Merry Christmas!

I felt so good about myself when I ordered our Christmas Cards in October and put them in the mail the 2nd week of December. Except now I've referred everyone to this blog and it is embarrassingly not up-to-date! As evidenced, I keep myself busy--you'd think I'd be 50 lbs. lighter with all the running around I do. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet.

What HAS happened is that the kids have grown up too fast! Peyton will be 9 years old in February. He is in the 3rd grade at Washington Elementary School. He shares his birthday with the namesake of his school --- pretty coo! He keeps busy with soccer in the Fall, basketball in the Winter, and baseball in the Spring. There's also skiing in the Winter (which I think is his most favorite thing to do) and rafting in the Summer. He also keeps busy with Chess Club, guitar lessons, and Cub Scouts. Have I forgotten anything? Ashley is 5 1/2 years old and just lost her 1st tooth. She is in the afternoon Kindergarten and spends her mornings at the YMCA. She wants to be an artist when she grows up. Ashley also plays soccer and basketball like her big brother; in addition, she enjoys gymnastics and being a Daisy in Girl Scouts (call me if you want cookies). She is the tallest girl in her class and only about an inch away from passing up her brother.

Jeff and I are still bankers - the good ones, not the bad ones that President Obama talks about.  Mostly, though, we're proud parents and happy to be enjoying life in Boise, Idaho. We welcome all of you to visit, in the winter for skiing or snowshoeing, or in the summer for rafting the Mighty Payette River (and many other gorgeous rivers).

Hope you enjoy the rest of our blog with a smile on your face! Love and hugs, Jen.

Ashley @ Cannon Beach

Peyton's Basketball Team

Goodnight Sweetheart...

Ashley's Class Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch 10/12/2009

I had the privilege of escorting Ashley and her class to the Pumpkin Patch last month. Luckily, I was only in charge of Ashley and her friend, Macy--I can only handle 2 kindergartners at a time! The kids got to ride the school bus while another mom and I drove in the car, stopped at Starbucks for coffee, and still made it to the farm before the bus! It was cold and windy, but the kids had fun riding the tractor, doing a kids' hay maze, picking pumpkins, and visiting the horses. There are only 6 girls in Ashley's class of 20 so she and Macy have to stay close - aren't they cute together?!

Halloween 2009

Gem State Gymnastics Monster Mash 10/24/2009. Pirate Boy and Bat Girl. And Bat Girl wins for best costume ('cause Pirate Boy lost his eye patch).


The kids help Dad create the Haunted Garage 10/27/09.

Halloween Carnival at the Banks' House 10/30/09 with all our friends from school!

Post-Trick-or-Treating 10/31/09. Peyton made a haul! Ashley's asleep on Daddy's lap.

Thunder Mountain Line

A few weeks ago we took the kids on a train excursion with some friends of ours. The train runs from Horseshoe Bend to Banks and back again. For those of you who have rafted the Main Payette with us, this is the train that we see on our river voyage. The railroad set up a "pumpkin patch" in Banks so we could bring home more pumpkins for the squirrels to chew on. The best part of the ride was the amazing scenery! Actually, the best part was that the kids were tired from a sleepover the night before and Peyton slept on my lap on the way back from Banks (and Ashley slept on her Daddy's lap). But the scenery was second best! I hate to brag, but Idaho is BEAUTIFUL and I feel very blessed to live here. For me, there is nothing better to do on a Sunday than enjoy God's gift of the outdoors with my family.

New Pictures I Love...

Ashley Tied Her Own Shoes Today!

Life is Good...