Back to School

Yes, the girls started school almost a whole month ago. I am that behind! Jozlyn was so excited to go to 1st grade and Haylie Jo started Kindergarten! At White Pine Charter School they have all-day kindergarten so to see Haylie Jo go was bittersweet. I will miss having her around all the time but I know she is in good hands and is learning skills that will benefit her whole life. Here are just a few pics from the first few days.

Waiting for the bus.

Getting on the bus.


At school waiting for the first bell.

Bear Scare Update

Remember the scary bear story on my last blog? Well, I found out more. My dad talked to the other cabin owners that share our gate, and asked if they had been picking any of the huckleberries that grew over where the cattle grazed. They said they hadn't been eating them, but they had seen a huge (they said it was HUGE!) mother black bear around the cabins lately eating the berries! The kids told us where they had seen the bear and it was only yards away from where they were playing. I just had to thank God that our kids were kept safe from harm that day. I wonder if the cows distracted the bear enough for them to go unnoticed or whether they were not seen as a threat. Whatever happened, it simply sickens me to know that anyone of them could have been seriously hurt, and especially my Haylie Jo who couldn't bear to part with her $2.50 flip-flop from Old Navy. I told her, "If you ever see a bear, you run and scream like crazy. Leave the shoe behind!"

Friday Getaway

Last Friday, the girls and I went up to Palisades Lake to go boating with my family. We had a blast! My dad's friend came up too and had the most awesome tube anyone had ever seen. Jozlyn and Haylie Jo thought they were so brave. Haylie Jo was the first to want to ride the tube and everyone soon joined in. Jozlyn got so brave she stood up while going fast!

The scariest thing happened while we were there. While we were waiting for my dad to hitch up the boat, the girls, my niece and 2 nephews went off to explore a little. Soon, we heard them screaming and turned to see them running down the hill at full speed. Jaxon shouted, "We saw a bear!" Haylie Jo lost her shoe and went back! I was never more scared than I was at that moment. I just knew a bear was going to come out of the trees and eat my little girl! We all yelled her name until she came back (with her shoe) and we jumped in the car. A narrow escape from such a dreadful death!

Jozlyn and Haylie Jo with Great-Grandpa Anderson


The girls on the boat!


Haylie Jo swimming


Jozlyn swimming


Haylie Jo on the tube. Can you see her?


Jozlyn tubing too!


My dad with his life jacket on like a diaper. Do they ever grow up? :)

Does TV Brainwash your Children?

Do any of you think that watching TV brainwashes your children? A few years ago many people would have said yes, but now, with all the technology that helps us gain new information, TV couldn't hurt right? Well, consider the conversation I had with my girls over dinner tonight.

Me: "Jozlyn eat over your plate. That food will stain."
Jozlyn: "Yeah, everything stains."
Haylie Jo: "Especially white. Everything stains white."
Jozlyn: "Except with Oxy Clean. Oxy clean gets rid of stains."
Haylie Jo: "Even on white. Oxy clean gets stains off white."
Jozlyn: "And it's safe on colors, even red!"
Haylie Jo: "It gets stains out of everything, even carpet."
Jozlyn: "Maybe it would get that juice stain out of our carpet."
Haylie Jo: "Oxy Clean gets the toughest stains out."

Jozlyn and Haylie Jo in unison: "So mom...can we buy it? Can we buy Oxy Clean?"

I had this eerily feeling that someone coached them, and I felt like I was watching an infomercial. So, I ask you again....Does watching TV brainwash your children?

Brooke and Jett Come to Visit!

We were so excited to be surprised by Brooke, our sister-in-law, and baby Jett this last week. They live in Calgary, Canada and were not able to come down for the 4th. We thought we'd never get the time we want with them. Jett Joshua Berry was born on March 4th, 2009 and is cute as a button. Jozlyn basically wanted to be his mom, she fed him, held him, played with him, and talked baby talk like a seasoned mom. By the next time we see them, Jett will probably be crawling!

Josh showing Jett his first soccer ball. I've never seen Josh want to hold a baby that wasn't his... until Jett. Maybe it's the name.


Jozlyn reading Jett a touch and feel book.


Aunt Brooke and baby Jett.

Gardens at BYUI

As I rolled over in bed to gaze at the face of my loving husband, he opened his eyes and said, "I'm scheduled to work everyday this week." What! It's hard having him gone so much, but that's what he has to do to support our family. I told him that we should go for a drive somewhere and have a picnic, being that we won't see him for a week. The spot we chose...the Botanical Gardens at BYU-Idaho. Neither of us had been there before and to say it was beautiful would be an understatement.

My camera did not do these flowers justice.


Josh and the girls.


Jozlyn took this picture of us having our picnic.

The 4th on the Falls

This is officially my last post about the 4th of July. There were just too many cute pictures for only one post. Well, for the fireworks on the 4th of July we were fortunate enough to have a room at the Red Lion Hotel on the Falls. Josh booked it a whole year ago and I had forgotten we had it. We felt like VIP's to have a reserved parking spot and to watch the fireworks from the comfort of a balcony that had a perfect view. To be able to go straight to bed and not fight the traffic was also a major plus. Fun was had by all.

Me and the girls at the hotel waiting for the rest of the family.


The girls


The boys


Josh's idea for the picture but I couldn't complain.


The girls after the fireworks were over. Notice the remnants of licorice on their faces?