Just Hanging Loose

Schools out until September so there is no homework, tests or worries.

My sister is in town and I love her and hanging out with her

Its been alot of sun and relaxing for this first week without school. And we have many many plans still for the rest of this 7 week break.

Melaleuca Summer Faire

There is no doubt that Pablo works with a great company. Every summer they do this summer faire on the owner's land- since he has enough of it! I guess this guy who owns Melaleuca is a billionaire and pays for the faire setup and all the free stuff we get there. And there was a LOT of free stuff there. Stuff like cotton candy, T-shirts, sno-cones, popcorn, all the games, soda, ice-cream and even lunch.

That is a whole pig right there. Crazy huh? Boy was it good.

It was some pretty good fun, we spent about 4 hours there just having basketball shootouts, eating, playing putt-putt, mechanical bull riding, eating and dunking bosses into water. Notice how I have cotton-candy in my mouth in every picture? What can I say - I was taking advantage of the free food!

Fire in the Sky

This is what the sky looked like when I walked out of work Tuesday afternoon

Two hours later....

Crazy right? There was a fire only 15 minutes away from our little town and it was creating quite the sky. The wierd thing was that if you drove 20 minutes north, south or east- it was a beautiful blue sky.

Friends, Food and Futbol

Competive soccer finals were this last week and the Lady Vikings made it all the way to the semi-finals. It made for a tiring weekend, since we had our quarter-final friday night and the semi-final Saturday morning. Had we won that morning, we would have had to play again that night! So part of me (my aching body!) was glad we could bow out with pride at the semi-finals.

Check out this war-wound I got in the second halfThat same saturday night found Pablo and I at none other than Famous Dave's BBQ. Meet Donald (dude on the front right) and his beautiful girlfriend Alyssa (Chica on the front left). Donald was one of Pablo's missionary companions in Chicago and is now going to school out here. Watching these two guys together is HilArious.

No better way to end a crazy soccer tournament than with fall-off-the-bone ribs with Devil's Spit bbq sauce and The BEST corn muffins EVER!! (That's for you Donald)

WORLD CUP FINAL!!!!!!
SPAIN vs NETHERLANDS

Yep, we were rooting for Spain. I have to admit, I was originally voting for team USA and then for Germany. Pablo was rooting for Mexico, but told me from the beginning that he thought Spain would go all the way. (Needless to say, the Germany vs. Spain elimination game was one of great importance in this house!) Pablo made Spanish rice and stuffed poblano peppers for the occasion and our friend Matt brought homemade guacamole dip.

Our friends Donald and Alyssa made an appearance for the Nederlands
Looking good in red and yellow.

Matt was undecided, so he gave each team a cheek (He's the guy in the middle)

Congratulations Spain, it was a loooong game, but they scored in the last 3 minutes for the win.

There is only one more weekend of school and then its time for summer reads, afternoon runs, sunny days, hiking trips and camping under the stars.

Independence Day

Nothing better than spending Fourth of July with family. We woke up early to make it to Driggs, Idaho for their ballon races and then make a drive over the beautiful Teton Mountains to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I loved every minute of it. The countryside in the Teton valley takes my breathe away every year and it was great to be there with Pablo for the first time.

My aunt showed us where she and my mom grew up and we even got some famous Fresh Lime Squeezes! Pablo and I bought hiking maps in Wyoming and after walking around Jackson, we ate a picnic in the park. I wish I would have gotten pictures of my sister Jessica, my aunt, Pablo and I at the park just enjoying the scenery and sun- we had a lot of fun! At Jackson Hole, Pablo and I were brave enough to try a challenge at the Jelly Belly Booth. You had to spin the wheel, which would land on a normal flavor that they offer. Here's the catch- every normal flavor was intermingled with the nastiest flavors ever! So you had a 50/50 chance. Pablo landed on Pear (or Boogers?) and I landed on black licorice (or skunk spray?). Haha, Pablo got, guess which one? Yep, the boogers! I was lucky, I got black licorice bean- I would not want to have Ever tasted skunk spray!

We had a great time and want to take Pablo's family there the next time they come to visit.

I am grateful for the faith and courage the earliest Americans exhibited. They laid the foundation for the beautiful, and free, country that we have now. The more I learn about the trials and fears they overcame, the greater respect I have for the history of America.

God Bless America, and Happy Independence Day!