Idaho City

The other day we went to Idaho City, the first settled town in the state. We took Julie, Kelley, and TM with us. The drive was beautiful, we wound around next to the river up through mountains full of pine trees, it reminded me of Montana. This first picture is a pull off on the way back, the Lucky Peak Recreation area, that I definitely want to visit later this summer. So anyway, Idaho City is just this little town, lots of old buildings including the first church for "white men" in Idaho. The area was the most prosperous for gold anywhere and was full of mostly immigrants who mined the area. As we drove down the very few streets full of potholes I saw a sign for the Pioneer Cemetery. WARNING: FAINT OF HEART MAY NOT WANT TO READ ON: Now those of you who know me know that I have a serious fascination for both pioneers AND cemeteries, so how could I resist? We had to drive literally up into the mountains just following signs to find it. I have never seen anything like it! This cemetery is just scattered across this mountain, not even
close to town. The sign said they figure about 3,000 people are buried there, but they only know where 300 of those graves are. So just scattered everywhere are graves that are sunk in, or you can't see the whole headstone. It's truly eerie to walk up this mountain side and see everything from huge fancy headstones to slabs of wood. I took millions of pics but only included these two. First is one of the many that are just old blocks of wood with "UNKNOWN" carved into them. A lot of the graves themselves are surrounded with fences, the more expensive high class people have metal ones and these ones are just wood. I think the moss growing on it and the slump of the fence where it is sinking into the ground has a weird beauty. The next one was just a piece of very old wood and this pine tree has grown right in front of it and pushes it aside. I thought it was fascinating to see the way the grave marker is like peeking out from behind the tree as if to say "I was here first! Don't forget about me!" A couple more of my observations are that the earliest markers don't show birth dates; just names, age at the time of death, and the death date. And most of them also proudly proclaim where the person was from. I saw Belgium, Germany, China, and many more. Anyway I have a lot more pictures that I think are pretty cool and more stories but I'm not sure if anyone else is interested! Ramil and Julie refused to even enter the cemetery and spent the whole time I was exploring just nervously pacing. When I was done Kelley informed me that he was questioning them about their cemetery aversion and it turns out that in the Philippines they pretty much just toss a little dirt over people. Then the rainy season comes and I'll leave what surfaces to your imagination but it went a long way to explaining why Ramil wouldn't even eat and just wanted to leave! So if anyone is interested I have more pictures, stories, and information. Just for the record let me explain why I like cemeteries...I just think they are (usually) peaceful places and I like to read what family members wrote on the headstones of their loved ones. I think it also helps us feel connected to the many who came before us and reminds us not to waste our time here.

Our Anniversary

Well it's been 7 months today since we met and had our first date. Feels like it was just yesterday and it also feels like we've already been through a lot together!

Survey Says.....

I can't help but notice what a pitiful list of "Bloggin Friends" I have. Not to say anything about the people on it, they are all OBVIOUSLY amazing!! But when I go to others blogs I see these lists of 20 plus people they know/follow. Mind you it's not that I don't regularly look at other people's but I have this crazy little "rule" for myself. I won't put someone on my list unless I know that they know I look at their blog all the time, and I know they have looked at mine before. Since there is no way to tell who was at your site I don't add to my list much. So here's my idea, if you check my blog and read this then shoot me off a comment telling me if I can add you. My embarrassment will come full circle when no one comments...

A Dip Into The Picture Box

I have been going through my box of pictures lately just for fun and found some pics I just had to put up. I miss the boys so bad and I am basically torturing myself by doing it but I can't resist. So in this first picture we have the twins eating cereal. After staring at this picture here are the cute things I noticed: First let's look at Brenon toward the back of the photo. I love his old man smile, he was always such an old man. Also notice the paci's on the table, when I was looking at pictures I saw paci's soooo many times and it made me remember how they were total addicts, I thought they would never be done with them. Ok so now on to Bryce. How adorable is that face??!! Look at the chubby hand gripping the spoon and the round cheeks on both of them. Oh what I wouldn't give to transport myself into that picture just to kiss those cheeks and get a hug from those sticky arms!

Ok next picture. My absolute favorite thing about this is that all three of them are making the exact same face! They all look so handsome with brushed hair and big smiles. Trevie is such a good brother to the twins, he always liked being the "big" brother and being buddies with them. I think he still does for the most part but he is getting to the age where it's "annoying" to have brothers. I am so thankful for all my beautiful boys.

Date Night

This week, date night is featured at the lovely:

Albertson Park

Full of paved paths and wooden bridges, Albertson Park is home to hundreds of geese in the spring months. The females lay their eggs in nests constructed near the waters edge while the males stake our their territory and stand guard. The invisible boundaries known only to the geese are strictly guarded by the hissing, large wing flapping, future dads......who are lured away easily by the promise of some bread from a stranger. I wonder how they would feel is they knew how many of their kind have been eaten by the gentleman feeding them.

This is a truly beautiful park and I am looking forward to seeing it when it's not 90% bare tree branches and dead leaves. We will return weekly in the hope of seeing the adorable little babies that will soon make their debut. Only next time I won't be dumb enough to let geese surround me while Ramil patiently bides his time, then throws bread toward me to cause a feeding frenzy/territorial fight to break out in the form of powerful gray wings and sharp black beaks.

Our First Easter Together

Well I didn't get to go home for Easter but Ramil and I actually had a really fun day together. Here are the highlights:

Ramil has never been visited by the Easter Bunny so last night he made a stop here for him. Ramil was very surprised and excited when he came here to find his very own basket of goodies waiting for him.

Ramil had heard from a couple people about the town of Emmett and so he asked me if I wanted to go. Neither of us had been so we just looked it up on Google Maps, packed some snacks and drinks and took off.

Once we got into town I saw signs for a Reservoir and Dam so we followed the signs until we found it. It was such a beautiful day and since the water level is still so low we walked around down by the river. I found a couple little lizards that we chased for awhile and Ramil tried to murder one. I still think he did but we never found the body and he denies it.

The road going into Emmett is cut right into the hill and they have this amazing pull off look out point. We stopped at it on our way back. We all know how much I LOVE pictures of me but I thought I should include some kind of proof that I was there too. You could see the whole valley and they had a 9-11 memorial and some historical points of interest there too.

This is a much better picture of the view, at least for me. It was really pretty and a fun little spur of the moment jaunt. I think we will do more of these in the future, just take turn picking somewhere nearby that we haven't been before and go.

After we got back we invited one of Ramil's classmates over who was alone for Easter and had a delicious dinner. I made all of my specialties, twice baked potatoes, 3 layer jello, homemade rolls, and then ham and white cake with chocolate frosting. It was a really nice day, very peaceful and fun. I missed my kids and other family but yet it felt good to show Ramil what an American Easter is like.

In the Philippines they "celebrate" the whole week before Easter Sunday, they call it Holy Week. On Friday you don't work, eat meat, or clean yourself. People gather to watch others hammer nails into their hands and hang themselves on crosses. Then on Sunday they have a feast to celebrate the Resurrection. Most Filipinos are Catholic but it's more of a custom of the country than just a certain religion. Anyway I think it is interesting to hear what others do outside of our traditions in the U.S. which is all most of us know. I hope I get to see it for myself someday but I definitely like ours better!

Easter Memories

I decided to see what pictures I could find of past Easters with the boys since I won't have any new ones to add tomorrow. I couldn't find many because all the albums were put away in a not easily accessable place so these are just extras in my photo box.

All the boys Easter 2004

Tyrel 2004

Trevor 2004

Bryce and Brenon 2004

Tyrel Easter 1999

I couldn't find one of just Trevie that I knew for sure was Easter but this is him sometime in the spring or summer of 2000.

Bunnies Bryce and Brenon 2005

My Little Boys

Well since I have nothing new and exciting to post I thought I'd start to dip into my archive of older pictures. This is one of my favorites of the boys. I believe it was the night before Miss or Jen's wedding and we were at the church setting up. I swear that is the same exact smile Brenon has now and Bryce has the cutest chubby cheeks ever! Trevor is adorable as always, I remember this was his phase when smile/frowned like that a lot. Tyrel looks all cool and confident as usual, but man is he little! I sure do miss these days when they were all so young and even though life was chaotic it seemed much simpler. Now Tyrel's going to turn 12 in a couple months and is taking Algebra next year which will make him officially math smarter than his mom or dad. Trevor is much more troubled by the worries of an almost 10 year old, like schoolyard bullies and the pinewood derby for scouts. Bryce and Brenon are reading over 110 words per minute and almost done with their first year of all day school. It may have been much more complicated to get everyone ready for bed, or pack the diaper bag, or make sure that we get home before anyone falls asleep in the car and then won't go to bed that night....but it sure was fun.

Spring Has Sprung

This lone daffodil is out on the side yard of my apartment. There's something about that first flower of the spring, it just always makes me think of new beginnings and hope. Cheesy I know but sometimes I get like that.

Birthday Weekend

I showed Makoy a picture of the park I take the boys to when they come and he spent the next 2 weeks telling anyone and everyone that he was coming to Boise and going to the park. So Saturday we went to a couple stores while we waited for things to warm up just a little and then went to the playground. We convinced Koy to be done playing only by telling him we could go throw rocks in the river. So we went down to the river bank and I took this picture of Makoy and then of the Stone family. We had a lot of fun this weekend shopping and hanging out at my apartment. I never got tired of hearing the crazy things Makoy came up with; like when I asked him what ears were for and he said "for bed" because he always pulls on his to help him fall asleep! I'm glad they took the time and money to come and hopefully they will come back soon! Happy Birthday to Miss tomorrow...love you!

"INE A GHOST"

Miss, Shane and Makoy got here Friday night to spend the weekend with me. Makoy was very excited to be here and immediately asked if I had toys he could play with. I showed him "cousins" toys and he had a blast playing with everything and asking what every toy in the box was called and what it did. So he found this mask and was wearing it and saying "Ine a ghost" in this monotone voice, it was so funny. I asked him to do something "scary" with his hands and this is the resulting picture, too funny.

Home To Visit

After I dropped the boys off at their dads I spent the rest of the weekend with my family. The sisters had Chinese food at Jen's Thursday night and then I slept at Amy's. Then Friday I went and saw Sarah, Lynn and girls at their house. Later that day I went to my mom and dad's to spend the rest of the day and the night. Mom spoiled me rotten for the next 24 hours which was not only very sweet of her but was nice for me to have some tlc. She wanted to take me to dinner at one of our favorite places, Texas Roadhouse, and of course the more the merrier so Amy and kids and Miss, Shane and Makoy all tagged along. Makoy was sitting on this horseshoe stand thing while we waited. He will never let me take pictures of him, such a grouch about it (note the happy face). Dad had stayed home because he can't eat anyway so it's not much fun to watch everyone else enjoying delicious food, and he was kind enough to fix a few things on my car while we were gone. Point being Koy only let me take this picture because I told him it was for Grandpa so he could see what Koy was sitting on. He is OBSESSED with his grandpa, it's the cutest thing I have ever seen. Maybe it's because every time he goes to the store with Gramp he gets something or because dad shows him how to burn things with a magnifying glass, among other things no one else would teach a 3 year old. But nothing is cuter than seeing Makoy go sit next to dad on the couch and pull dad's arm around his little shoulders, or hearing Koy yell "Gwampa where are you" every time he realizes he hasn't seen him for longer than one minute. Either way they are two of a kind and I think it's so amazing that dad is able (and willing) to be the official Koy babysitter.


So back at the restaurant, we had lots of fun even if we did have to wait for an hour for our food to come. Well I had lots of fun at least. Amy was a little frazzled because her kids were attacking the peanuts out of sheer hunger and of course we made her sit at the end with the kids. Makoy was having fun "dipping" everything, even peanuts, in the honey butter. Shane got to deal with convincing Koy to eat his actual dinner. Miss told us some (long) gossipy stories about work which I love to hear, it's like a soap opera. And I think Mom was just enjoying the fact that she wasn't in charge of anyone. We had Shane take a picture of all us ladies and it was just a fun night. Mom and I got up early the next morning to hit a Kohl's sale and she bought me an awesome furry body pillow (among other things) that I sleep with every night. It was hard to head back to Boise but we had alot of fun and I've noticed I'm MUCH more popular now that I don't live there! Thanks for everything mom and dad!

Going Home

All good things must come to an end so a week ago I took the boys back to Shelley. I think we all had a fun spring break and I am anxious to see them again already. On the way home the twins fell asleep in the car, I knew they would (and wanted them to) so we brought their blankies and they cuddled up in their seats to snooze. While they were out Ty wanted to take a picture of them sleeping. When they woke up he told them what he did and showed them the pictures. Then Ty fell asleep in the back and the twins had the idea to take a picture of him in trade. So here's what we have:

Brenon dreaming deeply

Bryce sleeping soundly

Tyrel totally tired

Trevor being Trevor

Happy Birthday Ramil!