Nolan's Final Flag Football Game

I know that it has been awhile for us, no excuses to give and none would be good enough anyway. Today was Nolan's last football game. These are pictures from last week. All we got today from his game is live video footage. I was the head coach and it was a good experience to be in that role for different reasons and other reasons I didn't care for. All in all the team had a winning season and I could see improvement from each boy (some more than others) which is what these sports are all about. Nolan is getting more and more confident in his abilities now that he is getting to understand the sport and himself better.

Silver Mountain High!

We were able to go Kellogg, ID to Silver Mountain ski resort with Gina's cousin and family and take the gondola up to the top and do some hiking and just enjoy the cool mountain air. We all had a great time exploring more of this beautiful area up here.

Summer Swimming

Gina and the kids were able to go swimming at Aunt Kami's mom's house just outside of Spokane. They had a great time in the pool. This may be a frequent place throughout the summer to go especially with these crazy high temperatures.




and here's our cute little Buddha

He's official!

Nolan has been bugging us for quite sometime about getting his own set of golf clubs and today they showed up. At night time he takes them out and puts them in the back of the car by his dad's so he's ready. He goes out and tells them good night before he goes to bed and then when he wakes up he goes and tells them good morning (what a little whip!). He is excited to go out and start using them.

Baking

Vanessa woke up from her nap and lots of fun in the flour!


Getting the pies ready for the oven. We made fresh blueberry and peach pie(they were delicious). The kids also learned how to wash the blueberries.


Yesterday I decided I wanted to make rolls to go with corn chowder for dinner. I don't care that it is 90 plus degrees outside I like to bake. I also decided to make some pies for a church activity on Saturday with we didn't end up going to. So after I layed Vanessa down for her nap I started to make the rolls and of course I have 2 little helpers right by my side. I have a hard time letting them help me in the kitchen because I want to do things right then and I don't want to take the time to teach because I feel like I don't have the time but I tried really hard yesterday to let them help and be calm. They learned how to measure flour. It was hard but we all survived!

Moving

The kids were so excited to sit in the truck with Ryan. Nolan and Madelyn were even arguing about who would ride with him so they were going to take turns. Nolan started out with Ryan and the next day it was supposed to be Madelyn but she wouldn't ride with him so Nolan rode the whole way in the truck and loved every minute of it!

This is the 26 foot truck that we filled up and we still left some things behind to pick up later. When I first saw the truck I thought there is no way we will fill this whole thing up but we sure had collected a lot of stuff over the past 3-1/2 years we lived in Utah. It was really hard to leave all of our friends but we are excited to be in Post Falls, ID and to have Ryan come home every night after work instead of coming home every 2-1/2 weeks!

Baseball

Keep your eye on the ball.

It's out of here!

He had a good season and a good coach who happened to be our neighbor in Utah.

Madelyn's Preschool Graduation

It is hard to believe that we will have two kids in school now. Madelyn graduated from her preschool May 21st. She had so much fun in her school. She made lots of friends and even knows who she is going to marry(Truman he has his hand on his face)! She was always coming home with stories of her and Truman and then sometimes it was Joe but most of the time it was Truman. She just said the other day how she loves Truman and is going to marry him. She is funny! Her teacher Miss Liz was awesome!

Sliding down the stairs!

I remember when I was younger sliding down the stairs in a sleeping bag and it was so much fun so when Madelyn and Vanessa started doing it I didn't want to deprive them of so much fun! I let them do it a couple of times and it was so much fun to see them laughing and having fun.

The Game of Life

The kids and I took a trip to Idaho to see family and friends since Nolan was off track for three weeks. We stayed in Kamiah, Boise, Twin Falls and Springfield where we had to cut the trip short because Nolan got sick. We had planned to go Montpelier but headed home a couple of days early. It was fun to see family and friends. While in Kamiah it snowed and rained pretty much the whole time but the kids did have fun being with Grandpa and Grandma Rupp. One day I came downstairs to find Nolan playing Life with Grandpa and Grandma was asleep on the chair. As I listened to Nolan he was moving the cars for everyone which included Grandma. She started out awake and then fell asleep but Nolan kept right on playing for her. He was having fun! After about ten days in Kamiah we headed to Boise and stayed a night with our fiends Larry and Ruthanne. The kids had fun playing with their kids. We then headed to Twin Falls to stay with Cameron and Teresa while there we had cake and ice cream for the April birthdays, Damien April 6th, Madelyn April 12th and Derrick April 16th. The kids loved this! Then we headed to Springfield to stay with Roddlee and Angela. Nolan started feeling sick that night so we headed home. It was fun to visit everyone but it was good to be home. Thanks to everyone who put up with us! We love our family and friends and are very thankful for all you do for us!

Trip to Idaho

Jr. Jazz Visitor - Paul Millsap

The finale that the kids got to go to for the Jr. Jazz was a visit from one of the Jazz players. They don't tell anybody who the player is going to be until he shows up. This year it was Paul Millsap. He is a very humble guy and doesn't talk to much which is kind of a bad thing when you throw someone like that in front of hundreds of people. Kids are already excited to see a Jazz guy, so it would have been good to show some kind of excitement for the kids, but I guess you can't be someone/something your not. It was still fun to be there and watch the good time the kids were having.

Nolan's Final Jr. Jazz Game

Tonight was the end of Nolan's first year in Jr. Jazz. He developed into a pretty good player from the beginning to the end. He scored 2 baskets tonight which is pretty good when the kids at that age aren't really pass happy. Whenever you get the ball you have to fend for your own. He had a great time and we are already knocking on the door for baseball sign-ups - next week!!!

Nolan's 7th Birthday

We were able to survive a birthday party for Nolan hosting 8 of his little buddies. He sure had a great time! We thank all those that showed up to support him and brought him gifts. We are sure proud of him and can't believe that a year from now he will be entering the waters of baptism. He is a good big brother!

Ice Fishing

I was finally able to do some ice fishing. You would think of all the years I spent in Bear Lake that I would have done some of that, but I didn't. I have a friend here in the ward that is very big into fly fishing and ice fishing and this year because of him I have been able to do both for the first time in my life. Maybe the skills or his teaching but I caught fish in both instances :). Here are some pictures of our trip to Strawberry reservoir yesterday with just the boys and then our trip close by at Cozey reservoir with the kids. Both days were good weather and I'm looking forward to more trips in the future. Actually going on the 24th with the Elders Quorum!