Pocatello Bluegrass Festival

 We were so happy to be able to attend the Pocatello Bluegrass Festival Saturday evening.  Here is the Red Desert Ramblers - Steve Hewson's group - loved their playing and jokes!  Nice venue, right?  Joel stayed home to watch a movie with a friend, Kate and Ben and Annabelle joined us for a great evening of good music.

 Closer up of the best group in the Festival!!

 It was a little cloudy and as the evening wore on - thunder and lightening and rain made their way appearance.  Funny - when the fiddle player - cute girl Megan, began to play on one song - lightening lit up the sky!

 Steve singing... He said they have played this festival for many years - it is the last weekend of August - we will come again.  Stan and Julie had thought about coming, but got too busy in Montana.

 It was good to hear great music - we remembered our private concert in Rockport!

 A storm front came with winds, rain and this flag looked awesome waving over the old truck - it says Bannock County Bluegrass on the board of the truck.

 This is the group that followed Steve's - from Baker City, Oregon.  Their last song was: How Great Thou Art - loved it.  Notice the orbs of light?  Kate tells me those are spirits in the picture!

A close up of the Baker City group - wonderful evening.

Joel's Football Game

Saturday was Joel's first football game - 6th grade style.  He is number 12 - he didn't play too much but got an interception when he was playing!!  

 Their Team Mom had all the parents make a tunnel and cheer them on as they came on the field after halftime .. they needed it.  They are a "B" level and the team from Twin Falls was "A" and creamed them.  Actually the game was called after one of our small players was tackled by one of their big players.  The kid was knocked out!  sad - but that's football we're told.

 Joel giving Kate his water bottle - doesn't he look good?  He has never played football before - always was a soccer guy - but with 10 friends on the team it is fun.  Plus he will learn about the game - Kate told him before the game: "Football players are basically jerks - so go out and be a jerk!"  Not certain I agree with that but the other team seemed to fit the bill!

Nice day for a football game - plus we were in the shade watching and on bleachers...they should have better games against the other 'B' level teams.

Institute Opening Social

 Friday evening was the Institute Opening Social at ISU.  This is their version of Cosmo - Benny the Tiger.

Dunk tank with several institute teachers and this is Pres. McNabb - one of the Stake Presidents - there are two YSA stakes in the area... yes he got dunked!

 Some of the students - grilled hamburgers and hotdogs - potato salad, chips, etc.

 This is the Frozen Tee Shirt contest - we wondered when we saw the flyer advertizing it... frozen in a lump and the first one to get it on wins!

 This young man put it in the puddle of water and pulled and pushed until he got it open to put it on.

 Sage is the winner!!

 Water balloon volleyball - pretty fun on a hot day.

More Volleyball with water balloons - Institute building in the background.

Olivia goes to Kindergarten! and plays soccer with Keenyn

 Dan came home for lunch to help take Olivia to her first day of Kindergarten - love all!

 She was so happy and excited to go to school - afternoons with a great teacher...Provost School.  My favorite first day of Kindergarten story is Polly's - she came home and had enjoyed school but said: "Mom, the teacher thinks my name is Paula."  Opps - 5 and 3/4's years old and we had never thought to tell her that her 'real' name wasn't Polly - but Paula!

 After school we went to the soccer field - Keenyn and Olivia are always on the same team - one year Keenyn's school Edgemont, and the next year Olivia's - Provost. Such a beautiful setting to watch in.

Our family took up most of the sideline!  Love that Williams could come - actually they took the Kroebers home and fed them dinner and enjoyed them because Chris and Heather had another engagement.  Sure love having everyone close enough to help each other out.

 Olivia on the field - last one - she did awesome, even wanting her stockings all the way up!

Olivia's cleats were a little tight and Keenyn's a little big - so they switched to the satisfaction of all!  Cute kids!

Fun in Provo

 Briella holding Millie - two beautiful girls.

 Isaac also wanted a turn - he was very gentle.

Millie being the center of attention - Keenyn very seriously holding her correctly.

 She will never lack for attention!

Lucky girl to have these three big sisters!

More Millie!

 Can't get enough of this darling little girl!  Dan gave her the "Y" blanket - I made the pink flower quilt.

 Love the "Little Sis" onesie - Aunt Sue gave that to Sadie I think - and a Big Sis shirt for the Olivia.

 Williams and Kroeber's came over for some Taco Salad Dinner - Aunt Polly brought Freeze Pops for all!

 Cousins having a good time with their Pops.

So fun to be around these fun kids!

Precious Millie arrives!

We had a great time meeting Millie and loving all the beautiful Fairbanks girls!

Our first meeting with beautiful Millie Vivian Fairbanks - she is so precious.

Isn't she darling?  Her shirt says:  Grandma's Sweet Girl - very true.

Big sisters playing with Georgia's birthday play dough set.

Sweet girl sleeping.

Big Pine Tree - Gone

 Here are Joel and Christian climbing in the big pine tree next door  - all the older kids climbed up in the tree.

 The bottom branches are so easy to climb up on - loved watching them.  I loved to climb trees when I was a child.

 The sewer lines were being clogged with the tree roots - and the new owner decided to cut the tree down.

 There were so many branches that the tree cutting company had to leave and empty their truck!

 We were sad to see the tree go - first the one in our yard died, and now the next door one is gone.

 Picture Saturday morning - so much smoke in the air that the sun looks red.  Lots of nice firewood for the new neighbors.

Pretty sunset from our back deck.

Handsome Husband! Father, Grandfather

 Dad needed a picture for his BYU-I account - professional looking!

 These both were okay - until he remembered there should be nothing in the background!

 So I am not very good at taking pictures with nothing in the background!  Plus he looked at the directions and they said a brown or black background - so we headed outdoors.

 This is the one he choose - isn't he a handsome man?  I love him eternally!

In my sorting of boxes I found this picture that Lindsey painted, when she was very young.  It says: "for the to Best popel in the world."  I have used this in classes to show how much children love their parents - love it!  Thanks Lindsey - it is wearing out but I just can't throw it away!

Annabelle's quilt - the original idea was to embroider the mermaids - but she decided against that - and she choose the rainbow ribbon to join it together - the fuzzy kitten backing is really soft.