I (insert name) promise...to do my best, to do my duty...

This afternoon, at about five til' five, from the other room, I heard the ironing board screeeech into position, and that oh-so-soft crackling noise that can only come from a warming iron.
It could only mean one thing.
Bret was ironing his pants for another pack meeting.

Not just any pack meeting, mind you...

Bret and his buddy Jaiden received their
Arrow of Light Award.

It's the highest award you can receive as a cub scout, and the only emblem from Cubs that you can wear on your uniform as a boy scout, and adult scout leader.

He (along with his devoted parents and leaders) worked long and hard on this one, and of course, we're oh-so proud of him.

He's looking rather grown up in these pictures (to me, anyway) and sometimes when I look at him the right way, I catch a brief glimpse of what is to come for him and us as he grows up. Sniff Sniff...why all the drama with my growing children lately??

Bret wasn't the only one to leave the pack meeting with some loot.

Tate earned a segment or two and is enjoying having his great mom as his Den mother. I love the yellow shirt, and get superbly excited each time there's an opportunity to wear it.

Kyle was less than cooperative throughout the entire ordeal.

Someday when he gets his Arrow of Light, I'll have Bret come dressed in a clown suit and do jumping jacks in the back of the room. That should adequately replicate the distraction.

Kudos to our cub committee.
We pretty much rock.
I didn't get a picture of Annie, and should have, since she did a large portion of the work, but will ensure there is one next month.

Check out this cake!!

Until next time...be sure and obey the scout law.

iKyle

I found a new way to get Kyle to stay (and fall asleep) in his bed at night (when it's not yet dark).

It's difficult to admit, but he kind of looks like
one of my older boys in this picture.
(sniff).

And, get this:
The other day, I asked Tate (lying on couch) to turn off the TV. It went something like this, "Hey, Tate...could you turn off the TV?" He just laid there like he didn't hear a single word I said. Finally, after repeated requests, I walked over there to give him a piece of my mind. I soon realized why he didn't turn it off.
It wasn't Tate.
It was Kyle. !?!?!
My "baby" is so not one anymore.

i ♥ idaho

So, we've been here for almost six months now.
And more and more...I really love running into stuff like this:

I came across this one while waiting for a client and his senior portrait session this evening. It was obviously an awesome location.
oh. I. love it here.

fickle-weather living

As I was doing some much needed tidying this afternoon, I noticed this collection of footwear by the front door.
Just before I considered putting them away, I paused to notice the parodox. Within 3 days, all of these were utiltized.

Enjoying one of the sunny days this past week, for FHE we drove out to Shoshone Falls and saw this:

Awesome.

The mist was especially entertaining for me.

Afterwards, we took in some ice cream and stream walking.

Two days later, we were trudging through 2 inches of snow.

Classic.

color, calories, critters and cumber buns...

Our Easter weekend was made extra-long with two days off of school. We all kind of lost track of what day it was....daily.
This morning though, as I heard the birds chirping, and saw hints of the sun, I knew
it must be Easter.

We've enjoyed a long lazy day with various bouts of dressing up for church, detaching Peeps from the living room carpet, consuming pork and potatoes, and thinking up dishes that could tolerate an extra hard-boiled egg or two.

While I admitedly don't care for artificial Easter grass, nor the constant candy-wrapper-cleanup, not to mention all the missing plastic egg halves... I DO love what this time of year does bring with it. Such warmth and light, new life and color.

Idaho Spring you, I've been waiting...

The Easter Bunny left a couple of relatives at our house today.

Jubilation like you've never seen was exhibited by one and all.

They're setting timers to determine who gets to hold them and for how long, etc. etc... Please tell me I'm not the only one with children like this.

Other weekend events include princesses of all kinds, man. Let me tell you...

First, a birthday party photo shoot (with some adorable hostesses) where there were oodles of them.

And then a slightly more mature gathering (?) wherein they
really did feel like princesses.

And for The Prom...I'd say that's just how it should be.

They were all...just glowing.

And now...to dispose of this leaning tower of moist tissue. Allergies? a Cold? I'm not certain...but if I don't go to bed, my sinus tract is likely to explode. (or is it implode?) Either way...you get it.
I'm done.

working out with the BIGGEST "losers"

I almost didn't go workout this morning, since I'm battling allergies and soreness from my LAST cross-fit workout, but I'm glad I did.
Just before we started....
Mandi walked in!
I had seen Aubrey and her kids before at the gym (they both live here in Idaho and train with a spin instructor/trainer at our Twin Falls Gold's) but hadn't seen her sister yet.

(apologies for this poor quality cell phone pic, you get the idea though...)

It was really fun doing the whole session
right there beside her.
She looks awesome!

4 more weeks
for her (and me too - with our local 12 week challenge) so I'm hoping this new class will help me step it up a bit.

Go Yellow Team!

cute girls, cute boys, cute cookies...

Tonight, the traditional format of our Pizza and Movie Night was somewhat altered.
And, OH for the better, if you ask us.

While their mother made an unexpected trip to acquire some stitches in her foot, an adorable trio of girls joined us for the evening. The joy and elation this immediately caused is really quite indescribable.

As they ate their pizza and watched their movie, I decided we should accurately document the evening. They, of course, did not object.
35 minutes later...when they had changed and re-arranged the outfits, styled the various heads of hair, and glossed all the lips, it seemed as if we were about ready. I'm pretty sure (little one) Brinley thought we were all crazy, but... alas, I think they turned out very cute.

The boys weren't about to miss out on having guests, so each recruited companions and have been building LEGO contraptions with greasy pizza fingers in that stinky room for a good 2 hours now.

Now and then, I caught a glimpse of Doug, wandering around wishing he had something to do. I guess the dishes and laundry weren't enough to tempt him.
Finally we decided it would be a good night to rent a movie. Off he sped to Blockbuster for some kind of action-packed flick destined to put me to sleep within 20 minutes, as usual.

So, finally...as I made some quick website adjustments for a client back in AZ, I was lost in a sugar dream thinking of
all of her cute cookies .
(and by the way...should you need some favors, referral gifts or just a sugar fix, look no further, I promise!)

Almost as immediately as my girls began jumping up and down upon seeing their neighbor friends earlier, I immediately needed a
Chocolate Mudslide. STAT.

All in all (except for having to settle for a 100 calorie pack of Oreos instead of the mudslide) it's been an exceptionally fulfilling night.

And now that I'm stocked up on string cheese and Sun Chips, we're set for a weekend full of inspiration.

Doug's back now, and waiting with the popcorn and his flick. Perfect timing.

Over and Out.