Moving to Twin Falls

Dan's job with the tribe was never great.  They were constantly telling all the white workers they were going to let them go if a member of the tribe wanted their job.  He was never appreciated and thrown under the bus several times when something would go wrong with a case against one of the counsel members.  He didn't like it.  But, he was willing to stick it out because we liked Vernal so much and were making plans to buy a house there.  However, when oil prices dropped and people started getting laid off things got a little worrisome since the tribe gets all their money from oil.  They sent out letters that the white workers would be the first to go if things didn't rebound.  Then, Dan was offered a job in Twin Falls, Idaho as a supervisor at Child Protective Services.  It came with a raise and a chance to move up in his career.  We talked long and hard and debated back and forth what we should do, and in the end decided it was best to move.  It was hard this time.  We had made so many really good friends in Vernal it was hard to leave.  Dalin, Braden, and Landon had a hard time too, and often talk about missing their friends.  We know this is the right direction for us, but it's still hard.  

I would've liked to get a picture with all of us and the whole house to remember where it was we lived, but things got a little crazy with people there helping us move and my parents trying to gather the boys up and take them to Ogden for us, so this is what we got.  I should've thought about it sooner than I did. 

Apparently with the oil field taking a huge hit, the boom was over.  Everyone gets out of Vernal as fast as they can when that happens.  Bring on the bust, which made it just a little difficult to get a moving van.  There simply wasn't one within two hundred miles of Vernal.  My parents had to pick one up in Ogden and drive it all the way down to us.  Can you believe that?  Crazy.  Our family was amazing to help us move.  We are blessed.

Dan and I really loved Vernal for so many reasons, but the small town and isolated feel were major down-sides.  I will forever have precious memories of the time we spent there and the people we met.  Vernal will be missed.

Camping at Mantua Camp Ground

Camping is a great way to spend summer.  We found this really great spot in Mantua, but alas my camera ran out of memory so I only got a couple of good shots.  I need to invest in a secondary memory stick.

We busted out the pool and the kids played for quite a while.

Me, Leslee, and Alyssa.  Plus baby Carter.

Why is Alyssa giving me a crusty?

Braden managed to find a sticker patch.  He might have had a few stuck to him.  So cute.

Three Little Kittens

We spent some time with Grandma Anne, and while we were there the kids found three little lost kittens hiding in the tall grass near the creek.  So they were adopted for a few days until proper homes could be found.  The boys were in hog heaven with those little buggers.  They loved on them for hours on end.  They fed them and played with them and napped with them in the sun.  It was fun for my boys, and then a neighbor came with their cute little kids and took them to their new home.

Dan with his mum.  

This kitty is just the right size.

Breakfast with the kitten.

As I said, they loved on these little guys.

Landon was trying to get the kitty to smile for the picture.

Dalin is trying to show me something, but I have no idea what it is.  Some bug or slug or something of that sort, no doubt.

He made his very own boat out of scrap wood that Grandpa Ron had lying about.  He made a sail out of Duct Tape and playing in the creek for hours.

Summer days will always be remembered.  We have a good life.

4th of July

This year we went camping for the 4th of July.  It was chilly and rainy, but we managed to have fun and spent a good deal of time by the fire.  That's my job whenever we go camping.  I tend the fire.  

Trying to dry out our sopping wet shoes.

He takes some sort of knife everywhere we go.  Funny boy.  We do a lot of talking about knife safety.  He likes to whittle little pieces of wood.

Hmmm....

Cute kids.

Once it got dark we headed home and lit some fireworks.  The sparklers are always fun.

Good times at the Roper house.