Family Pics Oct 2024

 I just love every single one of these and had to keep them somewhere I can always find them!

Leaving Idaho

 These pictures are from our last day in Idaho.It was an emotional day. Just a few days before was Poppy Ralph's funeral and we were so sad to be leaving all the family and friends we had grown to love over the past 14 months. The Eltons were our neighbors and best buds from day one. Carrie and I would walk in an out of eachother's homes without knocking and it was the best. When the weather warmed up we started playing pickleball a couple of times a week with them. They are giants so we usually lost but we had the best time. I'm pretty sure I'll never have another neighbor that was as generous, entertaining, and loyal as Carrie. Even just writing this, I still miss her. She took our kids in as her own and even babysat for us while we flew to Kansas City to house shop.

All the kids lined up on the last morning before we drove out of town.

The girls all squeezing into Naomi's room because we needed one more day to clean before we headed out of town.

James & Carrie and David & I. Man the sun was brutal that morning!!

Hannah turns 12

 Would you believe we missed Hannah's 12th birthday? David's boss suggested a vacation in May because their work schedule was looking slow. So David and I headed off to Belize and my dear friend Harmony came into town to watch the kids for 5 days. Hannah made the Heritage Middle school tennis team. After her game she came home and Harmony had brownies and candles ready for her. We celebrated again with a party after Belize!

This looks like a birthday party but it's just her siblings and Naomi Elton!

Things I don't want to forget about Hannah as a 12 year old. She still loves drawing and is super creative. She loves her siblings and her parents. She's emotional and full of empathy for anyone going through a hard time. She has the gift of making friends. We moved here and right away she put herself out there and would chat with anyone. We love this girl!

Chasing snow

 Our friends the Hudsons own some property up in Garden Valley and they invited us to go up and sled so our kids could get some real snow. Boise has sorely disappointed the kids with the amount of snow especially coming from Minnesota. We went up and played in the mountains and it was beautiful!

Tubing

 When Jebbie comes into town we always try to do something fun! Debbie found this tubing hill close to our house where they make their own snow and it was SO fun! 

Scotty got so tired at one point he just laid on the belt taking us up to the top!

We left Sophie at home with neighbors and took Hattie. We were a little worried she was too young but she had the time of her life. With every jump down the hill she almost flew off but she loved it!

Then we went to a beautiful walk through light show with Nana Raines and Poppy Raph and Nana Jake and Poppy Ralph.

Sure, love this guy!

We were freezing but it was worth it!

It is so fun to live near so much family for the holidays!!

Christmas

 David's parents got to spend Christmas with us this year. We did our traditional trip to the zoo on Christmas Eve. The Boise zoo was super disappointing and small and cold. I'm thinking this tradition might come to an end this year. But it was fun to go see a new zoo all the same!

We made gingerbread houses a couple days before Christmas.

Then we did the Nativity.

Rachel got to be the angel this year.

After Rachel's part as the angel I said okay sit down now you're done. And she said, "Why did I die?"

These kids are so good to do this every year without a fight.

Then we played Christmas Bingo. This is one of the things the kids love the very best.

And new Christmas jammies. 

I love these kids and Christmas so much!!

Ashton turns 13

 Ashton turned 13 and I can hardly believe we have a teenager. Ashton has thrived with this move and has made friends easily. He loves hanging out with friends and is a great kid. He loves making things out of cardboard boxes and duct tape. He still loves Legos and reads like crazy!

When Ashton first started school with the Covid weirdness he was having trouble making friends. So when I told him that the GT (gifted and talented) crowd had smaller classes with the same group he asked if he could test in. He signed up for the test and made it in. I'm proud of him taking care of himself socially and academically.