I thought it was about time to get some more family pictures! It has only been since December of last year and technically we didn't really share any of those pictures! We chose a cloudy cold autumn day but it was fun none the less! Here are some of my favorites!

 Rose had help with the expression! We brought Sadie along because she wanted to go to a church thing with us that night and her only way to get there was to come super early and hang out with us.

 There was a dock and a pond where we went for pictures and a gaggle of geese (is that what they are called?) We had the girls lay on their bellies and look at the geese on the dock. It resulted in some awesome pictures of the girls!

 We tried so hard to get them to walk up the dock holding hands but they kept running...

Finally, near the end, we changed them into their costumes to hold their attention. Here is what we got from that.

We have been doing very well. I (Courtney) have been babysitting for a friend every morning while she takes classes at the community college here in Muscatine. Also I received a new calling for church. I am helping in the Young Women's organization as the Second Counselor so I work with the 12 and 13 year old girls. I think I am going to like it after I get used to the time and effort it takes compared to my previous calling of teaching the 9 and 10 year olds only on Sunday. I am looking forward to the change though!We love you all and are sorry it has been so long. I am surprised I remembered the password!

Family Pics, July 2012

 Well we finally got some good family pictures with Rose. The only thing is that Ellie was NOT in a good mood when we took them. It took me a while to get them because my friend who offered to take them just had a baby a few weeks ago and so she was going through labor and delivery, and I didn't want to cause undo stress because of pictures that she asked if she could take for free. So it's been a month and a half but yeah. That's all the caption I think we need but I'm excited to finally get some good pics of Rose up around the house!!

Sandpoint, Idaho

 We went up to Sandpoint, where Adam grew up to visit for a few days. We left Wednesday night and drove all night so that we could be there to hang out on Thursday. We all got ready and then went to the Sandpoint City Beach to meet up with Mick, Paul and Laura. We hung out there for a bit and ate lunch. Then we headed over to the Chapins' place. Brother Chapin used to be Adam's bishop and they have a nice place and were very kind in letting us all meet up and hang out there! They live basically on the lake so we got to go swimming and use the boats they have. Ellie loved the little paddle boat and it was hard to get her out of it! Mick brought Fate his daughter and so it was the first time that all five of the cousins have been together! It was so fun to be there for that!

  Friday morning, Terri, Chad and Adam went for a bike ride in the morning and that took up the morning so in the afternoon we went to City Beach and we played in the sand and water. We went to lunch at 2:30 with Paul and Laura and then went out to Suzie Miller's house for a pasta feed in preparation for the Long Bridge Swim the next morning. Terri and I participated while Adam was in a kayak to help with safety. We met at the high school where we found out that there were approximately 900 people swimming and then we were bussed over to the start. I rode over with Terri and Curtis, and Julie Hunt. I didn't get a picture of the bridge but I wish I would have. We started on the south side of the bridge and then swam alongside of it. The swim is 1.76 miles. I am not a huge open water swimmer and often have a hard time getting used to the cold water and that was the part I was most nervous about. But I got all the way into the water before the start and treaded water for a few minutes allowing me to warm up.

Once swimming I realized how choppy the water really was. There were a few times that I would come up for a breath and the water would splash right into my face. I think there were a few boats that missed the memo also and came rather close to where people were swimming. I finished at about an hour and twenty minutes. Terri came in at 1:33. It was fun and I would totally doing it again looking back but during the race I was thinking...I am totally crazy. Was I even thinking when I signed up?! Haha, all-in-all a wonderful weekend and it was so much prettier up there than here in Rexburg. SO much more green! We had fun!

 She looks like she's out in open water!

Pics from Yesterday

A Day Full of Sunshine

 Haha! In her own little world at this moment!

 Ready to kick!

 K-I-C-K

 Grandma Angell is lucky enough to live close and be able to come play when she wants to!

 We just couldn't keep her away from the lazy river!

I think Rose was a little more hesitant when it got to be her turn.

All in all, a fun day at Rexburg Rapids.