This is why smart farmers can't set off fireworks in our little rural area because some usmart people went down in a very sagebrushy area and set off fireworks and caught the whole basin on fire. These pictures are taken from Corrales' home looking toward the north (Othello) on N Wahluke. This is Satakes' home. The flames were close and yes the local farmers who set out fireworks later that evening were given a ticket for it. Sad that people have to ruin it for everyone!!
Ok these pictures are all out of order and it's hard to tell the story but it's to difficult to move everything around so good luck!!
You drove through this flag drapped over the park entrance.
Ok, odd to have this in the parade but last night I saw it again coming off the flat bed because someone lit fireworks off down in the draw below Davidsons and Klinkers old house and caught the whole place on fire. It burned right up to Odermotts house, Satakes house, right along N. Wahluke, Grays house. The firefighters were working all day long.
If you look at the people on the ground you can kind of get the feel for how large this flag is. And I didn't know that Othello and Connell both had ladder trucks?!!
Brianna Casper spraying people down. It was a silent parade except when all of our trucks came out (district 4) then they started honking, sirens, spraying. All the fun things we usually do.
This firetruck came all the way from Issaqua. They were from the fartherest away but we also had trucks from Wenachee, Pasco, Kennewick, Benton Co, Adams Co, Grant Co, Dayton, Spokane, Washtucna, fish and game, Hanford-I can't remember all the places they came from.
This funky truck was from Issaqua. The driver of it graduated from Connell or has ties to this area. He flew in to drive it. Apparently only the very important have gotten a firetruck that looks like this because they haven't been issued yet?? The fireman that was coordinating the beginning of the parade told me that.
John Rose (yes Erica your mid wife) and his COOL golf cart fire truck with his grandkids.
Some kind of hot rod that has no trannie. It just gets up and goes, so it had to be pushed by a 4-wheeler.
Purple people eater-that ran out of gas during the parade. It was in front of all the fire truck so they were backed up behind it. Chet B. (firefighter who died) built it to be a in crash up derby.
Ms. North Franklin float
We fed 500 people at the park. We planned for 1500 so there was alot of food left over. The biggest problem we have is not all the community came. The line of cars was INCREDIBLE going down to the park. So that might have discouraged people from coming. Go to Tri-City herald dot com to see the article. The parade went off without a hitch. I'm pretty high strung and like things organized. I had some additional help and they were way more laid back. I don't think mom took any pictures but alot of my of facebook friends did so I will get some pictures from there.Yep, I was co-in charge of the BC parade this year again. It was on the large scale because we had a fire fighter die in the line of duty and the firefighters from around the state came to honor him. We had 87 emergency vehicles in our parade, tripling the size of it. (at least) Here are some pictures taken by the Tri-City Herald. I left my camera at home!! In this picture Bode is on the bottom of the screen by the pink chair. Eric, mom, Brek and I are all standing back behind the blue pick-up. Lexi is standing behind the flag. All you can see of her are her legs.
Summer is in this picture with her back to us. She is wearing red with the red, white and blue ribbons in her hair. She was serving food (watermelon).
This is a picture of all the fire trucks parked down at the park. It was really cool to see.
It's Summer's birthday today. She got 2 pairs of jeans, 1 pair of capris, mascara, lip gloss and blush and some nail polish. She also got the traditional towel. She gets to go away to girls camp for the week and then next week go get her ears pierced. Do you think she will cry? Ki took pictures of her blowing out candles yesterday so I will get them and post them.
I never felt really angry about what happened to my brother. I never hated the person who took his life but oh how I despice the fact that people choose everyday to drink and then drive. I've thought alot about my brother's accident about how it not only changed my family's life, Sara's life, Luke's life, the man who ran him over life, Kollin's co workers' lives but did you know that night (this night three years ago) someone held him as his spirit left his body, her life is forever changed. His accident was so violent and from what little we can gather, his body was thrown into moving traffic where someone else hit him, that person's life is changed forever. Yes, I'm angry about drinking and driving. I want to shack people by their shoulders and say. "please don't do this." But I also want my children to look back at this and realize how one decision can affect so many people. So when my teenager is thinking this one time won't hurt anyone but me, that's not true. Or when they think, me making this one right decision isn't going to matter, that's not true either. Each decision we make will impact those around us. Many decisions we make will directly impact our families, parents, siblings, grandparents and future children. Some decisions we make will impact complete strangers. So it does matter what you do, how you treat people and the thinking of "this isn't going to hurt anyone, or it will only affect me" isn't proper thinking. I'm sad. I'm sad for my parents. I'm sad for Sara and Luke. I'm sad for the man who killed my brother. I'm sad for the lady who held him at the end of his life. I'm sad. But I'm also at peace in the fact that I know I can see him again. That Sara can hug him again. That Kollin can take Luke into his arms and tickle him and tease him and look into Luke's eyes and tell him that he loves him. That my parents can hold their son again. That my children can know their uncle. I'm grateful for the knowledge and peace that the gospel brings. Do I want to shout from the rooftops think before you drink, you bet. But I also know that Kollin is happy and busy and moving forward in his eternal progress. I love you!!
minus any pictures because for some reason I was kind of in charge and I didn't have time to take any pictures. I hope that I can find some some where. Anyway, Summer will no longer have to grace the halls of Basin City Elementary because she is officially a 7th grader. She did SOOOO much better on her report card this last time. She worked really hard and made sure she got all her work turned in on time and done, etc. We are proud of how far she has come. In a few weeks she will be turning 12 and going to girls camp for her first mutual activity. She also gets to wear make up and get her ears pierced. She's very excited about that..oh yeh, and she gets a pair of high heeled shoes!!
came and went. She did get a towel and 2 new dresses and to go to her first stake dance, which she only danced one dance at. I hope that she gets braver and asks some boys to dance so she can just have a good time. 
She also spent all day making this necklace out of a bracelet that Erica gave her and flowers and ribbon.
I think she was ready to move on to Mia Maids. She was the Pres of Beehives. She is busy playing vb and bb this summer. She has vb camp this week, bb camp at Gonzaga next week and then girls camp the week after that!! She's got alot going on. She was also selected or asked to be in the high school select choir (I think that is what it is called). She's not sure if she wants to do it though because it takes so much time but she also gets credit for it so it might be worth it. We're glad that we have Lexi in our lives. She's fun, ambitious and keeps us moving but really likes to be at home with us too.
about my Sisters' week but I forgot my camera and so I don't have any pictures. Can you make a blog without any pictures?? I will leave a schedule of what we did.
Mon-arrived, started working in Mijken's front flowerbed. Got a foot cleansing bath that night.
Tues-worked in Mijken's yard, cooked and ate alot.
Wed-went thrifting and shopping, got clothes for 2 birthday girls this month. Ate at a fun restuarant.
Thurs-recovered from shopping, went shopping again in Jerome at a thrift store and Walmart (always have to have a trip to wally world) worked in Mijken's yard and finished it up.
Fri-left for home
While I was gone my kids
Brek-went with me. Played with his cousins. Didn't hardly eat anything. Cried and ate popsickles in the middle of one night from 11:30-1.
Bode-went with me. Played with cousins, beat them up. Didn't see him eat much either. Was sad to have to go back to 6-yes count them 6-more days of school. But he has a birthday party tonight to attend so he was happy about that.
Summer-stayed home, went to school until Fri when she left with my dad to come to Id and then on to Wy for Wes' baptism. Have no idea what she did. Hopefully she got her homework done!!
Lexi-stayed home, went to school and ball practice. I have no idea what she did. Hopefully she got her homework done!!
Eric-stayed home and worked, I guess?!! If you want to see pictures all my sisters have posted some. You can go here, here and here.
Bode, Brek and I were the only ones home to see Bode blow out his candle on his cupcake. He wanted cupcakes instead of a cake for his birthday.
Brek has found the kittens. We have 2 mammas that had 7 babies between the 2 of them. At first they weren't together and in fact the babies were born about 10 day-2 weeks apart.
But they found each other and rented an apartment together under the stairs and that's where they are living. I was concerned about the 3 big kitties getting all the vittles but the 4 littles have held there own. I think there is always a mamma there babysitting except when the lawn mower goes by or the baby comes. So if you've seen that movie Monsters v Aliens, one of the characters says what do they call you when they see you coming? The star girl monster says "Susan"-Oh Susan, I even scared myself-other monster replies. Well, by the look of these kitties faces what do you call the monster when you see him. OH HAIR PULLER!! TAIL BITER!! Doesn't Brek look like a huge gianormic monster compared to the little fluffly babies!!
I have a 7 year old in my house today. Bode turned 7, well actually at 10:02 tonight he will be 7. Here are some pictures of his gift opening, birthday snake for his class. Why do I even try to make cakes?? Why don't I learn?? 
New bike, hopefully we won't run it over. It's much taller, he quickly out grew his last bike.
Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day. I had a busy Mother's Day. First church-but I didn't have to teach my lesson, YW always teach on Mother's Day so moms can go to RS. Then lunch at the Freeman's. Amy and Craig came along with Jason and his kids, Ray and Di and their kids, Troy and Robin and their kids and us. We left at 4 to come home to make dinner for mom and dad. They thought they would be there be 5. When we pulled into our driveway, they were sitting in their car. Had a fun dinner with them. They went home fairly early-probably needing to recover from church and prison. Then we watched Amazing Race-disappointing!! Cowboys took 2nd. So sad. And there's a little contraversary. Will be interesting to see if anything happens with that whole thing. I got 2 cards, one from Eric that all the kids signed and one for Lexi. I also got a promise of trees which I have to dig the holes for and plant but that's ok.
I dreamed all night about my rag doll dog being flopped around by those big dogs. It was awful. I wonder what my kids were dreaming about it. I finally had to start singing my feel-good song (you know, when you're a youth, you're supposed to get a good song in your head, know all the lyrics so that when times get tough, you can think of that song and it can help you. Mine is I am a Child of God) anyway, I finally started singing my feel good song and was able to sleep. My neighbors have said nothing more to us. The neighbor did ask if Trig was ok-right after I put him in the shed. I didn't know then. He was all covered with slobber and I couldn't see any gushing wounds. So I told him I didn't know. I would look later when things had calmed down. That's all I've gotten out of them. The dog is ok. He doesn't seem to have any problems. He's still all sticky from slobber. I guess if those dogs were killing dogs they would have done him in because he was out numbered and they threw him around like nothing. Next time. I using the sharp end of the hoe and the shot gun, hopefully there won't be a next time. One other sad happening. You know one of my favorite things, my fake diamonds that I got for Christmas for myself, Well, my kid wore them to school and only can home with one earring and one necklace. All those times I wore them, probably twice a week since Christmas-she wears them one time to school and looses an earring!! AHHHH!! That makes me want to cry!! I'll have you know it's that time of year for my yearly visit to the down there doctor. Truly my cup over floweth at the thought of it!!
We have new neighbors (which I haven't been over to see or meet yet-I know, slacker!!). They have some very big, fluffly dogs, really cute -a Camel one (that his name) and a black one-didn't hear that one's name. Well, they paid a visit to us today. Well, actually to our yippy, Trigger dog. Yeh, Trig didn't stand a chance. Of course, he is still chained up so he got in his house. They came into. Of course, I wasn't really wanting to get into a dog fight so I proceeded to hit them on the back with a hoe-didn't even faze them. I ran into the house to get the gun, got the wrong gun-a 22 doesn't make enough noise. Meanwhile, Trig was able to get out of his house and brake his chain and start running as fast as he could. Of course, they caught him and started chewing on him some more. Shot the gun in the air twice. Yeh, wrong gun but I think that is what got the neighbor to finally notice his dogs were in our yard. My two whole bullets were shot so I picked up a brick and started throwing it at them. That finally connected and hurt them a little. Trig was able to get under the trailer and the owner was able to semi contain his dogs. I was able to get Trig locked up in the pump house and he drug his dogs home to lock them up. The kids, except Lexi, were crying. Lexi had brought a hoe to beat them with that didn't work. I told her to get away in case attack turned on us. I also sent her in the house for the shotgun. But here's the funnies of the story. Have lost a wee bit of blatter control due to babies, I had a slight (just slight, not full blown) accident from swinging the hoe and throwing bricks. But the best thing was when I shot the 22 in the air, I actually hit a bird (or I should say chicken because all birds are called chickens by Brek). I shot randomly in the air and killed a bird!! Can you believe it??!!! Kind of funny!! 
On further inspection, the supposed chicken that I killed was all dead and crusty and has been for a while. The cat must have killed it not me. So I guess I'm not as good a shot as I thought. The dog covered with slobber.
Not much happening around here. Eric is feeling quite well other than he can't move his arm. His pain is fine. He really doesn't have any. He's down to 2 doses of meds a day and really isn't sure if he needs them or not. The biggest problem is, he can't move his arm. It difficult doing things like getting dressed, bathing, etc. which I have to help him with. Which takes time because I have to bathe and dress everyone else !-} So he's on my time!! We did go out and check fields yesterday. I was the driver, shovel carrier, door opener (the wind blew about 85 miles/hour) dirt turner. I just didn't check the dirt for moisture. I need to get some irrigators!!
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