Fall 2017 Top Ten

For TEN years, I've been posting seasonal "Top Ten" lists at the beginning of each season. I'm a goal-oriented person, as well as a person battling depression, so I find that if I make goals and lists of things to look forward to, it really helps my depression by focusing on positive events in the near future. Also, at the end of each season, I do a wrap-up, summarizing what we got accomplished on every seasonal list, which has both helped me retain the memories of what happened during the season and to look back at my life with happy reflection. However, this is my FINAL season "Top Ten". We are slowly entering the next phase of our life, with our kids getting older (Ammon is graduating high school this year and moving on, Jonah and Micah are entering high school in the fall, and Kanyon is graduating from elementary school) and I find that I am evolving as life moves forward in directions that I don't always have planned. With all that's changed recently, I find that I don't need "lists" as much anymore to help me look forward to things as much as I used to, and I'm so busy with teaching full-time and living in split households, that I take life more as it comes now, by being flexible with our plans and living spur-of-the-moment, rather than creating goals and ensuring that certain things happen. So...here is our final Top 10:

FALL 2017 Top 10

1. Go to Eastern Idaho State Fair
[Completed 9/1 AND 9/7] Josh and I went to see Jeff Foxworthy, and Kanyon and I went to see Bill Engvall. We ate good food, walked around, and laughed at the comedy shows.

2. Watch the boys' XC meets
[completed 10/28] Ammon, Jonah, and Micah all had great seasons. They all received medals in different races, and were proud of their P.R.'s. Jonah and Micah's team placed first at the huge Bob Firman meet in Boise. Ammon made it to State and his team earned the title of Academic Champions and they also placed 2nd overall at State.

3. Ammon's final homecoming
[completed 9/16] His date was Hannah and they went with a big group. They had a fun week with all the festivities: Lip Sync, Skit, Powder Puff, and Buff Puff.

4. Celebrate Jonah and Micah's birthday
[completed 9/22] They turned 14! They got phones, and I took them to a BSU football game to celebrate.

5. Harvest the garden
{completed in October] We had a great turnout with our raspberries this year, and were also successful with the onions, corn, and the potatoes did alright.

6. Kala perform in Salmon Idol
[completed 10/24] I performed a duet with high schooler Peyton Mark. We sang "Royals" and acted like gangstas. It was so much fun, and we WON first place!!

7. Carve pumpkins
[completed 10/29] This is the first year we haven't had a pumpkin patch since 2009! We actually had to go buy a couple of pumpkins, since they didn't grow super well in our garden this year (we moved the pumpkin plot near our house rather than the quarter acre by the road). I love doing this annual activity with my family!

8. Go to State XC
[completed 10/28] State XC was in Boise this year. Although it wasn't the weekend neither Ammon nor I wanted it to be (my car broke and his team didn't place first), both of the Salmon teams ran very well, placing 2nd and I was able to see Ammon run his last race and ride home on the bus with the love of my life.

9. Celebrate Josh's birthday
[completed 11/7] We spent the day together--going to the hospital lab and to the doctor's office (not fun, but part of aging--haha!), and getting massages, going to see a movie, and eating out (all the fun stuff to balance it all out!).

10. Spend Thanksgiving with the Tolmans
[completed 11/23] We ate at Josh's parents home along with his sister Tiffany and her family, his brother Malachi & Molly, Uncle Tim & Barb and her son Scott and his wife. We had a good crew, and it was a very delicious and relaxing meal.

Summer 2017 Top Ten

Go camping somewhere new

[completed 7/29]

We went camping for the first time at Timber Creek, to the west of Leadore.  

Jonah and Micah go to Scout Camp
[completed June 19-23 and July 10-14]
First, they went with my dad's ward's scout troop to Bear Lake, and then they went with their Salmon troop to Treasure Mountain (near Island Park).

Kala graduate from college
[completed in April, but the ceremonies happened July 15]
I've waited for this moment for years, and was walking on air all day! The event took place at the convention center in SLC. I met my first college friend (on the LAST day!!!). My sister Tabbi surprised me and came and brought me fun candy necklaces to wear. Josh, his mom, and my mom also came to support me at the commencement exercise.

Kanyon's swimming lessons
[completed 7/20]
He did level 5 and passed!! His best friend Aidan was in his class, which was so fun for him! He was an excellent diver, and I was so impressed with how well he did!

Ammon work on Senior Project
[completed 8/15]
Ammon worked on restoring and revamping an old golf cart for his senior project. Josh helped him, along with his mentor Brian Troughton, and uncle Tim. The end result was so awesome!!

Celebrate July 4th with the Tolmans
[completed 7/4]
We rafted the Salmon River with Rawhide Outfitters as our guide. It was a beautiful day, and we had a lot of fun! 

Josh and the boys hike into the Crags
[completed 7/20]
Uncle Malachi and Grandpa Tolman joined them for the first time on this trip. It was a shorter trip than planned (just one night instead of two), due to the extreme mosquitoes that were there. They saw a different section than they had before, so Josh got to cross off one more area of the map. His bucket list is to see it all!

Visit Great Gma & Gpa Parsons and see Mt Rushmore
[completed July 23-26]
We visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Parsons in Great Falls on the way to see Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. We had such a lovely trip together as a family--the boys loved the sights around Mt. Rushmore, and thought the trip was even better than last year's vacation to Disneyland!!

Float the River with the Perkins
[completed 8/11]
We took my parents for a float trip down the Salmon River--it was the first time they'd ever gone, and it was a Christmas gift from all of us kids to them, but unfortunately, nobody else could raft with them except for us. We had such a fun day together, and it was very memorable for me--especially when my mom screamed after getting soaked on one stretch!

Celebrate Kala's birthday
[completed 8/14]
Josh made dinner for me, my friend Gina made me my favorite pie, we played games with Phil & Darcy, and Josh and the boys surprised me with a fire pit they'd built. Josh also spoiled me with new shoes, jewelry, a phone cover decorated with hot air balloons, and my favorite cereal!

Spring 2017 Top Ten

Watch Ammon's golf tournaments
[completed 5/16]
Ammon had a great season--finishing 2nd in many of the tournaments, including the District Meet, and also received first place once!

 

Go to Jonah & Micah's track meets
[completed 5/5]
Micah and Jonah both made steady improvements throughout track season, and both ran a mile in under 6 minutes! This was Micah's second year running track, and Jonah's first year. They ran well and ended the season with PR's!

Kala finish student teaching
[completed 3/23]
Kala student taught in a 2nd/3rd split combo class. She really enjoyed working with her mentor teacher Mrs. Centeno. There were a lot of late nights and early mornings and high stress days, but the end of student teaching felt so rewarding!

Go camping for the first time this season
[completed 4/2]
We went up to Williams Lake overnight, and hiked around the west end of the lake in the evening.

Can you spot the twins in this photo?!

Josh and Kala celebrate their anniversary
Our anniversary was April 10--we've been together 19 years! We actually celebrated it in March, at the beginning of Spring Break (and the end of my student teaching)! We drove over to southwest Wyoming, stayed the night, and came back to Pocatello the next day for Kimi's baby shower, then to Idaho Falls for dinner and a stay at a honeymoon suite. It was a lovely break and I enjoyed the time alone with this hottie!

Celebrate Easter with the Perkins family
[completed 4/16]
One of our favorite annual traditions!

Ammon's Jr. Prom
[completed 4/22]
Ammon and Hannah doubled with Eli and Victoria for an unforgettable night!

Attend the Idaho Falls Temple Open House
[completed 5/6]
We went as a family on the ward youth trip! It was beautiful, inspiring, and humbling!

Go on Field Trips
[completed 5/25]
Josh went with Kanyon to the Pahsimeroi Fish Hatchery, and I went with him to the Bighole National Battlefield.

See Kanyon's Track & Field Day
[completed 5/31]
Kanyon participated in 4 events, and did very well representing the green team!

Winter 2016/17 Top Ten

It was a productive winter! And a super long one, too! We had so many freezing days with temperatures in the negatives, and received more snowfall this year than we have in about ten years! Winter seemed to last forever! I remember the first time I heard a bird sing in February, and I was so excited that spring was actually coming! I'm super glad that spring is here now!

1. Get a Christmas Tree 

[completed 12/2] We got a beautiful pine tree the first weekend of December on the road above Williams Lake. Thankfully, it hadn't snowed very much yet, so getting the tree was quite an easy task, and it wasn't too far from the road, either. Our tree was gorgeous and we all loved it!


2. Watch Ammon's Basketball Games

[completed 2/14] Ammon's team grew so much together over the season, and won multiple games towards the tail-end of the season. We were so grateful for his coach Boyd Stokes for returning to coach the team this year. Ammon grew as a ball player, and played excellent defense as well as scoring multiple 3-point shots. We loved attending his games and watching the team improve throughout the season.


3. Celebrate Christmas Eve & Christmas Day in Salmon

[completed 12/25] We loved the party at the Linger's on Christmas Eve--we all had so much fun and stayed until midnight! Christmas morning was laid back and enjoyable at home with the boys. Christmas was on a Sunday, so we went to church services that morning. We invited the Judy's over that night for Christmas dinner, movie, and games. It was a wonderful white Christmas!


4. Celebrate New Year's with the Tolmans 

[completed 1/1] We invited Hannah and Johnny to join us, and Malachi and Molly were visiting Salmon, too. After Ammon shot an elk, and he and Josh packed it off the mountain, we celebrated the end of the year by working on a puzzle, playing monopoly, eating food, and playing the radio oldies song montage contest--which we won (old news, right?!).


5. Watch Jonah and Micah's Basketball Games 

[completed 2/23] This was the first year that they've played competitive basketball. They were both on the 7th grade team, with a good group of boys, and a great first-year coach. Although they didn't have a winning season, they progressed and improved tremendously over the season and we are so proud of them!


6. Celebrate Ammon's Birthday

[completed 1/15] For his family party, we ate at Bertram's together. A few days after his birthday, he invited the Jackson's over for his birthday meal of chicken enchiladas and homemade salsa, and we had peanut butter chocolate cheesecake for dessert. He's officially 17 now!!


7. Go Sledding 

[completed 12/26] We had so much snow this year, that we went sledding a few times. Our favorite time was when we went with the Simmons family and the Williams family over Christmas Break.


8. Celebrate Kanyon's Birthday 

[completed 2/10] He had a friend party this year; I took him and two of his friends to play at Blast Off in Idaho Falls on his birthday. The day after his birthday, he opened presents, and we ate his birthday meal of steak and potatoes, as well as his chosen dessert of brownies and ice cream. He is now 10 and is in the double digits!!


9. Go Skiing/Snowboarding
This did NOT get completed...everyone went on different occasions except for Kanyon and I, but not for the lack of trying! We actually had one day scheduled to go, but then I had a medical procedure scheduled on that day over Christmas Break so we put it off. Due to time and money--two things it takes to go, and two things that I was lacking in these last few months--it never happened after that!


10. Kala start Student Teaching

[completed 1/3] I taught in a 2nd/3rd split level class at our elementary school in Salmon with an awesome Host Teacher, Mrs. Centeno.

Fall 2016 Top Ten

At the beginning of every season, I create a Top Ten list of items I hope to accomplish, and at the end of each season, I do a re-cap of what was actually done! Autumn is my favorite season. And it was a busy fall this year--but I'm glad to have the opportunity to look back on what we did together as a family, and reflect on the good times amidst the chaos!

1. Start School!

{done 9/6} Ammon is a junior in high school, Jonah and Micah are in 7th grade, Kanyon is in 4th grade this year with Mrs. Clarke as his teacher, and I am working one-on-one with a kindergarten student in the morning and with the 4-year-old developmental preschool class in the afternoon.


2. Watch the boys' XC meets

{done 10/29} Jonah ran Cross Country for the first time this year, and it was nice having all our boys on one team with one schedule! The twins had a great season, and medaled in several of their races. Ammon also medaled a few times as well as qualified to run in the state XC meet. We were proud of all three of them for doing their best all season long, and were so grateful that they weren't injured this year, either.


3. Celebrate Jonah and Micah's birthday

{done 9/22} The twins had a friend party this year: they ate pizza at Dave's, played at the new Zoom arcade, and had their first birthday sleepover. We celebrated as a family on their actual birthdate, too. with their favorite meals, dessert, and gifts.


4. Go camping at Challis Hot Springs

{done 9/18} We watched the twins'  race and Ammon run in the fun run race. We soaked in hot pools, rode bikes, played games, read books, and most of all: relaxed!


5. Harvest the garden

{done} We grew excellent crops of peaches, raspberries, corn, and pumpkins this year. I've never had so many peaches on the trees--the weight was so heavy that some of the branches broke. The golden raspberries had more grow than we've ever had before, which was so exciting! We also grew apples, onions, potatoes, strawberries, and rhubarb. The onions and potatoes didn't grow so well; we planted them in the garden spot by the house instead of down by the pumpkin patch, and I don't think the soil had enough nutrients. The strawberries didn't grow so well, either; although I put a net over the rows so that birds wouldn't eat them, I still didn't get a whole bunch. The red apple tree had its best crop ever, and the yellow apple tree was in its off year so it didn't produce hardly any. I made freezer corn, freezer raspberry jam, frozen sliced peaches, dehydrated peaches, and strawberry rhubarb jam with the home-grown goods.


6. Kala go to Denver with her siblings 

{done 10/2} This was our first sibling reunion ever. Everybody came except Mick. I flew out of SLC with Cody, Tawna, and Tabbi and flew back with Trina. We stayed at a really nice Air BnB. My favorite part of the trip was after watching the Rockies play, they had the best fireworks display I've ever seen!


7. Kanyon sell pumpkins at the Sac Center

{done 10/15} Kanyon's one-day sale was a complete success! We were so busy at the Fall Frolic, and sold out of everything we had except 8 medium-sized green ones. We were so happy that his final year of growing pumpkins was so successful!


8. Dress Up for Halloween 

{done 10/31} Kanyon and I dressed up to go to school on the Thursday before Halloween--he was a Dementor from Harry Potter and I was Hulk. On Monday--the actual Halloween day--the twins dressed up after school to go trick-or-treating. Jonah was Mickey Mouse and Micah was a Pirate, and Kanyon went as a Dementor again. Everybody created their own costumes by themselves this year which was so awesome!


9. Celebrate Josh's birthday

{done 11/6} We met up with some of the Whall family visiting Rexburg from England, and had dinner with them at Texas Roadhouse. I gave Josh a gift of spending the night at the Destinations Inn in Idaho Falls. We ate a steak dinner with one of his mission friends at our house and Josh opened gifts from the boys.


10. Go to Disneyland for Thanksgiving with some of the Perkins family 

{done 11/25} We had a wonderful time at Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Newport Beach with Mick & Jen's family and Tawna & Bryce the week of Thanksgiving.