Fire Hose Competition 2011

During Fiddle Week, the fire departments around the area get together and have a competition. The goal is to put on wet turnouts and boots, spray water bottle down with a little hose, connect a big fire hose to a hydrant and spray down a target, in the least amount of time. Lyndon competed in the competition. His partner was Joe.

Here they are putting on wet turnouts




Spraying down the water bottles


Spraying the target


Lyndon and Joe had the 2nd fastest time behind Cody and Jeremy. They are all from the same station in Weiser.

(Lyndon after the competition. Like the outfit?)


My mom, grandma, and Alden watching the competition)


Cheering on his daddy


All the kids were playing in the water. Of course, Alden had to be part of it. :)


What a fun week!

New Ownership

I feel like I can officially say it now...

I am the new owner of The Next Step Dance Studio.

I am SO very excited to say this. I have been with the dance studio for 9 years now either dancing or teaching, or both. This September is the beginning of my first year owning it.

We performed on Saturday at the Fiddle Festival in the park. The girls and boys did amazing. I was so proud of them. Here are some highlights of the performance.

(Leslie, the previous owner, introducing me as the new studio owner)


(Jazz 3, The advanced class)


(Jazz 2)


(Tots C. The youngest class)


(Ballet B)


(Tots B)


(Tumbling Tots)


(Tumbling B- Big Toe Touch off the trampoline)


(Tumbling B- Taking a Bow)


(Tumbling A- Double Cartwheel)


(tumbling A- Back Walkovers)


(Tumbling A- Lift)


(Tumbling A- Back Tucks off the Trampoline)


(Tumbling A)


(Ballet A)


(Tots A)


(Jazz 2)

Fiddle Festival Parade 2011

The National Oldtime Fiddler's Contest comes to Weiser every June. Fiddler's from around the nation come and compete for the National Fiddling Title. I grew up in Weiser, so it has been tradition to go to the Festival.
We live in the middle of town, so during Fiddle Week, our street was busy, busy, busy. We had a little boy with his Llama walk down the street, kids heading to the carnival, fiddlers walking downtown, you name it.
On Saturday, there is a parade. Alden was going to be in it with Lyndon in the fire truck, but at the last minute we figured we shouldn't do that because it would be too loud for his ears. So, next year he will ride the fire truck.
We live 1/2 a block from where the parade was going to be, so my family met up at my house and we walked to the end of the block. How convenient. Alden was so interested in everyone walking by, getting ready for the parade.

There was even a boy who was carrying a raccoon with him. Only in Weiser...
Right before the parade started, Alden fell asleep.

He woke right back up when the fire trucks came by because of the loud noise. The girls were so excited for the parade because they wanted candy.

And they got lots of it.
The parade was tons of fun! There were so many different floats

I thought this was a cool little car.

Alden definitely enjoyed his first parade.

The Casio

Little did we know, Lyndon's old Casio would be such a hit with the kids.

Some of the keys don't work and it sounds funny through the speakers, but my neices enjoy every second of that toy.

Little Mommy

I babysat my sister, Sarah's, girls the other day. Alexie, who is 6, enjoyed helping me take care of Alden. She helped me feed him his bottle, she played with him on the floor, she helped push the stroller, and of course, fed him his lunch.

She was so proud of herself.

It only got messier after that. She fed him carrots and applesauce.

Friends Come To Visit

Grandma Kay has friends in California who have a little girl, Naomi, who was a year old in May. They came to visit last week, so we went to see them while they were here. Katie and Naomi came to visit. Alden and Naomi got along really well. It was really cute to see them interact.

(Naomi giving Alden hugs.)


(Grandma Kay, Alden, Naomi, Katie)


(Grandma Kay and the kids)


(Kisses from Daddy)

Silly Cat

This is my parent's cat Molly.



We were having a yard sale last week and when I was putting stuff on the tables, I found Molly in this box. It was so cute.

Boston Bruins Win The Stanley Cup

... And my husband and son were in front of the TV to watch it.



Lyndon had to have Alden wear a Boston Bruins hat to watch the game... for good luck. It obviously worked because they won.

He's On The Move

Alden isn't crawling yet, but he is definitely moving in that direction. The other day, I put him on his play mat on his back so he could watch the lights and play with the toys. I went to move laundry, and when I came back he looked like this...



He is definitely moving... somehow. He scoots himself across the floor. It's pretty cute, but now there is no more laying him on the floor to do something.

Bounce House

My parents were able to use a bounce house last weekend. The kids played in it constantly. Being the crazy mother I am, climbed through the bounce house, with Alden, and slid down the slid... More than once.

Alden LOVED it!

Alexie slid down the slide with us.



Then, we went down alone



All the girls went down together



What fun!

Alden's Dedication

Sunday, Alden was dedicated at church. I was teary eyed the entire day, of course. The staff of the church prayed over him. We had tons of family show up to celebrate with us. We are so blessed.



Our entire families got together and Pastor Rick came and asked Lyndon and I some questions. Then, he held Alden and prayed for him.




Then, Tammy, a member of the leadership team of the church, prayed for our family.


Then, we were brought to the front of the church and the congregation prayed for us. We are so blessed!


What an amazing experience. It is so amazing to see how loved this little boy is!

After church, we went to Lyndon's parents house for a small BBQ to celebrate.