A MANSION in the SKY, AKA... Woods!

AS Most of you Know life as we know it comes to a schreeeeeeeeeeeeching Hault in August and September. Yes if anyone plans on seeing us you know that we are pretty much unavailable for a few weeks this time of year. It starts ealier every year, planning "The Hunt" this year back in June the plan for this beautiful house in the woods was being draw up. No this is not your regular average Cabin kit, this is a custom built one of a kind, 14 foot off the ground (cabin in the Sky) if you will, built for 2-3 Men able to house 50. So here it is, a house built for 2! Cozy isn't it. Bry and Randy headed out on Friday afternoon with a dirt bike, a banchie and 2 80lb. packs for hiking up to this state of the art 5 star hotel for the weekend. I had to remind Bry to not forget his sleeping bag and his underwear when he said, "I hope i have everything" (Yes, people he has forgotten his underwear before) This was intended to help make their hunting experience a little easier, but if you ask me, the weekends spent building it and hiking to it, the 2 mile, tree fallen, boulder climing, straight up hill hike with 80lbs on the back, does not seem to be easier to me. Actually seems a little nuts, yes, i said it nuts! BUt there you have it, Boys and Hunting, there is nothing gettin past this. Needless to say here i am in my warm house with my two fabulous children, we have been to the fair, rode a bull, seen "Despicable Me", "Eat, Pray, Love" and eatin yummy popcorn and candy, had warm home cooked meals and goodies, gone running early in the morning thru the wetlands and taken a few short bike ride with the kids, watched a few episodes of "LOST" in the comfort of my bed, while the MEN have been sitting in a tree stand eating Mountain Meals in bags and being rained on 14 feet in the air with wind and chill, while sleeping in a hammock with a sleeping bag that yes, I reminded him to take. Hmmm!!!!!!!!!!!! As much as we miss being with him this year for the Big OPENER, i am happy to say that i am not sitting in that tree stand with him this cold rainy night. Oh, yes, he offered for me to join him. I graciously declined this time, but i am sure that there will come a time that I too will hike that hill to see for myself this fabulous MANSION IN THE SKY! Good luck Boys all i ask is that you come home safe and yes, Do NOT forget the Meat! LOVE, LOVE

THE CABIN!!!!

I am so glad that we joined Dad and Mom this last weekend for a quick trip to the cabin. It has been way too long. I am so excited for some long overdue trips to this beautiful place.

The three R's for sure. The kids had so much fun playing and relaxing. We even met some fun neighbors, the Stewarts, Little Jillian and the their dog Princess were a hit.

Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Bott for starting something so wonderful..... We love it here!
A true sign that we are wanted to keep this place.

Definately my collectibles! I love these people!

Good times with Grandma! Grandma is full of endless time and patience with her grandkids. We had so much fun playing and hanging out, of course helping grandpa too with yard work. It paid off, We just could not get enough game time in! We will be back!

Cabin Fever!

It has been a long time since i last spent a few days at our families cabin. Not because i have not wanted to be there, only because usually there are no weekends left on a very busy calendar. Last time I stayed at the cabin I was pregnant with Ethney. I have been thru Jackson just have not stopped at the cabin. I was reminded very quickly the reason that i love it there..... I am so glad that we went this past weekend with Mom and Dad and helped a little with a new little venture.

Of course we took the bike just in case there was a chance for a ride or two.... or fifteen.

Me and Ethney playing a little....

And yes, of course, the reason behind it all. Dad had a few chores for us to do while we were there. Needless to say he did not stop, it was go go go the whole time. I did manage to peel him away for a few hours on saturday afternoon so we could make a quick visit to good old Jackson. Thanks Dad for taking a little time away from those rocks. We loved spending the day with you.

The kids loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa, since they were missing Dad, it was a good thing to keep our mind off the long week ahead. It is so beautiful up there in good ol' Star Valley.

Flaming Gorge - The 4th

Fishing the Green

A little swimming for the crazies!

A little visiting with Josh.....

The River

Shan, Adalee, Ethney & Mado

A little Fisherman.....

Exploring and more

Should i or shouldn't i...

Chilling in the shade!

The Fourth of July

Me & bry at the River

A little Sittin at night staying warm, it got a little chilly at night, the days were pretty nice, it did however rain a little each day.

Smores of course!

The new Dirt bike! Yes, Mad Man Muggins retures!

Our crazy bunch of hooliguns!

April Showers bring May flowers? Right!

Will the showers ever end? This was tonight, after we thought the sun was here for a while.

Will we ever get to plant that Garden in fulL?

Nothing like getting ready for bed and then running thru the sprinklers. Oh well - it was a most fun time watching the kids giggle and freeze while it was still in the 50's! NUTS!

MOTHERS DAY!

This is us, at Log Haven. This was a tradition for Bryan's family with his Grandmother, Sonya. The last time we were here Ryker was only 2 months old. I have the best Picture of him in this same spot Bry and I just smiling happily and him screaming his gutts out cause he wanted to eat. It is priceless. To top it off there is really no where to sit and nurse in private so as a newly learned nursing mom, i went into the bathroom and nursed him sitting on the toilet in the bathroom stall! Yes, i know, sanitary! Hey it worked! you do what you gotta do!
This brought back some memories of His Grandmother, how we miss her. She passed away shortly after we were married. I think that the Mother's day that we were there with her last was the year we were engaged. Wow! One more month and that will be 14 years! How time flies!
I Am so Grateful for my mother! I could not do it with out you. Thanks to my Mom's in Law as well, thanks for everything! You make my life a little easier to say the least!

Happy Mom's Day To ME!

Me and my honey at LOG HAVEN, up Milcreek Canyon, it is so beautiful there.

Me and Little Miss. The grounds there are Fabulous! To walk around there is fun. Waterfalls and all the fun little paths to explore.

I got so spoiled or i should say that i am so spoiled. Along with new earings and a necklace with my children's birthstones, Bryan and Ryker (a little help from me) have been working on a Green House for the back yard. I can not tell you how excited I am for this! i love to garden and this is the next level for sure! it is going to be so beautiful when it is done. We are getting closer. I have to share these pics only because Ryker everyday asks what is next. He walks around with his tool bag and wants to learn how to do everything. He had this cutest smile on his face like he knew what he was doing and was so smart. I wish you could see it in the picture. I love him for his growth and his love of learning. He makes me want to be better in all that i do.

Ryker, the understudy! Dad the wise teacher....... in so many ways.

WOMEN's CONFERENCE

How lucky was i when my dear friend Cara called and said that she had a extra ticket to Women's conference. (Thank you Mrs. Hickenlooper) It is exactally what i needed! What an amazing time and experience.

We were under the impression that we were staying in a large two bedroom room with a full kitchen, o.k., Not so much! The dorm room or prison cell was two tight single beds, flat sheet included and a toilet to share with three other rooms! After the upfront shock the whole experience was well worth it and truly we never even spent time in the room other that to shut our eyes.

We got up early on day one: 5:00! a.m. ( i have not been up that early for to long to remember) seriously who does that! But once again well worth it! Cara signed us up to sing in the Women's Choir so we had to be there by 6:30 and practice for the morning session at 9:00. I myself do not sing so well but is was amazing and i learned a lot. I love to sing! especially in the shower or in a room that only my children can hear me, sorry to my neighbors that might catch the occasional tune, but wow, talk about feeling the spirit! This room can hold 23,000 people, it was close to full on a couple of moments. They said that there was at least 15K women, maybe closer to 20K at this conference! Unreal! The Power of the RS~

The streets at BYU were packed and i am not joking when i say you better make use of those 30 minutes to get you to that next class because it was like sardines in those halls! What fun we had! hussling our gutts from one place to the next. It was beautiful and so peaceful! It was fun running into a few friendly faces too!

The Humanitarian projects were nuts! Talk about some service hours, what a great way to spend the first evening, followed by an amazing concert filled with amazingly talented people! Hilary Weeks, The Fabulous Five tap dancers, Mercy River, Alex Boye, Michael Mclean, and one more gentlemen i forget his name but what a powerful voice and quite a sacrife to be there. His wife gave birth to their son while he was there and he missed it! Tear Jerker! THANKS CARA FOR THINKING OF ME!

Easter Fun!

Grandma Bott put together a real fun easter egg hunt for the kids the saturday before easter! Sad that Sarah and Jaxson could not make it, but we had funn hunting and coloring eggs.

Little miss Shunshine!

Ryker Looking in the hard to reach spots!

Say cheese! Faith and Ethney working the yard.

All the kids! Salavating over the goods! Thanks mom, you are the best!

Snowbird!

Here we are at the top, end of the day, we decided to take the kids up with Josh and Cullen and see what Ryker could do. He loved his board! Me, still a big chicken! That hill is too big for me! Hee, Hee!

Ethney loved it. She kept saying she wanted her own board. Bry took her down a few times and she just kept begging for more. I guess maybe next year we know what to get her too!

What a little stud! He is so dang cute!

Thanks Josh for the fun day and helping us out!