Memorial Day Madness!

Every Memorial Day we have our annual raft trip on the Saint Joe River. We camp, go shooting, hunting, 4 wheeling, to the little ward in St. Maries, have a dutch oven potluck and raft with family and friends. Here are a few cute pics.

Singing with Ella

Kisses for Cade!

Jon with the Head Honcho, Steve, Brynne's dad. This was right after a run. The water is always like ice, so there is sufficient need for some fire time afterward!!
Cade in his cute new camping chair. He was such an outdoorsman. He loved every minute of the dirt, dogs, 4 wheeling, fires, and camping treats! Steve and Brynne took him on a 4 wheeling ride up Prospector for about an hour in the rain and he loved it. He even fell asleep toward the end. What a trooper!

Here's his ride with Daddy...notice both their faces! They look alike, huh?

All of the mom's arranged a treasure hunt for the kids. Here is all the cousins who participated. (minus Cade, but he sure tried to keep up!)

Here is a sequence of the biggest wave in Skookum Canyon this year. The water was the highest is has been in a long time. We could do a run in 30 min. and it had flooded all of St. Maries... and it was still cold as ever!! (Top pic. LtoR: Jim Lee, Steve, Brynne, Brett, Cameron Morton and Rick Caudle.)

One of the rafting runs, on the same wave, all of the crew members fell out except Jonny. He had to save them all before they became hypothermic! Way to go! Here is the clip.

The trip is always a great time. We love spending time with family and friends and enjoying the great outdoors. We also took time to acknowledge our loved ones who have passed on, who we love and miss dearly.

Jon's ABC's

A- ATTACHED OR SINGLE: Very attached....for life!
B- BEST FRIEND: Brynnee B. My love partner.
C- CAKE OR PIE: mm..probably pie...warm apple pie.
D- DAY OF CHOICE: Saturday. because...stuff...
E- ESSENTIAL ITEMS: My night guard. I'm a grinder, baby!
F- FAVORITE COLOR: Dark Blue.
G- GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS: Worms. I gots worms.
H- HOMETOWN: Loaded question. Moscow, ID or Post Falls, ID I guess. I was raised all over the states
I- INDULGENCE: Pizza and a fatty mountain dew on the side...LOVE IT.
J- JANUARY OR JULY: July!
K- KIDS: Cade. Love him.
L- LIFE IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT: Jesus.
M- MARRIAGE DATE: March 26th, 2005
N- NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: 3
O- ORANGES OR APPLES: Orange
P- PHOBIAS OR FEARS: No fear, baby!
Q- QUOTES: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
R- REASON TO SMILE: Cade and Brynne and...can't put the rest.
S- SEASON: probably summer. But I love the 4 seasons.
U- UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: 1992 University of Idaho intramural ping-pong champion. Right here.
V- VERY FAVORITE STORE: Cabelas
W- WORST HABIT: Farting on my wife.
X- XRAY, ULTRASOUND, OR MAMMOGRAM: Mammogrammies.
Y- YOUR FAVORITE FOOD: Elk steaks, corn on the cob, sea food.
Z- ZODIAC: I'm right on the edge, I've seen me be both Libra and whatever the other one is.

You go, girls!

Well, after a long winter of basketball leagues, Brynne's Hayden league team had their last game tonight against the hardest team in the league (they are all ex-college players that played together before) and had their best game yet! Here is the 5 that showed up to the last game. (LtoR: Sarah Williams/Owens, Brynne, Amy Holding, Emily, and Mindy Young (or used to be). We were missing Jess from NIC and Andrea Roetter, Brynne's high school classmate.

Unfortunately, Brynne sprained her ankle on the 3rd posession of the game and left at halftime when it was only a 5 point game! Here is a picture of how much it had already swelled shortly after...OUCH!

With her 10 mile running race in a couple weeks, Hoopfest soon after, and tri season coming up, she is SUPER bummed and anxious to heal. Luckily Jon made her some Amber cookies to cheer her up. ;) He's so great.
Overall, it was a great season and so much fun. Cheers to ball!

Brynne's ABC's

Can you tell I was bored while both my boys were napping on a Sunday evening? haha. Enjoy.

A- ATTACHED OR SINGLE: Very attached. I love my husband, Jon, and am so excited to spend forever with him! (and our kid(s))
B- BEST FRIEND: Jon definitly. But other than him, my mom and sisters (and my dad and brothers). But if we're not gonna go with family here, I'd say Monica, Sally and Roxanne. I love you guys!
C- CAKE OR PIE: . Not a big cake fan. If I had to choose, it would be funfetti cake with rainbow chip frosting, pumpkin or coconut cream pie. With pies it's all about the crust for me. But, I'd rather have homemade cookies (or better yet cookie dough).
D- DAY OF CHOICE: Saturday. I get to spend the whole day with my family and we usually are outside (which I LOVE) and I don't usually cook. :)
E- ESSENTIAL ITEMS: bobby pins for my short hair, my liplites vanilla swirl lipgloss, mascara, the diaper bag, and a tampon if you ever need it. ;)
F- FAVORITE COLOR: Green. The bright green that is in style right now. Or red.
G- GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS: I'm gonna go with gummy worms. mmm. More to them.
H- HOMETOWN: Dalton Gardens, Idaho, but now Post Falls. (I know, I know, I get around)
I- INDULGENCE: Cinnabon, chocolate, or a new outfit.
J- JANUARY OR JULY: July!! I love summer, the 4th, boating and rafting.
K- KIDS: Right now just one little boy, Cade who is 16 months. He is all the joy in my life besides my husband (he IS his mini me). Can't wait to meet the rest! (Lets face it, they're gonna be who their gonna be, we just don't know who they are yet!)
L- LIFE IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT: Family. Besides that, taking chances and not settling for mediocrity.
M- MARRIAGE DATE: March 26th, 2005
N- NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: 6 brothers and 2 sisters. I know, my parents are crazy. ;)
O- ORANGES OR APPLES: Oranges for sure! Only if they're perfect and juicy, though.
P- PHOBIAS OR FEARS: Becoming paralyzed, or being stuck when the world goes the he*# without being prepared.
Q- QUOTES: The one on the side of our blog. Also, "Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited upon, it is something to be achieved."
R- REASON TO SMILE: Um, can I pinpoint ONE? I guess when a baby is born, or at a wedding.
S- SEASON: Spring or summer. I just love to be outside.
T- TAGGED FRIENDS: I don't discriminate. ;)
U- UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I dream of being on American Idol, but I do nothing about it. :) David Archuleta would kick my butt, but I could have hung with Jason. haha.
V- VERY FAVORITE STORE: Oooh, that's hard. I spend most my money at Wal-Mart but I hate it. I guess either pier 1, wet seal, or an outdoor store.
W- WORST HABIT: Staying up late! I always want to shoot myself in the morning. (not really...I mean theoretically.)
X- XRAY, ULTRASOUND, OR MAMMOGRAM: Well if I'm having a mammogram it means I might have cancer, and x-ray usually means I think I broke something, and if I'm having an ultrasound it means I'm pregnant. So, definitly Ultrasound!!
Y- YOUR FAVORITE FOOD: Anything greasy, crispy Mexican (healthy, I know) Steak gorgonzola alfredo at Olive Garden, the mushroom appetizer at Outback, french toast, homemade mac n' cheese, elk anything, pan pizza dipped in ranch (again, I'm healthy) or a good salad. (see, told you.)
Z- ZODIAC: Aries. Who knows what that means. My hairdresser told me that's what I am...she's into that.

Yo Momma

For mother's Day, neither of our mom's were here, but we got to talk to both of them, and reflect on the years they have put up with us, the many things they continue to do for us, and their unconditional love. We are so grateful for our two wonderful Moms and Grandmas to Cade!

On Mother's Day we also had the chance to talk to Brynne's brother Spike (who is on a mission in Brazil) on the phone. It was such a miracle, after not even 6 months, to hear him speaking fluent Portuguese, already have an accent and to feel his love for the people there. It was very interesting to hear his stories and descriptions, and also very emotional to feel his testimony, hear his voice, and realize how much we miss having him around! We love you, Spike and are so proud of you!

I (Brynne) am so grateful for Cade and what an honor it is to be a mother. You couldn't ask for anything more challenging, time consuming, and patience rendering than motherhood...yet it fills you with contentment, fulfillment, and the most unconditional love you will ever feel. Thanks to ours and all of the other Mothers, Gradmothers, and Mothers-to-be. You deserve every praise you get!

Our little buddy

Cade is almost 1 1/2 (well, he's 16 months) and I have started feeling this little pinch of not wanting to let him grow up because he IS my little baby, and wanting another baby because he is NOT one anymore! He is getting very independent and I have to cherish the tender moments when he is sick and wants to cuddle, or the very rare instance that he falls asleep in my arms. No more bottles, binkies, or waking us up in the night (kind of glad that's over!). Anyway, I know they are only babies once, and I am realizing this page is almost over with Cade. He is such a sweet boy. He has a super tender side (when babies cry, his hugs for the kitty, or when he openly gives us kisses ;) but he also has this firecracker edge to him! He has been trying so hard to be a big kid! He now climbs up and down stairs on his own, throws a ball like a rocket (and sometimes catches it too), tries to copy everything we or anyone else does, and says a few words. He is soaking everything up like a sponge. I am so grateful and humbled to have "little taters" in my life! It will be so fun to watch him grow throughout the years.

-the mamma

Vacouver/Portland Partay!

We had a chance to take a little roadie to Portland for our nephew Bruce's baptism and to visit Brynne's brother A.J. The trip was so much fun! Cade loved spending time with cousins even though he was a little sick throughout the trip.

In the picture below, Bruce is on the upper left. We got to go to his baseball game, we had this fun picnic (the weather was beautiful!), and played games. At the baptism Jon gave a talk and Brynne did a special musical number of "When I am Baptized" on her guitar. It was a very special event and the spirit was SO strong.

Here was the big game of RISK that the boys all look forward to whenever they get together. It went on for over 2 hours!

After staying with the Erickson family we stayed one night with Brynne's brother A.J. We watched a movie, we went to dinner with his friends at a super good Carribean restaurant, and went to the Portland Zoo!

the siblings

Jon and Cade with the Elephants. Cade loved the animals...especially the black bear and the seals we could see from under the water!

Here are the rest of the pictures of the trip! It was a great time, and we are so grateful we have such wonderful family!