Boise River float day 7/22/09

Paul's 40th year on Earth-by Paul

It all started way back when-yes kids, (they ask if there was "such and such" when I was young) there were motorized coaches, color t.v., carbonated drinks, and all the modern conveniences of life. No, there was no wii, x-box, flat panel displays. Music was played by people who actually played their instruments, their sobriety (as is this writer's) was/is always in question.

Things were big back then- cars, computers to ties. People eagerly watched Neil, Michael, and Buzz's trip to the moon.

Fast forward 40 years.....much as gone on in the world and in life. I won't bore with details, all I can say-Thank you mom and dad for not following the "fad" of that time in naming me either Neil or Buzz.

Desert Fun

We had quite the fun today, as we went to the desert to explore, to go "plinking" (when one shoots at cans, targets, etc.), and to practice survival skills. Paul likes to plink with his Winchester Model 70 .270 caliber rifle, Springfield Armory .45 Caliber ACP (the black one on his hip) , and Smith and Wesson .357 magnum. I shot the .357 Magnum with .38 special bullets, and the .45 caliber pistols. My wrist hurt from shooting the Smith and Wesson. Yes, we do need to fix the license plate on the SUV.
Here is Paul shooting the .357 Magnum.
We made the children search for little critters to eat. The little ground squirrels are the best (as red necks say, "good eatin") roasted over nice coals.
Here is a self portrait of the family. Sorry, we forgot the tripod, so we set the camera on the hood of the SUV. In reality, we are not into survival. Paul couldn't shoot little (even big) critters if his life depended upon it. The targets he likes to shoot are cans and paper targets. Our type of "living off the land" is going to the grocery store, or to restaurants. Rachel had to be like mommy, and wear sunglasses.

Fourth of July 2009

We had the opportunity to celebrate our nations independence. Paul got to drive the tractor, while the children rode in the float. They were in the "wet zone" so they were doused with quite a bit of water. The best was when the Middleton Fire Department had their fire monitors spraying on them.

A little about us. By Him.

Well it all started when he was born back in '69, and she was in '70. He-born in California She-Arizona. Fast forward many, many years to 1988. They met at a dance put on by their Church. She-from Hailey, He from Twin Falls. She invited Him to a school prom. He accepted. Things went horribly. He was a lazy date-didn't want to dance, she wanted to PARTY!!!!!
He was sent to the Dominican Republic for 2 years as a church missionary. She went to "party hard" at Rick's College. During their time apart, he decided to write to her. After some thought, she decided to write him. They both kept their correspondence flowing throughout the remaining year he was a missionary... AS FRIENDS!!!

Eventually, he came home from his mission-much to his dismay-his parents moved to rainy Seattle, Washington. After 2 years in the Caribbean, it was quite the change.

He decided to join the partying atmosphere of Ricks College (also to be around her). She graduated Ricks College with a degree in Recreational Therapy.

After a "short" courtship-2 years, they were married in the Idaho Falls Idaho LDS Temple.

Having attended Weber State University, the couple decided to return to Idaho and attend BSU. She graduated from BSU with a degree in health science.

Fast forward (again?!?) a few years they are residing in Western Idaho and parents of a few children. He, after 4 years of college is a lazy truck driver for "Big Brown", while she is the management specialist of their few children.