1st Pig Weigh-In

Today was the first pig weigh-in.

 We were a bit concerned that the pigs weren't growing enough and would not be where they need to be (around 60-80 pounds) to be on track for fair time.

 We've never started with pigs so small.  But the last couple of weeks the pigs have started eating a lot better.  They are small enough that we are able to transport them in a crate.

 Zane's pig weighed in at 63 pounds--more then I thought. I guessed 50 pounds each so I was happy.

 And Brienna's pig was 57 pounds--so they averaged 60!

 In honor of the pig weigh in day, I made pigs in a blanket.  Even though we had these growing up, I have never made them for my family.  One pan is plain & the other one I added cheese to them.

They looked so yummy!  And surprisingly, everyone loved them.  Rusty said they could only get better if I made some with polish sausage dogs too.

Dentist and Zane's Track Meet at Snake River

Before we came home from Pamela's (on Tues., April 2nd), we headed into Idaho Falls to get some shopping done.  So Emmalee and Callum rode in Pamela's new Outback so that left just Benjamin and I in the van.  After the first 15 minutes, he decided to watch a movie on the little DVD player (since he didn't have anyone to tease or bother).

After shopping, I received a phone call (actually a message on my phone) from our dentist office.  (I was about 10 minutes from home)--reminding me that all 5 of the kids had dentist appointments in the morning.  So as soon as I got home, I called the office to see what time and to let them know that Brienna was on her Am. Heritage tour so wouldn't be with us.

I was a bit worried about Emmalee since her last visit started off with a huge fit, but she remembered that she didn't get to pick anything at the dollar store and she really wanted something.  So this time, she did a great job==even let them take x-rays!  First time for that, so they were able to see how "bad" her 2 cavities are.  Funny thing, when we went to the dollar store, she couldn't find anything she "loved" so she asked if she could just buy a small lego set at Wal-Mart (under $5).  So of course she got it!  She also found the cutest, fluffy (and small) white bunny rabbit at DI--for 50 cents!

 So that was our Wednesday.

Thursday was Zane's track meet.  Rusty and I would have loved to go watch Zane and leave the kids home, but I'm not sure that Callum could handle Benjamin if he had one of his "Stewart Stews"/fits.  And Ben proved that Thurs. morning.  I had just finished my shower when Emmalee came in crying because Ben had just thrown her bunny on the ground & it was all dirty now (remember it's fluffy & white).  So I went outside (with the towel still on my head) to find Benjamin.  I called his name, and then he hid behind the camper.  When I went around to find him, he was in front of the truck so I asked him to come to me.  That's when he took off down the street.  So I went after him (we do live on a dead-end so there really isn't anyone on our road usually).  But he didn't stop at the stop sign.  As he would walk faster when he saw I was getting closer to him.  So when he wasn't looking, I was jogging to catch up to him.  But when he realized I was almost to him, he took off running--and that kid is FAST!!!  I would be within 2 or 3 steps of him, and he would put on his booster jet power and take off.  He was to the high school when I finally told him that I was going home and if he didn't come back, someone might take him from us.  That must have spooked him enough that he turned around and I was able to pick him up.  

So I walked back home with him under my arm with a towel on my wet hair and wearing my slip-on shoes--and he was kicking and fussing the whole way home.  I felt like I had just had a work out and needed another shower by the time I got him back to the house.  Needless to say, Ben went with Rusty and I to the track meet.  

We stopped at Firth to pick up some pig feed since the pigs are now at our house.

Zane's long jump--I actually finally have a picture of him in mid-air.

Benjamin on Daddy's shoulders.  Good thing I love that little guy so much!!

Getting ready for his 400 yard run.

Landing of his long-jump.

 And he's off--400 yard dash.

Lining up for his 100 yard dash.

He keeps improving his running times.  It's been fun going to his track meets.  We won't make it to the next couple because of how far away they are.

After the meet, we stopped at the Wal-Mart in Blackfoot (the track meet was at Snake River about 15 minutes from Blackfoot) & then decided to eat at Melina's (again).  Callum and Emmalee were a little upset that we ate there (we didn't think we would since we had just eaten there last week).  But since Zane's events had finished before 6:30 we decided we had time.

"Fixed" my blog?

Well, as you can see, my blog is "fixed".  One of my blogger friends  (you can see her blog here) gave me nicely detailed instructions on how I should be able to fix my background,  but unfortunately, it didn't work.  Sort of.  I finally saved the background I wanted as a JPG picture file and then uploaded the picture onto my background.

But then I decided to try a different background from another sight (that gave instructions using the "new" templates on blogspot) and that code worked as a "gadget" using a HTLM.  So I think the "old" codes for the backgrounds are just not working with the new templates.  But I figured it out on my own on how to get the background I want on my blog.

So I'm happy--for now.  Until Blogspot decides to make more changes. :)

Grrrrrrr.....!!!!!

I just went to change my background (from Easter to an LDS fun background) and this is what happened!  The whole format of my blog has changed and I can't figure out how to put on my really cute backgrounds anymore.

I have spent the last 2 hours working on this, and so I guess for now, this is what it is going to be.  Grrrrr....

Easter at Pamela's

Friday I finally got a little bit of cleaning done around the house.  And then I had to pack & get ready to go to Pamela's.  Brienna left around 4 pm, and we couldn't leave until after Rusty called about jury duty at 3 pm.  Yep--he has a summons for FEDERAL jury duty--which is in Pocatello.  So he has to call each Friday after 3 pm to see if he needs to report.  The good news on Friday was that he did NOT need to report.  But we didn't get left until a little after 5 pm.

 On Saturday, the kids had fun hiding (and finding) eggs.

 There are tons of hiding places at Pamela's.

 While we made our Easter dinner (on Saturday), Emmalee and Ben took a bubble bath in Pamela's tub.

 The 3 youngest also decided to play with Pamela's ducks.  They made an Easter Bunny out of the ducks--and he even has plastic eggs in his baskets.

 Emmalee, Ben & Callum with their masterpiece.

Rusty making giant bubbles with the turkey rack.  I am glad we had our big meal on Saturday when we could enjoy it & also enjoy leftovers for a few days. 

 We decided to try a "new" way to color (actually marbleize) the eggs.  You use shaving cream & food coloring & swirl the eggs in the food color.

 They worked okay--but it was a bit messy and so when we do it next time (maybe in a few years), I would change a few things--like less shaving cream and only white eggs (instead of the brown eggs from Grandpa's chickens).

 And of course we had to use the "traditional" method also.

 Lots and lots of eggs--and so lots of color combinations.

 It was a bit different without Brienna--the first Easter without her...and Ethan!  Down to 4 kids--I'm not sure I'm ready for that!

 Easter morning the kids were really good at just looking at the eggs (hidden around the house) and their baskets while waiting for everyone to get up.  Pamela has late church, so we weren't in a big hurry.

 This was Ben's "look at the camera" pose.

 Before we got to find the eggs and look through the goodies in our baskets,

 We all got comfortable so we could watch "He is Risen".  I forgot to grab our DVD and Pamela couldn't find hers...

 So thankfully I was able to find it on the internet.

 Our baskets--and the Easter Bunny even filled Brienna's basket.

 She got the latest Hank Smith CD.  We also got Sariah (Lehi's wife) figure to go in our Sunday bag.  Zane received an iTunes gift card, Callum got a new flag (that ended up being too big for his flag pole), and Ben recieved a calculator and bubble.  (It's a "number thing" to him).

And Emmalee fianlly got her own Legos--with a "girl" figure!

The crazy Easter bunny hid 225 eggs around the house!!  And we actually found all of the eggs.  We had a great time at Pamela's house.

Brienna's Music Festival & Zane's Track Meet

Wednesday 3 of the high school girls had performances at a music festival in St. Anthony.  The music teacher, Mr. Germer asked if I would drive the girls there since there was only 4 (1 more to play the piano) and so he could drive straight home (he lives in Rigby) instead of having to come clear back to Dubois.

When he first asked me, he thought we would leave at 2, but then called me later and said that the girls didn't perform until 5:45 & 6 pm so we could leave at 4.  Rusty was going to take the  afternoon off to watch Benjamin, so when I found that out, I let him know so he could take the next afternoon off instead & then we could go to Zane's track meet.

This is Brienna & Mr. Germer talking with the judge (who is a music teacher at BYU-I).

Brienna played a very challenging flute piece that Mr. Germer picked.  I later found out he picked it from a list provided by the state music organization which qualified Brienna to compete for a chance to go to state.  (Didn't know any of this until at the festival).  And then also found out that the music festival was actually districts music festival--and the top 2 or 3 in each category would go to state.

The 2 girls singing (a duet) weren't competing for state, so they just performed 2 pieces.  And then Brienna played her piece.  I thought it was awesome--especially because it was her first solo piece and first time at a festival.  In order to go to state, should would need to receive a "superior" rating (I)--and she received an "excellent" (II+).  So proud of her.  This was a first time experience for our music teacher also, so know he knows more for next year.

 So Thursday afternoon, all of us (except Callum who decided to stay home) went to Firth to watch Zane's track meet.  Here he is running the 400.

 This is the start of that race.

And Brienna and Zane walking across the field.  Brienna brought the yearbook camera so she could get some pictures for yearbook.

 And this is Zane's 100 yard dash.  

Zane does the long jump, high jump (I've missed taking pictures because we are always a few minutes late & miss seeing him), 100 and 400.