Idaho Rodeo

What they say about living out west is true. There are real cowboys and real rodeos. Glenns Ferry is a small town about 45 miles from here and we went last night to their annual shin-dig.

Because it is so hot (over 104 every day this week) and because it stays light so late (sun doesn't set until after 10 pm), the rodeo "kicked" off at 8:00!!

We went with our great neighbors, ReNaye Conrow and her kids Morgan and Wyatt, and also took Leigha and AnnaBrooke Barfield with us.

Here are the boys with a front row seat waiting for the action to start!

And the girls!
I don't think Kaebrie looked twice at the action in the arena. She was to busy running back and forth between me and the fence.
The favorite events were the bucking broncos, the barrel racing and the bull riding!

Here is a group shot at 10:15 pm. Sorry about the picture. I put what Collin needed, what Kaebrie needed, and what I needed in one backpack instead of trying to carry multiple bags, and it appears I had a leaky sippy cup, but it was to dark to notice that until I looked at the pictures this morning. :-(
The Jeff Palmer band started their music at 10:15 with a genuine ho-down. That was for me the most fun of the evening! Here is ReNaye dancing with Wyatt. They are good!! Her grandfather taught her, and she explained she grew up going to these. When she was little her mom and dad (who are cattle ranchers) would put her to sleep in the truck and keep on dancing!
Kaebrie IMMEDIATELY ran out and started dancing!

She has some great and unique moves for a two year old!
Daddy asked Kaitlynn to dance to him!

Then Kaebrie wanted a turn with Daddy too!

AnnaBrooke and Kaitlynn finally got up enough nerve, got out on the dance floor together and had a wonderful time.



I could not get Christopher to dance alone, with me, or with anybody else. Granted it is 11:00 at NIGHT and he was getting pretty tired, but he sure enjoyed watching. We couldn't get Collin or Morgan or Leigha to dance either. But Collin didn't have any trouble standing on the edge of the dance floor playing his air guitar to the loud music!

She got a hold of big sisters hat and danced the night away!
More Daddy Dancing!

I did take some videos because it was just so much fun to watch. I am going to try and upload those tomorrow. Now remember, by now it is VERY late, after 11 and VERY dark. So the videos are dark, but you can make out who is who and see how much fun they are having.

A great evening out in the wild wild west! :-)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy, we miss you and wish you were here!
But even though you are gone, we had to have cake on your birthday!
IT WAS YUMMY!

Mommy didn't put all the candles on the cake. She said something about it being to much fire....that is against the base regs to have that much flame in this size house. What did she mean???

We thought about saving you a piece, but I really don't think there will still be any left in 9 more days. Last night Mommy was outside talking to Mrs. Tabitha and Mrs. DeeDee and Kaebrie just grabbed handfuls and was eating it. This morning, before breakfast, Christopher did the same thing, but at least he used a fork. That kind of cake sure does make a mess!! Mommy was not happy about all the mess on the floor and on their clothes.
Mommy also said you were the "age where nobody would believe you." Why would nobody believe you were 39?
We miss you and love you. Hurry home! And we can make you another cake if you want one.
Love, Collin, Kaitlynn, Tiffer, and Kaebrie

Happy Birthday Daddy

July 4th

Happy Fourth of July from Idaho!

This was Kaebrie's first year to really celebrate and her first year to see real fireworks! She totally enjoyed herself, but she usually does anyway!
I tried to get Christopher still enough to let a shot at the 2 of them, but this was the only one he let me take!
The big two have been posing for so long, they have no trouble striking a pose at a moments notice!
Collin and one of his best friends, Leigha.
The Smiths and the Barfields!
Add on the Cates and the Klawitters!
The swing set was the most popular spot in the Cates backyard.
The Barfields! Steve, DeeDee, Leigha, AnnaBrooke, McKenna, and Sara Kate.
Steve deploys in a few weeks so please keep them all in your prayers. Pray for his safety and for his ministry. Pray for DeeDee and the girls as they are here without him for 4 months.

The neighbors started their celebrating a bit early! It was a beautiful sunset that night as well.
Kaebrie with our new neighbors; Sarah, Anna and Naomi
One of the dads brought colored smoke bombs. They thought that was AWESOME!
Emily and Kaebrie sure looked surprised!

Sparklers!!!!!!

Another one of Collin and Leigha!

The swing set gave them the perfect view over the golf course.

Kaebrie reacts to her FIRST real fireworks!!!!!!!
She squealed, screamed, laughed and talked to everyone, giving them a constant running commentary on what she saw.

We had a lot of fun. It doesn't get dark here until AFTER 10pm now, so it was a really late night, but it was worth it!
Thanks to Michelle and Josh for hosting. Can we already RSVP yes for next year?

The Final Day

The final morning....JuJu and Kaebrie were having their last tea party and I just had to take another picture. The overall consensus was that Kaebrie looked like Kay, and she showed us some of her baby pictures and I could really see it!

We left for the airport at noon, getting there at 12:30 for a 1:44 pm flight. This picture with my sister Jacquie (aka Auntie Jax) was taken seconds before the overhead speakers announced that our flight to Atlanta was CANCELLED!!!!!

I was SO not happy with Delta. Then I had to stand in line for 45 minutes while they UNchecked us in and RETURNED our luggage. I do admit to having a minor meltdown. It was already pretty emotional getting ready to say good-bye to everyone (the WHOLE family was at the airport) , I was already exhausted and could feel a MAJOR headache coming on. There was just no way I was going to take a bus voucher and get me and 4 kids and our carry ons and our luggage and the stroller by myself to Atlanta with no car seats and no potties. Absolutely NO WAY.

Sam's parent were the only ones with a vehicle with enough seat belts to fit us all, so JuJu became our hero and drove us to Atlanta! (About a 3 hour drive).

In the rain.

The luggage stayed pretty dry....not that I cared much by this point.
We did make it to the airport on time. And not on my WORST enemy would I wish going through security alone with 4 kids and a double stroller and the carry ons. IT WAS TERRIBLE!!! Beyond terrible.

Then our plane was late. Then we finally got on and the kids forgot every manner and every ounce of obedience they had ever been taught. I was never so glad to get off a plane!!!

So, now we are home. And after being here for almost 2 years, it really did feel like coming home.

We had a wonderful, happy, eventful, memory-filled 5 state trip.

Thank you to EVERYONE for making this possible.

We love you all so much and miss you already.

Planes fly in this direction too, so please come out and visit anytime!!!!!