I just love my neighbors little kids.  The other night we were giving Soleil a ride home and drove through the open range.  Of course we say cows - "cows - moo, moo".  Next we came upon a band of sheep in the road near Henry.  She was all kids of excited.  Since we were going slow through the sheep, we let her out of her carseat for just a minute.  They opened the windows, and she was loving it saying "sheep - baa, baa" then of course we saw the sheep dogs, "doggy - woof, woof", and the sheep herder on his horse, "horsey - neigh, neigh".  We were just giggling at her being so excited about all the animals.  We get just to the end of the sheep and tell Soleil to get back in her seat & she looks up at me and says, "where's the pigs?"  Why not?  we had seen cows, sheep, dogs, horses - why wouldn't there be pigs?  I love 2 year old logic!

Lookie what Jim has been busy with:

Yipeee!

Lots of Progress...

Thumbs up from Shelby

He's had lots of help from all 3 girls while Seth & I have been at work.  He is doing a great job - can't wait for the finished project to share pictures.  He has went back to work for the weekend, so I'll post the finished front porch next week - Yeah for progress!!!!!

The other day........................

You know that song?  "The other day.. I saw a bear....a great big bear....., remember?  The other day came tonight.  My heart is still racing when I think about it.  Shelby & I are the only ones home tonight; Jim & Mara Mae are both working, Seth and Megan are at BASADI.  We decided to go for a 4-wheeler ride because I wanted to check out my favorite huckleberry patch.  We drove from the house up to the campground and then up the Gravel Creek Trail.  We drove to the top of the hill and then I decided to go another mile or so.  We were really enjoying the weather & it is beautiful right now.  Lots & lots of wildflowers.  I was  telling Shelby how much I wished I had brought my camera.  We took a little side trail & saw several deer.  Just as we got back to the top of the hill, we both saw something brown bounce across the trail.  My first thought was a bear, but I've never seen one in the wild, except in Yellowstone.  We drove slowly up to where it crossed the trail and looked down the hill about 20 ft. - sure enough, the cutest little bear cub was sitting there.  I really wanted to stay and watch him, but we both knew we needed to leave.  We quickly took off & headed down the mountain with our hearts racing.  I really wish I could have stuck around to watch him play, but I was not taking a chance of running into his momma!  Wow what an experience - really awesome, but scary!!!

P.S. - lots of green huckleberries on the bushes!
No Dad - I did not take a gun, but I think I will next time we head up in the hills, yikes!

So Grateful!

Jim & I were sitting around visiting at the school board summer barbecue the other night and one of the wives made a comment that really made me think.  I was a little stunned.  The district secretary is retiring in a few weeks & one of the wives at the party was advising her to spend time with her grandkids - they are moving to Utah because all of their kids live there.  She said she already planned on it - the 12 year old had already informed her to stopped texting him - it was not cool to get texts from his Grandma.  They then proceeded to talk about how their tenage grandchildren didn't want anything to do with them. That is just plain sad.  I'm so, so grateful for this wonderful lady:

My kids absolutely adore her (me too).  My nephew just returned from his mission & has been down to Grandma & Grandpa's house almost every weekend.  We went to a Jazz game a couple of years ago with my brothers family & the kids made signs to try and get on T.V. - guess what they say?  Yup - you guessed it  the signs read "Grandma - wish you were here!".  She know how to take care of her grandkids and they all feel her love and want to spend time with her.  I hope I can be that kind of Grandma someday - no rush, but I have a fantastic example to learn from!