Pocatello Fire

Today a fire started in Pocatello and it is still burning.  The kids and I went up to Century High School to look at it.  These pictures really don't show the full magnitude of the fire.  It was MASSIVE!!!  We drove down and ate by Ross Park and watched fire trucks speed past from Shelley and the INL.  We also watched countless people evacuating.  It really was a surreal fealing. 

The kids thought the helicopters with buckets and the air tankers were pretty cool.  About an hour after we ate-we drove back down to Ross Park but that was now blocked off and the pool actually closed.  Tonight on the 9:30pm news--the fire is only 20%contained, people are still being evacuated, and 15+ homes have been lost.  How crazy!!!  It really makes you think, "what would we do?"  Being close to a mountain area and empty/dry fields--I think I will get all our important documents and papers, maybe even photo albums, and extra clothes--in one specific area so it would take seconds to pick up on the way of the house.

This was only about 3 hours into the fire---the fire has stretched far to the left and over the hill on the right--going down into residential areas.

This is a photo of the other side of the hill--the fire beginning to go down the hill.

One of the many roads closed off--only emergency vehicles and evacuating people aloud thru the barricades.

A Midsummer Night's Dream 2012

Tonight Cortlynn had her Summer Intensive Ballet.  The last three weeks she has had ballet Mon-Frid and has enjoyed working under guest instructors from New Orleans, Utah, Florida, Romania, and Russia.  She has also loved pointe and was slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be performing in pointe shoes tonight-but not everyone in her group was strong enough to be in pointe.  All of the students spent a few hours each week learning the "Midsummer Nights Dream" ballet and performed it for the public this evening.  It was a beautiful ballet.  The music was gorgeous and I can't believe the talent these young people have.  The one boy, Issaac, is 13 I believe and has only danced for the last year or so.  He is AMAZING!  The height he is able to leap would be impressive on a professional.  There were several boys in the ballet and I think more boys would dance if they saw the pretty young women they get to dance with.  The "jocks" should be envious.  The ballet was interesting for Kyra and Tristan:  both left with injuries.  Kyra fell down some stairs and cut up her face (during the performance, so I'm sure her scream can be heard on the DVD taping) and Tristan fell off the sidewalk and skinned up his knee.  Who would have thought ballet was so dangerous?!

Cortlynn was a firefly-but she thought they looked more like a reindeer.  (don't tell her-but she kinda did)

Between dress rehearsal (2:30-6:00)  and the perfomance--we had 20 minutes to eat before she had to be back to the facility-so we ran across the street and ate a sandwich.  Kyra enjoyed the cheetoes and this picture shows her joy.

Flowers from her dad and I.

This is Kyra's injury.  Poor little girl.

You can't really see it-but this is Tristan's skinned knee.

 Yesterday my neighbors had a yard sale.  I found it funny that they parked 5 of their cars along the street and the people coming to the sale had no where to park except in front of our house---I mean in front of our garbage cans.  You should have seen the nasty looks from the garbage guys and they left me a nasty note; for not having the garbage cans easily accessible.

Wierd Sleep Patterns and T-Ball

I had to post a few photos of my funny kiddos.  They are so funny and this past week have fallen asleep in the weirdest positions.  This photos put a smile on my face.

It was so warm we had a fan going in Tristan's room--well, he was too cold so he propped up a bunch of pillows so the fan wouldn't hit him.  This was HILARIOUS!

Devin and I came home from a movie and found Kyra asleep like this.  I guess she crashed and slept "standing up" for about 40 minutes.  It amazes me how little ones can sleep anywhere.

 The weather was so warm that the kids wanted to play in the pool.  Kyra wasn't feeling very well-but actually got in the pool with all of her clothes and shoes on.  So-I changed her into her swimsuit and she played in the water for a few minutes.  She LOVES water.


My water beauties.

 Tristan had his first T-Ball game yesterday and did so well.  This year he is actually the oldest player and the most "advanced" player.  (All of the other children haven't played before)  He loves to play ball and wants to practice every breaking moment.  Tristan hits the ball soooo far and at practice the other parents make comments about his skills.  I'm such a proud mamma.  His first game was as 12:45pm and this was a difficult game for 4 and 5 year olds.  20 minutes into the game--most of them wanted to take a nap, go home, or play in the dirt.  I looked up once and out of 8 people on his team-Tristan and another boy were the only ones standing up and paying attention.   Tristan played 1st base for one inning and got a person out and than played 3rd base and got another person out.  He was soo excited.  His next game is Monday morning at 8:45 and since I'm babysitting that day I will be taking 7 children (5 under the age of 5) to the game with me.  This should make for a very interesting morning.  ;-)

Tristan getting a High 5 after getting a runner out at first.

Kyra enjoyed digging in the dirt with my car keys instead of watching Tristan play ball.

Getting ready to bat. 

Look at his form.  What a fast runner.  Run Tristan RUN.

There are no words.  ;-)

Running to first.

Cortlynn wanted to show her flexibility.

I used to be able to do this.  20 years ago.

Future Fire Fighter, Dancer, and Comedian

A few weeks ago I took the kids to the fire station's open house.  Tristan LOVED this last year and enjoyed it even more this year.  We didn't stay very long because it was so hot but Tristan was able to sit in a firetruck and hold the fire hose.  He has now decided that he will be a fireman when he grows up.  Tristan is very certain that this will be his job.

You gotta love the pink and red fire hats all the children got.

Cortlynn is currently is a 3 week summer intensive program at her dance studio.  She has started dancing in pointe shoes and loves it.  I was new to the pointe shoe "business" and was surprised to find out that you had to sew the elastic and ribbon into the shoe yourself.  Since I didn't want to mess it up, I called Beth at the dance studio and asked for help.  After a crash course in ballet shoe sewing-I came home and began the task of hand sewing the shoes with dental floss.  I was pretty happy with the outcome.

EVERYTIME Cortlynn gets her shoes on to practice at home--Kyra walks and dances on her toes.  She is hilarious.

The other night Kyra was being soooo silly.  She would make the loudest noise while opening her mouth as wide as it would go.  I just had to get a picture of it.  She would stop making the face and noise and give you a sweet and innocent look.  She is so full silliness.

Last week Cortlynn had a daddy/daughter pancake party for activity days and they had to wear pajamas.  Devin wasn't too keen on the idea and than went all crazy.  Check out his moose slippers.

Oh Mr. Donald Trump---get a grip already!

This past week the Miss USA organization has come under fire for being trashy, fake, fraudulent, and rigged....my response:  DUH!!!!!  I've said this for years.  Pretty much since the supreme being AKA Donald Trump, purchased it along with Miss Universe and Teen USA.  (I sure hope he doesn't lower his standards and read this post or I may just get sued.)  He is such a money hungry bully.  If someone doesn't agree with him he reverts to calling them names and threatening legal action.  I can't stand him.  Miss Pennsylvania gave up her state crown because she believes the top 5 USA finalists were chosen before the actual competition.  I say.....Duh, DUH!!!!  I told Devin that the day before.  I also have another theory that I will share.  The young lady that won had the "audience twitter question" which happened to be about transgendered contestants being allowed to compete, which also happened to be asked by the "judge" Rob Kardasian.  I personally believe Kris Kardashian (mother and manager of Rob) and Donald Trump came up with the plan of having Rob ask this women (who wins) the controversial twitter question in order for her son to be constantly shown on TV.  It wouldn't be the first time she has staged something for the benefit of her child's "career".
I admit, I didn't watch the entire show for various reasons: 
1) I had better things to do
2) I forgot
3)I can't stand the panel of "judges" who usually aren't capable of judging a hot dog eating contest let alone a beauty contest
4) I don't want to see the camera zoom into Mr. Trump
5) The entire show is hokey
6) It's like watching Toddlers & Tiaras except for all the boobs--instead of having a creepy pedophile man as a judge or MC--Miss USA has "The Donald".
7) I couldn't even laugh at the top 5 contestants answers to their questions----they were so irritating:  EX.  That is why Julia Roberts (she giggled and waited for the audience to laugh which didn't happen) was such a positive Role Model in Pretty Women.  She didn't let anyone roll over the top of her.....Oh my crap!!!!  prostitute=positive role model for women????  =Guess I better rethink my lifestyle.  ;-)

I hope The king of the bullies leaves poor Miss Pennsylvania alone and the rest of the world that doesn't believe what he believes or disagrees with him.  I hope he doesn't read this and demand my birth certificate and sue me for defamation of character.  I hope he doesn't think he will become the Vice President (nominee) because if that were to happen---God help us.  The anti-Christ has risen and the end is close at hand. 

Mr. Donald Trump---go to your penthouse in New York-look down at all the little people--sit on your toilet made out of gold---and think of the next person you will belittle and call a loser on national TV.  Just like the kids in middle school say----"It takes one to know one" and "look in the mirror".

ARCO---a dying town and "confession" time

Since I am now a stay at home mom (which I LOVE and wouldn't change) I yearn for some "me" time and/or adult conversation.  Poor Devin, when he gets home the kids attack him and want all the attention but I too want to talk to him without the kids.  I didn't know how much I enjoyed the social aspect of working until I'm home with kids 24/7.  I've taken on a new endeavor which gets me out of the house for a little bit, by myself.  I've become a mystery shopper.  Primarily it is for fast food restaurants, but I can also choose to shop cell phone stores, hardware and sporting good stores, gas stations, and retail shops.  I've told Devin that I'm going to get really fat because I am eating so much food-but it's fun.  I get fully reimbursed for any food and/or product I purchase as well as they pay me for every shop I complete.  Most of them are $7.50 but some have been going as high as $25.00.  That is pretty good since most take me 20  minutes to an hour to complete.  I'm now considering becoming a mystery shopper/merchandiser for theatres but the time commitment might be too much for me right now. 

In the last couple of weeks I've traveled to Arco on two different occasions-one for a birthday party for my nieces and another time for a  party for my grandmother.  Every time I go out to Arco I think about growing up there and the closeness you have in a small community.  I miss that and I would love my children to experience that.  BUT---Arco is a town that is slowly dying.  We stopped by the Arco Service (a gas station) at 9:10pm on a Saturday night and I was saddened by the lack of excitement.  When I was in high school this was one of the "hot" spots of Arco, especially on a Saturday night.  They usually had 2 people working behind the counter and another person cooking the pizzas;  the parking lot was always full and you had to wait to pay for your purchase,  Not this day-I was the ONLY one in the shop besides the 1 employee and the parking lot resembled a ghost town.  The entire town looks like a ghost town and shuts down by 8pm.  It is just sad. 

I have noticed that every time I travel to Arco and drive thru Blackfoot I end up having a slight episode of nervousness and anger.  Writing this now-my heart is beating faster and I'm getting a lump in my throat.  It gets so bad that I may even consider not driving thru Blackfoot and taking the longer route thru Idaho Falls.  YEARS ago --probably close to 25---we went to a 4th of  July party at a house of one of my dads co-workers.  I don't remember his name and don't care to remember his name; but I remember clearly the location of the home.  Back than children being "abused" wasn't talked about---amongst adults and especially children; but unfortunately things happened.   Over the years I've come to the conclusion that this guy was a sicko and how he made me feel was unacceptable and wrong.  I hope I haven't mentally blocked out details other that what I remember--but it isn't fair that after all of this time, he still haunts me.  Adults that prey on little kids are evil and I pray that when they are judged by God, they get their just punishment.  I've never really talked about this and very few people even know about it; I guess that isn't the case now.  I'm not going to write the details about it because I don't think that would help me--but I felt the need to write about the occurrence.  I've heard "talking" about things that are troubling or haunting you can help you cope and move on.  Maybe this will make the anger go away and when I do drive by, I won't want to drive over, beat him up and burn his home and "pool house". 

Grandma's 86th Birthday and Field of Heroes

Last Saturday we traveled to Arco to visit my grandma for her birthday.  Her health has deteriorated these last few weeks so she is now in the nursing home in Arco.  It is so hard to see your loved ones get old and unable to take care of themselves.  The little get together was nice.  My parents were there, Heather, Josh, and their children, Rhonda and Peggy, and Rhonda's son Teddy.  I'm not sure if grandma understood what was going on or why we were there-but it was nice to see her. 

Cortlynn and Grandma Norma---Norma's 86th Birthday

Grandpa Bud in his black hat

Rhonda and Peggy

These three look like they are up to something

When we were leaving the hospital the clouds around the number hill were really pretty.  Seeing this was strange-it looked more like fall weather not May 26th weather.  We also decided to visit the Lost River's cemetery and the Arco cemetery for memorial day.  The kids thought it was neat to place flowers on the graves of family members as well as some of our friends that had past away.

Amazing that this photo was taken on May 26th....not in the fall

On Monday my parents came over  so I took them to the Field of Heroes:located at one of the High School's soccer field.  This is a memorial for all the servicemen and women that have past away in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of the war.  (this doesn't include those lost in Deseret Storm)  There are over 6400 individuals that have been killed.  This memorial started just a few years ago and it is displayed during Memorial Day weekend.  All the crosses are labeled with individual names, their rank, and the date they past away; than they are placed in perfect rows.  It was just like Arlington cemetery--every direction you looked, there were perfect lines of crosses.  Sooooo much work went into this and it was amazing to see.  The atmosphere was somber and although no one was actually buried there--it still felt like a "sacred" place. 

Field of Heroes 2012

You can see the line of people on the right--this area had all the soldiers from Idaho that have been killed.  The Idaho soldiers had photos and a back story along with their crosses.  There were also a lot of flowers and arrangements left at various crosses-not only at the Idaho soldiers spots, but also the other crosses.  It really puts the loss in perspective when you visually see the crosses that represent the deaths. 

The line on the left with all of the people are ALL the causalities from Idaho

Local soldier from Idaho Falls that past away Nov 2011

These photos really don't give the full picture of the field.  I think everyone should visit this field if they have the opportunity.  This year the field actually made the national news;  what an amazing thing for a small town in Idaho that is making a little difference in the lives and memories of soldiers and their families.