This past weekend my grandpa took the kids fishing. It is something he has been doing the past 7 years. My kids still ask him every time when are they going to go.
This was the first year that Katanya really enjoyed it. She would throw the line in and wait for the fish. When one bit the hook she hollered with delight. She needed a little help at the end getting it out of the water. 
She wasn't sure if she wanted to get too close while it was still wiggling. 
Cruz was the serious one. His faces were priceless.
This was the first year he wasn't afraid of them.
It always amazes me how much he looks like Jacob (from what I have seen through pictures).
This picture was just too priceless not to post, although it didn't resemble anything about Kirsten's fishing trip.
This was the first year he wasn't afraid of them. It always amazes me how much he looks like Jacob (from what I have seen through pictures).This picture was just too priceless not to post, although it didn't resemble anything about Kirsten's fishing trip.
She went around wanting to pet every fish that was caught. I think she was trying to show me that fish aren't that gross. (I hate (HATE) touching fish.)
She even played with the worms.
And her very last fish she carried it with her finger through the gill to go get cleaned. Jacob promised her something if she would do this. I still think he hasn't paid up. Kirsten is my counter and I'm sure she won't forget.
McKay's the pro. 
This was her first year of holding a fish as well. My girls are tough!
I think next year I am going to made her bait and hook (and de-hook) her own fish.
She even played with the worms. And her very last fish she carried it with her finger through the gill to go get cleaned. Jacob promised her something if she would do this. I still think he hasn't paid up. Kirsten is my counter and I'm sure she won't forget.McKay's the pro. 
This was her first year of holding a fish as well. My girls are tough!
I think next year I am going to made her bait and hook (and de-hook) her own fish. 
So Friday morning, we found ourselves going back to childhood memories. I remember my parents always picking grapes we would sit there and pick the grapes off of the stems while we listened to conference. Jacob also mentioned memories of him picking grapes as a child.
she made it. I also called her best friend's mom and she was elected president. These two are inseparable. (They have their whole future planned out......or so they think.)
We had a fun day today. I don't think I could have done anything else to make his day. Although he won't ever know it but he made mine 10x better than his was. 
This week was a crazy one. We had moved trees Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday we were in the dump trucks hauling more shredded bark in. Halfway through the day, we got a call saying McKay had a bloody nose and a bloody eye. Being stuck close to Rexburg in the dump truck, I called: a good friend who lived in Rexburg, the doctor, and made it to the school to still have to stop the bloody nose. It turns out (from what the nurse said at my pediatrician's office) that the tear duct is connected to your sinus so as long as it wasn't "gushing" out of the eye and the eye wasn't discolored that she was okay (we also had to watch her the rest of the day.) What had happen was her eye would fill up in the corner and she would actually "cry" blood. I didn't actually see this as it had stopped before I arrived. 
So this is what it looks like after working all day on Saturday. We are only "healing" (covering with bark) in the poplars as we move them for now so it should go a lot faster and quicker in the next week. Hopefully by tomorrow at noon the poplars will be finished. We are on a deadline as Jacob starts school on September 10th and I don't want to be stuck doing this by myself.
There were a few questions in the comments last time that I will try to answer. Back in 2007 we got a permit to remove the topsoil and open a tree farm / nursery. The last two years we have planted over 10,000 trees and shrubs to grow and sale. The pit is the way it is for a couple reasons. 
This is where the trees were put last year after they were planted. We had a temporary water system set up and they were supposed to be upfront last fall. Our plans didn't work out that way. One bonus is the weeds kept the plants shaded.
We got roughly 300 moved today. With the poplars, we have to prune them as we go. Hopefully the other trees and shrubs won't take so long.
There is still a big space to fill.
They chose their favorite colors to wear. McKay wanted a pair of Converse this year and after Kirsten saw them last night she wants a pair now too. McKay followed after Aspen's footsteps.
Kirsten is a second grader this year. She has always had a passion for school. She loves pink. She wanted her whole wardrobe pink but that wasn't really possible. After shopping for four hours on Saturday we were finally able to find a pair of shoes (for PE) in her size and that we (her and I) both liked. I started shopping in Texas for school supplies and backpacks but then I got home and things were crazy and busy again. I really should learn not to leave it to the last minute!
McKay is in the 6th grade. Two years ago our district pulled 6th grade back into the elementary school. I was so happy about this. 10 years old is a little young (even though she is really smart) for Jr. High. McKay loves blue. She didn't want anything pink this year. If she had it her way she would throw everything pink that was in her closet away. McKay never has been a morning person (a little like me) and so her smile is a little off. (Did I mention that after we got them off to school that Jake and I went back to bed ourselves. The other kids were still asleep and it had been raining all day and night so it was too muddy to do the work we needy to outside. We also stayed up too late. We need to evaluate our schedule as well.)
Another bonus about the school is the bus stop is right in front of our house. It couldn't get any better.
It's good to see that as sister's they can still get along, talk, and be friends. (McKay's smile looks a lot better.)
This is Kirsten three years ago, when she was four.
This is Kirsten today, seven years old. She still looks the same but she is bigger and has more sass and attitude. 
Yesterday I shopped for six hours looking for these things. All I found was a small toy diary that looked like it would break the first time you tried to unlock it, and no bathrobe. I guess bathrobes are Christmas items from what everyone told me. I went to every single clothing store in Idaho Falls looking for one. As I was in Wal-Mart picking up a few things for her "pie" that she wanted, I ran into a neighbor. I was telling her my dilemma when she suggested since you can't lock the journal, why not get her something she can put it in that locks. That's when the light went on. (If you haven't noticed by now that I lack the creative genes.) We got her a lock box for her journal, money and whatever she wants to put in there. It has a set of keys and also an electronic code. She loved it. As for the bathrobe, I actually came up with the idea of making her one and letting her pick out the fabric. So I found a pattern and that took care of that. Kirsten was thrilled with her presents. 
Kirsten also wanted a pumpkin pie for her birthday cake. It was as easy as....
All the kids enjoyed the old slides (that were they last time), plus the new slides that they have recently added.
We packed lunch and a lot of snacks that I think we could have stayed there for a full 24 hours and been fine. Food always keeps the kids happy.
And like last time, we attempted the top platform (10 meters)....
....and I screamed all the way down.
The kids decided to take mud baths yesterday.
The did this last year, but I think they forgot one thing....
....How cold it is when you get off after with well water. Cruz wasn't the only one that screamed. All five of the older kids did.
The littler kids played on the safe side and made mud balls.