Ask and you shall recieve

I seemed to have totally bypassed our Easter on the blog. It was a very nice, quiet day. We didn't do too much. Our church had an egg "hunt" on Saturday Evening, and Rygh came home with 24 stuffed eggs. This year the pastor asked for help with gathering and stuffing the eggs. On major holiday events we get about 4000 attendees between all of the services, and Pastor Steve knew that he would need people to bring in the eggs. He was aiming for 9,000 plastic eggs this year. He said he had been praying about it for a while. When all of the egg donations were in, he ended up with 17,000 Easter eggs! Ask and you shall receive. It took 5 adults 2+ hours to put them all on the baseball field, and 6 min for the kids to pick them all up!

The mad dash!

Total chaos!
Rygh with Pastor Steve.

John Boyd, the President of MAF was also there with his family. I was able to get in a quick photo op with him and Will.

We colored eggs on Saturday night as well. We rose Sunday Morning, hunted eggs, and enjoyed the wonderful day. Evening Service was great.

Shoshone Falls

Of course there are many wonderful things to do in Idaho. And with the weather getting nicer, it is better for traveling through the mountains or anywhere for that matter. Shoshone falls is just one of the wonders to be found here in the great Gem State (nicknamed because it is one of only two places in the world where star garnets can be found (the other is the Himalaya Mountains, in India), and is the only place six pointed star garnets have been found).
The shoshone falls is a waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high--36 feet higher than Niagara Falls-- and flows over a rim 900 feet wide.
Because of drought and irrigation, the levels of water of the falls are only about 1/2 of what they used to be. And in late summer much lower than that.
If I would have remembered my camera I could have shown you the incredible pictures. They would have turned out something like these:

http://www.csi.edu/virtualTourSI_/shoshoneFalls.asp

We drove about 2 hours to the falls, spent time looking at the incredible display of water power, fished for a couple of hours and headed home. It was a wonderful time.

Reminders

My mind has been going back in time a lot lately. So many things are different, yet the emotions are so much the same. I still love my sister Chrissy as much today as I did 9 years ago before she passed away. I still miss her with a fierceness that takes my breath away. I look at her pictures so I don't forget her face. I remember so many secrets told under the covers, games played together, pictures drawn, and stories read to each other at night. I remember promises made and questions asked. All of these things are packed away in a section of my brain, and they seem to come out whenever something triggers those moments of hidden remembrances. Pictures that Rygh has drawn with his Pastels.
Big reminders of all the nights that she would stay up late and work on a piece of art while I would be up late reading. I love her and miss her, and I love all of the reminders. I hope I can continue to pull all of the hidden memories out of the closet as time steadily passes.

Skiing

I haven't quite figured out what other "sport" requires people to bundle up like fat cows (in order to stay somewhat warm), fall at least a hundred times, subject themselves to fast speeds with no control, and stay in those conditions for hours on end.
Well... it isn't that bad. Actually it was quite fun. I do have to say that I really enjoyed myself. I admit that Rygh was much better at catching on to snow boarding than I was. I think it has something to do with his center of gravity being closer to the ground than mine. Next time I would like to try skiing. I think it would be much easier to balance and turn.
Of course Will took home the trophy. He has been skiing quite a few times before and he had a really good time. Hopefully we will go back up to the top at least one more time this season. It was a really good way to spend some quality family time together.
Will bought us matching outfits for our Christmas gifts. Don't we look so "red". They really kept us warm though. I am glad I had a one piece outfit. I didn't get any snow up my back when I fell. Rygh loved his board; blue is his favorite color. He has decided that snow boarding is better than skiing. (I am not sure how, as he has not skied yet)
He mastered the bunny hill in two tries. Much better than I did. Will did a great job helping Rygh get his balance in the beginning.

I ended up going to the lodge after about 4 1/2 hours. My bum couldn't take it any more. Hats off to the boys. They kept it up for 5 1/2 hours.

We can't wait to go again. We will keep you posted on my progress. Hopefully I will be better at skiing than snowboarding.

Proud to be an American

In today's world, it seems that fewer schools are instilling a pride for their community and Country. Some public schools do not require the pledge to be said daily or even on occasion. I find it disheartening.
So, when I found out that the 3rd graders were putting on a presentation with the theme being "America", I was wondering were they would take it. Rygh's teacher asked him to say a part in the presentation. He practiced for two weeks
.
I took a half day off from work & Will and I headed to the school. The children did a wonderful job. Patriotic songs were sung. Information was given about our Presidents. The "hardest" part for the kids was to present the Gettysburg Address. I was definitely impressed. They ended the presentation with "God bless America".
I am glad that we are in an area that still thinks it important to teach about the principles that our country was founded on, have pride in our country and to not be afraid to sing a song with God in it.

Rygh did a great job, and we were very proud of him.

Random Rygh pictures

Rygh was helping me make some food the other day, and I couldn't resist taking a shot. He looked so comfy in his robe and slippers.


Rygh also had a blast putting together one of his Christmas gifts. He wanted me to post this one. (He thought that it was just to funny)

Valentines Eve

This year Valentines Day fell on a Saturday. Which I am sure quite a few couples enjoyed celebrating on the actual day. My husband and son decided that celebrating on Saturday just didn't fit into their plans. I worked late on Friday, and just as I was locking up, I get a call from Will, wondering when I would be home. I explained that I was leaving late, had to pick up worms (for Ms. Orange Neck), and get a gallon or two of milk, being that Rygh had used the last of it the night before. Will listened attentively and then told me to hurry home so we could make something to eat, because he was hungry. As I dragged my tired butt all the way to the back of Walmart to pick up the milk, I kept thinking about taking the easy way out and picking up a pizza or something just as simple to make. Why do they put the milk in the back of the store? I imagine it is so that people like me might just give in and pick up other things that they really don't need, but look good or easy to make. Anyway, I didn't give in to my temptations, and after a really long wait at the check out, I headed home. I pulled into the garage, and Will came out to help me bring in the groceries. As he opened the door, I was assaulted by the incredible aroma of dinner, the sound of classical music, and the ambiance of candle light. Rygh was waiting for me as well. He took my coat and purse and escorted me to the table. I was so incredibly surprised and touched by their planning and effort. After seating me at the table, they presented me with valentines cards and (of course I had to shed a tear or two) then we enjoyed our wonderful meal of prime rib, Au gratin potatoes, peas, buttered french bread, and spinach, artichoke dip for an appetizer. After dinner Rygh gave me a foot message, and then we watched a movie. The night was perfect. So, I do think that Valentines Eve may be one on my favorite Holidays.