And then there were THREE

LJ and I are excited to announce the newest addition to our family!  We told our families on Thanksgiving that I am pregnant with our first baby.  My official due date is June 14th.  We are nervous and excited but will keep you updated!

NEA Director

I was recently elected as NEA Director from the state of Idaho. This means I represent the 12,000 IEA Members on the National Education Association Board of Directors.  I am excited and humbled by this opportunity.  We had the first Board Meeting and Training last week in Washington D.C.  It was a busy week.  I learned a little bit more about my responsibilities, made tons of friends, and learned a lot.  I am excited to do the advocacy work for students and teachers at the National Level.  We have 4 Board Meetings a year along with the annual meeting in the summer, so I will be traveling a lot more.  I look forward to sharing my adventures and learning with all of you!  

In one of the hearing rooms

My new friend Jenni from Nebraska

Disneyland & California Adventure

We spent two days in California Adventure and Disneyland before the race.  I just have to say that Disneyland is still the happiest place on earth.  I love it there.  I love everything about being in the theme park.  I love the rides, the characters, the atmosphere, the music.  It makes me feel like a kid all over again.  

I didn't take as many pictures in Disneyland because we were so busy running form ride to ride which made me very sad.  I guess I will just have to go back!  

Disneyland Half Marathon 2011

LJ and I spent Labor Day Weekend in California with his brother Jake and his wife Kim.  We went down to run the Disneyland Half Marathon.  The race started at 6:00am in Downtown Disney, wound through California Adventure, Disneyland, and then to the streets of Anaheim.  We also got to run through Angels Stadium.  That was my favorite part of the run.  I didn't run my fastest time but it was still fun and a great event for all Disneyland Lovers.  

 Pre-race

 Post-race

Montana 2011

LJ and I at the Big Hole

Four-wheeling on the North Fork of Sheep Creek

Staining the Cabin

The kids love the four-wheelers especially the Rhino!

Fishing was popular this year

LJ's driftboat he built!

Clint taking a gander at rowing

LJ rowing away

Kori

LJ, Kody, and Clint in a deep discussion

Jack fishes

Cache loved the water and the Big Hole!

Mom protects Kenzie- she was not very fond of the Big Hole

The Big Hole

We made our annual trek to Montana this year for about ten days. The cabin is still as wonderful today as it was when we were kids. We ate too much, stayed up late, played Scrabble and Phase Ten, watched movies, sat in the sun, played in the water, hiked, went on four-wheeler rides, and made smores by the fire. It was awesome. LJ brought his wooden driftboat he built and was able to take it on 4 trips down the Missouri fishing. He loved it. It is a great accomplishment for him. He and Kody spent a day in town working on our truck- thank you Grandpa, Greg, and Myron for all of the help! Lynn, Greg, Grandma, Grandpa, Josh, Jason, Alexis were all able to come and spend time with us and we appreciated it. It is so fun to spend time with everyone!!! We missed Kris and Mat, but they are off on their own adventures and that is great! Until next year Montana-

Mermaids in the Basement

While in Chicago, I read my first book on my new IPAD using my Kindle App. I kinda liked it. Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West was a quick read. It is the story of a young woman who just lost her mom and step father who travels home to Alabama where she learns the secrets of her mother's past. The women in the story are funny, entertaining, and unique. Each character brings fun and flavor to the book and keeps the reader wanting more. I highly recommend for a fast, easy, and entertainging read.

Field Museum & Shedd Aquarium

The Field Museum & Shedd Aquarium sit on Lake Michigan in Chicago and they are AWESOME!! The Field Museum is huge! It houses thousands of species from all over the world as well as displays on the Egyptians, whales, horses, and DINOSAURS!! They have the world's most complete T-Rex skeleton, called Sue, along with other species from those periods. It is fascinating to see bones millions of years old. I was like a kid in a candy store.

The Aquarium was no less spectacular. They had dolphins, Beluga Whales, sea lions, sea otters, a shark reef with six different species, jelly fish, and hundreds of other fish species. I loved it!