Family Reunion 2009

~The whole mess started when these 2 decided to fall in love. ~

It's been quite a ride since. Blending 2 families is never an easy task, but I think they have done an amazing job. This is my family & I love 'em all!!! ~ we are missing Phil and Matt in this yearly version of the family picture:

Craig, Todd, Jill, Andy, Blake, Ed, Heather

Mom & Dad

Jenna, Jodie

Katie, Blake

Heather & Alex

Whitney, Reed, Sharee, Cortney

Chase, Ed

Cameron, Radene, Todd

Heidi, Colton, Shay, Jade

Ashley, John

Laura, Craig

Shelby, Jill, Jim

Seth, Mara

Megan

Ma & Pa with grandkids + a couple of stowaways!

Petersens & Rindlisbachers with the in-laws too!

School Starting Already

This can't be already happening - school started 8-19-09. Too soon after a short summer. O.k. apparently when you are a Junior in high school mom is not allowed to take those 1st day of school pictures. Good thing the 8th & 6th graders will cooperate.

I'm worse than the kids - I don't want school to start!

Utah State

Sunday was a crazy day for me ~ my Mara Mae is now a Utah State Aggie. We dropped her off in Logan with another load of stuff. It was a pretty emotional day for her and all of us. She went to visit Grandma & Grandpa Stoor, Somsens (Zippy didn't think it was a good idea for Mara to move), and then Grandma & Grandpa Petersen. We ran to Logan and did a little shopping and then took her to campus. She got together with Darby and then we ran to Walmart on the way home.. The girls came and we said our teary goodbye standing by the cell phones in Walmart ~ what a bunch of dummies we are sometimes.
I promised Grandma P. a pix of her quilt in her dorm room:Here is the rest of her room ~ not tons of room, but pretty good storage:

I still can't believe my little girl is at college, but I'm confident she will to great. The tears will stop soon ~ right?? We talked a little today and tonight & she is so busy. She will be wonderful; it's her mom that might fall apart. LOL I guess I need to be introduced to this guy:

Go Aggies!!!!!

Purple Fingers are the Best!!

I just got off the mountain with my kids - I love it when the huckleberries are in season. Megan, Shelby & I went for a little while yesterday and hit the huckleberry patch I found late last fall on a 4-wheeler ride with Jim. Seth came with us tonight on Grandma's 4-wheeler. We left right behind Mara & Jim on their way to work. Maybe we shouldn't go on Sunday, but I get more quality time in with my kids than if we would have stayed home and they had their heads in the t.v. or computers. It is a beautiful spot on the mountain - I sat there tonight and looked down over the valley at my house and the trees around it. We live in a fantastic spot! We picked about 3/4 of a gallon in about an hour and a half. That doesn't sound like much unless you have picked huckleberries before. It was a very cold ride back - I'm just hoping the berries don't freeze tonight and we might get a chance to get a few more before they are done. We had a little fun with the ride home - I love hanging out on the mountain with my kids. I just with Mara & Jim could have come too. Jim took the camera to work or I would have some pictures to post. Maybe next time. Now what to do with all these berries - Yummy!!!