A Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon we saw a rare treat. A crane flew over the fields and landed on top of a shed in the yard behind us. This was the first time that I had seen in a crane in Boise. They really are impressive looking birds. He only stayed a minute or two before flying off.

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Moira had been wanting a fishing rod for quite some time so Will got her one for her birthday. Kyla was so upset that Will went and got her one too. They both were practicing their casting into the swimming pool. And, yes, Kyla is in her bathing suit. Moira was too until just before I took this photo. Will got the pool vacuumed out and then the girls went swimming. Not that it was warm enough, but they just couldn't wait. Moira did a few cannon balls into the deep end and Kyla went in up to her knees. I could barely even stand to watch. Too cold for this girl!

Happy Birthday, Moira!

My little girl is 8 today. It's hard to believe sometimes, but other times it feels like we've been together forever. I can barely remember what it was like without her. She is such an amazing girl- full of life and love. In her honour, here are 8 things that I love about Moira:

1. She is affectionate.

2. She is very creative.

3. She is a good big sister.

4. She likes to play outside, sometimes just sitting out there by herself.

5. She loves animals.

6. She's a bad liar.

7. She is helpful.

8. She's all mine.

Yesterday Moira had her birthday party. It was a luau theme. I was so thankful that the weather was nice because the whole party was planned on being outside. Here are a few pics.

Will mowed a maze into the grass and Moira set up the croquet set inside it.

This tiki bar used to be at Will's work, but when they remodeled they had to take it out. Will was the only one with a car big enough to take it home. The whole party was set around this.

The birthday cake.

Moira blowing out her candles.

Here are the girls all decked out and ready to hula.

Sugar hanging out in a shady spot.

Evening Walks

Lately I've been walking in the evenings with Suki. This neighbourhood is huge and it's easy to do a lot of walking. This is my favourite stretch:


It's actually private property. It belongs to the city's irrigation district and is in between two streets with the backyards backing up to it. When I come down here, I put imaginary blinders on so I don't see fences and patios. Instead, it's just me and my dog walking down a long stretch of country field. There are lilac bushes and other blossoming trees that smell like heaven. It's a quiet get away where I can escape the noise and demands of every day life.

Today Suki and I saw some ducks in the little ditch that runs along the side.

Since I've taken photos from the back of the house looking out, I thought I would show you what the back of our house looks like looking towards it. This was taken from the street that runs behind our house on the other side of the fields. In the winter we can see our house better, but now that the leaves have all come back on the trees, it obscures the view.

It's Been Awhile

I know it's been awhile since I last posted anything. Life seems to slip by so quickly and then I'm stuck trying to catch up. So here I am trying to get you all caught up with what has been happening in our little corner of the world.

On Thursday, Moira won a citizenship award at school. Every month the school features a different character trait and April's was Courage. Although we're not sure why Moira was nominated for Courage, we were still happy that she was recognized.

Starting yesterday and going through next Saturday, a group of us crafters and artists have set up some of our wares to be sold at a local gift shop. This week is Be Kind to Animals Week so 5% of our sales will be donated to our local chapter of Animals in Distress. I'm really excited to be helping out the animals and to be selling my stuff. The first two sales we made yesterday were my some of my jewelry. It was a good feeling.

On top of that, the Highland Games season has started. Will's parents have already been to the one in Las Vegas and will soon be on their way to the ones in New Mexico and Arizona. I'm still making things for them to sell. The jewelry has slowed down, but cards and shortbread are still big sellers for me. This Thursday I will setting up a table downtown with some of my fellow Idaho Indie Works crafters for First Thursday. On the first Thursday of every month some of the stores downtown stay open later, the museum doesn't charge admission to get in and crafters, artists and musicians gather to show off their talents. This is the first time that I've participated in this event and the first time I've ever been to First Thursday. I'm really excited about it. I will keep you posted.

Today is Kyla's name day. If you aren't familiar with this concept, it is a fun celebration that some European countries do. Every family does it a little differently. Some celebrate it just like a birthday, some just to a little something. In our house, we keep it low key. I got Kyla a new set of Littlest Pet Shop animals and a book. For dinner I'll make something that she really likes. It's another way of celebrating a person and showing them that they are special.

Poll Results

Thanks to all of you who voted in my last poll. Here are the results to "What is your favourite Leonardo DiCaprio character?"

2 votes Romeo (Romeo and Juliet)

1 vote Jack Dawson (Titanic)

3 votes Frank Abagnale Jr (Catch Me if You Can)

1 vote Leo? Ugh!

This was a hard one. Even though he was so good in The Departed (He looked so grown up!) I ended up voting for Catch Me if You Can because I never get tired of watching that movie. It's based on the real life con man, Frank Abagnale Jr who started conning his own father when he was 16, claiming that he wanted to buy things for girls.

Check out my new poll.

The "Highlands" of Boise

Today the girls and I travelled out to the Botanical Gardens. There used to be an old rock quarry there and there are large rocks still standing all over. The girls and I had lots of fun exploring them. The rocks reminded me of the Highlands of Scotland or Stonehenge.

Highland Moira

Highland Kyla

Easter Egg Hunt 2009

We had our third annual Easter egg hunt at our house yesterday. We were joined by Will's parents; Will's brother and his family; our friends the Strattons; and, new this year, the Stauffers. It was a lot of fun getting ready for the big hunt. The night before the kids and I filled the eggs and then we decorated some cookies.

Yesterday morning started off very cloudy. Although the weatherman didn't predict rain, it still looked like it could come pouring down at any minute. I set up the eggs outside, but the left the food inside just in case. When everyone arrived, I gave the kids their assigned egg colours (that way everyone gets the same amount. Plus I make it tougher for the older kids to find their eggs) and they were off.

After the hunt was over and everyone was gone, the clouds broke up and the sun came out. Figures!