Elder Bowdrie's Home!

Uncle Elder Bowdrie flew into Salt Lake on February 16th. The boys could not wait for this day to come. They asked every day for a week which day he was coming home, or how many days until Bowdrie comes home? It was like Christmas the day we had to go to the airport. They were not disappointed, he lived up to every expectation that they had.

Grandma and Grandpa tried to help kill some time by taking them on a "tour" of the airport.

Addler trying to survive the wait.

Grandma explaining something about the airport to Ruxton and Addler.

Grandpa explaining the amazing science behind the luggage "turny thingy"( what is that called) He is lifting Maestin up so that Maestin could see where the luggage was coming up out of it.

Maestin, Ruxton, and Addler ?patiently? holding the signs they made to welcome Bowd home. Is Addler giving me a wink? What a goober!

More waiting! Grandma, Addler, Ruxton, Grandpa, Holdan, Maestin, and Austin

We couldn't see who was coming down very well so when we finally saw him it was a surprised rush.

And he is home. This moment actually put tears in my eyes. It made me think how I would feel to have my son home after serving faithfully for two years. She was a happy mother-you have been a great mother! I hope I can be as successful with my children as you have been with yours.

I just missed the hug with Bowd and Dad, it was a big hug, and funny as usual-dad picked him clear up off the ground they were happy to see each other-such a good dad and friend never judging and just accepting to us all. Again I hope that I can be that for my children some day.

And now the boys! They ran with big hugs. After it was all over Ruxton walks over to his dad and says, "Ug, I knew I was going to cry!" Austin's reply with a smile, "Me too!"

Not too sure about Uncle Bowd, he was only baby Bob when he left. However, it didn't take him long to figure out what the big brothers think is so great about Uncle Bowd. He loves him and won't stay away now. He even lets him call him Bob!

Bowdrie and Mom with some missionary from the mission and his mom. Are missionaries weird?

Maestin and Addler packing Bowdrie's luggage.

Bowdrie you are an amazing example to my boys. You had a wonderful mission full of experiences that my boys still talk about. I am proud of the way you served and gave yourself completely to the work that was at hand and needed to be done, Your success is mind boggling. It was special to see you change so much on your mission and to see the man that came home. Your example of love and compassion for people around you will stay with me forever. My boys love and look up to you some much.

Austin's Birthday

Another Birthday has come and gone for the favorite man of the house. He is a favorite for a reason. This man has so much patience and love. He treats us so good all the time. We are all spoiled. The boys and I will choose to go to him for anything because he usually is willing to do and give whatever we ask. He is so much fun and likes to have a good time. He is an amazing father to our children, they are learning the importance of hard work, in every aspect not just physical work but to work at learning, work at church, work at home, and work at treating a mom and wife with respect. Thank you for all you sacrifice for us. You are our favorite person!

He loves cheese cake, and will share the first night but not so willingly after that! Holdan is singing his solo rendition of Happy Birthday to his daddy. Obviously his daddy loves it and his little boy.

The boys picked out a jacket for him for his B-day, they were excited to tell him that we didn't get the expensive one, we got the cheep one. They knew he would love that more than the present itself. Happy Birthday we love you!

Trip to Florida February 4-8

Finally our trip to Florida. Austin and I had the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida the first weekend in February. We had a really good time, the weather, the food, the company, and the conference was all great.

We had a little time to sight see so one afternoon we went to magic Kingdom and Kyle and Jessica joined us there. It was fun. We weren't there long, however, it was long enough for me to see that my kids really weren't missing much. It is all about Disney movies and TV. My kids don't watch enough to even get that excited about it. I told them the rides at Lagoon are way better.

We took this picture for Addler he would have like the Fronteirland, I have mentioned before he wants to be a mountain man.

Kyle and Jessica came the first night that we were there and stayed for two nights. It was so fun to see them and spend time with them. We went to Disney Downtown with them one night and Magic kingdom the next. And when we had meetings they had planned things they needed to get done in Orlando. It turned out great and really made our entire trip. Austin loved seeing Kyle and spending time with him, we don't see them near enough.

I took this picture of the Swiss Family Robinson tree house for Maestin. He has read this book and loved it.

This was my favorite. It was a 3-D show of Donal Duck and Mickey mouse going through many of the Disney movies. It was so cool. Jessica actually squealed out loud a few times, and I ducked from a flying flute that I swore was going to hit me. So funny!

We took the whole committee out to eat one night in Downtown Disney at the T-Rex something or other. It was full of dinosaurs. This was the light above our table. Austin and Brittney Chandler posing for a picture.

The last day there we went on a tour of the Deseret Ranch (owned by the church) and Kempfer Ranch & Sawmill, a family business that raise Brahma cattle. We loved both tours. Both ranches are huge. Deseret ranch was very impressive in how they are able to manage with so few people. They are efficient and very successful. They are the biggest cattle ranch in the US, a rare opportunity to get a tour of the ranch itself, we loved it.

Austin loved the working corrals, it had a round sorting design. It is designed for one guy to stand in the middle of the circle as the cattle come down the alley the manager yells one-two-three or four the guy in the middle pulls a lever and the gate opens up to that number of pen. They can work a lot of cattle with only three cowboys. Each pasture has 1300 cattle with one foreman and 1 or 2 cowboys, needless to say, Austin was impressed and wanted pictures. An idea in the making.

Deseret Ranch has a rodeo grounds and they put on a rodeo with the contestants as the employees, a favorite for all on the ranch and the surrounding towns each year. And of course we LOVED the sign Eat More Beef!!!

Had to get a picture of the purebred Brahma cattle-they were cool. The Brahma breed is very tolerant to the Florida hot weather.

Yes, there were Alligators! And I held one, this is a one year old. They are a nuisance to the ranchers, because they eat their dogs. This family on the Brahma ranch had just recently lost three of their best dogs, the two brothers caught this one and I was the first off the bus to hold it! They do have big ones too!

Austin wanted another picture of the cows, he loved the tours! Have a mentioned that we loved the tours. :)

There we are at 4:00 in the morning up early to catch a plane home. This was at the resort where we stayed there was a huge Lagoon behind us that the rooms surrounded. We enjoyed the time together and love each others company more than anyone else. As a matter of fact, this has been a huge stretch for us to socialize so much with other people. We have enjoyed it though and have really grown. But we still love hanging out with each other the most! We had a great time, a thank you to Shancy for having her baby early so we could go and once again it would not be possible without both of our parents and all of their support!

Trip to Atlanta Georgia

You are thinking trip to Atlanta would be at least a little warmer than Idaho! Wrong! We were there for history making in Atlanta. Austin and I had the chance to go to Atlanta the first of January for Farm Beareau. The first day was ok then a storm hit and the city shut down literally. This is a picture of a group of us from Idaho after dinner the night the storm hit!

In conjunction with the national AFBF conference they had the Ag Expo. This was huge. there was well over an acre of space used for all of the equipment. They had every farm equipment you could imagine. Austin loved this and we walked through the whole thing numerous times. It was amazing to see it all indoor. And to see stuff that we don't use like a cotton picker bailer all in one. So with that they had an exhibit of the real trigger and bullet from the Roy Rogers show, a little weird but we got our picture!

We stayed in the Merriot. It was nice and very large, it had a hallow center with the rooms going around the outside. the bottom picture is of the elevator going up! There were 4o floors. The employees that were there when he storm hit had to stay there they had been there three days when we finally left.

We went to an Atlanta Hawks basketball game. This is us at the Phillips center

Inside and outside CNN-Chris Dalley, Kendall Keller, Austin

Coke Museum this is where Coke started top picture is of Kendall Keller

Our plane got delayed on day, but we did finally get home. It was crazy to see a town shut down like that. The restaurants were running out of food, and there were not stores open. The power was out in some places because of the freezing rain. I just wanted to be home in my home with my food storage and candles and wood stove all prepared. I know Mormons are thought to be a bit weird about all that, however, I saw first hand how comforting it is to be prepared.

The conference was good, we had the opportunity to listen to Mike Rowe of Dirtiest Jobs, it was great and he is a huge advocate of Agricultural and helps fight our ever growing battle with people like PETA, Human Society, EPA the list could go on and on. He saw first hand our battle and now he is battling with those of us in Agricultural!

Once again a huge thank you to Grandpa and Grandma Tubbs and Price we wouldn't be able to go without you watching the boys! You are the best!

Random pictures of the boys in January and February

Addler and Holdan made a fort in the back of the toy room under the stairs. These two play together a lot.

Addler's two front teeth came loose. Addler hates pulling out teeth, they were both so loose that he could not eat anything. The other teeth were coming in already. He finally asked me to pull out this one, so I pulled and he was happy. We will get him to pull one out eventually.

Addler and Holdan playing the mobie-go on a quiet winter evening. Holdan amazed me with his ability to play this game. Our winter evenings are spent either reading all of us together or alone, other times we can be found playing some other game, I can usually get things calmed down. I love the seasons in that it allows time to come together to bond and learn-or work and play to prepare for the season to come.

Addler found these two yellow squares that were intended for a quilt wall hanging thing. He asked if he could sew a "hunting" bag. Yes, I know sisters you don't think I can but I can (I just don't like it), I helped him put this little bag together and yes we sewed! He was so happy, and proud! He promptly put his bullets, knife, and whatever else boys pack around and headed out for an adventure. The mountain men carried around bags like these, yes he is still convinced that is what he is going to be! Go for it Addler!

My Newest Nephew!

Well because I know my sister on a good week would not get around to posting a picture, I knew for sure that she would not get around to posting on her first week of the Zaner man and baby Hal as a part of her new and exciting life. I thought I would post some pictures that I got. I know that a few of his aunties that live too far to just come down for a quick peek would love to see the new baby boy Lusk and the Hot momma. I will leave the important details to her to post but here are the pictures.

Doesn't Shancy look great, she acted so happy to not be pregnant. You did a fabulous job mommy of two now!

I got to the hospital just in time to see the baby before they were headed out the door, I need to make a trip out to hold the little guy VERY soon. Kade told me I couldn't take him out because it took him way to long to get him buckled in.

Tell Zaner if he is still in denial of having a brother he can come live with us!