The 6th Birthday Party...just 3 months and 19 days later...

The boys congratulating Spencer on his gifts.

All the boys at Bounce U

Ethan Hogge, Ethan Bate, Spencer, Nick Sledge and Kale Johnson

When Spencer turned 6, we were in Utah for the summer and we did NOT take one picture of this great day in Spencer's life. I know, I know, his therapist will have a hay day with this one. However to help me win browny points with his therapist and to save face as mother of the year, I finally threw him a birthday party. He invited his 4 besties in Village Green (okay Tyler and Jansen, you were so missed!)we went to Bounce U and then came back to the house for cup cakes, which nobody liked except for me and pizza, which I ate most of it. Regardless the boys had a fantastic time!

Spencer, I love you and I am so grateful that you are apart of this family. Your Dad loves you and your brother's love you...and our family just wouldn't be the same without you. Thank you for your funny one-liners and I know when you are a stand-up comedian that only tells dentist jokes, we will be in the front row! (sorry, just a little inside joke!)

In the Black Hills of South Dakota

This was our first trip as a family to South Dakota. The kids and I had never been to South Dakota. Jim went when he was around 7 years old to pick up his grandparents (Mary and Joseph Young) who were finishing their mission there. I loved the Badlands. This is the first pic we took in the Badlands. In fact, it was the first pic we took in the great state of South Dakota. I loved South Dakota. We stayed in Rapid City and it reminded me so much of Montana.

Jim and Spencer just hanging out at the Badlands.

Jim and the boys at the Badlands wall.

And Jim and I at the badlands wall.

The boys throwing Jim over the railing at the Badlands Wall. Those silly boys. We really missed Jim the rest of the trip.

The boys looking for their dad at the bottom of the Badlands wall.

Yeah, this should go at the beginning, you may be thinking, but au contrair monfrair, because this was us leaving Badlands National Park.

As you can see, Jim finally caught up with us at Mt. Rushmore. Besides growing a beard and learning to speak Chipmunkese, everything was fine. We made him cut off the beard.

To kill time Jim planned to carve the family into Mt. Rushmore, but he was only able to finish Elijah.

All the boys under Mt. Rushmore.

Elijah making a break for it.

Spencer making the boys laugh while being a ham on the other side of the camera.

Make that both sides.

More of Spency's work. Spencer brings out the best in all of us.

Noah, the king of the hill.

Spencer showing his dad a very green pinecone.

All the boys posing near the Utah engraving (all 50 states are engraved along the walkway to the main viewing area of Mt. Rushmore) - all these boys were born in Utah.

Here I am with my home-state Montana!

And of course we had to pose with our current state Nebraska....umm, why didn't anybody tell me I look 6 months pregnant when I am not!

Mt. Rushmore from the highway that runs behind the monument. On the way to Crazy Horse.

And the crazy Crazy Horse exhibit, which we refused to pay 3x as much as Mt. Rushmore to see (Mt. Rushmore $10 per vehicle, Crazy Horse $27 per vehicle), as it is not even close to being finished. It was started in 1939, and only the head is carved. Eh... not so much.

This One Is For You Grandma Jones

The side view...how cute is this rocking chair

No I am NOT going to paint this...it is perfect...

I love old stuff...I don't know why, I just do and I always have. Since I was about 12 I have wanted an old trunk, the older the better, however, after 22 years of wanting, I still don't have one. I have quite a collection of enamel boxes, I love, love, love them, however I have too many and not sure what to do with them all. I love old windows, I have four now...again not sure what to do with them, but I love them. And now I have an old medal chair. I remember, with great fondness and much sadness, sitting on medal chairs at Grandma Joneses home, chatting with cousins and aunts and uncles about life in Montana. So Grandma Jones, this chair is for you. It did not come from your home, but it comes from my memory...