Anthony Lake

Update! It was just pointed out to me that I forgot to include any pictures of Bianca!! I had almost 500 pictures to go through, and I guess I figured she'd just end up in a few. So here are a few of her on our Anthony Lake trip. She was off leash (yes I know we're bad, but I love to see her just be a dog once in a while) and she's usually behind the camera on our outings (because I have her on leash and the camera). She loves going everywhere with us, and she doesn't get to play in the water much (because we have to wash her afterward) so she had a fantastic time smelling everything and getting wet, dusty and muddy (and then we get the pleasure of her fresh aroma on the drive home).

About 10 miles up the highway from us is Anthony Lake. There are camp grounds and a ski resort. There are several other lakes and reservoirs around our area, and I'm excited to get out and see them. Anthony Lake was beautiful! We were there in the evening and the sun was slowly setting behind the mountains.

Conner loving being outside and watching all of the commotion caused by the boys and dog running and jumping all over the place.

There a lots of hiking trails and we took one up to a small lilly pond about 1/4 mile from the boat ramp. The boys and Bianca loved the dirt and mud and rocks and everything about it.

Cool log bridge, I was a little nervous but no one fell.

We'll be planning a few camping trips next year. Its so close and will be easy to do a few times a year for just a night or two.

5 Little Speckled Frogs...

So the wildlife around our new place is great. In addition to the deer, elk, wide variety of birds, and way too many insects, we also have an abundance of frogs. We will catch one and put it in a jar for a while to watch it and talk about it. Jace is really into the frog thing. Every time we go outside he wants to look for frogs.

Trying to share the view.

Proud frog hunter.

The silly thing didn't want to leave the jar when it had a chance, so we had to try to convince him to go.

Gentle persuasion.

I think he thought the frog would jump right out to him if he just put his hand out for it.

Dallon looking in the "frog hole" for more frogs after we let the last one go. I have a feeling we're going to have many more frog adventures.

Dallon's Rodeo

Every year at the Round-up they have a Children's Rodeo for kids with special needs ages 5-9. Dallon was able to participate this year, and hopefully he'll be able to do it a few more times. This year was their 25th anniversary, and next year is the 100th anniversary of the Round-up, so the kids got some extra cool stuff.

For the rodeo they are paired with one of the rodeo contestants. Dallon was paired with a cowboy named Randon Adams. Randon is a team roper who won big last year and won lots of money at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2008. The first event for the kids is a "bull ride." I loved that Randon had him wave his hat!

Next was steer roping, and Dallon got some great pointers.

Then on to the Barrel Race--I was cracking up! I have some video of this also, so I'll post it when I get a chance. Hahahaha.

Then they rode on a wagon around the arena.

Jace and Chris watching Dallon's great perfomances.

We didn't get a good picture of Dallon doing the Goat Un-tying (they untie a ribbon on a goat), and then after that they went to ride a horse. He loved it.

Jace didn't seem to get what we were doing there, it was hard to pick Dallon out of the crowd sometimes, but he had fun playing in the dirt and watching what was going on.

After the rodeo the kids get their prizes. This year they got a hat, a lariat, a trophy, a children's book, a belt buckle, a signed photo with their cowboy, a few small toys, a t-shirt, a bandana, a Round-up baseball cap, and some other little things. And this was a completely FREE rodeo!!

Dallon was very proud of his trophy and took it for show and tell the next week.

With our participation in the rodeo, we also get free tickets to the big rodeo afterwards. So we stayed until the kids were ready to go. It was great fun, and I hope we get to do it again.

Great job cowboy Dallon!!

Keeping boys busy and out of the way...

A big THANK YOU needs to go out to Chris' mom and dad for keeping the kids occupied over the weekend we moved, so we could get things cleaned up and pack all of the little things that we wanted to do ourselves. The boys had a fantastic time.


The went to a children's museum in Kennewick. They were the only kids there most of the time. There was a puppet theater, lots of costumes, a castle, and just about anything you could think of that kids would love to play with.

Dallon the fireman.

Jace loving the train set-up.

Dr. Dallon taking good care of Grandpa Charlie.

Jace the fireman (notice his cowboy hat on top of the firetruck).

Funny costumes.

Jace loves dinosaurs!

The boys also went to the Dress-up parade for the Pendleton Round-up. Unfortunately, Dallon was coming down with pneumonia again, and they had to end the day early so I could take him to the ER. We caught it earlier this time, so he only needed a breathing treatment, and no anti-biotics or IV. He is on a daily allergy treatment and has a puffer for when he's not breathing well. Its scarry how quickly he comes down with it! We're really going to need to watch him through cold and flu season this year.

The Big Move

So we finally moved! 2 weeks into the school year, and after 2 months of Chris being home on the weekends, we are finally all in one place again! The big moving truck was a big hit with the boys, and the movers were great for me--I'm so glad I didn't have to pack.

Boxes boxes and more boxes--we'll have plenty for the next move :)

Dallon and Jace don't normally pose, I was shocked to see them actually posing and smiling in the SAME picture!

The new place, YAY! It was rainy, but also nice and cool.

I took these pictures on one of our first mornings in our new place. This is the view from the front window. The sunrises are amazing here. And if you look closely you can see a couple of deer in the field.

Dallon cuddling Conner in our new place. He loves that baby brother!