Cabin Trip #2

It seems crazy to me to think that it's only the end of April and already I have been to the cabin twice. It's great! I can't wait for the summer trips so that floating down the river can be added to the list of things to do. This trip was with Jeremy's family and we had a pretty good time. The weather was a little chilly but luckily no rain or snow. The river was a lot higher than last time so we steered the children in other directions. We spent a lot of time at Beaver Beach rock hunting and climbing the hill on the other side of the road. Addison LOVED that!! She is turning out to be just like her mommy. The guys went fishing and played outdoor games and well as many games of ping-pong. It was a relaxing time!! Can't wait until the next trip!

Fishing!

cousins!

Rhett and Chade

Wrestling!

Happy Easter!!

Our Easter this year was jammed packed full of fun from the time we arrived at church for the early breakfast until we pulled into the driveway around 10:30 pm. I have to say that Easter could have been extremely stressful with trying to fit in two families and being pulled in two different directions (even more that we are sad we missed out on) but it turned out to be a fantastic day and despite the busyness it was a day that we will never forget.

Breakfast at the church with Tee-Tee

Holding up a few things from the Easter bunny

Daddy and his kiddos

Me and my munchkins
1st Easter Egg hunt with cousins - posing with Elizabeth

Rhett found an egg!

2nd Easter Egg hunt with cousins Kenna and Chade

What Happens if . . . .

you give a baby a creamsicle? Well . . . . with my son - THIS!!!!

Here goes - I think he'll like it!

Nope - guess he doesn't like it after all!

Really disgusting daddy!

1st cabin weekend of the summer!

Well - I think everyone that knows me pretty much has heard me mention the place I love most - my grandma's cabin. I think my most wonderful memories have come from growing up in that place and continuing to make trips up there every year to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Each experience at the cabin is earmarked as unique but strangely the same - I love the fact that I've been up there thousands of times but each time I create new memories, sometimes with new friends and sometimes with those that I have loved forever! Every time I sincerely treasure and can't wait to go back for another amazing outdoor adventure.

This past weekend was a trip with my family. My parents and my sister and new brother-in-law. It was a great time of family bonding, especially since we were cooped up in the cabin most of the time due to rain on Saturday and snow on Sunday. However, the sun shone bright on Friday and so we spent a lot of time outdoors. Katie and I realized how out of shape we were just bumping the volleyball around outside like we had done when we were in highschool - sometimes from countless hours. Jeremy realized how cold the river was by chasing after the volleyball when Katie had hit a shank ball into the river - it was quite funny! Once Jeremy realized that he wasn't going to be getting close to the ball by standing on the riverbank with a shovel he just jumped in and ran right after it. Luckily the water wasn't at it's normal peak height for this time of year so Jeremy wasn't washed downstream (too far at least!). What a hero!!

It was Rhett's first time up at the cabin and I have to say that he loved it. He was very well behaved, enjoyed being outside (except with the smoke from the campfire was blowing in his face) and seemed to relax along with the rest of us and take things in stride. Addison of course loved it as she always does. She also didn't like the smoke in her face and being the drama queen that she is through a fit whenever it came near her. She also enjoyed the makeshift sledding hill (slide) that Uncle Derek and Daddy made for her.

All in all it was a blast and I can't wait for another weekend away from the hustle and bustle of life and into the quiet, tranquil mountains of Idaho. Wahoooo!!

My sis and I

Sledding down our makeshift hill
Always a favorite picture

Mimi, Papa, Addie and Rhett

Yummy! Yummy!

Rhett's Belly Laugh

O.K. - I saw my friend Janna's adorable video clip of her precious boy Samuel and the recording of his giggling and talking and it gave me an idea. On Sunday Jeremy and Rhett were sitting on the ground in our family room watching Addison play with Solomon when all the sudden Rhett lets out with a big belly laugh and it continued for a few minutes so I was lucky enough to grab the camera and catch a little of it. It was the first time that he really let loose and laughed that hard - it was so funny!! I had been planning to post it on my blog and when I saw Janna's it reminded me - so here it is!!

Rollerskating!!

Growing up I remember the Friday night skate nights at the local armory in Grangeville. I was in junior high and I was so thrilled if I got to participate. My dad would drop me off and sometimes my sis would tag along and we would spend the evening skating to familiar songs, trying to get the boys' attention, looking forward to that infamous "couple skate" and enjoying the feeling of being grown up.

Well, needless to say rollerskating hasn't really been the activity of this decade and I find myself missing it occasionally. Last Thursday my school had an all school skate night at the Rollerdrome. As a teacher I needed to make an appearance so I decided to take Addison along and see if she would enjoy it. However, we end up making it a family ordeal - I don't think Jeremy wanted to miss seeing his daughter and her first time on rollerskates.

I was surprised how much Addison liked it. She normally doesn't want to even try something that may have any risk involved. However, She really took to it and didn't want to leave when it was time to go. I was proud of her efforts and she did her best when Jeremy and I weren't holding onto her. She was proud of herself as well and even went onto the floor with some of my students helping her. I think the rollerdrome might see more of the Franklin family in the future - especially since she wants to show her friends what it's all about, like it's some new discovery or something. It was fun!!!

1st time on the floor
practicing

skating with Annie and Justin

one of many spills

she chose him for "couple skate"
She was too proud!

30 years of life!!

I have been desperately thinking of a creative way to blog about my 30th birthday. It's been a week now and I'm still at a loss for any great ideas - maybe that comes with the big 3 - 0; memory loss. Anyways, as I look back on the last 30 years I thought that I might count off 30 things that have come into my life that have made me what I am today - all of which I am thankful for.

I always thought that turning 30 would be difficult - and it was!! However, it was just another day in time and I really don't feel that much older. I also have some wonderful friends who are already in their 30s and it's not all gloom and doom, it actually seems kind of fun. I'm looking forward to many more wonderful memories as I make my final decade of ascending the mountain before I reach the top and begin my descent. Life has been good and I know can only get better.

30 things (or people) that have impacted who I am today:

1 - Getting to know two sets of amazing grandparents who were able to raise my parents with integrity, a deep sense of moral value and a sincere and steadfast faith.

2 - Wonderful parents who were always supportive and encouraging throughout my growing up years and who gave me a strong sense of family, loyalty, a love for God, and an appreciation for the little things in life. We had so much fun together and still do.

3 - An amazing sister - who I have enjoyed watching grow into a beautiful person inside and out. She is a testiment to all that is good and kind in this world and has taught me many things about relationships, loyalty, friendship and unconditional love. Love you lots sissy!!

4 - My grandma gave me a love for poetry at an early age and ever since I have LOVED it as well as a deep appreciation for reading and the world of the imaginary. Also thank you Mom for taking Katie and me to the Library every summer - I really got into reading then.

5 - At an early age I discovered that drawing came naturally for me and ever since have enjoyed art in all of its forms.

6 - Am grateful for my parents showing my sister and I musicals growing up. I feel like I have a deep love for music and theatre. I really can't say that I really dislike any style of music except for heavy metal and satanic stuff.

7 - Food: Grandma Durr - dill pickles, graham crackers and frosting, spaghetti w/green beans, baked apple doughnuts and apple crisp. YUMMM!!
Grandma Wilson - tacos, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies w/choc. kisses, devil's food cake, roast and mashed potatoes, little smokies. YUMMM!!

8 - I love the occasional rainy day - due to my mom making choc. chip cookies or baked apple doughnuts for us growing up when we would come home after a crummy weather day. There was also a fire and some good reading and a warm blanket.

9 - The Cabin - so many wonderful memories growing up here gave me a love for the outdoors. Walks in the woods (when it wasn't someone's property), thigh deep snow and sledding, floating the river, outdoor barbeques, campfires w/ smores, horseshoes, ping-pong, rock skipping, pool building, reading, and quiet times by the river.

10 - My parents moving my sister and I to Grangeville where I grew up around a wonderful church family, the mountains 5 min. away, the river 15 min. away and being surrounded by God's beautiful creation. It also gave me a deep appreciation for small town America. I wouldn't have wanted to grow up any other place.

11 - Childhood friends - Janae, Jessica, Jennifer, Robin, Stacy, Kim, Jonna, Jody, Kyle, Ryan, Darryl, Shane, Eric, Trevor, David, Yuri, Laryssa, Tara, Shawna, Becky, Anita, Brooke, Wendy, Brandi, Craig (aka mosquito)

12 - Disney movies and Disneyland

13 - Family trips to Hawaii - thanks to my Grandma. So many wonderful family memories were created

14 - Learning a lot about young love in high school. Thanks to those that broke my heart and thanks to all the dragons that I kissed (my sis beat me in this category - HA!). I can truly say that I have found my prince and that he was worth it.

15 - My grandpa and my dad and their love for Native American History - hunting for arrowheads in our mountains at home. What fun and the discoveries that we made - priceless. I thank them for my love for history today.

16 - Hunting for huckleberries in the woods and being scared to death that we were going to be eating by bears or cougars. Coming home with plenty of huckleberries for pancakes, milkshakes and jam. And having stained hands and teeth for 4 days.

17 - Camping trips with the youth group - lots of life lessons learned, rocks and hills climbed, and a few hook-ups (your welcome Shane and Mindy) - By the way: If someone asks you if you want to play frog baseball - just say NO

18 - Working at Subway in highschool - I absolutely loved this job. It taught me a lot!! - not just how to be a sandwich artist

19 - Wrecking my '79 Dodge Colt on black ice. Lesson learned!!

20 - Being able to attend NNU where I received an amazing education and met some of my best friends and my amazing husband.

21 - College friends: Beks, Kim, Mindy, Marissa, Nikki, Jana, Shawna, Jody, Jeremy, Jesse, Chris (cows), Bryan, Curtis, Joe, Katie S. and many, many more

22 - Having the amazing opportunity to tour with my college choir in Europe for three weeks. I would love to go back someday or even live there - it's gorgeous!!

23 - Marrying the love of my life on August 19, 2000 and having an amazing honeymoon in Disneyworld. Also enjoying a brand new family that I am pleased to call my own now - they are wonderful.

24 - Spending the first 3 years of our marriage in a small, stinky, scary apartment.

25 - Being able to buy our first house, getting a new dog (Solomon) and Jeremy getting a job in the family carpet business

26 - Addison Grace Franklin - December 15, 2004; precious baby girl

27 - Getting more involved with church - Sunday school, nursery, family life ministries council, helping with the youth, etc . . .

28 - My small group has greatly contributed to who I am today. I feel like I am a better person, friend, wife, child of God that I ever was before. Thank you small group ladies - your friendship means the world to me and is just what I need at this stage of my life.

29 - My new brother-in-law Derek who has been an amazing fit for my sister and our family. I am so blessed to finally have another brother and already look up to him as an amazing man of God and role model for my children. They will be extremely lucky to have an uncle like him.

30 - Rhett Douglas Franklin - October 3rd, 2008

Looking back I feel like I have been extremely blessed!! What a life!