Idaho Summer

We spent a month in Idaho this summer. It was heaven. It consisted of lots and lots of rides on the 4-wheeler and grandpa's tractor, lots of playing with cousins, watching shows with grandma, driving around town on 2-lane highways, swimming, swinging, drinking chocolate milk and being generally spoiled rotten every single day. Brian joined us for the first few days, then had to head back to work in L.A.

We celebrated the 4th of July like we do almost every year, in Melba, Idaho population 513.

Every day looked something like this - 

We took a little side trip to Rexburg to visit Doug and Mark at BYU Idaho. It was crazy to see how the campus has changed since I was a student at "Ricks College" over 13 years ago. AND it was so fun to spend time with my little brothers and see them in their element up at school. They are good boys, I tell you.

One of my favorite new additions to campus is a beautiful garden full of perfect make-out spots. I mean study areas. Same thing right?

This is where I played quite a few basketball games. Being in the Hart brought back so many, many memories. I wanted so badly to run into an old team-mate, trainer, coach or someone with whom I could reminisce... someone who could relate to all that I went through during this time of life and how awesome/hard it was.

I was disappointed to find that the old Ricks mascot "Thor" was no longer in the upper foyer of the Hart. But the Viking Athletics mosaic was still there. I hope they never take that down.

The quad - actually I'm not sure that's what its really called now but we are standing in front of the newly remodeled Student Center.

On the drive home with their newly acquired doodle pads. These things are great. A big thank you to my mom for driving us all over Southern Idaho.

Beth is the best aunt. She took the boys on countless rides and played with them so much. We love, love, love this girl.

We did a lot of swimming/slip-n-sliding during those very hot 100+ degree days. Little Ty especially loves to get wet but Johnny started to really love it by the end of the month too.

Biggest ever slip-n-slide! My brother cut this for the kids from the plastic they use to cover the corn silage. Ah, the benefits of living on a farm :)

View from the slip-n-slide -

Spectator Johnny -

Another day, another slip-n-slide.

And finally the time came to say good bye to Mark. My dad is his stake president so he was set apart at our home. All 5 of my brothers!

With Sherm, Dad & Grandpa too - 

All 8 kids -

Mark & Brooklyn, the oldest grandchild.

Mark and his sisters -

Marky and Dougie - still known as the "little boys" but no longer so little.

Dan's family -

Jeff's family -

Juliette's family - 

My family, minus Brian -

Mark and the grandkids. This shot is always impossible to get. Better luck next time.

Mike, Beth, Doug & Mark -

Mom & Dad -

Elder Beus!!

I still remember the evening before I left on my mission. The sky looked just like this. I was walking with my dad across the lane that connects our home with grandma and grandpa's. I remember thinking how much I would miss that sky and wondering what the sky over Uruguay would look like. I also remember thinking how much I love my family. Growing up in this place, with my wonderful parents, and all those wonderful siblings and with my dear grandparents just across the lane - it was all a girl could ask for. As sad as I was to leave it, I knew I was blessed beyond measure and was ready to go and serve. I know Marky feels the same way. I'm sure the skies over Oklahoma are beautiful too.

On our last evening there, my dad and I took the boys on one last ride around the farm. I took a few pictures of the farm while we drove. Now that we are home, the boys ask to look at these pictures all the time.

Johnny Turns 3!

Johnny had a really fun, drawn out birthday this year. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see his face light up with excitement over turning 3. It all started 2 weeks before his birthday when my best cousin, Kricket invited our family to come with them to Disneyland for the day. Brian was under the weather, so I took Johnny as a little pre-birthday present and his last chance at free admission to Disneyland ever. It was so much fun to have some one-on-one time with my boy. We also loved being around Kricket, Garrett, Jenna, Cooper, Ryder & Trey. I couldn't get over how well-behaved and happy all of their kids were. I was taking notes the entire time.

Did you know that Disneyland has a little petting zoo? It's really small - just a few goats, a donkey and a horse, but it was one of Johnny's favorite parts of the whole park.

The day before Johnny's birthday we invited a few friends from church to join us at the park for cupcakes. Johnny asked for party hats and "instruments". Of course, when it came down to it, he wouldn't let me come near him with the party hat, and the 4-for-99-cent kazoos were a total bust - didn't work at all! Big surprise, right? At least the cupcakes were a hit!

On his actual birthday we opened presents from mom & dad and grandma Barbara on the patio before going to a nice sit-down dinner, that was in all reality, nice and sit-downish for all of 10 minutes before the boys were on all fours underneath the booth and then RUNNING through the entire restaurant! Do you ever have the vision of a perfect, relaxing evening in your mind only to remember once it's too late that your children are just barely 3 and 1 & 1/2 and completely incapable of holding still? Next time we'll go to McDonalds :) 

The day after his birthday we celebrated again at our friends Gwendolyn, Sinjin and Linnea's house with more cupcakes and a bubble machine! I only have a few fuzzy pictures of this little party.

I was determined to get a photo of Johnny is his party hat, so I told him that he could take a picture of me in my party hat first. While he was fumbling with the camera, I slipped one on his head unnoticed. Here he is first taking my picture and then excitedly showing me his shot.

The view from Johnny's camera - 

Happy birthday sweet Johnny boy! We love you so!

mormon night @ the dodgers