Camping!!!!!

I was THRILLED when I found out my husband did not have to work the weekend that the Stake campground was open. He asked me what the name of the campground was and I of course said, "Stake campground. I am sure you can google it" I was kidding.

I had asked my husband to bring something that we could use for rain as I heard it was supposed to rain while we were up there. He was amazing! He brought a tarp for over the picnic table and a big mosquito tent also. I loved it! And it was nice when the kids were in it because you knew where they were.My kids are like me. If I let them they would be off exploring to the end of the earth. I love their desire to do so but I have become more of a worry wart lately so as long as I could see or hear then that was as far as I would let them go.There was a small creek by the campsite that we went down and threw rocks in. My kids wanted to get in and walk around and for some crazy reason I told them no. Normally I would say yes and get in with them. I am not sure if it is all the injuries I have received in the last year or my husband wearing off on my (he is more protective where I normally am more relaxed).Then we went for a walk, something I LOVE to do while camping. I have always loved exploring things and just being out in nature. We enjoyed it. At one point in the road my daughter said it looked like 1/2 of Jesus' cross.We found a playground and I let the kids play for a short time. We ran into a counselor from my daughter's old school and she said that she had heard I was moving her to a new school. When I told her that I was she said that she felt I had definitely made the right choice in doing that. Hmmmm, makes me wonder about the old school.Silly Appleseed was swinging like this and kept asking me to push him. Nut, hello you can push yourself buddy.This is what I get lately from Butterball. That kid! :)Butterball is always very good at packing his own stuff, toys and what not included. But I was curious about this. You can't see it very well but he had packed a ton of hair bows, flowers, and clips and came out of the tent wearing them in his hair.We had friends that camped with us in our site and we loved it. They are an amazing family and I always enjoy spending time with them. The Dad made homemade fries that night. I INHALED them! They were SOOOOO good and I am been dreaming of them since. I plan to make some soon.

Home again, home again, just not the way I planned.

This is a long one, sorry.

We leave early in the morning from the Ranch to head home. On the way out there was quite a bit of bison. At least I think that was this day. I don't know.Now I know it is no big surprise, but I can be pretty immature sometimes. My husband asked me to follow my sister home. I HATE that because I feel like I have to be babysat. I know he only does it so that he can feel more comfortable when I am not with him but it still drives me bonkers. So at one point I passed her up. DUMB! In fact her friend that was driving said that she wouldn't follow me because she didn't think I was driving save. DOUBLE DUMB!! Me, not her. We were doing good, yes I made a massive wrong turn and ended up going the wrong way on the highway. I hate that Pocatello exit. We stopped for lunch and it took forever as there was a TV on cartoons right by our table so my kids were GLUED. But apparently it didn't take long enough.
Right around Malad, ID we hit a sudden freak hailstorm. I saw a car that had rolled over in the median so I decided I better slow down. Right as I touched my brakes I started hydroplaning and rolled into the median. The worst part was I had my 3 precious angels in the car with me. Scariest thing EVER!!! When we stopped my daughter was screaming, "I love you Daddy!" over and over. The boys were crying. Butterball had a cut on his finger but not a large one, his window had broken out. Appleseed was just terrified. I found my phone on the dashboard and tried to call 911 3 separate times. It was busy. A man came up to me and I told him that I couldn't get through to 911 and he said that he also had been trying and couldn't get through. But obviously someone did as it was not long before a cop was there and then EMT's. The EMT's were actually responding the the first roll over but they had refused service so we got them.I was very sore on my chest and neck from burns I had received from my seat belt and I had a sore neck and back. Butterbean had hit her head so her and I were attached to back boards with neck braces. NOT FUN! Then the boys were cut out of the car in their car seats and all of us rode in the ambulance to the hospital. The EMT's said I had done such an amazing job putting their car seats in and that they were very tight and that is why they had to cut them out. On the ride I was told I would feel better at the hospital as my doctor was "cute". That cracked me up. I had asked them if they knew what it was like to ride like this and they said that it is part of their training to ride in the ambulance on a back board and in a neck brace. I just couldn't help thinking that I bet when they rode they weren't frightened and in pain.The boys were not emitted as the doctor said they were acting fine. My daughter and I went through several x-rays and me a CAT scan. My wonderful sister, who I was supposed to be following, came back to be with us. Her friend and kids entertained the boys and my sister relieved a lot of my stress by just being her. I love her dearly. My brother-in-law came from quite a ways away to get my stuff out of my car and take me, the kids, and my husband (who met us at the hospital) home. I am very thankful to him for doing that. My husband was asking us about a huge rock that was in the car. I told him that we didn't have any huge rocks with us. Apparently we had picked it up when we rolled. We were very lucky that it didn't hit any of us. The man that saw our accident said we were very lucky. I truly believe that we were watched out for. One thing that made me impressed and grateful is, at the hospital I had asked for a Priesthood blessing for my daughter and I. My EMT and one ER doctor were right there and did it in no time. To have two worthy priesthood holders right there was an amazing feeling.Now an update....I still go to physical therapy twice a week but I am getting better. I still have quite a bit of pain and I have to watch how much I do or I feel worse. My daughter is getting better and better. She did have some neck pain tonight with a headache (poor thing). The boys are fine except for the mental anguish. And my kids have now grounded me from eating, talking on the phone, or "texting" (I don't do that anyway) while driving. No I wasn't doing any of those things at the time of the accident but they are very stressed while in the car now so I will do anything to help them out with that. Thank you so much to everyone that has helped us this last month with the kid sitting while I and my daughter go to NUMEROUS doctor appointments, the food, weeding, lawn mowing, weed eating, borrowing of car, goodies, flowers, and prayers. You have no idea how much we appreciate it all. We are truly blessed to have such amazing family and friends in our life.

Parade Rest Ranch - Day 3

During one unruly meal, can you imagine my kids being unruly? The waitress brought out these cute masks to color. The kids loved it. This is Butterbean's.And Butterball's adorable one.
Yep, that is Butterball, asleep with his helmet on ofcourse.Sunday it snowed nearly the entire time we were in the park. I was very glad I had gone in Saturday as on Sunday there was hardly any animals out. I was joking that they thought it was time to go back into hibernation.Hmmmm, blue skies in that picture. Must have been on Saturday. :) This late in the game I can't remember what happen what day. Except ofcourse the last. Not a good one. I will fill you in on another post.

Parade Rest Ranch - Day 1

We went to our favorite place on earth. To Parade Rest Ranch. It was quite cold but beautiful. Last year, my son decided to switch his birthday with his Dad's as his Dad's is always at the same time as we go to the ranch. So we celebrated his birthday there. My daughter, getting a little jealous, decided to have her birthday there too. She sure changed her tune when we got home and realized she wasn't going to have another party on her actual birthday.

Little Appleseed loved sitting where he could look at himself in the mirror. He loved to watch himself while he was chewing.And of course, who could resist kissing that sweet face.I made cupcakes and took up to sing Happy Birthday to the kids. It was nice having both birthdays at the same time. he he. Saves me on money.In our cabin with our cousins that come up too. We love having them there with us every year. It makes the place even that more special.

Counting down!

Here we go! Counting down to my son's birthday trip. He can not wait. Yes we have the countdown chain and yet he still asks if we are going today. My kids both decided they would rather we sell our current house and move to the ranch. He even "switched" his birthday with his Dad's so he could have it there. Funny! My only problem is he has been packing for this trip....since me left the place last time. I frequently get the, "I don't have any....." And then I have to tell him that if he would unpack some stuff he would have clothes to wear. He cracks me up. And even though the cost of gas has made me SERIOUSLY want to forego this one....I don't think I could do that to my sweet son who can't wait. Neither can the rest of us!

Parade Rest Ranch - Last Day

Here are the kiddos in front of our cabin. Sob sob. I hate leaving this place. I think I would like living in Montana. It is so beautiful there. My poor sister knows better than to travel with me. She was sick the whole trip. I had asked her if she wanted to just head home, go to the park, or what. She said she didn't care. Big mistake sis! he he. I set the GPS for least use of freeways. It took FOREVER FOREVER to get home. But I seriously loved the drive and want to do it again. But take more time and stops for the kiddos. It was gorgeous. But I think my poor sister wanted to kill us.
What do you do with a baby who want stop fussing and nothing is working? Give him a container of wipes and let him go at it. :) Notice how he still doesn't look happy though. I think he was just taking is frustration out on me through the wipes.

Parade Rest Ranch - Day 3

We went into Yellowstone park today. It was a very windy day but nice. And surprise surprise, Butterball would not turn around. Check out the next couple pictures of him. :)Here is the kiddos minus my Appleseed. I had forgot a stroller so he was on my back.And here is all of us minus one. I am so sorry I didn't think to get D in here too. So dumb. Sorry D. Next time for sure.We stopped for lunch on the grass.There was this huge hole that was fenced. It was amazing. I don't think I would want to live in this town.After we got home Butterball wanted to watch Toy Story with his new Woody toy. It was so cute. When he first got back from Yellowstone he went right into Woody and asked if had missed him. Woody talks so he pulled the string and Woody said, "Ha ha ha ha ha." It was so funny.Appleseed is always a monster at night, even at home. But when we are out he is not as easy to deal with because he is in the same room as you. He was sucking water out of his cup and spitting it out at 11 PM.

Parade Rest Ranch - Day 2

Here is my boy waiting for his corral ride on the horses.Riding the horse. He loves it. Surprisingly my daughter had no desire to do it this year.Appleseed sitting on the horse. Funny to have pictures of all 3 of my kiddos as babies on these horses. Love it.Here are my sisters, sister's kids, and friend riding off on a trail ride. They seemed to have so much fun on their rides. Our friend was riding a donkey/mule, I don't know which. And it kept laughing at her when she would say things. And her reenactment of it was hilarious. I laughed so hard.My Butterball always holds my hand. I love it as the other two don't.Poor Appleseed all tuckered out from the walk back from the horses. I was able to get him out and put him down. NICE.It didn't matter if you put food on his high chair. He still liked standing up to lean over and eat. I think this was the day he insisted we have a prayer. He had folded his arms and kept saying, "Mom, Mom, Mom." So we had a prayer. Later he was doing it again and so I quickly said a Heavenly Father blah blah Amen. He wasn't going to let that slide and made me say another one. What a good boy.Singing Happy Birthday to my Butterball. It was a cute cake. They had put a bison and bear picture on it. His little friend, T came up while we were singing. They had a good time together there.After dinner my nephew and our friend were playing football and Appleseed had to join in. It was cute. He adores our friend and called her name a ton while we there. Even in the night he would do it. And just so you know D, he still calls your name. Especially if he sees a vehicle that looks like yours. :)

Parade Rest Ranch - Day 1

Our before trip picture. Is this the in case we get lost on the way picture? :) Funny.My sister drove up with me. She was so patient with my kids. It was cute. Especially when poor Appleseed threw up, causing Butterbean to FREAK OUT! These are my, "Thank you for cleaning up the throw up" flowers that my sister had her give to me.Butterball waiting for everyone to come and watch him open his birthday presents. His real birthday was in July but he wanted to wait till we got here to have his birthday. On the way up I remembered I had forgotten his dairy free cake I had made for him at home. So I went to the local grocery store and they only had two yucky options. Found out where they had cakes in town and went and ordered one for the next day. Then I explained to him about the cake. My sweet boy said, "That OK. I don't need a cake." Darn, I had already paid for it.Opening presents.Butterbean cuddling with Dad at the cook out that night.Appleseed eating his corn that he had dropped on the ground. I figure any extra vitamins we get is all good.The manager, Marge, had called my son up and had everyone sing Happy Birthday to him. That was so nice.Butterball got to help drive the horses home that were pulling our wagon. He loved that!We all had colds/allergies. This is how Butterbean fell asleep, with a tissue up her nose. Don't worry I didn't let her sleep like that.