Seattle or bust

Being the Twilight groupie that I am, I had to attend the latest Stephenie Meyer book signing in our area. Unfortunately, the closest one in our area was in Seattle- an 11 hour drive away. Luckily, I have the best sister's in the world. Heather said that she would drive, and Brooke watched my children so that I could go because Shawn was scheduled for 12 hour days each one of the days I would be gone.

Heather, Brandi Hunter (our co-worker/friend), and I left on Monday 8/11 for Seattle. It was a long drive but was not a bad one. Heather did the driving, I read and Brandi slept. We talked and laughed. It was actually fun. It's a good thing Heather likes to drive so much. I was the navigator (ie: read the mapquest directions to Heather) and a poor one at that- I think. We got to our hotel at 11:00 p.m. When we pulled in to the parking lot, there were 2 police cruisers lit up. We were all wondering what kind of hotel this was. Not to worry, it was just an accident that had pulled in to the parking lot. We got in to our room and turned on the olympics. Heather and I had the giggles and were making fun of the commentators for the gymnastics. I'm sure Brandi thought we were crazy.


The next day 8/12 we got ready and headed into Seattle. We went up the Space Needle, to the market on the pier, and out to lunch. I would love to live by a market like that. The fresh fruit and flowers alone would have me there all the time. The book signing started at 7 so we left early so we had plenty of time to get lost, etc.


The signing was also a concert. It was a signing with singing. Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of Blue October, sang songs on a acoustical guitar. It was awesome. Justin came out first and sang a couple of songs, then Stephenie did a Q&A and then Justin came out again. He and Stephenie told about the songs he sang- which characters the songs related to for Stephenie and what the song meant, or how it came about to be for Justin. It was great!! Then it was over and Stephenie had over 2,000 books to sign. We had to wait about 2 hours for our turn to stand in line. It wasn't bad, they let us sit in the nice cushioned auditorium seats to wait. It was air conditioned in there and we just sat and read our books. Heather and I had made shirts- the front said "Team Nessie" and the back read "more than my own life". That won't mean anything to you if you haven't read the books.


We left first think in the morning 8/13 and drove all day back home. Again, not a bad drive. Heather and I each took a turn driving (mostly Heather), we slept and read too. I personally had a blast and am so thankful to those that made it possible for me to do it- Brooke, thanks so much for taking such good care of my kids so that I could go and Shawn wouldn't have to miss work. Heather, thanks for donating your car for the drive. Brandi, it was so fun to have you with us. I hope we weren't too wierd for you- at least you got a good laugh. I now have a signed copy of all but one book that Stephenie Meyer has written. Some day I will get my Eclipse signed. I am a nerd!!!

Heather & Brandi in front of the Space Needle:

Heather & I in the Space Needle:

The auditorium full of over 2000 people:

We in our auditorium seats (I'm taking the picutre):

Me in my homemade t-shirt:

Hadley

Hadley brings our family such happiness. She is about to start pre school in a week and is so excited. Hadley has such a good heart and loves to learn. She loves to attend primary and sing the songs. The other day I heard her belting out "I am a child of God" and asked her if she would sing it for the camera. She told me she would love to. So here it is, the lighting is not very good but she still sounds great. (you'll need to pause the music player on the right to hear her)

I love you Hadley!!

I love the Twilight books! And I'm not ashamed of it. I was so excited for the final book in the series, Breaking Dawn, to be released. Heather and I went to the midnight release party on 8/2/08 in Idaho Falls at Barnes and Noble. We got there at about 11:30 and there were already SO many people there:

Many were dressed up in their prom gowns:

Some more goth:

And some just plain funny, this girl was dressed up like Bella in the hospital:

We got our books at 8 minutes after midnight and went straight home to read them, over 700 pages and one day later, I finished my new favorite book. Luckily, I have several people in my life that also love these books- Heather, Kirstin, Heidi- thanks ladies and may there be many more discussions to follow.

Our famous Father

Gerald was recently featured in the Idaho State Journal:

Teacher takes to the trails




DRIGGS � During the summer, Gerald Humpherys trades a school house for a bunkhouse and a team of hoopsters for a herd of horses.He’s the head boys’ basketball coach at Blackfoot High School, where he also teaches physical education and weight training. And to make some extra cash and pass the time during his summer break, he’s assumed the role of Grand Targhee Resort’s resident cowboy.This is Humpherys’ first summer of offering trail rides at the resort. His corral is filled with seven of his own horses, four horses that he borrowed from his brother Ken, of Arizona, and three horses on loan from a friend in Blackfoot.
He started the rides in June and plans on continuing them through most of September, and he’s convinced Grand Targhee, with its wildflower-laden meadows and panoramics of the Tetons, is about as gorgeous of a place to ride as any.“Horse riding is probably one of the best attractions here. Of course, I’m prejudiced,” Humpherys said. “We have a really beautiful one-hour trail, and we have a really spectacular two-hour trail. Every time you go around a corner, you’ve got a different view.”
On Saturday morning, Gerald and Ken looked the part of cowboys from an old Western movie, relaxing on the porch of their bunkhouse in wooden chairs awaiting the next group ride.Humpherys, a burly Star Valley, Wyo., native who stands 6-foot-3 and wore a red button-up shirt, boots, blue jeans, a big belt buckle and a cowboy hat, grew up on a ranch. His childhood chores included milking cows and cutting and bailing hay.
“You learn a lot of work ethic from the farm that carries over to your teaching and coaching,” Humpherys said, adding his coaching skills also carry over well into teaching novices to be comfortable on horses.Prior to coming to Targhee, Humpherys spent 16 years driving the stagecoach throughout Jackson Hole, Wyo.

“When I quit driving the stagecoach, I figured the dude business was over, but this opportunity came about by word of mouth, and here I am,” Humpherys said.His family also sometimes provides Christmas wagon rides in Blackfoot as a public service.
Until school starts, Humpherys and his wife, Tena, are living in their fifth-wheel at Targhee. Ken has laid claim to the bunkhouse.“I enjoy the scenery just like the visitors do,” Humpherys said. “It’s a little added income for a school teacher in the summer, and I enjoy it as well.”

(This document was originally published online on Wednesday, July 23, 2008)

"Why did Jesus create wasp's?"

"M-O-M-M-Y" and he meant business. There it was, the scream that makes every mother's heart stop momentarily. The scream that is more than I'm mad or I need your help. Hayden came running in to the house, unable to speak, face red and tears pouring from his eyes. I grabbed him and asked him what happened. He had been playing out back so it could have been anything. He finally whispered, I think a bee stung me. Sure enough, he had a wasp bite on his left ear. For those of you that have not recently been stung, it hurts like a bugger with every heart beat. While he had his momentary freak out, I got some ice (because ice makes everything better at my house) and just held him. Once back under control, he asks me "Why did Jesus create stupid wasps?" I didn't have an answer for him at that moment. I hate it when that happens- cross pollination, maybe I could have taught the concept of opposition- if you never knew the bad you wouldn't understand the good? A perfectly good teaching moment lost. Well, Hayden was much better after he was able to call his cousin, Carter, and tell him the gory details.
Here's the swollen ear:

Hayden survived and I could barely get him to sit still for a recovery picture:

Hayden's Island

Shawn, Hayden and Hadley went camping last Thursday. Shawn took them out on Snake River to camp on an island that Hayden has deemed his. Well the name stuck and it is now known to our family and friends as "Hayden's Island". Unfortunately, the island was already occupied when they got there so they camped on a different island but had just as much fun I'm sure. I stayed home with Hallie and finished painting my bathroom. Shawn texted me pictures that night. Here are some pic's he took with his other camera: