Coconut M&M's are you kidding me?

Hey everybodoy have you heard?

coconut M&M's ... YUMMY!

BEAR WORLD

After leaving our family reunion, we decided to take a detour. Where we live there is a road side billboard with BEAR WORLD pasted on it. My kids have seen it a dozen times and everytime they say... can we go... please please please... well, the reunion just happened to be practically across the street! How convienient! So we convinced Dad to take us. Not only were there Bears, there were Elk of several colors, deer, wolves, turkeys, fish, swans, buffalo...and more.

RIDES!! FREE RIDES!!! ANDREW LOVED THEM AND WOULD CRY EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY STOPPED!

can you see them? spot 5 bear teennagers

we were really hoping to see a BRAWL or some kind of ACTION!

This was the coolest thing I've ever seen... I was wishing they had a stuffed animal of him in the gift shop... An all white elk with budding antlers all in velvet. He looked so soft it was crazy... like something from a movie! I would have named him (t.p.?????????)

We had a good time. It was out little mini vacation. I'll take what I can get and be very happy about it. I came away from the reunion and this mini vacation feeling totally re-grouped! Ready to start new projects, organize my life and tackle whatever it is that lies ahead of me. Who knew a weekend in Idaho could do such things. (ahhh but it did so much more than anyone could ever know... I benefitted in so many ways from it.)

I spent one morning here:
REXBURG TEMPLE

What a beautiful temple and the peaceful spirit that I felt meant a lot to me. I always feel it when I'm at the temple, but there was something extra special about that morning trip. Hmmmmm wonder what that could have been?

Highlights.... and I mean HIGH LIGHTS!

Reunions bring out the best in people is what I have realized! Like this picture for instance:

Rhett was one of many who tried out the BIG BALL WIPEOUT! It was quite impressive to watch :)

HUMAN FOOSEBALL... another adventerous game that brings out competitiveness in even the weakest of players.
And then the PHOTO SHOOT of the generations...notice the love we share amongst cousins who have only met for the first time...

I know it was the time of day, and I know it was the camera lense, but this last image to me kindof shines a little bit of light right down from heaven... don't you think? And I think that it was very likely the case... those in heaven peeking down, watching over, and totally enjoying the weekend along with us.

I wish I would have taken a picture on my camera of my mom and my aunts and uncle... those responsible now for this growing crew. We love them, and all that they have taught us and how happy they have taught us to be! Thanks for the good times.

science camp

The kids have spent the past couple of days at science camp. They are having a great time making...

talking about snakes, reptiles and other "ooey" things.
having fun with friends

and learning a lot about cool science stuff!

what do you want to be when you grow up?

I am a FORD

Generation 4 - just a few of them
we went to Wolf Creek/Silver Meadows - my favorite place on earth!

Sorry Samee... but this is just a cute memory of the weekend.

Andy's first tent sleeping experience... not so much sleeping... just smiling and waving at any passerby! Those walls are pretty thin ya' know.

my checker board got put to good use.

All in all the reunion was so good, just like it always is. It left me feeling somewhat contemplative about years past and memories of my own childhood, which I guess is what it's all about; creating and remembering, and celebrating family and memories. I think my emotions about it all boiled down to one thing... I really miss my Grandma and Grandpa Ford who were the ROCK that centered our family. We rolled rocks at heart lake something that my Dad started and we all could do for hours. The hill is steep and the terrain is beautiful. It's God's country and we sense those that are no longer with us, but are with Him there in those mountains. I am proud to be a FORD.

p.s. I really missed all the fam. that weren't there.... my girls.. you know who you are! Love ya!

"School in Summer????"

In case you've been wondering what we've been up to... well let me tell you. Mason and a group of neighborhood buddies (including Sadie and Nick) are holding summer school. It is not just any summer school... it's "NATURE" school. They hike up a dirt road near our house to a group of trees where they spend every afternoon teaching and learning and talking about things like: birds, insects, water and land mammals, rocks and minerals, and I'm sure other non-related things. They have all been given certain rolls: for instance Mason is... was.... the "field-trip director". He has now deemed himself as the insect instructor. Sadie is the "Principle" and has established a disciplinary system that she is quite proud of. Being the only girl at the school I guess she gets that privilege. She "observes" at each class (or respective tree) and watches behavior. If she has to mark anyone 4 times they are in "detention". This includes standing near a "thorny bush" and writing 30 times "I will not be bad". Nick, he's an "observer" as well... just ask him. They all have been working very hard on making this school something that the neighborhood boys will want to attend. They have done a good job I think. Keep in mind Mason sent out a fl yer that covered all bases including: "we are not responsible for insect bites and accidents"............parents signature needed_______________________x

These are the good things summers are made of!

Andy's Hair Cut

Today was the big day... the first hair cut!

The curls are gone!!! Oh I'm so sad. He is a big boy now!