Putting down some new roots!

So I realize this is the first post in 6 months - want to know why???  Of course you do!  Here's a quick (believe me there's more, I took pictures of every thing) peak at the building of our new house.

 Josh & Hale standing in the to be "kitchen."  They put up the stakes to mark out the house & we thought, "Wow, this looks pretty small.  Maybe we should have gone bigger?"

 Then they dug the basement and we said, "Holy Cow! This is way too big.  Should we have gone smaller?"

 We were just so excited when they poured the basement walls.  We loved envisioning where everything would go.

 We couldn't believe the size of the windows - they're as tall as Dad!

 Framing the walls in the basement was cool but . . .

 When they framed the first wall on the main floor - awesome!

 Joaquin had to wipe tears out of his eyes at the size of his garage, what a big teddy bear.

 My favorite memory - when they laid the board down for the 2nd story & we could see "the view" from where our master bedroom would be.  See those big grins???

 These are just a few pix in a row from the front of the house so you could get an idea.

 Here's the bottom half of the stairs (behind it is the front room).

 This is the upper half of the stairs (leading to the bedrooms).  The sheet rock went up really fast & we were so happy!

 This would have to be the kids favorite day - walking in when their rooms were painted.  Jessi & Halle will share the green room.

 Josh loved the color I picked for our Master Bedroom so he begged for it too.  Totally works for me.

 Quinn surprised us all when she wanted Peach.  She has been a "blue" lover forever.  Secretly I think she didn't want to be just like me :)

 The first of many kisses . . .

 Shelby wanted her pink room to match her jacket.  Thankfully I talked her in to a more mellow color (it's still very pink).

 I found a mantle on Pinterest that I just loved.  Sent the link to my builder & he made it - isn't it amazing?  I wish everything I tried from Pinterest looked exactly like the pictures:)  I swear half of my house (and most of my kitchen) was inspired from ideas on Pinterest.

 Getting the cupboards & granite was just so cool.  I couldn't wait to do dishes looking out through the windows instead of a wall.

 We loved the stone & all the lighting.  We hired a friend, Shelly Harrington, to help us pick out all the lighting.  She's an interior designer who was so fun to work with.  She was happy to come with Halle & I to Lowe's & Home Depot.  It was her suggestion to use "Tiffani" style lights - I just love them!

 When they brought my appliances I almost cried - they are just so shiny.  Do we have to use them?

 When the carpet was installed the kids ran from room to room laying on each.  So soft!

The siding was what took the longest.  They kept being held up at other sites & we didn't get it all done until 2 weeks ago.  They are laying the concrete steps, back patio, & driveway over the next few days.  We get to move in just 2 more sleeps!

School Fun 2012

 Here's a quick shot of Halle's "cheeze" shot.  My sister Lisa told me how she tries to eat lunch at school with her younger kids once a month.  So Halle & I did Art Mom for Shelby's class then stayed for lunch one day.  Halle loved all the attention but wouldn't hold anybody's hand but Shelby's (which Shelby just loved!)

 I know this shot is fuzzy but I so enjoyed going on Jessi's field trip to the Idaho Falls Museum "King Tut" exhibit.

 This is one of my favorite field trips - the 1st grade Corn Maze & Fire Station.  Shelby was so good to let Halle do everything she did, awww.

 They both enjoyed dressing up as a fireman.

 Mrs. Hoag's 1st grade class after they blasted the horns!

 Josh on his 1st day of cub scouts -he loved the Halloween crafts.

 After the Tough Mudder we took all the kids to "The Fun Center" in Lehi.

 I made Quinn pose for at least 1 picture with me.

 Joaquin was the kind of "Frog Hopper."  It was the kids favorite.

Jessi loved climbing the indoor wall.  Josh followed her tough example.  All in all a fun family date!

Tough Mudder

So many friends have asked me about Joaquin's Tough Mudder that I had to put it on my blog.  First off, it was great to be the supporter & not the participant!  It was 50 degrees & windy so even as a spectator we froze!  The course is 12 miles with 21 obstacles.  Their first obstacle was this "Artic Enema" where they drop in crates of ice into the cold water.  Then the participants (who paid good money to do this) jump into the water & have to swim under that barb wire fence & out the other side.  What?!?  And that was just the first obstacle!

The next challenge I got to watch was this crawling through the filthy water (we saw a contestant wipe off snot that went from his nose to his knees in that water, yuk!) while you are getting shocked.  Look at my man racing out of it!

 The "Mud Mile" was his next obstacle.  There were probably 6 of these "mud hills" with water in between that you just crawl up & over.

None of this phased my crazy, tough hunk of love!

 

 Here's a pix of his team "Don't Smash Your Face."  It's not like a marathon where you are trying to speed through it.  Actually they all repeat this "Tough Mudder" motto before they start that reminds them it's all about team work & no whining.  

 

As a team they have to run, jump, pull, & sometimes crawl up this slippery wall.  I have a video of the whole thing but it's rather long since it took quite a few attempts.  Needless to say the team captain actually did smash his face on the way back down, ouch!

 

This is the final challenge where you have to run/crawl through these cords that hang down shocking you with 10,000 volts of pulsing electricity.  Joaquin put his hands up like a boxer & just ran.  The next 4 guys on his team tried the same approach but were laid out in the mud when the electricity hit them.  He laughed & said he had training from growing up on the ranch with electric fences.

 

 So Joaquin's totally ready to do this again next year.  They had over 6,000 people participate & have already announced they will be holding it in July.  It will be warmer - but that's about the only that will be easier.  So what do you think?  Is the Wyne family up for a tougher challenge?  Or how about an Am. Falls team? 

A few more summer memories and now . . . school!

Well here's our fun bunch of kids!  They are holding up the grade they are in this year.  Halle just thought she was suppose to raise her hand :)

 

And here's a few last minute summer pix.  Grandma Sally surprised Jessi with her very own quilt!  She makes one for each grandchild & Jessi has been patiently waiting (well sort of) her turn.  It's just beautiful & green - her favorite color. 

We get lots of chances to hang out with Grandma Donna & Grampa Dennis!  This summer was no different - here's some fun pix of a Sunday afternoon up in East Fork.  We had tin foil dinners, smores, picked choke cherries, soaked our feet in the creek.

Every August we get to pick, shuck, cook, & freeze corn grown from the Glenns Ferry ranch.  Jesalee & Dennis picked it all this year and then we tortured our children into helping again.

 Summer wouldn't be the same without cousins.  We had Avery & Chelsea for a few days, then Max & Ally, and always Jade, Ty, & Zoe.  We love cousins!

 Quinn made an epic journey into braces!  She was such a good sport & can't wait to get them over with. 

 All my kids are excited to be back with their friends in school this year.  Here's one of my favorite pix of Shelby & Sienna.