Master Green

Jeremy set a goal to get his master before he turned 36. He has been working so hard for the last two years, spending all his free time studying, and doing homework. He accomplished this goal and we are proud of him. One of the last things for him to do was to go on his 10 day field experience. He chose to go to California to the Yosemite area. He was very excited to go and even bought himself a hat to keep himself from being "fried" in the desert sun! (I still give him crap about the safari hat!) Now all he has to do when he gets home is to write his final paper and field guide about our area. Sixty or Eighty page paper and then it's official, He'll be MASTER GREEN.

An Afternoon at Temple Square

We took full advantage of taking Jeremy to the airport to catch his plane to California for 10 days. We left Rigby Sunday morning and took the kids to Temple Square for the first time. It had changed so much since the last time Jeremy and I had been there. We spent a lot longer than we thought we would and the kids loved it. I sadly had forgotten the spirit of Temple Square.

I went to Temple Square with prayer in my heart about our little baby girl that quickly was winning a place in my heart. I knew that the time had come to either commit to making her part of the the family or finding her another home. As we walked through the displays things and quotes kept popping out and seemed like they were just speaking to me. I scratched a scripture reference into the tray of my stroller because I knew that once I left I wouldn't remember it.

Jacob 2:17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

This hit hard because one of the biggest concerns with making Frankie part of our family sadly was finance. Would Jeremy and I be able to provide all the things possible to give our other four girls and Frankie the life they all deserved. This scripture brought a comfort in knowing that all would be okay, and all would be fine. It made me contemplate the word "RICH." Did RICH consist of money and worldly things or did RICH have a deeper meaning to this little girl how had come from a rough background. Did RICH mean the gospel and everything that it could offer her. Little did I know that later that same day this question would also be answered as we walking though a tour about families given by the sister missionaries. We walked. through a home setting and watched little videos about the different parts of the proclamation to the family. In the final room one of the last comments made by President Monson will forever lived in the heart and mind. (I wish I had written this down too maybe someday I will get to.) He said something like...the most important thing in a family was not wealth or stature, but LOVE. One thing that I knew we as a family could give Frankie was love. It had started to become clear to me that yes Frankie needed to stay in our family.

What Do You Do in the Summer Time?

My girls love to play in the sprinklers, and make "bum" prints. What would it be like to be young again and enjoy seeing the shape of your behind stamped on the driveway?

Maggy is warming herself on the warm driveway here making full body prints.

Sister love. Enjoy the moment.

Maggy is freezing and wondering how to warm-up.

Baylee's new Job

There are advantages to your kids growing older...they can do more work. Baylee's new job is to mow what I call the "North Forty" it's the huge piece of grass in the the very back of the lawn. I hate mowing it because it is deceptively large! I don't even care how it looks as long as it is mowed. Baylee did a very good job for her first time. The self propelling feature of the lawn mower was not working this time, but Jeremy fixed it and now the job is much easier! Now if I could only convince her that changing diapers is as much fun, I'd really be in business!

While Mom Was Gone

So we have the best Daddy at our house. This year while I was gone on the annual girl's weekend. Jeremy packed up the girls and headed to one of their favorite spots, Craters of the Moon. I thought he was both brave and a little crazy for taking them all alone, but if anyone can do it Jeremy can. He left Thursday night and came home Saturday because of the weather. The girls had a blast, and I was kind of sad that I missed the first big camping trip of the year!

Here's a rare picture...Baylee and Payge holding hands and being civil...and I wasn't there to witness this small miracle!

Annual Yost Girls Trip

Another fun girl's trip. This time we went to Mom and Dad's home. I think it was one of my favorite girl's trips so far. It was so much fun to go home without any kids/husbands. The first day we all met in Pocatello and went shopping. How time flies when five women shop. I think we got home around 9 p.m. I took Jackie with me this year, she did pretty good and still had a smile on her face after a long day shopping!

This was the first year the Dad got to witness the wild times on the all girl weekend. He did go fishing the first day, and only graced us with his presence Saturday afternoon.

Kera worked outside in the sunshine on the plant stand that Jake started to make her last year sometime, she finally got it sanded and stained. I hope that it doesn't take her another year for someone to put it together for her!

A girl's trip wouldn't be without Misty convincing Mom to highlight her hair. Here they sit trying to make some watch bands too. We love Misty because she always has a plan for us. Without her we wouldn't get anything accomplished! She's always the one with the list and knows how to make the most out of every second!

Logan also got to be part of the "girls"! We convinced him to let us highlight his hair with Misty's left over. We told him that we would cut it off if he didn't like it. (the truth was that Grandma didn't have a razor, guess the joke was on him!) What a good sport he played beauty shop with his aunts, but drew the line at painting his toenails. I don't think the cows would have liked that much anyway!

Okay, we didn't know what we were doing....Sorry Logan!

It doesn't look that bad. I guess it could have been worse.

We worked all day making watch bands, necklaces, and bracelets. Misty I think had had enough, she had just finished a project for the second or maybe third time, and went to tied it and the string snapped sending beads all over the floor. I have never seen a grown-up throw a tantrum like that!

Dad helped entertain Jackie for me. So glad he loves little girls. Especially ones that don't talk back!

Mom Goes on Strike!!!

To all the Moms out there....do you ever get sick spending your days cooking meals that no one will eat? All week the response to my meals have been, " Yuck. It's gooey. It tastes like Chicken. On and On and On. I do not pride myself in fixing my family breakfast every morning, mainly because unless it's pancakes no one will eat it. Well this special Sunday morning I got up and fixed scrambled eggs, hash browns and sausage, and got the usual. I don't like that kind of sausage. I hate eggs. I don't like cheese in my eggs....so I announced I was on strike and that I would not be cooking anymore that day. The response was one of excitement. They spent the rest of the morning planning their menu. I thought okay let them plan and fix and clean-up. Before church I made sure the dishwasher was full. Baylee and Payge decided to make tacos. Got the hamburger out of the freezer to thaw during church. After church they got right to work cooking hamburger for the tacos, but when they went to get taco seasoning we were all out! (Yes, I know I could have put some spices together, but remember I was on strike and was laying on the couch watching cartoons, and completely ignoring their whining pleas!) Notice the modge podge of spices in the background. I think Jeremy convinced them that plain hamburger would be best. They accomplished the hamburger, and got the table set, but forgot to prepare lettuce, tomatoes, cheese.....More to it than they originally planned. Okay they did a great job, but I still had to tell them all through dinner how dry my taco was, and that I didn't like the brown part of the lettuce, and that the tomatoes were smashed and gushy...I'm not sure they got the point because after all "These are the best tacos ever!" To bad they had to clean-up dinner, and empty that full dishwasher too. Will they complain again? Probably, because they had a blast and think they need to do it again real soon!

Green Beans and Tacos?