Labor Day Weekend-Part 1-The Boat Club

That Friday night of Labor Day weekend, we were up to the farm ready for the long weekend. Johnny and Whitney came up and we roasted hot dogs, visited and just enjoyed the beautiful night. The next morning we had to get up and head to Lyman for my nephew Bret's baptism. We went to that, visited with family for a little bit, then ran home to pick up the boat and head straight up to the Boat Club in Island Park. Saturday was the day for the Jeppesen Reunion of all my Grandma Jeppesen's decendants. There usually aren't very many that can make it, but we still have a good time.

There is my beautiful grandmother....Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Ronnie are sitting behind her. We didn't get Uncle Ronnie in the group shot below because it was their anniversary so they left right after they ate lunch. They went up to West Yellowstone to go to the Playmill. I love that place, but haven't been there in a long time! Mom and Gary getting food.

Hehehehehe.....This is just a funny picture of Amanda.....she cracks me up. My sister Kristi and her husband Rob.

Matt reading his book. An outside look at the group. The neighbors let us borrow their sheltered pad. It works out just nicely for the small crowd that we had.

Aunt Connie, Mom, Uncle Darwin and Uncle Kyle enjoying their lunch. Jess and Dad.

Jess looking through karaoke cd's with Grace and Kaitlin. Emma singing with Megan and Mariah.

Emma and Aubrin belting out a tune together. The two "teenagers".....they're not really yet, but they sure practice it a lot. Uncle Ronnie in the background.

Grandma, Dad and Uncle Darwin. There's most of the family together.....just missing Uncle Ronnie. Dad, Uncle Kyle, Grandma, Aunt Connie and Uncle Darwin.

Kristi and Jess harmonizing together. Em and Megan swinging in the tire swing.

The boat had a dead battery and the battery charger was up at the farm with the camper....so we just let the kids play in the water and with the tube and paddles. They has a great time, even if the weather wasn't the greatest.

The little boy in the yellow swim vest is my cousin Tiffany's little boy, Pheonix. He's pretty dang cute.

After we spent the day at the boat club most everyone went home. We headed back up to the farm to stay in the camper. Everyone was coming back up in the morning for breakfast and spend the rest of the weekend together.

First Day of School - August 20 & 21, 2009

The girls started school on Thursday, August 20th, 2009. I can't believe that Sierra started Middle School this year. I swear I'm not old enough to have a child that old! Grace is in 2nd grade this year......where does the time go.

All the kids on the first day of school.

Waitng for the bus with the neighborhood kids. Emma with her arm around her friend next door...watching the kids get on the bus and head to school.

Joe on HIS first day of school. He went on Friday. The kindergarteners this year are doing full-day, every other day school. So Joe goes to school on Mondays, Wednesdays and every other Friday. I love this schedule! He loves going to school all day too. But he's already counting down until he's in 1st grade so that he can go every day. Some days, so am I! ;)

And they're off. 3 of the 4 kids gone all day. It sure is quiet with just me and Emmalee at home all day. I do love the chaos and noise when all the kids get home in the afternoon. Homework, chores, violin practice, neighbor kids running in and out......it's a wonderful life!

Good news for Dad

My dad called me last night to tell me about his scan he had that day. They were checking his lungs to see if the chemo medication he's been on for the last 7 or so weeks has been working or not. When they did the scan they found that it does seem to be working! The cancer hasn't gotten any worse! Some of the nodules had gotten bigger but some of them had actually gotten smaller. The doctor was very pleased with it all. He's keeping dad on the same meds for another 2 months and then they are going to do another scan to check it again and make sure it's still doing what it's supposed to be doing. The Dr. is very hopeful that it will keep the cancer from multiplying so that his body will be given the chance to fight it. I'm so grateful for this news! When he came home from Utah and most of those Dr.s only gave him about 6 months it was devestating! But luckily we have this wonderful Dr. Dixon in Rexburg, ID who never says never. He is an amazing man and such a wonderful answer to so many prayers. I really hope thi medication keeps working the way that it needs to so that my dad is around for many years to come. I love him so much! I want to thank all of you out there who are praying for and thinking about us. I know that God hears each and everyone of us and I just want to say Thank You!

Huckleberrying

So after family reunions and girls camp, we spent the next 3 or 4 weekends up in the hills picking huckleberries! I LOVE huckleberries! The berries were awsome this year too. I was surprised about that because it was such a strange year too. But the berries we were getting into were big and plentiful!

My older brother and his wife and kids hadn't been huckleberry picking ever, so we invited them to go with us. It was lots of fun. The kids had a blast together! Doesn't Kaitlin look great with her huckleberry war paint?!

Grace with a pretty flower...you never have to ask her to pose for the camera! The kids loved the hill we were by. They would all walk up to the top and then run as fast as they could down it without falling on their face. ;) They crack me up!

There were a few of these big, red mushrooms around. They were really cool.

Joey was helping his parents. Gotta dump the berries into the BIG bucket so they fill up their smaller mugs. It was some good pickin'! Check out this beautiful berry!

Nate sitting in the middle of a patch as happy as can be! Karissa and Sierra in their own patch trying to ignore the small kids and parents....it's like they're practicing to be teenagers or something. ;)

Loading up to head back up the hill. It was a good day. Picked lots of good berries that made really yummy shakes!

On the way home, Grace thought it was cool to be like her dad. Notice they both have the had, sunglasses and the carpenter's pencil in the hat. I'm pretty sure none of Gary's hats fit right unless one of those pencils is stuck up in there!