Greenbelt Sunday Walk

5.16.10
One of our favorite places to take a Sunday stroll is the Boise Greenbelt. We usually park in the Bowen Crossing parking lot and start hiking. We found this part of the Greenbelt in 2007 while Geocaching. We thought it was amazing, until Justin got one of the worst poison oak rashes any dermatologist as ever seen. It was a week before we took a trip to Jackson Hole for a work conference for Justin, and before the conference even began, we rushed Justin to a Dermatologist. He immediately was administered a shot (in the booty!!) and a prescription for special cream which had to be picked up from an old school pharmacist in town. We were so lucky to have gotten into a doctor so quickly.

Anywho, when traveling along the Greenbelt, needless to say, we stay on the path and don't venture into any bushes or trees.

The homes along the path are simply amazing and breathtaking. One of our favorites properties is basically a small zoo. There are little ponies grazing in their front yard, they have swans, geese and dogs. On this particular afternoon they had fun jazz music blaring throughout their backyard as they hosted some friends for a BBQ.

(the amazing property I would kill to own!)






I have a picture of Trey sitting in the exact same spot when he was just barely 2 years old.
I love Trey's clenched jaw face as he ran.
Tian loves walks, especially when he is on Dad's back. He chomped on an apples the whole walk.

Some beautiful things we saw along the way, including a little "love sign."

(we thought this leaf ressembled a "heart.")

Ten Years-Zip Lining

5.15.10
I have been thinking about our ten year wedding anniversary for quite some time. We try to plan a large trip each year, but this year was a little different. For one, I wasn't feeling comfortable about leaving our young boys with family or friends for a long stretch of time, nor was I wanting to bring our young boys on a weekend excursion. So, thankfully we are blessed with a wonderful babysitter who I trust with all of my heart. A few months ago when planning for our anniversary, I suggested Zip Lining . Justin asked me to repeat myself when I told him I wanted to go Zip Lining. He couldn't believe I wanted to go. I am not one for scary rides or adventurous climbs, but when it comes to CONTROLLED adventure, I am all there! (zip lining, paragliding, etc. )



The night before we left, I typed out a 4 page "note" ("more like a novel" my coworker commented as I printed off my pages. I told her I would rather be safe then sorry) and made copies of the boys shot records and insurance card. I also left strict instructions to Amanda, if and when an emergency may arise, to take the boys to a hospital in Boise or Eagle. Nothing in Nampa or Meridian. (she laughed, but little did she know I was DEAD serious. No pun intended!!!)

We had a wonderful time. I didn't stress over the boys at all. In fact, when I left, Trey was already taking a nap and Tian was as happy as ever to see us leave. When Trey woke up, Tian had already gone down for a nap. So, basically Amanda as watching one boy at a time. Not only was she a happy camper, so was I!

Thank you honey for a wonderful afternoon, celebrating our ten years of marriage.

Here are some pictures from our day outing! Beware, picture and video overload!!!

This is the group we were with for the afternoon.The man standing second from the right was a burley guy. He and his girlfriend of one year sat next to me in the "tour van" up to the zip line. (you take a huge van up the mountain for about 35 minutes before reaching the zip lines.) I was a bit nervous sitting so close to them. FYI, I have a slight fear of bigger men with facial hair. Justin teases me about it, but it is true. Anyhow, he ended up being the most scared out of all of us and screamed on most of the lines! If you closed your eyes while listening to him talk, he sounded EXACTLY like Jack Black. By the end of the tour, I wasn't afraid of him at all. See the guide to the right of Justin in the light blue shirt and Khaki shorts? He is a news anchor for the early morning local news station. Justin didn't even recognize him (probably because he never watches the news in the morning, AND because he isn't as star struck as I am) until our "tour" was about finished. Justin had been teasing and joking with him the whole afternoon, which led me to believe he knew who our guide was. Justin eventually asked him if he was on TV because he didn't believe me! Silly Just. Just to prove, yes, Lincoln Graves was our tour guide. Here is a picture copied from KIVI's website!

Random tour guide in the background of our picture. He was the main guide and did all kinds of tricks. Kind of funny picture actually, those harnesses aren't that attractive!

Not the greatest picture of me, and actually it looks like I am just a foot off the ground, but I will tell you I am up much higher then you think!

For this picture, you are told to spread your hands AND your legs out, like a flying squirrel. Swear it!

I think Justin was proud of me for even suggesting we take the Zip Line tour for our 10 year wedding anniversary! This is his "proud face!!!!"

Grandma's chat

5.8.10

Our laptop came with a webcam. Skype couldn't be any easier!

I surprised my mom by calling her with Skype and sat in our kitchen. She looked at my surroundings and guessed it right off the bat. She said, " Are you calling from a notebook?"

Mother's Day walk

5.8.10


After Church and nap time for the boys, we decided to go on a walk along the Rails to Trails greenbelt path. The weather is finally warm, so we packed up the boys, our dog Cooper, the Super Trooper, and the stroller.

This old bronco in the field used to belong to one of Justin's high school friends Tyler. I so wish I could climb the fence and check it out. I bet it would make for an amazing photog prop!

I just love this shaggy haired little man!

Crazy to think just a few short years ago, this boy was a chubby little baby sitting in the stroller cooing at Cooper. Now, he is a boy who picks out his own clothes (hence the high water sweats he had to wear "because they matched") and desires to walk Cooper all by himself.

Mother's Day

5.8.10
Holiday's are big deal to me. I had a mother who made holidays special, and I hope my boys love holidays just as I do. Mother's and Father's Day are no different.

This Mother's Day began with sleeping in just a tad and eating a delicious waffle breakfast made by the greatest husband ever. He even made "vanilla syrup." Tian drew some pictures while Trey dressed up as some character I have never heard of.




After Trey's dressed up, he asked Justin if he could give me my Mother's Day gift. I had no clue what I was in for, and actually, when Trey presented me with my Mother's Day gift, I seriously thought it was a computer printer. I was shocked to find it was a lap top! I was seriously sweating with excitement, I couldn't believe it! Just had been working two different job positions and was getting paid a little extra for his serious extra work. What made this Mother's Day gift so special was that Justin had used the extra money he had earned to buy me my Mother's Day gift. Such a thoughtful, well planned gift.



I am so grateful to be a mother. My boys have taught me patience, strength, compassion and show me how to enjoy life to the fullest. I am also so fortunate to have a husband who is hands on and strives to make Mother's Day very special. He makes life beautiful, and also makes some of the greatest waffles ever!

And for the record, Trey had to show me how to open the laptop. Pathetic I know.

4-wheeling, Grandpa Bend style

4.18.10
It's kind of hard to say "no" to your father, and the grandfather of your children when he is so much fun and takes your sons 4-wheeling. BUT, when he takes them 4-wheeling like this......






....sometimes you just have to smile, cross your fingers, and look the other way.

the pink tree

4.11.10

Year after year, the tree in our front yard blooms beautiful pink blossoms that only last a few days. A little family tradition we have started is to take a picture in front of it on a Sunday afternoon. This afternoon was extra special because our newest nephew Isaac was blessed and we were able to attend sacrament meeting to witness the special blessing. We left shortly after the blessing because I was coming down with bronchitis.

The boys in their Easter attire




Trey wanted to pose with his toy dragon perched on his shoulder.

I had to post this picture because it not only shows Trey's Easter outfit more clearly, it shows the dragon LESS clearly!

Easter Photos

4.3.10
I was scheduled to shoot a senior the week following Easter and wanted to go to a new location. I had expressed my interest to take the family to this new location, *possibly* get some pictures of the boys in their Easter outfits, and make it a family event. Justin, being the sweetest man I know and love, got us all in the car and out to our location. I love him!

The boys loved the geese the most. I loved watching them hunt the geese down snapping a few pictures as we searched.

Here is sweet Justin, the man who can do it all. Chase after two crazy boys and do it all with a smile upon his face. Oh Tian, all he wanted were those geese.


Our Easter Egg hunting resulted in a few broken eggs, Geese Eggs that is!



Doesn't Trey look scared? He really wanted a picture with a goose but would only get so close. I don't blame him, those geese are noisy!

goodnight routine

3.23.10
The goodnight routine is usually done with Justin reading Trey two books and one story from Trey's picture scriptures and me putting Tian to sleep. I have wanted to switch Justin's "jobs" but he doesn't want to switch.

The other night, Justin was gone and I got to read Trey his nigh time books. Trey wanted to read to ME, so, I let him. He said, "When I grow up, I want to be a Daddy. I am going to read my kids books at night." Justin is an excellent example to Trey. I am so happy Trey has an example just like Justin.

family pictures

3.21.10
I invited the boys to Rhett's photoshoot. Justin is friends with Justin Reynold's, and I wanted this to be a family afternoon. I also wanted to get a family picture. I had read on a photography blog about a mother who loved to take pictures. Within a 5 year span, she could only count on one hand how many pictures she was in. I expressed my fear to Justin, and he took it seriously! He really made it a point to get our families picture. AND, we got to use our new tripod which is a bonus!

First, pictures of my cute boy Trey who doesn't seem to mind getting his picture taken:

Notice the sticker on Trey's shirt? Grandma Bend sent stickers to Trey and Tian which said, "Amazing Kid" on them. Trey wore his proudly!
And here are my three boys horsing around on the photography props!
Tian looks happy....
and now terrified!!!!

Here are the family pictures Justin helped plan!

I really love the barrels underneath this bridge.