Fruit of our Labor ...

We have been working on our garden here in Star Valley for months now. This picture was taken early on when the onions, peas, potatoes, and green beans were just starting to come up. Dad devised our "deer fence" by stringing empty coke cans around the garden as a somewhat distraction for keeping them out. I thought it was quite funny - but it has certainly worked on keeping the larger animals out. All around the garden we have iris and daisy's growing which have been blooming. On the one end of the garden dad has been growing evergreens for a couple of years now and perhaps next summer they will get transplanted in to the yard.

This past week we have been picking the peas. Max has had so much fun going out with the bowls, pulling the peas off and getting them out of their shells. For lunch on Friday we picked fresh peas and pulled up some of the potatoes so we could have baby potatoes and peas for lunch. This week we will be harvesting raspberries. I can't wait. We have about three red ones so far but, they will be coming on here pretty quick.

Max shelling the peas with Grandma Tippets

Oh Where Have We Been?

We have been pretty busy this summer and these photo's take you through June & July 2010. We had a great visit with Mark in May with his family and of course the time went too fast. After Mark left to go back to Afghanistan, Max and I headed north to Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming with mom & dad Tippets. These are in reverse order but here is a recap of our adventures this summer thus far!

Max swimming in SLC at our hotel ...

anytime there is swimming available, Max will be there!

Max with cousins Jatae & Nakiya at the Monte L. Bean Museum at BYU Provo.

Childrens Rodeo - Thayne, Wyoming (Max did not ride the sheep or calf's!)

Max & Grandpa Tippets cutting the lawn at Star Valley Ranch, WY.

Last night dinner at Lake Keuka, NY - celebrating Grandpa

& Grandma Tippets 50th Wedding Anniversary ...

Lake Keuka, NY - We all went for a ride on the raft!

Water balloons with cousins in Lake Keuka, NY!

Soooo tired! Lake Keuka rental house.

Helping Grandma with rice krispie treats - NY.

Grandpa & Grandma Tippets with all their grand kids

Sacred Grove, Palmyra, NY

Max waiting and waiting for cousins to arrive

... finally fell asleep at 11:20 pm!

First night in NY at our crazy HOT hotel!

Grandma Bridges & Max at Palisades Reservoir.

Grandpa Bridges, Uncle Garrett & cousins at Palisades Reservoir

July 4th Celebration!

July 3rd at Star Valley Ranch - kids games!

Star Valley Ranch - Max & Grandpa Tippets

The day after the big fall on the deck stairs - NO broken jaw but,

Max did not eat for 24 hours, x-rays, bloody mouth, pain ... not fun!

Fathers Day - June 2010 - SVR, Wyoming

Pocatello, Idaho - Visiting Heather & Curtis Sandy

Local Community Pool

Montpelier, Idaho ... on our way to SVR, Wyoming

Bryce National Park, Utah - early June 2010

Oh so long ....

It has definitely been a while since I have posted. Feeling guilty ... but have been terribly busy as well. To recap and I'll get pictures posted soon:

Mark arrived home on R&R ... almost two days late this time.

R&R ALWAYS goes to fast ... but none-the-less we had a GREAT time!

Max and I packed up everything AGAIN and moved back to Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming with mom & dad Tippets.

Max completed his first year of pre-school.

I sold ALL of my plate inventory to a woman who decided to go in to business for herself selling decoupage plates .... this would be the second person I introduced the plates too.

Max had multiple trips to the ER this past month ... flu, double ear infections, possible broken jaw .... which happy to report was not broken.

Max and I traveled to Pocatello, ID to visit old friends from Virginia ... Curtis & Heather Sandy and had a great little getaway!

So, I am sure there are a few other things that I am forgetting ... but I will post pictures soon.

Traveling Home ... R&R Time!

Today is Thursday May 13, 2010. This morning at 6:40 am Mark landed back in the United States at Dulles Airport having traveled for days from his base to Kandahar, to Dubai and then on to the States. My heart is so happy that he was able to all of this once again safely and without any travel problems with the airlines. He will spend the next few days in Virginia visiting Justin and friends then he will travel here on Sunday morning. Max and I have been counting down the days on our calendar until it is time to pick him up! We are so excited to have the next two weeks with him. Happy day for all of us! We love when daddy comes home!

Mothers Day at Montessori Preschool

Today mom's were invited to come to school with the kids to see them work and to celebrate Mothers Day. Max and I were both excited to be together in his school. The preschool area is designed with four different rooms were there is various "work stations" set up for the children. The children are free to roam about each room and work independently as much as possible. Max is given a lesson each day with one teacher one-on-one and it will pertain to math or letter instruction with sounds, drawing out the letters, reviewing pictures, saying various words, etc. I can see so much progress with Max and his social skills. Counting, learning to wait his turn or raise his hand, being able to pour juice, water, etc. picking up various thinking strategies, etc. I can no wait for Mark to be able to go school with him when he gets home. I think Max is going to have a ball introducing his dad to his friends! Here are some photo's of today's visit:

Working on threading beads on to a string

The children sang a mothers day song & five little ducks went out to play .... video to come


Max had to take my picture too ...

Max & Logan working on colors (Logan also knows the colors in Spanish)

Max is using tongs to pick up very small fuzzy balls.

Max is working on rebuilding the house.

Play time ... which includes a huge sand box ...

we get at least a cup of sand in the car every day!

My New Life

My New Life

So I can not seem to figure out how to completely download this video, but if you take 10 minutes to click on the link above entitled, "My New Life" you will hear a short video on a woman named Stephanie who has a whole new perspective on life and motherhood. It will completely give you a new perspective on your life and the blessings that you have.

I hope you will take the time to view. Let me know what you think.

Our New Sleigh!

This past weekend we took the plunge .... I bought our family a "new to us" Ford Explorer! It is a 2009 with a third row with two seats ... or you can have lots of trunk space. Mark and I decided to trade our truck in and get a car that will hold all of us and luggage, etc. We had sold our Honda Accord last summer, used the truck to get us across country and have been using it ever since. But, after much thought and search here in St. George, we decided on this beautiful red Explorer. Runner up to the Explorer was the Pilot but in the end the numbers, mileage, color, etc. went to Ford. We plan to have this car for many many years and we are looking forward to picking Mark up in it on the 16th of this month for his next R&R trip! Can't hardly wait!