WHO THOUGHT LABOR DAY WEEKEND WAS FOR LABOR???

Tony and I had been working on repairing the fence for the past three evenings after work. Saturday morning we went out at 9am to finish the project. The previous evenings we had dug out the 3 posts that were cemented in the ground and my what a job!! The first two were the posts from hell and we had a heck of a time trying to get them out. Friday night we were able to put the 3 new posts in and pour the cement around them. We went to bed and waited for the concrete to set so we could finish the project.

We replaced some of the broken fence boards with new ones that our neighbor graciously gave us. He even paid for the other materials because we did the work.

Tony had to bring out the big guns to cut some of the boards but we got her done and were ready to move onto the BIG project.........the tree!

Tony had bought himself a new pole chain saw. With this tree he decided it was an investment we were just going to need and it sure came in handy!

He still had to climb on the ladder and even with the long extension, it was a challenge getting to some of those broken branches that needed to come down.

But come down they did!!! We tied a big long rope on the branch that needed to come down and I pulled on it so that it would fall away from the bench around the bottom.

Another big one bites the dust!

At one point the saw blade wedged it's self in the tree and it wouldn't budge. I pulled as hard as I could but could not muster enough strength to enable Tony to get it free. We had to call for reinforcements!

Thus Mom and Dad Norton came over and the three of us pulling on the rope were able to get the big ole branch to move enough so Tony was able to free the saw blade! Thanks mom and dad!!

Now with all the broken branches on the ground, we are ready to play "clean up"......whoopee!

Tony cut smaller branches off and I would stack them across the wagon and then we would bundle them into manageable bundles so the garbage men will haul them off this next garbage day! We hope! LOL

The mess is getting smaller. It was a job and a half! We were at it till 3pm in the afternoon!

We cut and stacked a bunch of the wood in the wagon and will give it to the neighbor. His son has a fire place so we told him he could have it.

Alas, it's done and the yard is cleaned up and mowed! The tree is a bit bald on this side now but what can ya do?

All is repaired from the wind storm and we just hope it stays this way for a while. It was Labor Day weekend so I guess work was a good thing to do. We will now get ready for the Bronco game . That will be a good end to a busy day!

BSU MADE US PROUD !!!

This is for Scott, Jeff and Chris who wanted to, but couldn't be at the game. Here comes our BSU BRONCO'S, .......Really, they were coming through the helmet and I know you can't see them very well but you get the picture!

I got these out of order and this was actually them warming up before the game but I wanted you to see the new bright blue turf! It was beautiful!

See aren't those colors pretty! We packed the place! 32 thousand three hundred and eighteen screaming Bronco fans! It was awesome!

Here's the new Stueckle Sky Box. It was very impressive! We are lookin more "Big Town" than ever! Really really nice!

That blue and orange sure shows up good! Even in the evening!

It was windy but let me tell you....it sure felt good! The temp was low 90's and hotter than heck when the game 1st started! I was thrilled when the sun finally went down (which was earlier this year due to the big sky box) and the breeze finally was able to cool things off! It was a great evening. Wish you could have been here!

YAHOO!! I LOST MY 1ST 10 POUNDS AND ANGELINA FOUND IT!!

I was terribly excited to get on the scales this morning to find I've finally reached losing my 1st 10 pounds! I was even more excited when I found out Angelina found them! LOL Seriously, it seems like it took me all summer to lose 10 and I have 60 more to go........whaaaa....... BUT, I'm taking it 10 pounds at a time so now I'm working on losing 10 pounds. HE HE.....Tony is so encouraging (by the way, he's at 9.5) but he reminds me that it took us 4 years to put it on so it's not gonna come off overnight. Anyway, it will make for a good day. Hopefully working in the yard tonight to clean up the mess and help Tony fix the fence will help us shed some more!

DAMAGE SUSTAINED IN MONDAYS HIGH WIND STORM

Monday night around 7PM or so there was a very high wind that came through. I stood at the window in the bedroom that looks over the backyard and watched my tree fly apart! Tonight we went into the yard after work and saw that 3 posts were snapped off at the base on the fence and a board missing. Tony and I were going to the orchard tonight to pick peaches but found out that the ones we want won't be ready till next week so he has gone to the store to get what he needs to repair the fence.

Tony surveying the damage and obviously trying to determine just how to get those broken branches out of the tree. He has decided to buy a chain saw to cut the branches but the trick will be......how to get up there!!

Hard to see the big broken branch but believe you me, it was a big branch and this side of our tree is becoming rather sparse! I am thankful that we just got the wind. I sure feel sorry for those in Boise who lost their homes due to the fire which was fueled by the wind.

Kung Fu ...Highly Recommended!!

Tony and I went to the dollar theater last Friday night with Art and Lynn and watched "Kung Fu Panda"..... wasn't sure what to expect but let me tell you. It was hilarious! Jack Black is so darn funny! We loved it and decided it's one to buy when it comes out! Good message in it and it was just so cute! Tony was tearing up toward the end because he was laughing so much. Mom enjoyed it and dad not so much but dad really doesn't like much when it comes to movie entertainment so take that with a grain of salt. WE LOVED IT!!!

I HATE GOOD BYES......

After the block party was over we picked up Art and Lynn and drove into Boise to say our good bye's to Scott. He fly's to Arizona tomorrow morning to start his training for the Border Patrol. Scotlyn looks like she's not too happy about daddy leaving either. I'm holding it together but it's tough. I know it will be for the best. I just hope the next 2 years go fast and he and Jill will be able to relocate back to Boise!

WE LOVE YOU SCOTT!

Good luck at the academy, we all wish you well!

OUR ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY

After Tony and I moved into our home on Bridger and got it all fixed up we decided to host a neighborhood block party so we could get to know our neighbors. This is the 4th year we've done it and I think the best yet. Our guests were just starting to show up in this picture.
We had 20 neighbors this year. Some that come every year and some new ones that have never made it till now. The food was great and everyone stayed for quite some time visiting and enjoying one another's company!
We made Kalua Pork and sweet potato souffle and everyone brought salads, corn on the cob and desserts. It was sooooo yummy!
Tony set up a couple of games in the yard for the 3 kids that came and the adults just sat around and visited with one another when dinner was over. We were very happy with the turn out and got all kinds of compliments and thank yous for hosting it again. It's a lot of work but we all had a great time and we were surprised that they all stayed so long this year. I think they are getting more comfortable with each other and that's great!

I DON'T WANNA BE HERE!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for my job and thank heaven daily that both Tony and I have work and a steady income but I am feeling a bit down today and really wish I were anywhere but here! I had a great evening with Melissa last night as she was teaching me how to bead. I made 2 watch bands and will use them as demo's for the Relief Society class in September (she is going to come teach it) but I slept (or didn't sleep) crappy last night and I suspect part of my problem is that I'm tired but I'm a bit depressed about Scott leaving on Sunday too. (That's probably 90% of my problem) although I know it is for the best for him and his family. Sure will miss having them around. I will have to enjoy Jill and the kids as much as possible while they are still here. I think I need a nap!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Scott's Going Away Party

I had so much fun with the Olympics that I stole Bridgets disco moves and Tony and I are cuttin a rug! Oh Yeah!!

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CHECK OUT OUR OLYMPIC EFFORTS!!

I know, I know......we are not Michael Phelps or Kristin Armstrong but I think we look pretty good for a couple of old farts! lol We are both down 9 pounds as of this morning so we are feeling pretty good about that. 1o pounds at a time has been our goal and we are 1 pound away form our 1st goal, THEN we'll start on the next 10! Baby steps, right?

WE CAN DO IT!!

Have fun with our Olympic Efforts!

Gold Medal Contenders! Yeah!

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Looking pretty good but still a lot of pounds to go....obviously!

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WE MADE THE OLYMPIC'S

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SCOTT AND JILL ARE MOVING........

As you may know, Scott accepted the Border Patrol job and will be leaving for Arizona on the 24th of this month! We believe it is a great opportunity for Scott and it will open a lot of doors for him. We hope eventually he will be assigned to a position with a government agency right back here in good old BSU country! Jill and the kid's will be here for a bit. (Thank Heaven) Gotta sell the house etc. We will be happy to have her and the kiddies here for a bit longer but hope things will move quickly for them so they can be reunited as a family again. We will be having a "Going Away Party" for him at Ann Morrison Park this Saturday at noon. Should be fun and he can tell us all about his new location etc...... Hope to see a lot of you there!

EMMETT'S MOST EXCELLENT TRIATHLON

Tony and I got up this morning and drove to Emmett to support Traci in "Emmett's Most Excellent Triathlon". Traci, Jason and the kids were already at Black Canyon Dam when we got to Emmett around 8:45 AM. We set up our chairs close to the finish line and waited.........
Here we are enjoying the beautiful weather. It had just rained and it was perfect temperature wise! Tony was preparing his talk for next Sunday and I was reading my book!

Here comes Traci. She has already swam 1/3 mile and biked 13 miles. She is ready to make the transition from bike to her tenny runners and hit the road running!

Hanging up her bike and changing her shoes!

And there she goes ! 3 miles left to go!

Here she comes! She made it and still has a smile on her face!

Caden snapping a picture of his mom! Congratulations Traci! WAY TO GO!!!

"I got a cramp in my leg"

Traci, showing off the shirt she won and promptly gave away to a fellow runner's husband!

We went to Sonic after the race and got some lunch before leaving for home. Here are the girls and baby brother! They were sure proud of their mommy!

Caden and Sophia

Here we are doing what we do best! We decided to try out next year...........NOT!

The End