Party of Five

find us here...

2011-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

Two blogs are impossible. One is challenging enough - so if you are interested - you can find us here: www.fresh-tomatoes.blogspot.com

THANKS!

Jess

Halloween 2010

2010-10-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Just a few pics from our Halloween Party .... just in case you were interested in the "reveal"

We had a RIOT and Aunt Jemima & her waffle won the Costume Contest!

Oh Yeeaahhh!!!!

more recent pics of the fam. . .

2009-06-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

My sweet sis-in-law Kellie

Three of my favorite people - they're crazy and I love that about them. Wish we had more time together like this. We are very close and have sooo much fun together. Love your guts!

Our Happy Fam - Easter Sunday

The "CREW" Easter Morning.

Jack, Gracie & Hadley - Easter Sunday

Gracie - this is what she insisted on wearing to hunt for eggs. She's such a funny girl.

Hadley & Jackson participated in a 1 mile race - these are their medals.

Hadley and her friends the last day of school.

Summer - full speed ahead . . .

2009-06-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Well, summer is here, not officially, but the kids are hope and we've not stopped to take a breath. We've had a great year and have been so busy that I haven't been able to post anything forever. Here are some fun pics of our year and more recent activities. I'll try to do better to keep this updated.

Our fresh tomatotes business is going great. We are busier than I think Mom or I expected, but thrilled with the response and support we've received. We are working on new bags and getting some help with production so we can get this thing moving . .. be sure to keep your eye on our blog: http://www.fresh-tomatoes.blogspot.com/. We'll keep you updated with upcoming parties, events and our newest, hottest fresh tomatoes!

Our first OPEN MARKET fresh tomatoes party - It was a riot!

Annie's Wedding - We don't get together like this very often - Love you guys!
Greg on his machine - bear/turkey hunting - he's loves the mud.
Hadley and some friends on a field trip to the zoo.

2009-03-20T08:57:00.001-07:00

Fresh Tomato Bags ---- COMING SOON!

Want to show your support? Please add a fresh tomato button to your blog by doing the following:

Go to your blog layout, add a gadget, add html, paste the code below in the large box. You can name the button fresh tomatoes (but it is not required). Save the code to your blog and it should show up on your blog.

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Please let me know if you have any problems with the code.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

HAPPY HAUNTS this year!

2008-11-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

We had a riot with Halloween this year. We enjoyed the annual trunk-or-treat at the church and decided to throw our own Halloween party. It was great and good times were had by all - we hope! Here are some pics to share!

The Taylors - Jan is a nudist on strike, Brian is a party-pooper

Greg & Gracie - He looks more like a Ted Nugent wanna-be!

Amy & Gracie

The Pickston's

The Stanger's - Fruit of the Loom Fam

Danika & her brew

Brad & Madline

2008-10-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

Haystack Rock (no, Greg's hand is not dead)

Proposal Rock -

Waterfall Hike - It was awesome!

I'm a real goonie now!

ARrrggghh! I love my pirate.

I don't have a lot of time to elaborate on our trip to Oregon, but let me just say it was absolutely wonderful. The kids had a great time with Nanny and Greg & I had some much fun just being together. We did a lot of site seeing and driving, but that's what we like to do - we're total road-trippers and I have missed being on the road with him.

Here are a few pics of our adventures on the West Coast.

New do's for a New DAY!

2008-09-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Kelly started this one . . . I thought it was hilarious and found myself quite entertained for - oh well, let's just say too long! Give it a try - what a crack up, huh!

Dress-Up Time!

2008-09-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

We have noticed Gracie playing dress-up in Hadley's clothes so we decided to pull out Hadley's old dress up collection. It was so fun to watch Gracie and Hadley play together.

THIS GIRL LOVES TO DANCE

The last days of summer . . .

2008-09-06T08:42:00.001-07:00

I know that the last official day of summer is not here yet, but in Boise it is definitely starting to turn to fall and I LOVE IT! We had fun with the kids after church just hanging out in the front yard. Greg was washing out some coolers from our camp trip and we ended up soaking wet an hour later. There are a lot of pics of Grace, but she was really putting on a show for everyone.

This is Gracie's Roboto dance.

The Blessed Day Has Come!

2008-09-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am hearing the angels sing from on high. The day has come for the kids to head back to school. They were both sooo excited for school to start. We had a wonderful time together this summer, but it was definitely time for them to get back into a firm schedule and school, school, school! We went to back to school night and met their teachers. They are both very happy with their teachers and I think we will have another great year. I am so glad these two love school. They both enjoy pretty much everything about it - hope that lasts. The night before Greg gave Hadley & Jackson a blessing for the new year. I love that he is the type of Dad to do that for his kids. It is a special time for our family. After Greg was finished Gracie jumped right up on the chair where the other two had sat and said, "Me!". She was not about to have us end the night without her having her turn as well. It was so sweet. I forget about these little ones and how they are watching. It was a very special night for our family here at home. Here are some pics of their frist day of school. The sun was shining right in their eyes, so there not the best pics - but pretty cute anyways!

I was worried about Jackson finding his way to his class the first day, but he would not let me drive him to school. So I sent them off on the bus and headed straight to the school without their knowledge. I was trying to just stay back and spy on Jackson, but he totally busted me. He was cute about it. He said, "Mom, what are you doing here? Do you miss me already?". I told him I was just excited for him and couldn't stand not seeing where his class was. He kindly escorted me to where his backpack was right in front of his classroom door. Hadley had helped him find his way with no probs. He was a cool about it as anything. So glad they have each other. She so good to watch over him. Lucky lil' guy.

By the end of the day Gracie had changed out of her clothes into her pajamas and insisted on wearing her backpack to wait for the kids to get home.

August Rush!

2008-09-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Wow. I cannot believe how busy the month of August has been for us. It has just flown by and we have been having so much fun together. I am trying to get us caught up with pics, etc. so bear with us!

Earlier this month we went up to Banks, Idaho with some friends to swim in the Payette river. It was really a lot of fun. We took up lunches and goodies and just let the kids swim and play in the sand. It was a nice quick 30 minute drive up there. The kids were able to jump off a dive rock and swim out to a sand bar as well. Good times were had by all.

Then we headed up to Garden Valley for the old Ward Campout. That was quite the experience to say the least. We had a pretty small area for the entire ward to share with only two small camp fire pits. One of which were taken over by dutch oven cooks. It was a public campground so lucky for us we had our tent pitched right next to the all-night partiers. We were able to hear all sorts of lovely obscenities along with the sounds of them puking their guts out all night. Hmmm. . . . our poor Bishop was probably up all night stirring about it. The kids had a blast and enjoyed hiking around the mountain. We headed up with our friends the Garrisons. Here are some pics of the night.

The rain came down . . .

2008-07-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

We were hit last week with a major rain storm. It was a riot to watch and listen to. There was hail the size of a large pea. Our street flooded and the kids were dying to get out there in run in it. I thought that would be a bad idea with the thunder and lightning - so they watched from the front door - along with Hadley's besty, Marissa.

I am so excited to finally get my latest project done. I have been working on preparing Gracie's room for the big change. We are going to be moving her from her crib (sigh) into a big-girl bed. I can't believe that she is ready for that. It makes me a little sad to move her, but it is time. She is always trying to climb out and seems to get her arms and legs stuck between the bars - not a good way to wake up! So here is "the tree". I am pretty happy with it. I don't know if our "hoot" owl will stay -I'm not totally sold on him and I may put a couple retro-style love birds in his place. I have added a hanging birdhouse since I took this picture on the right side and I love what that has added to the tree. Gracie loves this tree and she really loves birds. There are quail that live here and they sit up on the roof right in front of her window. She gets so excited when she sees them - so this is what inspired the "bird/tree" theme for her room. I am thinking about painting a picket fence around part of the room - but I don't want it to be overdone. Any suggestions? H m m m m . . . am I totally crazy? Yes, probably so - but painting has become something I love and it is cheap therapy.
More to come . . .

I love Summer days!

2008-07-19T18:14:00.001-07:00

We had a great day today, just being home, enjoying the sun, diggin' in the dirt, and just speding time together.

I am so excited to have finally gotten my flower basket hung in my front window. Here is a picture - I couldn't wait to share!

Nicole had a cute idea while playing with her new camera and she shared some pictures of the flowers in her yard. They take some TLC and it feels so great to watch them grow. I love planting and never thought I would enjoy working on the yard so much. I have gone from loving shopping for clothes to an obsession with flowers - not sure which is safer. Here are some of my fav's in the yard.

We had a fun morning playing in the bathroom. Gracie was playing in make-up and we put these earings on her. She loves playing in my jewelry and stuff.

These two have so much fun together. I can't believe how old Jackson looks in the picture. I am so glad summer days are long . . . this is a day I could dwell in for the length of many days. I am so blessed.

It's good to be Home!

2008-07-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well. . . we have finally landed after a very busy 6 weeks. I think things will start to slow down for us now so we can kick back and enjoy the summer.

We recently ventured off to Island Park for a week to do some good old campin'. We went old-school this year and stayed in an old army tent. Hmm . . . should've taken some pics. It was an experience to say the least with nights at about 40 degrees and more mesquitos than I have seen in a very long time. But I survived and realized what a wuss I have become. Greg loves the outdoors and roughin' it. I like warm showers, flushing toilets, access to the internet and tv. I can't help it. I am what I am. The kids, however had the time of their lives. They love it up there and enjoy being with their cousins. Greg spent most of his time skiing. Here are some pics - he's pretty awesome, I have to say. That ol' boy has still got it!

Hadley suprised us and tried skiing this year for the first time ever. I don't know how these guys could stand getting in the water, it was so cold this year. They had snow up in Island Park about a month ago and so there is still ice cold run-off emptying into the reservoire. Here she is with her Dad helping her. She got up pretty quickly, but wasn't able to stand. This was great and we were so excited. Her Dad couldn't have be prouder!

Most of the time the older two played in the water while Gracie played in the dirt. We tried putting Gracie in the boat with the other two. This is the end result.

A good time was had by all, even Mom. The food was fabulous, thanks to all of the good cooks we have in the family. Here are some fun pics of our trip in Island Park other wise known as Greg's Paradise!

It's been a long time, been a long time, been a LONG. . .

2008-07-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well. . . if I were to play catch up from the last two months this would take me forever so here's the short version:
End of March - Jess & kids take trip to Utah for Spring Break. Greg home building shed. Pipe breaks, kitchen floods - what a mess. $10,000 worth of damage to our floors. Builder filed bankruptcy (like everyone else) - THANK GOODNESS FOR INSURANCE.
April - demolition of floors & flooding issues in house. What a mess. Lived with exposed subfloor - Oh how I hate subflooring!
Early May - Stay at hotel for final stage of wood floor repair. We went hot-tubbing - everyone gets FOLICULITIS. Yes, disgusting and a total nightmare stay.
End of May - We were able to come home to visit during the week of Memorial Day. It was nice to be able to spend more time with family. Wish we could have seen our friends. I went to Las Vegas with Mom, Kate and Kellie. We had a blast. Here are just a few pics of our trip.

We did a lot of the Vegas "touristy" stuff. This was Katie's first time in Vegas and it was so fun to watch her. She was like a kid in the candy store. The highlights of our trip were B-I-N-G-O, winning big on the penny slots at the Venetian - favorite slots were The Wizard of Oz & Stampede, shopping at the outlets (I finally splurged and bought myself a beautiful new Coach bag - I LOVE IT!), and it was great just being together. I love you guys! I hope we do this again.

Greg ventured off to the lovely land of Mesquite. Why Mesquite? Well, I'm still not sure, but he was able to meet up with some of his old mission buds that he hasn't seen for a long time. Here are some of his pics - they did some shootin', some hikin', and we'll leave the rest up to the imagination.

We returned home to find everything well. It was a fun and very busy week.
The kids are now finished with school and trying to adjust to summer. Jackson is a little lost without school . He really enjoyed himself this year. Hadley is doing her best to keep busy, and Gracie is so happy to have her people home.
We'll be back in Utah the end of June for a quick 3-day weekend for a baby blessing. We're not sure when we'll be back after that. Gas prices are a killer right now and I think we'll finish the summer here in Boise. We'd love to have visitor's if anyone gets a wild hair and wants to leave for an easy trip up here!
Love to you all, for now - Jess

Viva Las Vegas

2008-07-12T09:26:00.001-07:00

Well . . . I have not posted anything for a very long time and I'm actually posting this blog from Las Vegas. I am here with my Mom, sister Katie, and sis-in-law Kellie. We drove down on Tuesday and will be here until Saturday. We are having a blast and lovin' the weather. We were able to see the Bodies exhibit. Wow, that was amazing. We also saw a show called Defending the Caveman. We loved it and I love my caveman (Greg). We have played some slots and done pretty well - which means none of us have lost too much. We all have found our favorite slot which is The Wizard of Oz. We had a delish buffet at Paris. I was surprised to see how things have changed since I came here with Em, Nikki, Colee and Shel. I think we're off to do some shoppin' . . . FINALLY. Bingo will be our big event tonight after the Lost finale. B I N G O! I am so glad to have these wild women in my life! I love you girls! I'll update on the crazy month we have had when we return. :)