Where Memories Begin...

In April my parents traded in the camp trailer they had had for a couple of years for a newer and bigger one. Because of the weather they hadn't been able to go on their first camping trip in the new camper. Finally Wednesday afternoon they were able to get off. Both of them needed a little rest and relaxation and for them camping is usually their ticket to rest and relaxation. Like I said...usually! Not this camping trip, because "where memories begin" became "WHERE NIGHTMARES BEGIN"...

Thursday morning my Mom called me at work to tell me that they had a problem with the camper. She proceeded to tell me that their camper had caught on fire and the fridge had exploded on my Dad but that the fire was out and they were both okay. My brother and I headed up to Island Park where they were camping to meet them and follow them to their house where we were going to help them unload the camper and then take it to Bish's. When I opened the door this was what I saw...

I wanted to cry because it hit me how lucky my Mom and Dad were that nothing serious happened to them. My Dad's hair and eye lashes were singed and he had a few burns on his hands and the inside of his nose was burned, but they were alive.

They hadn't used the gas on their refrigerator until this camping trip and during the night my Dad noticed the light was flashing so he turned it off. The next morning they started to read the manuals to see why the light was flashing and what was wrong. Dad went on the outside of the trailer to check and it exploded and the fire started. The new fire extinguisher that came with the trailer also did not work. My Mom's cell phone wouldn't go out. Luckily the camp hosts were still there, Thursday was usually their day off, so they called 911 and helped my parents spray the trailer with hoses until the Fire Department arrived.

Remember this was their BRAND new camper, never been used. It didn't originally come with this sun roof, the Island Park Fire Department added that for Mom and Dad.

Bish's and Jayco Trailers have been very good to work with. Apparently it was something to do with the fridge being faulty. Hopefully they will have another trailer to replace this one soon but I'm not so sure my parents are all that excited to go camping again. Thankfully they are okay. So like I said ~ this past week was definitely WHERE NIGHTMARES BEGIN!!

Going Fishing

Backing up to last week...Brodie's Biology teacher told them that he would give extra credit to anyone who could catch some fish and bring them to class the next day to dissect. Brodie thought that was a GREAT idea and called his Grandpa and Grandma Neigh to see if we could fish in their pond. They had just filled it with fish but said that it would be okay so we headed up to attempt to catch eight fish for his Biology class. The pond is in between Grandpa and Grandma Neigh's house and Smokey and Kim's house. It was actually SO relaxing once we got up there and started fishing, the weather even cooperated ~ no wind!!

I think that Brodie thought if he walked around the pond the fish might jump up into the net.

Brentlie even gave the net a try "here fishy".

But then they all got down to business to catch some fish. Brodie invited his friend Greg up to help catch fish. The lucky fisherman was Todd who caught two fish for Brodie's class. Greg's family came up with him so Jayce took the kids on a Gator ride. They pet some of Grandma Neigh's horses. And a neighbor stopped by and gave the kids rides in his wagon.

What started out with me stressing over one more thing to do that evening turned out to be a fun and relaxing evening, not to mention productive we did catch two fish and the neighbor, Austin, caught a sucker. We'll see how much it helps Brodie's Biology grade!

Memorial Day

Tomorrow we remember family members and friends who have passed away. Memorial Day is a time to remember them and the memories we have of them, a time to pay respect to them. Tonight Harleigh, Jayce, and I went to the cemeteries with my parents, something we do every year. Brodie and Todd are away this weekend at a Civil Air Patrol training. It is always a time when I remember my grandparents, aunts and uncles. I also enjoy listening to my parents tell stories of each of them as we visit their graves. It is a chance for us to tell my children of the great people that they were.

I also wanted to post a couple of poems about those who have fought for our freedom.

Memorial Day

By: Michelle Keim

As we stand here looking

At the flags upon these graves

Know these flags represent

A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country

As man has through all of time

Except that these soldiers lying here

Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here

To pay them our respect

Let's pass this word to others

It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it

If it were me or you

To show we did not die in vein

But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children

And to those who never knew

What these soldiers died for

It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families

Great pain they had to bear

Losing a son, father or husband

They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought

On the day that they died

I stand here looking at these flags

Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps

With its sweet and eerie sound

Pray for these soldiers lying here

In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride.

You were here Memorial Day.

~~~~~

No, Freedom Isn't Free

By: CDR Kelly Strong, USCG

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen",

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons, and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

WHEW...WHAT A WEEK!!!

This week has been BUSY! I feel like we have been on the go non-stop. Here is a summary of this past week, so I won't forget all that we have been up to. Since this blog is a form of my journal I plan on blogging about all of these events this coming week but for now, here's the summary.

Our non-stop adventures started last weekend when we headed to Tetonia to watch Ashlie's rodeo.

Sunday was Seminary Graduation that I blogged about below.

Monday we went fishing at the pond.

Tuesday Harleigh's First Grade class performed the play Stone Soup.
Wednesday was Todd and mine 20th Wedding Anniversary. In celebration, I went on a field trip with Harleigh's First Grade Class to the Tauphus Park Zoo.
Thursday we watched my nieces graduate. First Maryanna~
Then Ashlie ~
Maryanna also got engaged this week to Cody Carlson.
Friday Harleigh had a field day at her school.
Saturday I went with my Mom, sister-in-law Tammie, and Maryanna looking for a wedding dress for Maryanna.
And I bought some of these that are calling my name to plant this weekend!
So as you can see WHEW...WHAT A WEEK it has been. I'll try to add some longer posts about all of the things that we have been up to, but figured I'd better sum it all up before I forgot. Check back, you won't want to miss this...

Have a great Memorial Day!

High School Graduations

Tomorrow two of my nieces will graduate from High School so we will be busy
going to graduations.


My brother's daughter, Maryanna, will graduate from Madison High School.

Todd's brother's daughter, Ashlie, will graduate from Sugar Salem High School.

Congratulations Graduates!

WAY TO GO!!

We wish you the best of luck in your future!!

Our 20th Anniversary

Tomorrow Todd and I will celebrate our 20th Anniversary. I can't believe that it has been 20 years since we were married, it has gone so quickly "for better or worse, richer or poorer, SICKNESS and health". We received a wedding gift, way back when, with the saying:

"Happiness is Being Married to Your Best Friend"

Todd and I started out as such good friends and it has helped carry us through. I'm thankful for his friendship, his love, and his companionship.

"If I had to do if over again...I would!"

Happy Anniversary Todd~

I Love You!

Seminary Graduation

Sunday night I went to my niece, Maryanna's Seminary Graduation and, of course, I had to capture some pictures.

Here is my sister-in-law Tammie, Maryanna, and their Bishop:

My brother, Blaine's family (he was giving me a hard time about taking pictures):

And my parents with Blaine's family:

Congratulations Maryanna! I'm not sure where the time has gone since you were just a little girl, but it has certainly flown by. We are proud of you and wish you the very best in all that you set out to do in your future!

Had to Share

One of the ladies that I work with got this and I thought it was funny so I had to share. It was in a speak out type column that someone sent to her:

"To all you hunters who kill animals for food, shame on you. You ought to go to the store and buy the meat that was made there, where no animals were harmed. "

So next time you pick up a package of hamburger in the store, remember "no animals were harmed." HELLO ~ HERE'S YOUR SIGN:

Air Soft Guns

So for a long time we have been having a "discussion" with the boys about getting Air Soft Guns. They want them SO bad. But a few years ago when I asked where they would shoot them they said, which didn't help their case, we'll have wars with our friends, you shoot at your friends. "Oh yeah, sure let's go buy you a gun to shoot at your friends" was my first reaction. But I've asked others and I realize that if they are wearing the proper clothing and it is not a high powered gun their chances of getting hurt are less, but still Todd and I have still held off.

For Brodie's day date to the dance they were going to go horse back riding but that didn't work out and then they came up with Air Soft Guns, which for the most part they shot at targets. Brodie still had the guns that one of the boys had provided for the date so we let the kids try them out shooting this little target in our back yard.

We all got in the action.Harleigh has gone with Todd and the boys to the gun range to shoot Todd's guns and so she was a little hesitant that it was going to make a LOUD noise so she was hiding behind Brodie for protection.Once she decided it was okay, she was willing to give it a try. Brodie even helped out his mother, after all it was on Mother's Day. We were all actually having a good time target practicing. Todd and I went in the house and I told him that maybe if they wore protective clothing for their "wars" and did some target practice in the back yard it would be okay to get them some. Then we talked about "yeah, how long with that last". Not ten minutes later in walks Harleigh saying "we are having a blast, Brodie hit Jayce a couple times but he's okay, cops and robbers is so fun". Yup pretty much what we thought they would do!

So in case you are wondering, we're still debating this whole Air Soft Gun thing.