GIRLS WEEKEND GETAWAY

My friend Lora and I ran the Women's Fitness 5k race in Boise last weekend. I have never seen so many ladies in on place. They said there were about 14,000 ladies signed up for this race. They had music blasting, people dancing, and just having a good time waiting for the race to begin. They started us in waves so we all wouldn't trample each other. I was so tired that morning because we didn't get to Boise and get to sleep until about 2:30 that morning and I got up at 6:45 to head down to the race. I am surprised I finished the race. Nita and Katie came down with me to Boise to run the 5k too, but they decided to sleep in with the babies (wink, wink - we all know the real reason)!




This was right before the race started, if you can see in the background tons of people lined up down the street. There were other streets just as packed and ready to go.


This was our main reason for coming to Boise, to get away, shop, and relax!! Nita and Katie had me laughing the whole time, I love you guys!! Nita and her housekeeping demands and elevator problems and Katie just being ghetto Katie! What fun memories we will have from this trip.


Nita and Katie found these "sheep" vests that they thought Lance would love!

All of us sporting the sheep vests! We did some shopping, eating (which I am still full from) and just hanging out. We were trying to street Katie up a bit, HOLLER!

Hayden and his medicine on his face. He kept us entertained, so cute!

Nita's scary picture! Ha ha! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Nampa, my friend got us a really nice suite, 2 rooms, a huge bathroom with separate tub and shower, and even comfy bathrobes to lounge around in.

Katie and Tanner. What a good baby he is, he just smiled most of the time.

Nita taught us a new game, "ghosting", where you following somebody really close and copy what they are doing and see who can go the longest without getting caught. She is trying to ghost Katie in this picture.

Nita and her super coupon deals that she got (notice how stuffed the trunk is!!)

MR. AND MRS. CUNDICK

I thought I should post some of Kendra's wedding for when I print my blog book at the end of the year. I am so glad that Ken and Nate found each other!


Dad walking Ken down the aisle. Ken you looked so beautiful! I tried my best and didn't cry because I knew Shanda would be doing that for everyone!


Ken and Nate. Welcome to the crazy family Nate!


The kids were so excited to see their favorite Aunt Nenna get married, they love her as much as I do!


When the Murdock's get together there is always mischief! Ya, we know it comes from their parents. Kendra gave them bubbles to blow after they got married, but instead they used them in the fountain to make even more bubbles!

This is the "Murdock" side of the family, all nine brothers and sisters were there, we were just missing Meisha's Lance and Paul. We have a huge family with two more on the way and many more I am sure! Congrats Ken and Nater!!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fun Labor Day weekend just spending some time together as a family. Lance had been gone for a week hunting, so family time is just what we needed!


We hiked the Menan Butte. Mason loves to learn about rocks and volcanoes. They spent a lot of time trying to catch lizards, throwing rocks, and trying not to fall.

Mason just finished taking his Hunter's Education Class and passed with flying colors (that is why he has the bright orange hat on in the picture above)!!! He went to Pocatello four times a week to take this class and most of the time didn't get home until 10:00 at night. (Thanks again for driving Jeff!) The night before his test he stayed up studying and studied the next day really hard too. I was proud that he passed the test. I tried studying with him, but those tests are kind of hard if you know nothing about hunting!!


After our hike we decided to have a camp out. Notice the TV in the background, now that is a good way to camp. We had popcorn and watched a movie. We tried to sleep outside but it was so windy and rainy that we eventually all came inside.

The next morning we got up and went swimming at the Ross Park swimming pool. It was a little chilly but that didn't stop the kids or Lance!

Mason coming down the big slide.

Lance having way too much fun!

Taylor just trying to stay upright!

What a fun weekend!!

BRACES

Taylor is so excited to have braces! Taylor has a crossbite that we need to get fixed so we took him to Dr. Elison to get braces. You can't tell in this picture very well, but he has one red band and one glow in the dark band. He loves that he can change them every month to new colors! Dr. Elison said that the would have to have them on for approximately one year. He only has 2 now, but we are waiting for the other two teeth to grow in so more braces can be added. What a cute kid!!

Our New Car

We finally decided that it was time to buy a new car. Our black Honda that we had was just slowly dying and everything was breaking. The Honda was the first car we bought together after we got married and I loved it, so I was a little said when it was time to get another one. We drove down to Boise and found this 2003 Volkswagen Passat. It's not new, but hey its paid for! We needed to find a car that we could drive to Pocatello and it wouldn't die on me. I love this car, it is pretty fast, and I am just lucky I haven't gotten pulled over yet. Lance looks pretty metro when he drives it!

We got it home and 2 days later the water pump went out and we ended up having to replace that, the timing belt and some other stuff, but now it works great!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Mason and Taylor seem a little too excited to go to school! They got up so early and ready so fast that they had a half hour to spare. Mason is in 5th grade and Taylor is in 3rd. They both have fantastic teachers!



Mace and Tay waiting for the bus.


Mason and Taylor wouldn't let me follow them to school this year, so when I took Lysa to Kindergarten I snuck some pictures of them at lunchtime.


Taylor eating lunch with his friends.


Hello Kindergarten! Alyssa was so excited to go. It was the longest morning for her, the boys left at 8:00 and she didn't go until 11:40, she kept asking, "Is it time to go yet?" I have cried every time I have taken the kids to Kindergarten, but Alyssa was so excited and not the least bit nervous that I didn't cry, not even one tear!


Alyssa and her friend Karli in their classroom. There are about 20 kids in her class and they all know each other from the neighborhood or being in the same ward, so Mrs. Campbell is going to have her hands full this year!

My first day of school is Wednesday. I am taking 14 credits this semester and will be down in Pocatello all day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have a friend helping get Alyssa on the bus those days and Lance helping me on the other days. I am getting so close, not too many credits left until I graduate and then here comes grad school!

HUCKLEBERRY PICKING

For the past couple of years we have tried to go huckleberry picking at Kelly Canyon. In the past we haven't found a good spot to pick them, but this year we figured it out! It always makes me nervous to take the kids in the woods while picking berries (I have no idea what wild animals are out there that like huckleberries too!) so I taught them songs that my dad taught us growing up so we could make some noise. They especially like the song about the chicken that laid the hard boiled egg.


Taylor said he picked the most!


Lysa had Daddy helping her. Lysa even found wild strawberries growing too.


Mason picked these on his own. (Who says you can't use Halloween/Easter buckets for all occasions)!

This is us showing our dirty stained Huckleberry hands! We picked enough berries to make jam and it sure is YUMMY!