Annual Idaho Trip

Dear Kids,

We just got back about 2 days ago from our yearly trip to Idaho. We were there for 3 weeks, and then stopped by a friends house on the way home.

I am not going to make this a touchy-feely post... mainly I want to recount everything we did while we were there, for our memories and realizing how much we got done!

• We stayed at Mesha's house for 5 days. You were all able to play and bond with her family. We weeded the garden, cleaned the house, folded laundry, picked raspberries, picked up messes, watched video's, played games.
• We stayed at Shayla's house a couple of times. We were able to do service for each other. I watched her kids while she and Casey had a night away, and then they watched all of you while Papa and I went to the temple. 
• We did a birthday party for Mom! We showed her video's of all the reasons why all her grandkids love her, one of our many traditions.
• We went to the yearly Chukars baseball game together as a family. That is turning into the time that everyone is always going to get together. We get a special booth because Papa's store sponsors that game and we have GREAT food while we watch and try to keep all our kids contained :-).
• We stayed with Kalea for a few days. We were able to have quite a few adventures because the power went out! Elijah, you were teething the whole time while we were there and a little when we got back. Poor thing. Kalea and I got a little bit of bonding done, she did 'show and tell' with her home, animals and town. 
• We wanted to make soup over the fire from all food storage stuff when the power went out... but couldn't get the fire going and after a couple of hours of ornery and hungry kids (and the soup still wasn't ready or could be eaten because the dog got to it) we ended up feeding all of you cold cereal instead.
• Kalea and I went and gathered a bunch of herbs that I dried at moms and brought back home with me for our natural medicinal cupboard.
• Mimi, Mesha, Kalea, Shayla and I had a couple of days of 'preparedness classes'. Mesha taught us how to make soap (from real pig lard), Kalea taught us all about herbs and how to make a natural medicine cabinet. We made salves, tinctures, powdered herbs, flu remedies, major outbreak natural antibiotic, cough syrup, etc.
• I made 3 batches of raspberry jam that Gabe and Talia, you both helped me pick the raspberries for it! 2 batches were sugar free made with applesauce and the 3rd batch was made with lots of sugar for your dad. 
• My car got fixed. As per always when we make a trip!
• We sang in church together as a family for pioneer day. It was a GREAT arrangement made up the day before we sang by Jonathan and our piano player. I love music.
• We had lots of dinners and lunches with everyone.
• We stayed at Mimi's house for about a week. She helped me 'fight the good fight' toward the end when all of you were losing your mind because you were ready to see your dad and be in your own beds again.
• Watched movies with Papa, because that is how he loves to bond!
• Had a big birthday party for everyone together! Mimi put that all together, and the theme was cowboys. She is always so creative with all of that!
• We talked with your dad a lot over video phone. Talia, you would always say, "I want to see your funny face" to dad because he would make lots of faces at you and Gabe that would just make you laugh. 
• Both Elijah and Talia got roseola. I told you it was illegal for you to get sick while we are away from your dad! He takes the night shifts, not me!!
• We worked in the yard at mom's house to try and help her a bit. We worked in the greenhouse too and almost got eaten up by ants!! But her strawberries are to DIE for, we would go out and pick those almost everyday to eat.
• I got some amazing quality time with all of you by playing legos, going for walks, playing in the yard and working together.
• We went to Wyatt's baptism. It was so adorable how gentle Jeff was with him. So special to see it.
• We got to see Uncle J - and Talia always wanted to play on 'Denise's phone'.
• We went to the sand dunes and Shayla did her best to take pictures, even though there was wind and the kids were distracted by all the fun sand to play with!
  
• Talia, you order Tate around like crazy. It is hilarious to see it. And you play with Esti really well. I am hoping you both can be very good friends in the future.
• Gabe, you and Cody were adorable to see play together. Your personalities compliment each other so well. When I asked you who your best friend was you said, "Cody." 
• Wren and Paden just wanted to be around Elijah and take his binky the whole time. It was awesome.
• I got to spend time with all my nephews and a couple nieces. I hope they all know that I love them so much and adore all of them. It is amazing how many cultures come out of just one family... BUT the most important thing is that ALL OF US PARENTS are trying to raise our children to the Lord. I love knowing that no matter what home I went into, the Lord and the gospel was put first. All of them had family prayer and were teaching their kids about the love of the Savior.
• There were a lot of melting down moments, laughing moments, crying moments, touching moments... This is why I keep a journal! I should have written so many more things down in detail to remember! Luckily we have pictures, so that always helps.
• We went to go see my grandma and grandpa Karford. My grandma just couldn't get enough of Elijah! She couldn't hold him because of her arthritis, but wanted to so bad. She is amazing with babies.
• Then we spent a couple of days at Shawna Fillmore's house before coming home to dad!

All in all, it was a great trip. It always fills my bucket to be around my family. It is amazing how much it helps me put everything in perspective about life and what I am doing with my time... and how I am teaching you.

I hope you have amazing memories, most of which are still yet to come, about our time up in Idaho.

Love you,

Your Mom