2 years

Can you believe I have been blogging for 2 years? It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but October is the month I started. Before Ben left we got our pumpkins carved. What a fun adventure with Rhone. Unfortunately all those pictures are on the camera with Ben.

Rhone and I are keeping busy. We have been shopping (a trip to the outlets), cleaning, baby sitting, getting the spare bedroom put together, working on young women projects, and mowing the lawn (Rhone has been busy making messes too) . We haven't been too social since Rhone has a little cold. Nothing too exciting, but just enough to keep us going. Here are a few photos.


Here's a photo we took the night before Ben left. We have about 10 of these and this is the only one that turned out half decent. Of course the other ones are pretty funny. If you really pay attention you will see that Rhone is wearing and Idaho shirt (thanks Steph). Go Vandals!


Some how Rhone always manages to get food on his forehead. He sure looks happy about it though.


Rhone "helped" me mow the lawn in his backpack tonight. We have a push (not self propelled- push) lawn mower and I was feeling the burn. Good thing our yard isn't too big. The last few minutes Rhone feel asleep. Notice two of Rhone's favorite toys in the back ground (Ace- the stuffed animal and the frying pan)

only 1

Friday morning when I went to brush my teeth and there was only 1 toothbrush in the holder is when it really sunk in that he was gone. Isn't it funny how it's the little things? Ben is off on his first mission- well sort of. A typical C-5 mission lasts about 2 weeks. Ben is on a staging which should last about 6 weeks. He is moving cargo between Spain and Afghanistan. This means he'll be gone for Rhone's first Halloween and Thanksgiving. So Rhone and I could tough it out by ourselves here in Delaware, but what fun would that be. So at the end of this week Rhone and I are flying out to stay with my parents, just in time for Halloween and staying until after Thanksgiving. It's tough deciding what to do, but I'm sure that Rhone and I will have a great time at home and that the flights by myself will be worth it.

We have been holding up pretty well so far. I have been busy with church meetings and taking care of Rhone. When you are responsible for him 24/7 he can wear you out in a hurry. I just got the new Eric Church album (thanks for the Halloween treat mom). There is a song that I am loving right now. It's called "Without You Here." Listen HERE by pushing the play button at the right side of the page. We love ya Ben!

Punkin Patch

Friday after Ben got home we headed to the pumpkin patch. It was a cold rainy day, but we were having a little party Saturday night, so I wanted to have our pumpkins for our front porch by then. We were the only ones in the whole patch. The orchard/ pumpkin patch is just down the road from our house. We lined the wagon with a blanket and headed out to get our pumpkins. Rhone thought the wagon ride was great- but he insisted on standing up in the wagon. After Ben and I picked out our pumpkins we thought Rhone need his own too. So we let him pick out a little one from the pile. We also got some apples and fresh pressed apple cider and since it was almost closing time, we got a dozen apple cider donuts for free. They were delicious. Our little party had a great turn out and I even made some cute little Halloween treats for it.




Here are some of the treats I made. For their recipes click here

hello Idaho

*Warning: this post is ridiculously long, but I'm planning on printing our blog for a family scrapbook, so I didn't want to leave anything out.*


A fall trip to Idaho consists of a few musts including family, hunting, and chores. This trip we also included a baby shower for Morgan, 4 wheeling, home made apple pie and a trip to Twin Falls to visit Ben's brother .

Family
Of course we made time to see everyone while we were home. Here are just a few pictures.

Rhone and his Great Granny

There's nothing like sharing the last piece of apple pie right out of the pan.

Morgan, Rhone, and Brock after a delicious dinner at Buddy's in Pocatello

Aunt Kris and Rhone. She was nice enough to drive Granny up for one last visit before we left.

We consider Ace family. So here are some pictures of him too.

We did a little sports theme for Morgan's shower. I even made a Syracuse University Diaper cake (the photo's on my mom's camera though). Congrats Brock and Morgan. We can't wait to meet your little man! Here are a few photos from the shower.

Hunting
We spent most of our time hunting Sharptail Grouse. They are a challenging bird to hunt, but the scenery is gorgeous. We also did a little forest grouse hunting. It was one crazy hike up the mountain and we decided that Rhone isn't quite ready for that crazy terrain. My dad had a guided hunt scheduled for one of the days we were home. So Ben loaded up Ace and off they went to guide the hunt. Ace did really well and I think Ben had a great time handling Ace for the hunter. He already made plans for another hunt, Ben must have done a great job.

Rhone admiring 2 Sharptails. I love how candid this photo is.

We hiked up from the bottom of this canyon straight through the aspen thicket. I can't believe my dad and Rhone made it. All that hiking and not one Rough Grouse.

Ben and I each shot a Rough Grouse later that day on a much, much shorter hike.

Isn't the Malad Valley beautiful.

Ben sighting in his new 22-250 rifle (see the little white target).

He's one of the cutest little hunters I've ever seen.

Chores
It's funny how when I was little my mom had to nag me to do my chores, but now when I go home I love the chance to help out, especially if it's outside. The chukars we out of grain, so we had to move the wheat from the grain bin to the huge feeder inside the bird pen. Here are some photos of Rhone helping out.

We fill up the little tub right under the grain bin. Then we pull it out and bucket it into the big tub on the trailer.

Then we drive the grain into the bird pen.

Standing knee deep in wheat.

4 Wheeler Ride

Since I can remember we have had an OLD blue 4-wheeler. It doesn't have breaks or reverse, but we only really use it around the farm, so it's not a big deal. When we got home I was shocked to walk into the garage and see not 1 but 2 new 4-wheelers (well new to us). My dad laughed and said one was my mom's and one was Rhone's. Here are some pictures from one ride through Kent Canyon just a few miles from my parent's house.

My mom and dad.

Our little family.

Me and my parents. I am so blessed to have them.

Rhone riding solo. Don't you love his extra sock insulation. He feel asleep in the backpack, so here he is looking a little grogy.

Twin
We made a quick day trip to Twin Falls to see Erich's family. Ben's mom and sister Gabi were up helping them get all settled into the their new beautiful home. We took a little hike along the rim by Shoshone Falls and Rhone and Jake played together- well sort of.

Shoshone Falls

Ben and Erich. Rhone couldn't take his eyes off the water.

A picture at the top of our hike.

Rhone and Jake

hello utah

After just a few weeks in the house, we headed west for a visit with family. The timing was a little crazy, but it was the only time Ben was able to get off until after the new year. After over 4 years of marriage this is the first flying trip Ben and I have ever made round trip together. The company and the help with Rhone on the plane was great! After picking up the rental car in SLC we headed to Richfield, UT to see Ben's side of the family. His sister Livi was also in from OK and we got to meet Isaac, the newest addition to the family. That night I was able to go to the Taste of Home cooking school with Ben's mom and 2 of his sisters. It was so much fun and I'm so glad they invited me to tag along.

Rhone loved rocking Isaac in his car seat.

We spent one day at Fish Lake. The girls and Jake fished while the rest of us enjoyed the beautiful fall scenery and campfire cooking.

Jake and Ben with the girls at the lake

It was so much fun to watch Rhone and Leisel play together.

Livi and Isaac, Grandmommy and Rhone and Gabi are staying warm by the fire.

Just playing by the lake

The Aspens were just changing, they are one of my favorite trees.

Lucky for us it happened to be the primary program that Sunday so we got to see Ben's nieces work their singing and memorizing magic at church. We ate plenty of good food and had a great time catching up with everybody! Thanks for making our visit great!

Enjoying some of a new recipe we tried from the cooking school are Liz, Isaac, Hannah, and Grandmommy (well I guess Isaac isn't quite on solids yet).

It took some convincing, but I got Ben's family (minus Terri and Erich) to pose for a picture.

What a cute crop o' cousins!

More about the rest of our trip to come.