learning about wolves

In addition to the Boise Watershed Education Center I found a place near downtown Boise called the Foothills Learning Center that has monthly free family activities. The first weekend in December they had a spotlight on wolves. We decided to drive down there and check it out. We learned a few things about wolves and Bay got to make a wolf mask and paws. I think Bay was just excited to get out of the house and do a fun project. After we made the mask we took a walk outside on their nature trail and checked out their new bronze and mosaic sculpture...it was beautiful... I hope to someday put all my scrap glass to use this gives me some great ideas...maybe my dad and I can make a bronze mosaic collaboration piece of artwork together.

christmas kitty

I hesitate to even post this picture because its lame but maybe someone will find it slightly amusing. Yes my cat did willfully chose to sleep in the middle of our Christmas wreath before we put it up...I am not sure if she chose to sleep there because it was something new or because the wreath was on top of the dryer and it was running..I guess we may never know.

Christmas at Edwards Nursery

We have a great local garden center/nursery in Boise that periodically does fun events for families during the warm summer months as well as special holiday events. At the beginning of December they had a holiday open house which we attended. While we were there we got to check out local artwork, beautiful holiday decorations and floral arrangements and pay a visit to Santa. This was Bays second visit with Santa and as usual he did great. He talked with Santa and asked him to bring him "Percy" from Thomas the train. I was just glad the kids cooperated and we got a decent picture of them together with Santa.

Boise Watershed Education Center

I just discovered that we live near a place that periodically has free fun activities for kids...the only drawback is its near the waste water treatment facility so outside has a less than pleasant aroma depending on how the wind is blowing. This week they had a "green Christmas" event going where you could go and make winter crafts from recycled materials. Since free is a good price and its close to home we decided to check it out...unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the ornaments Bay made before packing them away. I did however snap a picture of the neat elephant sculpture made out of mud recycled rope and wire....so cool.

fire department christmas party

Nampa Fire Department knows how to throw a fun Christmas party for the kids. Saturday afternoon we went out to station 1 in downtown Nampa. When we got there they all sorts of crafts for the kids including ornament making as well as frosting and decorating sugar cookies. Soon after we arrived the dispatch came over the intercom and announced that there was a man in a red suit on the roof of the fire station. At that time all the kids ran downstairs to see Santa on the roof top. Since we were at a fire station they used the beautiful new ladder truck to bring Santa down from the roof. Once Santa was down the kids ran to his side and followed him inside,once inside he sat in the chair and gave wrapped presents to all the kids. It was fun to be part of such a fun and unique party for the kids. Watching the ladder truck bring Santa down Enjoying a cookie while they bring Santa down. Family picture Bays hand print

introducing makena sage

I am very embarrassed that it has taken this long for me to post pictures of this sweet baby girl. I will have to go back into time and post more but these will have to satisfy you all for now. Makena is 4 1/2 months now. She is a sweet baby girl that gives us so much joy. She is growing so quickly it makes me sad and excited all at the same time. She has been rolling over since she was 2 days old, she has a full belly laugh, and her smile lights up a room. We have adjusted to having 2 kids much easier than I had imagined,I am sure it has everything to do with how wonderful easy (easy being a relative term for child rearing) the two of them are. I will try and play catch up over the last 4 months in the near future. We finally have a computer that is working and a way to post pictures...hooray!

This Makes me Smile

I love this picture. Its fun to watch your kids wearing your clothes and shoes as if they are trying to be big just like you

Playgrounds

Ahh...how I love the spring and summer months for the wonderful chance to go to playgrounds and run your toddler ragged. It has been so nice to get outside and let him soak up some sun and get some energy out.Here are a few cute pics to show how big Bay is getting.

Celebrating 5 wonderful years of marriage.

Its hard to believe that 5 years ago we were in Maui barefoot on a beach getting married.I can hardly believe how fast time has flown by. Since then we have done alot of moving (5 times if you want to count them)from our first place our apartment,to our duplex ,to my parents house,to a house we rented in nampa, then back into our duplex. We have also had a son Bay, who is now a toddler and 3 years old and has been our whole world. I cant help but be amazed as I sit here and I am 9 months pregnant with another little one which we are told is a girl I cant help but feel blessed and grateful for the happiness the last 5 years of my marriage have brought. I love my husband who spoils me more than I deserve, my son who helps keep me grounded and the blessing of a healthy pregnancy thus far. I cant wait to see how live changes in the next 5 years.

Birds of prey days

Last Saturday we went to Boise's parks and recreation office to see a free birds of prey exhibit that Jeff had heard about advertised on the radio. Boise area has one of the largest migration paths of birds in the western hemisphere. From what we understand the birds migrate right over a mountain in an area called Lucky Peak. With having so many migrating birds in the area the World Center for Birds of Prey set up shop in Boise. They have a really nice facility up in the hills which includes a breeding center for endangered species, an education center as well as a library of archives. We have gone up there a number of times for events. This particular event that we attended was where they also hold Boise Shakespeare Festival during the summer months. At the event they had a number of live birds and their falconer trainers as well as exhibits to learn about the birds. It was really cool for Bay to see all the live birds.
Short eared owl. These guys are desert dwelling species. Red Tailed Hawk. This Particular one is the western variety. Also known in the west as the chicken hawk. They are easily spotted along roadsides in the western us. Americal Kestrel one of the most common small falcons. These are slightly larger than a Robin and you can see them most anywhere along roadsides. Gyr falcon. I don't know much about this bird but it was so beautiful. Great Horned Owl. One of my favorites. My parents have these in their back yard. I love going home and opening the window and hearing them screech and hoot all night when we are there. Bay holding a preserved eagle foot with talons intact. The talons are so sharp. I guess that foot alone has 1700 pounds of crushing pressure.
Bay and daddy checking out the eagle wings. They are so lightweight.
Last but not least the hybrid bird. This bird is half Peregrine falcon half Gyr falcon. The peregrine is the fasted species on earth. When they dive for their prey they have been clocked at flight speeds over over 200 miles an hour. The Peregrine falcon is also Idaho's state bird.

Lets try this again

I decided to try and get this blog back up and running again. There are a number of people who are near and dear to our hearts that we aren't able to see on a regular basis that wonder what are are up to, and a blog seems more personal than posting our entire life on facebook. The hard part about having an active blog is the fact we are still too cheap to purchase internet. Most likely I wont be able to post as often as I would like but we are going to give it a shot and see what happens...with that being said here we go...