Too Much To Do About Nothing

Wrestling Ward Style, Fall 2011

2012-02-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

Kind of unconventional, but effective. Especially if you first eat beans for lunch..

Sure looks like a couple of pins to me, but neither got called!

Tyson always thinks he needs a little extra practice at home. Sometimes he picks a fight he just, well, shouldn't.

FHE Ward Style

Contemplating his next move.

Better think some more.

Then there was conference, December 10, 2011.

One...

...two....

...and pin number 3!

Team hug!

What was really awesome about this win for 1st place was this Clare E. Gale kid had pinned Tyson twice during the regular season, and was pretty cocky about it. He had Ty pretty psyched out, so I was really amazed that Tyson prevailed in the end! He wrestled better and harder than he had the entire season! IT WAS AWESOME!

2011 USRV 100 lb. District Champion!

The Beauty that is Idaho

2012-02-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Halloween 2011

2012-01-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Cutest bat and witch EVER!!!

Vaccination Day...

2012-01-23T21:59:00.003-07:00

Cowboy up...

Quilts!

2012-01-23T21:55:00.003-07:00

One for Aliya....

...and one for Kadyn, my college boy!

Reaping the rewards of our labors

2012-01-23T21:51:00.002-07:00

Nothin' better than fresh mango salsa!

Tomatoes

Beets

Huckleberry French breakfast puffs

The making of the applesauce...

Wa-la! Naturally PINK applesauce!

Apple cider chicken

Panang Curry..

...and mango/coconut jasmine rice

Egg souffle

Gardening

2012-01-23T21:35:00.001-07:00

Potatoes in a garbage can= a waste of time.

Love yellow tomatoes!

For those who may doubt the power of beer as a slug-a-cide, think again.

Birthday Girl!

2012-01-23T21:29:00.001-07:00

My precious little girl turned 3 years old!

She hugged each and every present!

Tuckered out!

A little church volleyball...

2012-01-23T21:18:00.003-07:00

With her bestie, Brittany.

Catch-up...

2012-01-23T21:15:00.001-07:00

First snowfall, October 10

Happy birthday, Darin!

Tyson "building" a rabbit hutch...?

Surprised there was still room for her in here.

Tyson...well, does this really need an explanation?

Love me some fall in the woods!

2012-01-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Bigfoot! No, really, look close.

Look reeeeaalllly close at this pic, and tell me what all YOU see!? I only saw the one swan when I took it...

Introducing, Hank and Ashlee Fitch!

2012-01-23T20:52:00.002-07:00

This is Kadyn's long, loooong-time best friend, Ashlee.

Happy day!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!?

2012-01-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

So, this was a first for us this fall: football. Both Tyson and Josh got to play. It was fun....and a little nerve-wracking at times! But, next year? We'll be back...

Two weeks in Tyson did this little number on his bike. He was out for the next two weeks. Oops...

Prepping his future prodigy...

Lookin' fierce...

Yep... that's our Joshua...

But, look at that smile!

A Reader's Digest version of our summer, 2011

2011-12-05T20:49:00.001-07:00

Fall Creek Falls

Ooooops....

Camping in Swan Valley

4th of July

My awesome great-nephew, Brendyn, earned his black belt!

Rigby Lake

Fishin'....

Ward Family Reunion, Oneida Lake

Tyson, Tyson, Tyson....

Yes, it's a fly on a string. Guess who?

The bat we saved from the potty...long digusting story. Happy ending.

Back to School FHE with the Neilsen's!

Bar J Wranglers

Ross Park

Island Park, June, 2011

2011-09-05T21:11:00.000-06:00

It was late into June and we were still waiting for it to warm up so we could go camping! We finally ventured out for a Saturday, in the rain, and froze! But, we still had some fun!!!

Josh and Aliya hanging out...

Kadyn and his friend Mieken

Our little He-man kept us in firewood!

Icehouse Creek

Precious!

"Staying out of the fire..."

Pine Basin, June, 2011

2011-09-05T19:48:00.000-06:00

Tyson got to attend Pine Basin again this year, just like I did, um, 30 years ago! How did THAT happen?!?

A Little Family Fun in the Great Outdoors!

2011-06-26T20:01:00.002-06:00

BULLSEYE!

We went to the head waters of Warm River (just north of Mesa Falls) a few weeks ago, and this is what we saw.....water everywhere! Lakes where there had been none before!

Kadyn sharing his love of nature with Aliya.

Checkin' out dinner... (She's practicing to become a plumber when she grows up as well)

The Snake River, June 2011

2011-06-26T19:52:00.000-06:00

If you want to use the path around the greenbelt these days, you'd better bring a canoe...

Graduation Time!

2011-06-26T19:44:00.000-06:00

Happy trails.....

...to you!

Happy kindergarten graduation, Joshua! (trust me, this was an accomplishment!)

And a huge congratulations to Kadyn. our first hugh school graduate!

(Are we done yet?)

2011-06-26T19:35:00.000-06:00

Really needs no explanation, she's always eating!

And she and Kadyn kind of have this love/hate relationship.

Fishin' at Birch Creek. Joshie caught his first-ever fish!

Horsie-back ride!

Rhubarb anyone? Please? PLEASE?!?

P.S..........

2011-05-01T22:47:00.001-06:00

Can anybody see my cute background? I can only see it on one of my computers!!!!

Easter 2011

2011-05-01T22:35:00.000-06:00

So glad Grandma likes doing this at her house!

The Easter basket of death....

She managed to have blue teeth within about 30 seconds of finding her basket...a new record, I do believe! This is one candy-obsessed child!

Pretty princess playin' in the dirt

A little B-ball in Granny's backyard

Jarom!

Monster Trucks!!!

2011-05-01T22:26:00.001-06:00

I have a sweet little 6 year old boy who is completely OBSESSED with monster trucks. We have no idea where it started and did little to encourage it until the last year when it was evident that it was not a phase. This year we decided to take him to the monster truck rally in Pocatello, and made it a family affair!

Trust me, this look is not boredom, it is intense concentration!

This one was terrified at first, but quickly got over it!

And, this one? He downloaded college lectures on anthropology from iTunes and listened to it the whole time. Love that boy!

The Power county inmate bus.....and now it's not.

Spring Break, April 2011

2011-04-12T19:16:00.002-06:00

We had a week for Spring break this year, but not much time to take off of work since it's also tax season! But, we did manage to squeeze in a couple of days in Jackson Hole! It was a great trip! I've never seen some of these animals up close like this! And, because it's the off-season, we got a stinkin' good deal on a hotel room, and town wasn't overloaded with people! The weather was snowy, but the roads were still good, and it was beautiful.

King of the hill.....see the coyotes?

Tyson's 12th Birthday!!!

2011-04-02T21:07:00.002-06:00

Saturday Afternoon Drives

2011-04-02T21:05:00.000-06:00

Kids....

2011-04-02T20:57:00.000-06:00

I told her to go get her jammies...

Hide 'n Seek...

Fake injury day at school (?)

Just.....cute!

Sisters...

Um....brothers.

Poor baby was as sick as she looks! And they're CUDDLING! Maybe they were both sick.

Joshua's Birthday

2011-04-02T20:49:00.000-06:00

My handsome little boy turned 6 years old in January! Had ANOTHER monster truck cake, he did!

Life with Kadyn...

2011-02-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

Just to give you a little example of the kind of the random things that show up on my camera...

Not just a hummingbird, a DEAD hummingbird. The very one that now sits decomposing somewhere in his room so he can later display the skeleton. No, I'm NOT kidding.

Warning.....

2011-02-21T22:28:00.001-07:00

Beware once again of blog overload....in the coming days, it may be erratic, and horribly out of order, but, I am determined to catch up!!!

Revenge 21 years in the making...

2011-02-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

So, I must preface this story with an explanation: 21 years ago, on Valentine's Day, Darin asked me to marry him. He did so by sending me on a scavenger hunt through the mall. One of the clues was even hidden under the boxer shorts of a manequin (male, but I believe a eunic....) Anyway, quite an embarrassing adventure, to say the least. In fact, when I finally ended and found him at the temple with a roses and a ring, I beat him over the head with the flowers!

So, forward 21 years.... my neice, Angie, and I decided to send our precious ones on an adventure of their own. First, they had to dawn their new t-shirts, lest anyone not know how much they adore their wives.

Next, off to Granny's house to make us each tasty treat, a Valentine sugar cookie.

Then, a little sewing lesson, where they had to make us something sexy...

(Wow, I haven't even dared model this yet!)

Their beautiful instructor, Sandee.

Then, off to the dollar store to buy us something special with their pennies.

Last stop, to make us each a coursage and a card.

All in all, a mighty fine performance, boys!!

(Then we treated them to dinner at Texas Roadhouse, so all was not lost for them....although they were still required to wear the t-shirts!)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Sweetheart Ball

2011-02-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Kadyn went to the Hillcrest Sweetheart Ball with a girl from our ward, Nicole. He actually said he had FUN!!! Journal entry moment, folks, Kadyn doesn't ever equate dancing with fun! Thank you, Nicole!

Look! Chivalry is NOT dead!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

At the Ward family Christmas Eve party, Aliya was pretty sure these were all for her...

Ever seen someone so excited about towels?...

...or paper towels? (They were on her list, BTW...)

This chair Aliya's sitting in was my Grandpa Mather's 3rd birthday present, making it 107 years old!

My favorite childhood ornament, he sticks out his tongue!

Good Christmas morning! (Some were a little more enthusiastic than others...)

Josh was really excited about his box of Oreos. It was hours later that he discovered it was full of trains to go with his new Thomas the Train set.

Pretty much the position Savanah retained for days after getting her new IPod Touch.

And, yes, we FINALLY got a Wii.

Birthdays!

2011-01-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

When we decided to start a family, the one thing I swore I'd never do is have a December baby. So, I instead had two. Arrrrrgggghhh! Love them though, despite the chaos!

Happy birthday Savanah, #15!

She's just too cute to pass up a picture...

Happy birthday Kadyn, #18! (Am I really this old?!?)

And this is Gus, Kadyn's present...

For the birds...

2010-12-14T20:38:00.001-07:00

One day Aliya was standing by the open front door looking outside and jabbering away about something. Finally she came and grabbed me by the hand and said, "come 'ere, Mom, 'ook, a chicken. A chicken, Mom." This is what she saw...

A Downey Woodpecker

A Nuthatch

This would be my favorite thing to take pictures of, that is any kind of wildlife. What makes these bird pictures especially easy is that I have trees within 5 feet of my upstairs bedroom window, and the screen is conveniently missing as well!

Family pics

2010-12-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

Not interested in her turn..

Aliya looks a little thug-babyish...

He deserved it, trust me...

Don't ask.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Okay! So, I'm a little behind! Halloween strung out for DAYS this year with a church carnival on Thursday, school parties, and finally trick or treating on Saturday!

Trunk or Treat!

Tyson, the cowboy.....again.

Joshua, the puppy.

Aliya, the cutest ladybug on the planet!

Savanah, "Vampire" See the sparkles?

A very confused tennis-playing puppy bug...

Kadyn's Senior Pictures

2010-11-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

" No, Mother, I will NOT stand next to the outhouse and pretend to be peeing!"

He has a hard time staying on task...

The Thinker...

That's my boy!

Sweetest Boy Ever!!!!

2010-09-13T17:13:00.000-06:00

So, this morning as I was dropping Joshua off for Kindergarten he got out of the car amidst the "Bye! I love you! Have a good day!" and proceeded to skip down the sidewalk. I was smiling as I watched him because he was walking in such a way as to make his backpack bounce up and down on his bum- it was so reminiscent of Kadyn when he was little. Suddenly, he stopped, turned around with these wide eyes and came running back to the car. He swung the door open, jumped in exclaiming. "Oh my gosh! I almost forgot!" He threw his arms around my neck, hugged me tight and said "I love you!" Enough to make a mom's heart melt, for sure.......

Seaside, Oregon, August 2010

2010-09-05T21:19:00.004-06:00

Aliya's first look at the ocean!

Joshua had no trouble adjusting to the cold water!

Savanah

Tyson

Kadyn body surfing...

The great Chubacca vs. Bigfoot debate....don't ask me why the was the subject of conversation while standing in the ocean...

Building a hot tub... a little disappointed when it kept filling with cold water.

Got a little chilly...

Tyson and Aliya spent a lot of time like this on the beach! She hated the feel of sand between her toes!

Tidepools at Haystack!

I tried to warn him...

Sea lions at Astoria

We affectionately named this one "Kadyn" because it was all alone and was obviously very content to stay that way. In fact, when one did finally join him, he took one look at who it was and dove back in the water!

I swear they were trying to pretend to be sharks to scare somebody off the wall so they would have a place to climb up!

Back at Seaside...

Teaching Joshua the fine art of chasing seagulls!

Tyson tripped over this crab in the water. Imagine his surprise when he realized it was ALIVE!

Kadyn dug this one out of the sand!

Jellyfish, about the size of the crab

Chasing a razor clam, surprisingly quick little buggers!

Gotcha!

Hermit crab- they were everywhere!

A little more Randomness...

2010-08-12T19:57:00.000-06:00

Rigby Lake, 2010

2010-08-12T19:48:00.002-06:00

The family set-up...

(sigh...)

Who's the fat chick?

My pretty girls!

Sadie baby!

Amity!

NOT too happy about the ride...

Bentley

Olivia

Big diaper-bum

Shouldn't pick a fight without your own weapon...

Ward family reunion, August 2010

2010-08-09T21:09:00.003-06:00

Of course Aliya found food...

Are you READY for some

FOOTBALL!

This is family council in which Grandpa addressed us~ then Russell piped up and said he had something to say too. Apparently his toes wiggle, his knuckles kinda hurt, and his hair just stick up and mommy has to comb it! Okay....

Again with the food...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! (Still didn't wake up...)

The Ward family!

Farewell Grandpa- Eldon Loveland Ward, May 21, 1924~ August 1, 2010

2010-08-09T20:06:00.010-06:00

Sad day- Great Grandpa Ward suffered a stroke last May that left him quite frustrated! Initially, he lost about 20 years of his memory, still convinced he and Grandma were still on their mission in North Carolina and it was time to come home! He spent the last two months trying to convince the family to help him pack. As time went on he had a series of mini-strokes as well as a condition called pre-leukemia that they were no longer able to treat because the treatment was possibly what caused the blood clots. He slowly deteriorated, but only felt really ill the last short while. On Sunday our whole family held a special fast asking that he be relieved of his earthly duties, and he died that day at around 5:30 p.m. Pretty powerful prayin' family if you ask me! Well, Grandpa, apparently you were
right, it was time to go home. Thank you for the legacy and family name you left behind.

Farewell
'til we meet again....

Blue Thunder, July 2010

2010-08-09T20:00:00.000-06:00

Hummingbirds!

2010-07-29T10:09:00.000-06:00

This summer we watched in amazement this little hummingbird nest right at eye-level!

First momma sitting on two impossibly small eggs!

Then, the hatching!

One week later...

Two weeks later...

And about three weeks later! A few days after this they flew the coop! Or, nest, I guess...

And, again..... Aliya

2010-07-29T09:57:00.000-06:00

Eating....always eating. It's better to feed her naked and then just hose her off when she's done!

Her new CHEESY grin!

Daddy's girl...

Sweet cheeks!

Cowboy up...

2010-07-29T09:52:00.000-06:00

This boy really needs to live on a farm!

4th of July 2010

2010-07-16T22:45:00.004-06:00

This was the view where we spent our 4th of July weekend in Driggs at Jason and Jen's house! Thanks for having us guys!

The cousins taking in a little b-ball!

And, Savanah would want everyone to know, she kicked Jackson's trash!

Isn't this just so sweet?

Of course, so is this!

The fireworks were at the new Huntsman's Springs facility. Beautiful!

It was pretty stinkin' cold for the 3rd of July! Sheesh...

And best of all.....

...was this man! Yes, folks, this is Glenn Beck! Love this guy, and what a way to spend the evening!

Wendy was simply so overcome!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

Teton Balloon Festival, 2010

2010-07-16T22:25:00.003-06:00

So cool to be up close and personal during the launching!

What a great, and early, way to start the 4th of July celebration!

One year later...

2010-07-16T22:17:00.000-06:00

So, it was one full year the 23rd of June since I gave myself this pretty permanent little tattoo. Mine says "endurance". It can be done! And, no, I don't hide it. I wear it with pride! I worked hard to earn this sucker! Ain't it pretty?

Misc. Summer Fun

2010-07-16T22:10:00.001-06:00

We've been spending a lot of time with Great Grandma and Grandpa Ward. Grandpa recently suffered a series of strokes, and things have been pretty tough!

She loves Kadyn!

It was just a liiiitttle to chhchhchhilly to play in the sprinkler!

As per usual....

Savanah and her tricks...

Why I don't bother to wash windows every day....

The kids love love love it when Grandma floods her lawn!

Grandma's firepit...

2010-06-25T12:32:00.004-06:00

After a hard day's work branding, everybody looks for to a fire in the back yard! Aliya was so cold, but insisted on playing on the slide! Even the dog took cover, but not Aliya!

Memorial Day fun, as always!

2010-06-25T12:24:00.001-06:00

Branding on Memorial day weekend, as per usual! It was raining this year though, so they had to move the fun indoors!

Fishin' FHE style...

2010-06-24T01:10:00.000-06:00

Aliya feeling (slightly) repentant after putting that gash on Josh's face...

Seriously, I could make a whole book of pictures like this...

Doin' the bug dance. Snatched that sucker right out of the air, he did!

Tying on his hook

Fishin' (not catchin' though...)

It's really all about the s'mores, isn't it?

Random stuff...

2010-06-24T00:46:00.001-06:00

Seriously, isn't she the cutest thing ever?!?

Darin saw these little guys just outside of Jackson Hole a week ago

Believe it or not, this guy resides at someone's house on the Yellowstone highway on the way out to Ucon!

This was actually a double rainbow, but the second one didn't show up very well.

Ummmm....serious hair issues here...still cute though!

Last of the cub scouts (for 3 years, at least)

2010-04-25T23:45:00.000-06:00

Tyson turned 11 this year so he is now officially a big boy scout. But, he got to participate in the pinewood derby anyway, after he "crossed the bridge".

Nervous?

He gave himself rabbit ears.

A little more Aliya...

2010-04-25T23:32:00.004-06:00

I know we have a lot of pictures of her eating, but when one enjoys the simple pleasures in life so much... (it was even better later when she added chocolate pudding to the face)

She gets her concentration-face from Granny

"Weeeeeeeeeeee, I did it!"

(Love the icecream dripping off her chin...)

Bad hair day...

2010-04-21T10:58:00.000-06:00

Big brothers are the best!

Easter in style!

2010-04-21T10:01:00.003-06:00

We spent Easter Sunday in St. George with our friends Scott and Andrea Parkinson and their family. The weather was beautiful~ mid-70's and sunshine! Two days later back at home the kids got out of school for the first snow-day of the year....

Easter egg hunt

Tyson decided it was just a tad bit too chilly for the pool. The hottub was much better!

Face painting via Sophie Parkinson...

Everyone was pretty exhausted on the way home...it was VERY quiet for about 3 hours!

Swimmin'

2010-04-21T09:32:00.006-06:00

The best part of our hotel while in St. George, maybe the only good part, was the pool, and it was even outdoors!

What's with the cheezy grins?!?

Ewwww...

Pretty sure she was saying, "See, Mom, I told you he was dumb..."

Why anybody, even Tyson, would purposely pick a fight with Savanah is beyond me. Chances are always really good, you're gonna lose, and lose big.

Swimmin' lessons...

Big Girl!

2010-04-19T09:32:00.004-06:00

Big girl do it all by herself....

Now what?

2010-04-19T09:28:00.000-06:00

Why, oh why, does blogger not play fair? Why does my finished product not look like it does in the pre-post stage where everything is perfectly aligned and centered?

Zion's National Park, April 2010

2010-04-19T08:40:00.013-06:00

During Spring break we, at the last minute (like seriously, I had an hour to pack 7 people) decided to go to Zion's National Park in southern Utah. We had a great time and the weather was perfect! The only thing we regretted was not having more time to spend, well, and maybe our choice of hotel...

Lady Big-Horned sheep

Kadyn doing, well, what Kadyn's always doing!

Turkeys!

And again...

Tyson being....Tyson.

And again. If you only knew how many opportunities I have to take pictures of him like this! Love my little science geek! He'll be rich one day, and hopefully will take care of his mommy and daddy!

They say the water in Zion's is thousands of years old and naturally filtered through the sandstone. Tyson thought it was fabulous!

Savanah's version...though I don't think she ever drank any!

Okay, so this deer was peeing....oops.

The boyz

2010-04-08T20:22:00.005-06:00

The boys love to jump together, and surprise, surprise, no broken bones or stitches thus far! Tyson was doing flips over top of Joshua and then they played a little hot potato with their shoes.

Power County Jr. Miss 2010

2010-04-01T20:29:00.011-06:00

This last weekend Kadyn, Savanah and I traveled back to AF to see Jr. Miss. These girls are from Kadyn's class and are among his best friends in the world. I have watched most of these girls for the past 12 years, and have to say they have grown into some incredible young ladies!

Opening number...

A taste 0f the fitness routine...

This is Amy Carlson, the Jr. Miss who just gave up her title, which she wore well!

Tiffnie Christiansen

Ashlee Adkins~"Green Jello, Marshmellow, Cottage Cheese Surprise!"

Ariel Pocock

Reagan Nielsen, "Shopaholic"

Madai Montes

Miss Ariel...

And the winner was.....

Kadyn's best friend in the whole world, Miss Ashlee Adkins!

The court:1st runner-up, Ariel Pocock; 2nd runner-up, Reagan Nielsen; 3rd runner-up, Madai Montes; Spirit of Jr. Miss, Mikell Nye; Be Your Best Self, Britanny Hitesman, and Miss Ashlee, of course!

Love you Ashlee!

In a little shock!?!

BEWARE OF BLOG OVERLOAD!!!

2010-03-26T18:32:00.001-06:00

That's all..... :)

Another Cub Scout down, only one to go.....

2010-03-26T18:28:00.002-06:00

Tyson received both his Weblos badge and his Arrow of Light at Cub Scout pack meeting last night, the highest award you can get in Cub Scouts! Way to go Tyson!

Happy birthday, Tyson, #11!

2010-03-26T18:17:00.002-06:00

Tyson making it to his 11th birthday definitely was a milestone, considering in just the past week he has been hit by the mailman on his bike (Tyson on the bike, mailman in a truck) and threw a rock up a tree trying to get a ball down and instead shattered some ladies windshield as she drove by. We also just ordered 3 windows for our garage that he shot out with his BB gun "trying to shoot a moth". That's life with Tyson! (His father's child, by the way. I swear not a drop of my DNA exsists in that child!)

First warm Saturday!

2010-03-26T18:06:00.001-06:00

Tyson "throwing" grass on himself (of course, at this point everyone else was ready to kill him for doing to them...)

Aliya hangin' with Rylee

Meanwhile Josh was...

...and Tyson, always the antagonist, pushed Savanah through the truck window where she was trying to hide his shoes (after rescuing Rylee's from up the tree, of course)

Aliya has decided outside is where it's at!

Even the dog...