High class trailer trash

That's right, we're now high class! Since we decided to stay in our smaller trailer instead of moving into a 5th wheel, we knew we would need more storage space once winter arrived. We had a couple options; buy a trailer to keep everything in, build a mud room or build a shed. We thought a lot about what to do. Buying a trailer would be nice because we would be able to not only move it but use it for many other things, like moving, hauling our imaginary toys, etc., for years. The downside, they cost a lot of money! With the mud room option, if we were to build it decent size it would cover up three windows on one side of our trailer. Three windows! That's a lot of light. Guess what we decided? Yep we got a shed! Because the price of lumber is so high here we could buy an 8 X 10 for the same price as building an 8 X 8! So we found a shed company in Montana that would deliver to us. I cannot tell you how much fun it was picking it out and waiting for it to be delivered. We didn't have to do much to get our spot ready but the anticipation was killing me. Finally, after waiting for 5 days it showed up.

 

The way they deliver these sheds is amazing! I have never seen anything like this before in my life. 

 

 

They show up on this trailer that slides them off, tilts only the shed they are dropping off, it can swivel to get the shed in at the right angle. It took about 10 minutes from the time the guy showed up 'til he was gone. Amazing I tell ya!

 

It has been SO nice with a shed. I was able to FINALLY empty my car out. Its been filled with boxes, chairs, bags, etc. since we moved. I love being able to see out of the back window now! I also spent a day rearranging things inside so now when you open a cupboard you don't have to worry that things will come spilling out. Bret has already built a work bench and has a mini fridge out there. I can now buy enough broccoli for two meals and not have to worry about where I'm going to shove it in the fridge. I can't wait until I have to buy milk, I'm going to buy TWO gallons! Just wait 'til we go to Costco...I'm going to stock up!

 

 

A few days after the shed went in Bret and I were getting ready for bed and he said "I think I want to build a deck tomorrow." I thought the idea was great but I really didn't think it would happen the next day. Little did I know that the next morning I would be turned into a painting slave. When I got back from dropping Haylee off at the bus stop Bret had everything unloaded and was already working. 

 

 

Maycie and I put our painting clothes on and got right to work.

 

 

She was such a big help!

 

While we were painting we decided to paint the skirting around the whole trailer. It looks SO much better! It was white before but it wasn't clean and always looked trashy.

 

Maycie really had tons of fun helping. I was surprised she stayed outside with us all day.

 

We worked so hard and just kept pushing through because we were having a birthday party that night for one of the neighbor boys. We had to get it done so we'd have somewhere to entertain!

 

Our finished project:

 

 

 

 

Mace just sat here for ever after we finished. She was exhausted!

 

I think my favorite part is the stairs. They are bigger than the trailer steps and I no longer feel like somebody is going to fall every time we go in or out.

 

We absolutely love how it turned out. It was fun working together, building something that we would actually use and enjoy. Since we finished it, we've had two birthday parties, a few late night gatherings and its my favorite spot to just sit in my camping chair and watch the girls play. Its also been a perfect place for teaching the girls to ride their balance bike.

 

I'm thankful to have a husband who knows how to build things. We would be stuck with dirt and rocks forever if he wasn't so handy!

Cascade Trip Part 2: On the River

RIVER DAY! The day I had been waiting for, for months! This was my first time running a river so I was excited and a little nervous all at once. I couldn't wait!

 

Getting the boats ready:

 

 

Haylee was an excellent helper!

 

About an hour into our ride, after an awesome set of rapids, we found this rock and did a little rock jumping.

 

 

Dallas: 

 

Jessica contemplating:

 

Jessica after she took the plunge: I love the look of shock on her face!

 

Romers: I like that it looks like he just kept walking off the rock and didn't notice it ended. Its like the cartoons where the guy walks off a cliff then realizes he's up in the air. Yeah, that's Romers.

 

Here's Courtie:

 

Bret:

 

This is the spot where the current pushed you:

 

Featherbury jumped too:

 

I jumped but there is not a picture of me :(

 

Rome and Titi:

 

I tackled Dallas in to the river once or twice. That's what sisters do.

 

Aww look how cute we are. Bret's actually half smiling, which is good!

 

Dallas and Jessica with a Featherbury photo bomb:

 

Our favorite river guy:

 

Day two:

After running this same part of the river  the day before, we knew the best spots to take pictures. Of course there are not any with rapids because we all got soaked!

 

This is the spot we put in at.

 

Rome, Courtie and Mom:

 

The guys carried the boat down the steep, slippery boat ramp behind Joe.

 

We saw a couple of these arches made out of stones along the banks of the river.

 

We saw Herrings, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles and a Momma duck with ducklings.

 

Back at Jumping Rock

 

Dad jumped:

 

Romers stalling...

 

We were able to talk Mom into jumping too!

 

They had to make sure her life jacket was tight enough, that's all.

 

Notice Bret's smile is slightly bigger than last time :)

 

Family picture!

Cascade Trip Part 1: At the Campground

From July 28th to August 2nd we had a Featherbury/ Bradstone Family River Trip/ Bountiful Second Ward Youth Camp. It was a bunch of stuff all rolled into one week and one campsite. We had SO much fun!

Saturday: My parents drove to Idaho .

Saturday afternoon, all night and most of the day Sunday: We drove.

Sunday: Dallas, Jessica, Camden, Bailey, Jerome and Courtney drove up.

Everybody but Laramie. Poor guy couldn't get off work. I was really looking forward to seeing him! It was fun seeing everybody else though. We hadn't seen each other since we moved.

Monday: Joe Featherbury, our adopted brother whose name is really Joe Featherstone, took us grown up kids on the river. My parents stayed back with the kids. Then we did some leisurely boating. 

Tuesday: Joe, Mom, Dad, Jerome, Courtney, Bret and I ran the river again while Dallas and Jessica stayed with all the kids.

Wednesday: Joe took Dallas and Jessica and some adults from the ward on the river. My dad, Bret, Haylee and I went golfing while my mom, Jerome and Courtney watched the kids.

Thursday: The Bradbury family spent the day in McCall. Then some real boating and tubing.

Friday: We all packed up and drove home.

Here is the beautiful campsite we had for the week. It was HUGE. It sat right on the edge of Cascade Lake which is the warmest lake I've ever been in!

Of course my dad brought the ring toss game thingy. This game has always been around, every family camping trip for as long as I can remember. I don't have pictures but Bret and I were the campions (get it- champions CAMPions haha). Yes, we beat Jerome and Courtney AND my parents! Too bad we didn't get to play against Dallas and Jessica. Next time!

Maycie was so happy to see my mom. She talked about Grandma Julie the entire drive down. She wanted to follow Grandma everywhere!

Here is the kitchen area.

And the camping pros, my dad and Mike.

I love this picture! Haylee and Camden were SOOOO excited to go camping with Josh. They kept asking when he would get there. It was hard keeping them away from him. He was there with the Young Men and had activities and classes to do with them but all four of these kids just wanted to play. We don't think of the Nobles as friends, they are family! We all do so much together that the kids don't understand why sometimes Josh isn't at my parents house when we have family dinner.

I love that Maycie would play this game all by herself. She would say "I won!" every time she got the ring in the hole. Oh lets not forget to talk about Jerome's Red Sox flag he hung on his tent. He's probably the only person I know who is prepared enough to bring a sports flag on a camping trip just to make a certain ward member angry. He put some serious thought into that. Right Romers? It wasn't just stashed away in your sleeping bag?

One day we made banana splits. The girls made their own!

We got shirts! That's how you know its a real party! Boys got blue, girls got pink.

Bailey stuck those feathers in her hair, I think its quite cute. She also makes this grumpy face if you ask her to, I love it! It was kind of sad, she didn't know me and it took her a whole week to warm up to me!

That's all for PART 1 but I have lots more for part 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Enjoy!