The Great Gardners: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Happy Birthday Brienna Lee!

It is hard to believe that my baby Bree,

with a baby to be, is 22 yrs old today!

She has brought such a fun loving spirit into our home

from the very beginning.

The pictures say it all.

There are no words to describe how much we miss our Bree.

Something is just gone now.

Even though it has almost been a three years

since she moved to Arizona,

it still hurts my heart to have her gone.

Here is the man who stole her from us!

Thanks for taking care of her Bryce.

Happy Birthday to my lovely girl.

(She gets to come home for a visit in nine days!!!)

Friday, February 26, 2010

I am a homebody. Period. I would prefer staying home in my favorite chair, wrapped in my favorite blanket and reading my favorite book of the moment. Brent is the polar opposite. Mister adventurer and then some, and then some, and then some!

Synonyms for homebody: recluse, hermit, loner, shrinking violet.

Okay, I am not that extreme but I can be pretty boring unless you catch me on a bipolar hypo-manic state day. Then I can be pretty dang fun!

Synonyms for adventurer: daredevil, hero, swashbuckler, soldier of fortune, knight- errant.

Pretty good description. I have told him that he married the wrong woman. :)

So Brent suggested taking Dani, Bailey and I to the hot springs an hour and a half away in the cold mountains. He and the kids have been many times to many different hot springs. Since we moved here eight years ago, I have been one other time and we found out quickly that clothing was optional! Getting into a swimsuit in the freezing cold and then getting out of the hot water into the freezing cold doesn't really turn me on. I hate always being the party pooper so I let him talk me into going after he told me that the springs were barely off the road and we would only have to walk over a little bridge. Whatever, Brent.

Little bridge after walking much further than he said.

Looking down off the little bridge to where we needed to hike.

The hike down.

The other view. I had worn my boots with heels thinking we were just walking across a small bridge. Well, Brent knowing the truth of the situation brought me snow boots...slippery snow boots.

I'm telling you...slippery snow boots.

Whatever, liar. I say that with deep, loving affection.

Over the slippery rocks with the slippery boots. Good thing no one was taking pictures of me. Benefits of being the picture taker.

After the slippery long trek.

Wait Brent! Clothing is NOT optional. I know how you love the outdoors but there are limits.

I have to admit it was very cool, besides being very cold.

The adventurous ones.

The boring one having a bit of fun now.

Brent's beauty pose. I think he loves the camera as much as the girls. Love you Brent!

The really adventurous ones jumped in the freezing cold river. The only way you could ever get me to do that is to drop me in, dead. This is Bailey's friend, MacKenzie, who came along for the fun.

Bailey's turn in the cold. I can't believe her and MacKenzie really did it.

I CAN believe that Brent would. I get cold just looking at the picture.

Bailey loving the warm water. What a way to relax.

Brent faked being asleep in one of the photos but I swear he is really sleeping in this one.

You can't forget the food. By the way, Dani was not quite as adventurous as the others. She didn't take a turn in the cold river. Careful Dani or you may turn into you mother.

Okay, for everyone who has seen the movie "Sandlot" you will be able to appreciate this picture. This is the face Smalls made right before he kissed the pretty lifeguard after faking a near drowning so she would save him. It creeps me out a little! :)

Thanks for the fun my handsome swashbuckler! Without you our kids would have a boring life indeed. He did tell me later that he fibbed about how we had to get down to the hot springs because otherwise I wouldn't have come. Next time I will be more inquisitive and he will have to pinkie promise about the circumstances of the adventure.

On the way home we stopped at the town of Lowman's one room Elementary School. I didn't believe Brent when he said that it was still being used so I looked it up on the internet. He was telling the truth.

Brent, one of these days I will believe what you say if you stop fibbing to me!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Prom Dress Fun

Bailey had her friend Canada over after school yesterday and they somehow got the grand idea of putting on Dani's expensive prom dresses and taking pictures outside. Thanks to Dani for letting them wear her dresses to frolic in. The pictures speak for themselves...crazy girls!