Happy 40th!!

SURPRISE!!! For my 40th birthday, Paul organized a huge surprise party for me at Winger's in Moscow. I was shocked to learn that he's been planning it since August. The girls even knew and never spilled the beans once!! My sister even flew out from Nebraska (which made me cry)!! I am so blessed to have so many special friends and such a fantastic husband and really appreciate everyone coming to celebrate with me. Since I was not in charge of any of the cameras, this is the only picture I was able to rustle up... but it's a special one to me... me, my mom and my sister.

It's looking like a real house!!!

Wow!!! the outside of the cabin is almost complete minus a railing and other fun touches. The inside will take a little while to get completed but we're excited to sleep in it in the near future.

More progress

Well, you can officially "see" the cabin from the river now. The roof is up and the loft is built. Here's the front of the cabin...



A view from the back...

Nicole turns 12!

I can't believe that our little girl is now 12!! I've been told that there is a big change from here until they turn 18 :) I'm just hoping that I recognize her!!

Nicole invited friends Berlyn, Tiffany and Matthew over for games, a neighborhood scavenger hunt and even a mini spa party (yes Matthew was a very patient friend).

On the hunt for clues..
The end of the hunt... at last!!
In the middle of their spa treatments we had to take a picture to document their shiny faces.

Cabin project

Well, what began as a quest to add on to our existing cabin, turned into a full-blown new building. When it's complete we'll have a full kitchen and bathroom with a toilet that FLUSHES. Boy, are we going to feel spoiled. We're excited to be able to have more people up to the cabin.

Breaking ground....



Bringing concrete up to the cabin... one bucket at a time. The buckets are taken up by boat, then poured into a front loader which travels up the hill to the cabin then dumped into the foundation forms.


Bringing the lumber up the river, of course by boat!!


Eventually, to cut down on helicopter time, we sent the lumber up the river on the boats then had the helicopter take it from the boat to the cabin site.


Paul and Bryan standing on the walls

Volleyball star

Nicole decided to try out volleyball this year and ended up having so much fun!! She turned out to be an excellent server and even scored 7 consecutive points for her team by serving. Her team ended the season winning several games and even one match which was wonderful considering most of the team was playing for the first time.

Ashley turns 9!!

I can't believe our little Boo Boo is already 9!! She decided to invite several friends to a party at Bumpers in the mall for arcade games and bumper cars.

Grace, Ashley, McKenna, Emma & Reanna


Ashley asked for a "group present" from all of our family. She really wanted the Elizabeth American Girl doll and she was so excited to get her. She also ended up with a new bike since she had outgrown her old one.