be possible.  Now I know that it is.  It is now a matter of my body being able to carry a baby.

#4 Ben.  He is amazing.  This happened right after a talk we had about how his job is getting a little more busy/stressful.  He has missed work the past few days, without a word of complaint.  He has given me hugs, strength, hope, and a cookie dough milkshake.  He has taken the kids, let me rest and let me talk.  He has cleaned the house and helped feed the minions. He is my everything, and I love him so much.

Of course I am sad, and I mourn what could have been.  It is not comfortable physically, at all, but that will pass soon I hope.  I am extremely nervous about this happening again as well.  I don't know how many miscarriages a girl can take.

I am also at peace though, and know that this baby will come at the right time.  God has a plan for this child of ours, and he will bring it about when the time is right. This child has been a LONG time coming, and has a big purpose here in our home and in our lives.  Of that, I have no doubt.

I just hope it is sooner than later.  I want to bring my angel home.