Birthdays

Here's some pics of recent birthdays in our family that I'm finally getting around to posting. My birthday is Sept. 28, Dale's and Elias' birthday is Oct. 2.

We always let the kids have their own star-shaped cake on their first birthdays. Elias wasn't too sure about what to do at first. Then he had lots of fun crumbling up the cake and throwing it on the floor. He ended up eating only about two bites, but he did really well at making a mess.

Kydee's play

The Missoula Children's Theatre came to Idaho Falls a couple of months ago. They have kids from the area try out to be in the play on a Monday, practice all week, and do the play on Saturday. Kydee wanted to try out so bad, so we let her.

She got a part as a dust bunny. Isn't she so cute?!

She's the oldest kid in our family, so I always think of her as being more grown up than she really is. It was fun to see her with all the other kids in the play. She was one of the youngest cast members. It reminded me how little she is. (She's on the bottom row, 3rd from right.)

She had a lot of fun and is looking forward to trying out next year. Look out Hollywood!

Camping at Mesa Falls

We went camping with some friends at Mesa Falls. It was really pretty. We drove over to Big Springs (one of the biggest freshwater springs in North America--it puts out 120 million gallons a day!) The fish there are gigantic, but you can't go fishing or wading. The camping trip was so fun and the water was so pretty that we took my parents and brother there last week.

Lower Mesa Falls (isn't this such a pretty picture?! I took it.)

Upper Mesa Falls (yes, I took this one too and I think it's pretty dang good)

Playing in the water at Big Springs with Grandpa

Elora dancing around the fire

Elias helping unload the camping gear

Dalan found plenty of sticks to play with

Kydee on top of Sawtelle Peak

Grandma, Uncle Eli and the kids at upper mesa falls

Family Fair

On Labor Day, we were going to go to the Eastern Idaho State Fair, but it was very cold and rainy, so on the spur of the moment, I decided we could do a family fair instead. I gave everyone an hour to make up to two things to submit to the fair and then we'd all meet to judge the entries. Kydee drew a picture and submitted a coin collection, Elora made cookies and drew a picture, and Dalan did some tricks on the trampoline and drew a picture. I picked some flowers from our garden and arranged them, and Dale had a nap. (He got the Party Pooper Award.) Here's pictures of our awards.

Then we had a watermelon eating contest. Kydee and Dalan had two minutes to see how much they could eat. Dalan won.