Pumpkin Carving Time

Halloween is just a few days away. Here is Coseete getting her hands dirty


Isaac had to get in it as well. I am so glad most of it was out already.


So cute, they are holding hands for the photo...can you guess what we carved?

It is a Pirate Skull, it looks better in real life.

Ethan got anopther gift in the mail today so we had fun opening it. This is what he got.. a coat and a truck. Thanks Grandma Frost!

Working on the View and a Party

On Saturday Rob decided he wanted to see the beautiful view out our back yard through the kitchen window. So, we started a little project...

Here is Cosette helping to knock down the side of the awning. She is a hard worker.

Part one is complete...the side is OFF

After disconnecting the sides it obliged and fell. Disassembly was much easier on the ground.

The next part was much more difficult in that we had a spa under it so we had to disassemble it while it was still up on the air. Thank goodness for skill saws.

Here is Ethan getting into the action. He knew exactly what to do with the hammer.

Here is the finished product from the outside looking in. Obviously more sun which is not a bad thing.

This is now our view from the kitchen window as opposed to just being able to see the spa and our own grass. Now we can see all the way to the foothills.

We also chose to celebrate one of Ethans birthday party's on Sunday so here is his first cake. The smaller one is the one he gets to eat all by himslef and the bigger one is for everyone else. Great Job Emma.

All in All it was a very nice weekend.

Autumn

Princess Cosette and Princess Isaac
Lean Mean Walking Machine
Coyote walking around our back gate Saturday morning.

Ethan walking

Here is Ethan with the control of a master. He walks and almost runs now. What a boy!

BALD

October snow was deep today.


Cosette would love to play in the snow but we left her winter coat at Aunt Janets a few weeks ago. We stay inside with the fire going drinking hot chocolate and watching movies.



We still had green tomatos on the plants in the garden.



The winter storm hit us with vengence. Here are a few pictures of our new adventure. Emma had a book club to go to and took the van only to get around the corner and get stuck. Robert ran down to help her and after getting it unstuck in short order by spinning a cooking the van was facing down hill. Robert proceeded to drive down the hill only to discover he did not have control of the direction the van would drive. He was headed for a parked car on the side of the road when he chose to point the wheels in the direction of the owners front yard. Fortunately he missed the car, fire hydrant, mail box, and van in the driveway and landed right in the middle of the yard. Instead of stopping he continued ot drive through the yard and out the neighbors drive way. (Robert called them and confessed) He eventually got Emma to the book club with white knuckles and ghost white hair. He thought it would be a piece of cake to get back home and in the garage. He was sorely mistaken as it took him three tries to get it up the hill the last one was driving like a banchee all over the road only to get it stuck in the drive way (twice). Our tires are at the end of their warranty and are therefore BALD. We planned to get new tires soon but the snow hit us before we could blink.

Ethan

Tuesday morning Ethan broke out with a rash from his diaper to his neck and down his arms to the fingertips. I cancelled my plans for the day and took him to the doctor. We couldn't figure out what it was, so I was told to give him Benadryl for the day and bring him back Wednesday. As I was leaving the doctor's office Wednesday, the doctor ran after me and as an afterthought we did a strep test. Ethan culture came back negative, but the doctor talked himself into treating Ethan for strep anyway. Things seem to be better today, the rash is not nearly as promenant.

Food Food Food

Here is a picture of Ian making pizza with a date. She thought it was the coolest that Ian could make pizza from scratch and modify his own recipe.

We had chinese food and Ian tried to convince Robert that he made it all from scratch. It was actually pretty good but he is not that good of a cook. This is Cosette eating fried crab legswith chop sticks.

Sunday morning we had cinnemon rolls. Cosette licked the dish and Isaac licked the counter top. It is obvious who the smarter one in this duo is.

My favorite painter

Growing up I attended a church building in Boise Idaho that had a painting of a random landscape and I liked it. Later I found out (as a teenager) that the picture was painted by Robert Wood. I have a real close friend who sent me this link saying he (my friend) is important because of the people he knows. Check it out!
http://www.robertwood.net

Quiet...is bad!

We thought Isaac was downstairs with Cosette. When we went down there and he wasn't there, we didn't know what to think. Yelling his name, he thankfully answered. This is where he was found...in our bathroom sink taking a "baf" and using the lotion as soap. He thourghly washed down the mirror with lotion as well. You can see the water almost to the top of the basin as well.
7:30am, the moon is just setting. The kids think it's great they can see the moon in the morning.
Cheezy kids! I love them.

Oh Brother, A New Car

My Brother has had a good time in Idaho. There are just a few noteworthy items to mention. First he bought his very first car, catapulting himself into manhood. These are a few pictures of his flashy sweetness. It's a Pontiac Grand AM.

In other news he is engaged to be married in the Idaho Falls temple in 3 weeks. If you believe that I have some ocean front property in Montana to sell you. He is still single and very lovable so if you know someone...let us know.

Rob's back in school

So, Rob is back to the grind once again and for the price who can blame him. He started is Doctoral courses in Higher Ed Administration two weeks ago and seems to be doing okay. A WHOLE LOT of reading and writing but then again they are trying to build some of the brightest minds in education. He goes to class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and every time Cosette will say "Daddy where are you going?" He would say " I am going to school." she would then respond " daddy you are silly you don't go to school you are too big big big." Oh the cuteness. So if you see Rob and he seems grumpy that is just who he is...but if he seems tired and unsocial, then it is from school. Don't forget to wish him luck.

Remembering 9/11

This is being encouraged by my friend, Mario Jacquez, a third-year teacher at the elementary school I attended and where my mom also works. Please contribute if you feel so inspired. (and for any international friends, how did 9/11 impact you and your country?)

barton911@gmail.com

"I'm not sure how many people remember the project a few teachers at my school worked on last year for September 11th.... but it is that time again. Let me explain. Last year we realized that many of our students were so young that most of them had no idea what happened on September 11, 2001. Inspired by the story of the aunt of a teacher at our school who was on flight 11 , the first plane that struck the WTC, we did not want our students to forget the many people who lost their lives and the heroes that emerged from the tragic and horrible events of September 11th. So we invited people to contribute their thoughts, reflections, memories and insights about Setember 11, 2001. We want to place all of these contributions in a collection to use as a resource in teaching about the historic day. There are so many lessons that can be learned from this event. Not only from the event itself but from its aftermath and how it has shaped the world in which we live today.This is the invitation we used last year inviting people to share last year.We, like elementary teachers all across this country, are now teaching children who were very small six years ago. They have no memory of the events of that day. We would like to preserve your thoughts and feelings to share with classes for years to come. Please write about what you were doing at the time of the attacks, how it has impacted your life, and your feelings as an American and please forward this to people who you think will contribute. You will be writing for children between 7 and 12 years old. Please join us in compiling these memories so that the children can be taught and as a nation we will never forget. Thank youWe have established an email account where people may email their contributions to. barton911@gmail.com Please send your reflections to us and encourage everyone you know to do the same and encourage everyone they know as well... you get the point. Our hope is that you will repost this on your blog or copy it and send it to everyone on your email list. We would love to see this grow and grow then receive a flood of contributions. I am kind of reminded of a documentary I saw a few months ago called the paper clip project. A small school in a small town had the idea of collecting a paper clip to represent each person who died during the Holocaust. It was something that once it got rolling had lasting effects on the students involved and the community. I hope that maybe this project might grow into something will forever impact the lives of not only the students who pass through a few teacher classes but maybe an entire community. "

Then there was ONE

We have officially disconnected the (909) 743-4053. It was a waste of money because we hardly ever used it. Only two family members would ever call it and it was long distance for one of them so we are down to just one phone line. If you don't have it and would like it send us an email and we will be glad to give it to you.

Pictures from Camping

Friday night's dinner was KFC. Apparently we've done a poor job teaching our daughter the proper way to eat a drumstick. She was sucking on the handle.

We spent a lot of time in front of the campfire. It was the only place the boys would just sit and be still.
Isaac laid claim to this chair. He wouldn't let it out of his sight. It would make the trek from the table to the campfire and back...all with him carrying it like this. He'd pitch a fit if we tried to fold it up for him to carry.
Sorry it's sideways...but see on Isaac's right side, just above his diaper...a nice welt from a hornet bite. He had four of them, one on each knee, one inside his right thigh, and this one. Cousin Josie jumped on a rotted log on our nature walk. Isaac walked over it and apparently the hornets went up his pant leg. We pulled out four of them and eventually took off his pants to make sure the "pokies" were gone. We felt really bad for Isaac, but the welts went away pretty quickly.
Just our happy, go lucky Ethan. He loved the carrier. This is where he ate, slept, and probably even pooped...all weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was spent in Island Park. We decided to have a last hurrah of summer by sleeping three nights on the cold, hard ground. It was great fun. The kids loved it. We arrived Friday evening, about 6pm. The boys (Tate and Rob) over saw the ground breaking ceremony of our new outhouse.

Saturday was more digging, hammering, sawing, eating, you name it. Because Island Park has a population of 215, they have "community yard sales". Convenient it was over Labor Day weekend when EVERYONE is in town, and then some. We poked around the community activities and were sad we didn't win the bid on a 50's aluminum sided trailer. The bid started at $100 and closed at $105. Reason we didn't win was they closed the auction before we went back to make our bid. Don't know how that was fair, but oh well.

Saturday night was abnormally warm. We slept most of the night out of our sleeping bags. It was just to loll us into a false sense of comfort however.

Sunday started with a vengeance. Rain, hail, thunder, lightening...the works. Fortunately, the Carter's had to speak in their ward and went home, taking half of the kids with them. In camp Sunday was Rob, Josie, Shandell, Isaac, Ethan, and myself. Plenty of helpers for little campers.

Sunday night was cold, Monday morning, even colder. When we left Island Park at 1pm on Monday, it was 44 degrees. Burr!!

We are looking forward to many more adventures up there, but they'll have to wait until next year.

Time Marches On

So this will probably be a bit more wordy than I'm used to. I guess I don't write too many monologues because I figure people won't read them - no time.

I am constantly amazed at Idaho weather. It's August, 8:30AM, and 44 degrees outside!! The kids are wearing hats and gloves to play outside this morning. Cosette wanted her snow hat that her Uncle Ian sent her from Canada. She doesn't call him Ian anymore, he is now officially "the Tall Man". Cosette says, "I want my hat with the ear flaps that the Tall Man gave me for the snow."

When Ian walked in the door, he was greated by Cosette. She immediately latched herself onto him and wouldn't detach the entire time he was here. He quickly became her "favorite" uncle. When Ian left, Isaac was just 3 months old. Isaac is now the age Cosette was and Ethan is almost walking.

Ian hopes to come back up to Idaho for the potato harvest...he just needs someone to hire him.

Yesterday was a sad day for me. I sat on my doorstep and watched my whole family drive away. As you know, when we made the move to Idaho in December/January, I was leaving my entire immediate family. My brothers, sister, and parents were all in Southern California while I was 12 hours away in Pocatello.

Tuesday, August 19th was the first time since October 2003 that all five of us kids were back together again. Mom and Dad drove to Calgary, Canada to pick up Ian from his proselyting mission there. On the way home, they stopped for a couple of days in Poky. It was great to see everyone. The biggest difference the 5 year gap gave us was the number of family members to love.

I can't say enough about families and the joy my family brings into my life. Even though being a mom is challenging, it has been wonderful for me. Having a husband like Robert is the greatest blessing I could ask for. He gives me so much strength to face the world everyday. I can't express enough the love I have for him.

Here is a picture of the whole family, as it now stands, together in my basement...

This is a replay of a photo we did probably 10-12 years ago. I'm just glad Nicole and I still get the top...I don't know if we'd last with the boys on the top!!
Ian just walked in the door and met Ethan...

7 Years...Bad Luck?

Yesterday was our anniversary (8-18-08). It's hard to believe it's been 7 years already. The first 5 years were spent in school, the last 2 were on getting started in the "grown up" world. We are still very much in love and grateful to be the parents of 3 wonderful children.

Island Park

Cosette took this picture while the boys and I were playing around a week ago.
This killer sunset was August 9th. We had a summer storm that really lit up the sky. Paden and Ethan bonding...
The kids in the pidgeon coop we picked up. It will eventually be a bunkhouse.
Swimming in our very own "secret swim hole". I would tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you...

All the same day WOW

These pictures were taken yesterday in this order. I am just in aww every single time.

Before the Move and Now

This is Ethan when he was born in California and 9 months later in Idaho.