Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you. The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethic over convenience, and truth over popularity ... these are choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Ross Creek Giant Cedar Trees

2 weeks ago I was going stir crazy so after the kids practices, we decided to take a little road trip to Montana. It is only about an hour and a half or so away. What crazy person goes hiking a week after surgery??? This idiot! I just didn't want to be without my family and I was so finished being cooped up in the house!
It was a beautiful drive through Hope, Idaho along Hwy 200. I decided I wanted to live on the island in Hope. It is so beautiful. I bet super cold to go into town in the winter though. It looked like only boat access to & from.

When we got to the access road it was looking a little white...Once we turned off on this 1 lane narrow little road there was a few inches of snow on the ground. I was pretty nervous in a few spots as we had already changed our snow tires and once we were met by an oncoming truck, i just knew we would get stuck & there was NO WAY I could help push us out. But...it was fine...*sigh*...I worry too much!
It was so beautiful, water running through it, little bridges all over. It is a natural habitat, so unless there is a trail blockage, they leave everything as it lies. If a tree falls, it is left exactly that way. It was so peaceful. Except, lol, the sun was out and so it kept melting the snow all over the tree tops super high up and periodically a huge slush ball would come barreling down from the sky! It was like a one sided snowball fight with the cedars! We surprised the kids, they had no idea where we were going. I told them they were going to my parents house so Hal & I could go on a date. So poor Haliee was dressed for practice not hiking. I tried to convince her she would need jeans after practice but she thought I was nuts, so she didn't bring any!
This was cool, they were able to climb inside the tree. No, I wasn't brave enough to try & squeeze through a hole in my condition...they all loved it though. In the last pic, Hal, Drew, & Haliee were all in this tree and Hal was trying to show how much room was still left. It was so huge!
There were tons of "siamese twin" trees like these. The last pic is actually where 2 split apart & fell opposite creating a path!
Who could resist a snowball fight???
I was pretty sore and tired about a mile in, so we turned back, but we'll for sure go back in a few months it was so awesome. I really couldn't even walk right, I hobbled along very slowly. Matter of fact...my LOVING husband commented on my being like Sasquatch as I was slumped over, walking apelike, and had his huge jacket on. Thanks hon, love ya! We brought the little bbq & after the hike we went to the little day camp right off this little lake. We were the only people there & it was just amazingly beautiful. We built a campfire, (which served to be tough even with lighter fluid as all the ash inside the pit was soaking wet, lol) ate lunch, had dessert, and just enjoyed each other.

Drew was a riot...he LOVES Discovery Channel and always watches Survivor Man & Man V.S. Wild. So he was adamant about needing "tender" Apparently, when you peel back the bark from cedar trees and reveal a softer bark; You can peel the fibers apart into little shreds and help start your fire. It definitely worked. It was hilarious, we would say "Drew, we need more tender." He'd jump up and sprint away...he was on it! :0) LOVE that boy!
What we need is some tender...
See Mom, this is what we need to start the fire...
Success!

Children's Hospital Pics...

Here are some pics Pam sent me of The Children's Hospital. Aren't these girls just dolls! Pam is gorgeous herself! I LOVE they are wearing my bowsies! :0) Thanks Pam!


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Random Sweetnessss...

I just received the sweetest email from Angie...I have never met Angie before but she wanted to let me know she & her daughter Laci loved my bows. They have a blog where they post boutique things they love and decided my new bows were one of them! How fun is that. Made my day! I emailed back thanking her for being so sweet & asked for a pic of little Laci. Isn't she a doll!?! Here is the linky to their blog. How fun to open up an email so sweet! Thanks Angie!!! :0)


New listing...new group...

Here is my 1st listing for our new group Fusion. It is a mesh of our old group...blended. I matched Kathy & Megan for a fun Euro Mermaid Holiday! I LOVE them! Thanks for peeking!



Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Cool Customer Pics!

One of my sweet customers just sent me these pics. Aren't they cool!?




Monday, April 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Halarini!

Today is my Man's 35th Birthday! It's so weird, you go to sleep as newlywed teens, bring home babies, and a few weeks later (17 years) you are middle aged! It's been an amazing life so far. I hope I have made him 1/2 as happy as he has made me! Here are some fun things I LOVE about him. I won't bore you with 35 :0)
  • He is so much fun. Always a prankster.
  • He is witty, always has the best comeback lines, it's so irritating, you can never get him!
  • He can fix anything, seriously. He knows how to do everything I swear.
  • He will gladly eat his veggies but...is a junk food junkie. Candy is part of his daily diet!!!
  • He is crafty for me! Helping with all my OCD projects!
  • He is a FUN Dad.
  • He is much more sentimental then he wants anyone to know!
  • He loves to play baseball, golf, water sports, & mountain biking.
  • He uses electronics like a teenager (not sure I LOVE this one so much!)
  • He is so OCD but will never admit he is as bad as me!
  • He is a great boss & leader.
  • He still has a speaker box in his trunk...how funny to watch your boss leave in a Mercedes...slacks & a tie...blasting the base! He is a mess!
  • He loves kids & is a great Dad!
  • He is always dancing, singing, and playing air instruments!

Happy Birthday Hal. I LOVE you so much!

Hal's best gangster impression~

Being silly at the wax museum.


In Canada wishing one of us knew what we were doing in the houseboat or the regular boat!


Having fun with Topie!

Helping Mikey dig trenches & run sprinkler lines!

We have been celebrating birthdays for weeks now & we are only halfway through! There are 5 in the immediate family in 6 weeks so LOTS of cake :0)


Last night we celebrated a combo dinner out for the April/May Bdays at the Shogun. It is a super yummy Tepenyaki Bar. The kids LOVE to watch them prepare everything table side & our chef was pretty fun! Drew was in heaven with sushi (he ate the real deal eel & all, not Mom's wimpy California Rolls), shrimp, calamari, & salmon! After we ate, they dressed them all up, sang to them and took their pic. Of course I forgot my stinkin' camera UGH! We did buy this pic though, lol! It was a riot. What good sports they were! They blew out a big Buddha candle & received a pineapple boat to eat for dessert.