Camping!

 We decided to go camping over conference weekend!  This was so much fun.  We went in the "hunting tent" that had a stove in it to keep warm and it was just great getting away and having Brian all to ourselves where he did not get cel reception (and he is not the problem with the phone)!  We are thinking of making this a yearly tradition.  We had so so much fun!

 I think Tank enjoyed it the least since he is a little arthritic now a-days (getting kinda old)

 Watching Annie on the computer

 Maybe one of the reasons I like camping so much is Bri cooks most meals.

 Ok, I know some of you will think I am a horrible mom for posting this picture but it was just to funny  not to.  Gracie did not know how to use the bathroom without a toliet.  This was her attempt after Halle showed her how.

 This is how Hal was showing her to do it.  Cracked me up!  "Just bend like this and pee Grace, it's not that hard......seriously it's not". she said.

 We went on a walk and Gid found a stick to make into a gun.  He is all boy.

 These were more fav moments....Gid teaching Halle how to shoot his gun. 

I think after looking at this picture she gets her shooting ability from her mom.  We loved spending time with just our little family.

It's about bloody time...

In two regards. First I am finally posting pictures of Bri's elk he shot. This is only about 2 months late in being posted. He shot this monster over labor day weekend (what can I say, I have been busy). The second reason for "it's about time" is in regards to him. He has been hunting every year since I married (and dated) the guy which is about 15 years. This is the first elk he has ever brought home and all I can say is "It's about bloody time" (and I know Jen will agree with me). This is the first elk Brian has shot with his bow and he had a great time with his favorite hunting buddy Chad! The pictures that are posted were taken the morning after the hunt and minus the body since it was getting dark when he shot it and the pictures were just not good in the dark and with the cel phone.

 Ok, he just downloaded another.  These are the happy hunters after the shot.  I guess the cel phone did better than I gave it credit for.

 Alan (bless his heart) delayed a trip when he found out they shot the elk and came and helped Bri and Chad pack this guy out!

Don't think he is excited...do you?

This one quite frankly freaks me out.  However it shows how big he his.  The spread on him is 49 inches and he is so big he could be registered on Pope & Young.

I just gotta love this guy.  We are glad he has so much fun doing something he loves and glad we have meat to eat.  I have learned it is really good and even like that it is less fatty than hamburger.

 

 

This picture is of Brian's elk while he was alive.  It was taken with the trail cam.  Quite a beauty!

 

 

And last but not least.  I swore up and down I would never have a head hanging in my house.  Well, what can I say...I must love the guy because I now have a head hanging in my house.... and upstairs.  Not my fav decor but Brian is one happy boy.   We are glad he had fun but even more glad he is done hunting.  Now if we could only keep him home from everywhere else he has to go then I would be one happy girl!

Our summer (condensed).

 Well, sort of.  There are tons of pictures but I am not doing several different posts so these are a few of the fun things we did this summer........

 Lagoon, we went with Mom,  Lisa (and friend) and Becki and Trav.  It was fun and we took turns staying with the kids while the other adults rode big rides.  Gracie and Hogan were the "brave" ones of the day.  They enjoyed the faster rides.  Gid and Halle (shocker) were a little more timid but everyone wants to go back next year!  It was a way fun day and Gracie even rode wicked.  I was freaking out that she would be screaming when Brian brought her off the ride but she was smiling and said "lets do that one again".  That's my girl!

 The Dayton Parade.  This year we had Brian and I with 7 little kids in the truck.  We almost had 8 but Chloe panicked a little bit about the horn and siren and decided not to ride.  Maybe next year!

The yearly Taylor 4th of July in Pocatello.  A fun picture of all the grand kids minus Amanda and Erika. 

Grandpa Ariel and Grandma Nette's slip and slide.  It was a huge hit this year with our kids since it was moved to a hill that goes a little slower than the year prior.  We were only able to go once but it was fun.

The Weston Parade and the Angela's Allstars float!  The boys got candy and the girls got to throw it!  Thanks so much Fred (Becki) for keeping the kids while Brian and I went to Wicked.  You are the best!

Gid tried to trick the tooth fairy for 2 nights straight with a fake tooth so he could get more money.  After the 2nd night he woke up and instead of money under his pillow he found a ticket from the tooth fairy.  Lets just say he has not done it since. 

Camping......SO MUCH FUN!!!!   Again, this only happened once this year with our insane schedules but this was one of the funnest camps we have ever had.  The kids got along, no drama, lots of room to run and ride RZR's.  Just FUN.

The kids (mostly the boys) build a fort or club house and played there a ton.  This is the bridge they built to get to the fort.

This was the boys room.  ONLY BOYS ALLOWED!  It had chairs and a fire pit they made themselves.

The girls were outcasted and made their own room.  Kinda bare.

We had a fun visit with Grandma, Grandpa and Steven.  It was fun and way to short.

Gracie, she would much rather play and watch Reddick than play with the kids.  She is now packing the kid everywhere! 

Fun water day parties.  The first at Mel and Colby's for the Goodliffe kids b-days the 2nd at Grandma and Grandpa Taylors for a end of summer party.  I must say the BIG green slide G&G got was a huge hit. 

A few walk/bike rides with Mumfords.  Hoger has learned to ride a bike without training wheels!  Way to go Hogan!

More water parties! 

We went to Declo for a week while BJ was in MICHIGAN.  My mom has the coolest neighbor ever. His name is Earl.  He has little horses and gave all the kids a ride in the horse cart then their own rides on the horse.  I think Halle said this horse is named Tennessee!  She thought that was so cool since that is where Shawn is.

Then the same neighbor has this fun train he pulls with the lawn mower.  He brought it over and left it there all week for the kids to ride in.  Lets just say it was a HUGE it and we spent many hours out there.

Note to self:  Never put Tank on this again.  He jumped out and hurt his leg.  I spent all week worrying it was broken and finally took him to the vet.  Not broken but had radial nerve paralysis.  It is better now with anti-inflammitories.

Again, moms neighbor.  This dog would climb the fence.  The kids thought it was so so cool.  I did also. 

Gracie and Gid learned how to swing across the monkey bars by themselves at Earls house also.  Again, he is so so cool.  I had to laugh when I was looking at these though because in every picture Grace had her legs crossed while she was swinging.  Gid mastered it fast and was flying across them.

And the dreaded (for me anyways) first day of school for Gid and Gracie.  They love it and love their teacher Mrs. Morrison (who also taught Shawn).  They think it is so so cool to eat lunch at school and play with friends all day.  They also were invited to a special "ice cream sunday" party today at school for doing their reading and AR tests and think that is awesome. 

I love these two kids and miss them so so much.  It is fun however to have Halle time.  G&G Taylor asked Halle the other day how it was having Gid and Grace in school all day and she said very happily "GREAT".  I guess she like the special mom time and so do I.   That is our summer!