activities

so since it is not quite friendly weather outside, andy and the kiddos had an impromptu dance party and...

as it is still doing this today...

the kids have had about 7 baths in the last 3 days. whatever it takes.

snow

this has been an adjustment for me. i am moderately adjusted to western weather, but this is just crazy.

guest

can you guess who is our mystery guest?

boots

this is chap's 'blink' - she thinks 'blink' and 'smile' are interchangeable.

dock

so our new nightly routine is our little trip to the neighborhood dock. it usually involves seeing some sort of wildlife, a moose, eagle, some sort of duck. once we arrive, we usually have a bug lesson - rowe & i are learning - a baetis, a caddis here and there. rowe is better than i am. then there is usually some dog training. there is usually at least one fit thrown by one of the two, differing each night, and then we head home. an exciting night in idaho:-)

porch

so we can finally see our back porch!

green

so it is starting to get green. i say that and it snowed today, but i'm still hopeful:-) so here are andy and rowe scouring the woods for morels. it is a certain type of mushroom that andy's family grew up hunting on their family farm in indiana. they are supposed to be amazing - way better than portobellos, so i'm excited. so here are the hunters.

boats

this is in every front yard in our neighborhood. andy feels right at home:-)

glasses

this is what i think of when i think of joy

and this is what i think of when i think of an older brother:-) love ya, bro.

7

happy anniversary, goose.

bison

can you guess where we went yesterday?

so we had lots of first yesterday. first national park as a family. thank you, yellowstone. first bison for the kiddos and first baby bison for all of us, so cute. here's a pic of how close they are to the road - just hanging out.

first time for 3/4 of the fam to see old faithful - thanks mom and dad for putting up with roy and i on our cruise thru the west. chap was a little more interested in the helicopter flying over old faithful more than good ole' faithful herself, but rowe was pretty excited about it.

and a first for andy -something he's been waiting to do his whole fishing life - cross the state line into this beauty of a state

cousins

cute cousins - lots of boys and sweet faithy

ps - momma lee, here are the updates for your fridge - sorry i'm about 3 months late:-)

spades

here are chap and momma lee teaming up against grammy

lake

more fish pics for ole rowe

swingin'

swingin' in dallas - the kids loved andy pushing them at the same time. so much fun.