FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE DITCH

Since we are on the tail end of winter, I thought I should post these snowy pictures I took a few months ago before they become completely out of date.

They are all taken from the rugged, natural beauty of the nearby irrigation ditch. Just goes to show that beauty can be found almost anywhere!

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

So, Andrew and I were making a grocery store run when we walked past the Toll House Cookie Dough display. The cart I was pushing made a sudden, involuntary halt.

"Do you dare me to buy these?" I asked.

I had to find a way to justify what I was about to do...a way to prove to myself later that it wasn't my fault the cookies were placed in the cart and paid for at the register. He dared me, after all.

Unfortunately, it didn't work as I'd hoped. I'm still trying to understand why he just laughed and walked away...leaving me to wrestle with my cravings all alone. Very unfeeling of him! But, I did what any girl would do in this situation. Or should do at least.

I dared myself. A triple doggy dare with a cherry on top!

How could I back down from a challenge like that? That's serious business!

{You're with me on this one, right?}

Well, the rest is history.
{you saw the picture}
.
But hopefully, I've taught all you strong-willed gals who never give into temptation an important lesson: Any sugar-calorie-butter packed disc of chocolaty goodness can be justified with a dare. It's that easy. It'll be worth every delicious bite.

I'm prayin' your husbands are more supportive than mine was on this one. Good luck.

WEEKEND

We had house guests this weekend that included these crazy cats.

On Saturday, we took Andrew's brothers snowboarding to Grand Targhee. 

Hi, Ryan!

Sunny when we arrived, but blizzarding by the time we hit the slopes. Perfect, powdery snow all afternoon!

 I love that the guys are having no problem going slow.

But I shouldn't make fun too badly. This picture was taken from inside the tree well I crashed into and couldn't get out of. I was trying to improve my toe-side skills at the time. 

.

I'm getting better...really! I'm just not there yet. 

.

Let me just add: it isn't polite to applaud and jeer sarcastically from the ski lift when someone below you tumbles head over feet down the mountain. 

{Luckily, the snow was soft.} 

Favorite snowboarding experience yet! Better than Kelly Canyon by a million miles...and even beat fancy  Sun Valley. If you're in Idaho itchin' for the slopes...definitely go for Targhee. 

HOUSE UPDATE

This week, we were officially approved by the bank for a construction loan!!!

Next, we hope to secure a lot in the next few days, and then begin building as soon as possible. We are beyond excited for this next phase in our lives.

Above, is a rendering of what our house will basically look like. The biggest difference between this picture and the real deal is that the garage will be flipped to the side of the house. We love the craftsman style look of it.

We are envisioning the interior to have the same craftsman style with the pretty, wide trim and wood floors. Here are a few examples I've collected from the Internet to give a general idea:

So, Anyway. We'll keep you updated on all the excitement!

ISSUES

.

What my baby sister Aria, does for fun:






And posted by Dad on Facebook yesterday:

.
"‎4-year old Aria spent some time in her bedroom and I found that her Teddy Bears were all tied up to chairs. I'm sure psychologically this is not a good thing..."

True that. True. That. =)

PLASTIC WRAP

Last month, my in-laws relocated twelve hours closer. We drove down to Utah help them move in.



And wouldn't you know it, it poured the entire time.

It was one wet, drippy, soggy, soaked-through kind of day.

After the trucks were unloaded, our niece made good use of all the fun packaging.

The "princess dress" she personally designed for me, certainly pushed the fashion envelope.

I mean, sure, it was pretty. But I usually prefer those that aren't quite so transparent.

And then she got really creative with Andrew's princess dress.





The rain falling in Utah, we knew would be falling as snow in Idaho. Do we leave now to try and beat the storm blowing in? Or do we wait til morning with the chance that it could be really bad after the fact? It's always a gamble either way.

We chose to leave that night and stay ahead of the storm...

But Unfortunately, we hit the Malad Pass just as things got exceptionally bad.

When the accumulation became so deep that we couldn't even tell where the highway was anymore, we followed the last set of tire tracks we could find--ending up in a hick town Chevron parking lot. It was also where every last, late-night traveler was parked...also stranded by the storm...just waiting it out.

I've never seen snow fall so thickly in my life. Oh, how we regretted not staying the night in Utah. All we wanted was sleep!

Eventually, the snowfall slowed to the point that we could see out the windows. Then, we saw the flashing lights of a snowplow pass us toward the highway, and we tentatively ventured out toward home.

We pulled in our driveway about 4:30 a.m...a four-hour trip having turned into over eight...long... hours. It was a horrible night.

The moral of the story is, of course: Don't ever, under any circumstances, let a four-year-old encase your head with plastic wrap.

The lack of oxygen to you brain can only hinder your decision making skills. I don't care how cute she is.

Consider yourself warned.

I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I wrecked my car. I don't really want to talk about it.

But so as not to leave you hanging, I'll just say that Idaho roads suck in the winter after high winds. Especially when you're maneuvering a sharp curve. And you're late for work. *ahem*

It could have been really bad. But luckily, I missed the oncoming traffic, the fence, the telephone pole, and the trees. So I'm counting my blessings that all I have to show for the ordeal is some mild whiplash and the need for a new front bumper.

My poor car is currently at the car doctor. Meanwhile, I have been provided with a Nissan Quest minivan to get around in. It was rather awkward for me to get used to in the beginning...probably because of the whole not quite being in the mini-van-stage-of-life yet deal. But I've since learned to really enjoy the luxuriousness of the interior, being higher off the ground, and (don't laugh) the greater horsepower.

But this weekend, we took the van out for a date night spin. Driving the mini-van must have been strange for Andrew too, but I didn't understand the extent of it until on our way out the door, he offhandedly suggested we put fake car seats in the back.

My ignoring this, didn't discourage him. Because then, on our way to the movies, Andrew kept randomly yelling things to the back seats like:

Don't make me come back there!

and

Don't make me turn this van around!

I'll keep an eye on him over the next few days, and let you know if his delusions get any worse. In the meantime, if you see a young gal parking her van at the far back corner of the grocery store lot go say hi. It's just me...not used to parking a van...and doing my best to avoid further accidents.