Da Boys

I know I'm a pretty kitty

Simon waves hello

Congratulations KR!

Happy Birthday Dad

(And early Birthday Greg!)

Our Trek Across Wyoming

Most of you have heard about our spring break adventure, but I'll give you the illustrated play by play. (Sorry it's kinda long.) We originally planned to leave early Tuesday morning after KR got off work in Mountain Home and go straight through, which would have got us to Cheyenne by dinner time. Monday night however, KR was informed that he had to go in front of a board on Wednesday afternoon since he was nominated for Airman of the Quarter. There was no way out of this so we were forced to push back our trip. (Fortunately we were able to arrange to come home a day later too.) So Wed. at about 5pm we left from Mountain Home and still planned on driving straight through to get there about 3am. We knew a "Spring" storm was supposed to hit but we just hoped we could still beat it leaving a day late. Roads were clear as can be until we reached Evanston (we barely coasted in on fumes too, whew) where they got really bad until Little America until where it turned completely clear again. By this time Greg had called to inform us that I-80 had just been closed at Rock Springs. When we got to Rock Springs, we decided to camp out up by the gate in line with all the other cars and semis-I guess we were hoping it would open soon or something. We spent the whole night in the car and when it was evident in the morning that nothing was happening, we went in to town and had breakfast and then checked back. Also by this time all the other passes on the way to Cheyenne were closed too. We spent as long as we could in the Rock Springs Mall and in Wal-Mart and had nothing to do but take a nap in the car in a parking lot. So by about 1:30 or so, we figured we might as well get a hotel room for the night and enjoy ourselves. We got a hotel room and started enjoying cable when Greg called us not 20 minutes later saying they had just opened I-80 from Rock Springs but it was still closed at Rawlins 91 miles away. We decided to chance it since we felt it was likely Rawlins could open up any time too. Luckily they gave us our money back at the hotel and we hit the road along with the thousands of other cars and trucks. The sudden traffic on the still-slick highways proved to be too much for some and there were several bad wrecks-mostly with semi trucks. A few looked ripped in half and others tipped on their sides. The roads were still very dangerous and slick. After inching along FOREVER between walls of trucks,

we came to a dead stop for an hour and 20 minutes! Our 91 mile drive took over 4 hours! It was such a waste. Luckily KR had his sunflower seeds to keep him busy since he did most of the driving

the whole trip. And it was a good thing we had an empty bottle in the car when he had to go to the bathroom during that long stop!

So to continue this long saga... we knew by this time it was getting late and the next section of the highway was still closed (and they closed the roads behind us and going in the other directionas well) so we knew we would be stuck in Rawlins. We started calling around to all the hotels and motels before we got there and they were all full. We were really wishing we had stayed in our cozy hotel room in Rock Springs. We could have had a shower, warm bed, gone to a movie and had fun! Indeed when we arrived, all of the hotels in Rawlins were full (and there were quite a few for such a small town probably b/c this happens a lot). The last place we checked referred us to the police who were informing everyone of a Red Cross Shelter for the stranded travelers. It was supposed to be around zero degrees that night and they didn't want people staying in their cars. The best part of the night was that in the little town of Rawlins, there was a delicious Thai restaurant! We had ourselves some fine sticky rice and peanut sauce, eggrolls and curry before heading to the shelter. There were about 100 people there; older couples, college coeds, families with kids, etc. We were too late to get a cot, so we landed some mats on the floor. It was warm but not what I'd call comfortable. It did make me appreciate the Red Cross more though now that we have been recipients of their aid.
About 8:00 the next morning, they announced that the road had opened. Everyone cheered of course and hurried outta there. We decided to avoid the rush this time and have a greasy breakfast at McD's first. About 8:30 or so we got on the road. The sun had come out and it was a beautiful day. The roads were 10 times better than what we had been driving on the day before, but you could see the leftover wrecks along the sides. It was clear sailing all the way to Cheyenne! At Last! It was good to finally get there. I'm sure our poor car thought so too.

We had a lot of fun in Cheyenne, hanging out, shopping, watching movies and eating some yummy homecookin! We busted some old games (Scattergories, Balderdash, Cranium, Mousetrap, Heimlich & Co. - couldn't remember how to play these two) We had a pretty good Crossfire tournament too.
Obviously, Greg found it pretty intense

and suspenseful!!

But the sharp shooter was calm under pressure

Mom and her "Magic Glove" were some tough competition!

NOW FOR SOME IMPORTANT NEWS!!

At the end of the summer of 2004, Greg and Emily played for the all time Foosball championship, of which Greg was the winner. He has been the reigning champ until his fateful decision on Sunday, April 1st to play Emily again with the title at stake. Let it be known that Emily clobbered Greg and is now the Foosball Champion!!!! (Okay, I didn't really clobber him - it was close! :))

Monday, our trip had to come to an end. At least our drive home was timely and uneventful, with little to complain about except that after seeing a million billboards advertising 50 cent ice cream cones at Little America, the ice cream counter was closed. What a rip off!
Ike was sad to see us go well he couldn't really SEE us go, but you know what I mean. :) Love you Ike!

Thanks for the good time Mom, Brent, Greg, Ike & Crush!

It was all worth it! :)

ya can't be any geek off the street- gotta be handy with the steel if ya know what I mean - earn ya keep...

Yesterday we went out shooting with our friend Brandon. It was my first time using my new gun (Glock 17 9mm) & KR's first time trying the gun he just bought himself (Smith & Wesson M&P .40). We went to a free shooting range that's out in the middle of nowhere amongst the rolling farmland. It was such a nice day too - a balmy 75 degrees in March! It was a lot of fun! I realized that it wasn't as easy as they make it look on TV. :) KR & Brandon constructed several targets to shoot at and I was a little disappointed that I couldn't hit the spots that I would aim at, but at least I didn't miss the target completely either. Takes practice I guess. KR is much better.

my name is emily and i am a chapstickaholic

Friday night we put on a Variety Show for a ward activity. People sang, played the piano or other instruments, danced, did skits, told stories, etc. We also invited people to bring things to display around the room. I brought my chapstick collection. It was definitely different than what most other people brought and I got a lot of comments. Hey, it's one of my only talents- I'm pretty good at chapstick!

236 total (mostly used, but about 25 new or half-used)

Beautiful Birds

A couple Saturdays ago, we went to The Peregrine Fund - World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise. Just south of Boise is the Snake River Canyon where "more eagles, hawks, and falcons nest each spring in greater concentrations than at any other place in North America." It is a huge migration area for raptors and waterfowl. Pretty cool. The Peregrine Fund is a conservation agency working to preserve endangered birds of prey. Anyways, we went to their visitor center which is like a mini museum/bird zoo. These are some of the birds we saw....

These are stuffed

Obviously

A Long Time Ago In a Land Far Away Called Texas...

I know these pictures of KR's and Greg's Basic Training are long overdue, but better late than never right?

July 2005
So Skinny!
KR lost 15-20lbs and also more hair but looked cute as ever.

K and his good buddy Nick Majors from Alabama.

Nick's wife Jennifer and I hit it off as well.
On one of Airman Kirkendall's "Town Pass" Days, we went to downtown San Antonio and saw the sights. Here we are in front of the Alamo. We took a boat ride tour around the Riverwalk too. It was interesting but so stinkin' hot and humid (it was 4th of July weekend) that it was painful at the same time. I could never live in San Antonio!

April 2006


Now it's Greg's turn. Same stinkin' San Antonio weather but add some wind this time and subtract a few degrees of heat.


Greg pushing Abby on the way into Sea World San Antonio to see the dolphins, the "penguini" and of course Shamu!


Obviously Abby had a great time and was left speechless! (for a moment (below)) :)

Greg was a little tuckered out. Ahh, finally some freedom to fall asleep without getting in trouble!

Airman Wardle Cartoon

Cats on Ice

For several months now, our backyard pond has been frozen over. The cats enjoy ice skating on its surface. Even I can walk onto the pond! When the temperature warms up, we will find out whether or not the fish survived underneath the ice layer.

Ooh Look, A New Toy

We got a treadmill and the cats can't seem to figure it out. They are sometimes brave enough to jump on and ride it until they fall off the end, but usually they stand on the side and paw at it trying to stop or "catch" the belt. Or they sit at the end and look underneath trying to see where the belt is going. It's pretty funny. Occasionally they will stay walking on it for 5-10 seconds, but other than that, they've decided it's a good napping spot (when it's off of course).