The BIG Idea

Funny story.....

When Jason and I were first getting to know one another, he mentioned how he thought it would be SO FUN if he built a roller coaster in his back yard some day. Practical me, started reeling with ideas and reasons why this wouldn't be good. Think about the space it would take, the safety, the neighbors, the.... you fill in the blank. I just couldn't see how this would work.

As we talked more he said something to the effect of, "I didn't say I would ever have a roller coaster in my back yard, I just said it would be FUN."

Whew! I was relieved he wasn't serious. He laughed at me and thought I was funny because I was so freaked out about a FUN idea.

As time has gone on, this has become a key phrase in our marriage. When Jason has a big idea, I ask him, "Is this a roller coaster in our back yard or for real?"

I don't know exactly what inspired it, but recently Jason had another BIG idea. He wanted to make a lemonade stand for the kids. When I found out it wasn't a "roller coaster" we talked about how this could be accomplished. We set a ground rule that no money could be spent on the project. He and the kids would have to use what we had on hand or find FREE materials. This added to the excitement of the experience.

The next day, he brought home some FREE wooden pallets and started taking them apart right after work.

Now that's commitment and a lot further than I've seen most of his BIG ideas get.

Of course Taylee was excited about the project and immediately started working along his side.

This was the progress made after just a few days of building.

Pretty good... it looks like some sort of stand. :)

And here it is today.

A full blown lemonade stand, complete with an umbrella for shade.

Lemonade, brownies, Rice Crispy Treats and Otter Pop Popsicles are being sold to earn money to buy a new trampoline.

Taylee LOVEs it. She hangs out and reads a book in between customers. Treyson kinda gets bored and starts messing around with his friends or goes in and out of the house getting toys to play with. Abree comes in and reports to me every time there is a customer. Her reports are detailed; what they bought, how many and how much money they have now.

What a fun BIG idea!

Good job Jason. You are such an awesome daddy.

Class of 1990

This year was my 20 Year High School Reunion.

Don't say it... I know I'm getting old.

I grew up in the East end of town. I lived in the same house and went to school with basically the same people for most of my school life. I went to Campus Elementary, Garfield Elementary, East Junior High, and Boise High School.

--Two of those 4 schools no longer exist. Campus is used by Boise State for Art classes and East is being torn down and used as an expansion track/sport area for Boise State... or something like that. --

Half way through my junior year at Boise High, my mom and dad were divorced. My mom, siblings and I moved into a rental house in the Borah High School district. I transferred schools. I was excited. I had met a few guys, going to the Saturday night dances, that went to Borah. I was dating a guy from Borah. It just seemed exciting and cool at the time. I had a lot of fun my junior year.

The next year, many of my new friends had graduated. I had several acquaintances, but not many close friends. I was a little lonely and a little bored. I had always done well in school, but received the highest grades ever, my senior year. Who knew if you studied and did your homework every night you could get straight A's?! :)

Graduation came. I went to the ceremony and looked around. I realized I was graduating with strangers...and a few acquaintances. I chose NOT to go to my senior party. I didn't see the point.

When the invitation for my 10 year reunion came, I was living out of town and it was easy to decide I would NOT be going. This year, when my 20 year reunion invitation came and I was now living in town, I actually considered going. --Why? I'm not sure. I guess maybe because I had become better acquainted with some of my classmates after high school and because I was curious. I debated and debated. It was more money than I could really afford. Would I have fun? Would I know any one? Would it be worth it? --I finally decided that I would attend the FREE school tour...bring your own sack lunch and walk around the old school grounds.

On a Saturday morning, I drug my kids to Borah High school. We walked the halls as I reminisced. Per Treyson's request, I tried to remember where my old locker was. My kids were impressed that we had FULL size lockers! We also admired all the murals, courtyard and art work left behind from each graduating senior class. It was cool to see all the different varieties of memorials. Is this unique to Borah? I also saw a few familiar faces and talked to them.

As we were eating our lunch, I overheard some committee members talking about the dinner that night. It peaked my curiosity and I again started seriously thinking about going. When I got home I called Jason to see if we could actually afford it. He said we would make it work. --My curiosity got the best of me. I called a friend that I knew was going (her husband was working and couldn't go, so she would be stag) and asked her to convince me to go with her. She did. I jumped into the shower and started getting ready as she arranged a ride for us.

This was our senior class memorial contribution.

We graduated in 1990, the Centennial of Idaho.

My picture didn't make it into the yearbook, so I wasn't in this display, but like the yearbook I was listed under "Not Pictured".

There I am... Alisha Waite.

The kids were fairly good sports about touring the empty school.

We had a Riley Mortensen with us... a friend of our Rylee.

This was the general location of my junior locker.... I think. :)

When I was ready, I went to Mindi's house. She finished getting ready and then we were picked up by Russ, an old classmate. I don't know if I had ever met Russ until that night.

The dinner was held in The Rose Room, downtown above an old restaurant. We filled out a questionnaire as a few familiar, but mostly unfamiliar, faces filled the room. There was a slide show set up with classmate pictures old and new. The DJ played 80's music all night. We looked at the displayed old school newspapers, spirit wear, graduation invitations, uniforms and yearbook pictures.

Classmates that have passed away.

Dean & Misty

Mindi & Lori

Russ & Mindi--our ride & my "date".

Mindi & Me

Dinner was buffet style and was just OK.

For most of the night, I sat at our table and people-watched.

They read a few things off our questionnaires. We learned who had been married the longest, who had the most kids, who had come the farthest to get to the reunion and who had served in the military. I was hoping for more interaction and reacquainting type activities. I think we could have danced, but no one did.

So I have to ask myself.... Was it worth it?

Yes AND No.

Yes, because it satisfied my curiosity.

No, because it was A LOT of money for just an OK dinner and a lot of awkwardness. I was SO glad I had come with people. I would have felt even worse by myself. I was also glad that we hadn't spent money on Jason coming. He would have been bored. :)

Moral of the story.... If you didn't know your classmates when you were in high school, you won't get to know them any better at your 20 year class reunion.

Baby Shower for Candice

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to throw parties! I love all the details of planning and making. I also love to decorate the party room so it's visually stimulating and fun to look at.

Thank goodness Candice was having a baby and there was another reason to have a party. :)

I had offered to throw Candice a baby shower for Jackson or Lizzy, but she didn't want to trouble me. This time I wouldn't take NO for an answer. She just got to tell me what day and time would work and give her input on what direction I should go with a theme.

Because she liked the color combination of green and brown for a baby boy, we went for a jungle and monkey theme.

This was my first, and maybe my last, attempt at making a sock monkey.

It wasn't nearly as fun or as easy as I thought it would be. The socks I had chosen were quite long and VERY stretchy. So this made my monkey extra long. My family had concerns as I was constructing it, but in the end I think it turned out OK. :)

I had fun making this banner and I liked how it turned out.
I used brown paper grocery bags, green paper and computer printed letters and monkey. Then stapled the circles to one of my grocery bag "vines".

When my kids saw my making and decorating efforts, they wanted to help. Taylee, Treyson and Abree made these monkeys and bananas for decoration.
The yellow thing that kinda looks like a flower is a banana peel. Taylee's cute idea. Love it!

Grandma Ison's sock monkey came to the party.

The vines were made out of brown paper grocery bags that had been cut, folded and then sewn together attaching green felt leaves randomly.

My kids also helped by getting their Webkins jungle animals and decorating the bookshelf.

Treyson was just sure we needed a HUGE snake at the jungle party. He let me use Bowden the Boa Constrictor to decorate the banister.

Vines were everywhere! It was a JUNGLE in there. :)

I wanted to make a jungle themed diaper cake. In my creating process I came up with this diaper tree instead. This was another of my ideas that my family was skeptical of at first. I LOVE the monkey we found to hang out in the tree. His face is so happy.

The party wouldn't be a party without yummy snacks.... jungle themed of course.

We had a nice turn out of friends and family at the party.

Jacque & Nici

Amber

Amber & Lisa

Mom-LoraDawn, Tera, Miriam

Daisylyn was part of our entertainment. She was a cute little busy monkey.

Tammy

What is a shower or party without games? Don't say "perfect"!

The first game we played was fun. I had Candice's kids (Micaela-8, Jackson-5 & Lizzy-3) draw pictures of Nursery Rhymes. We numbered them and then had everyone guess which nursery rhymes they were. They were SO cute.... even with the additions of snakes and camouflage, that had nothing to do with the rhyme. :)

Wish I had taken some pictures of them. I was too busy holding the pictures and being hostess, I guess.

Next, instead of giving Candice baby advice, we wrote down "Wishes for Baby". I gathered these and put them in a little photo album for Candice to take home.

Next was draw a baby on a plate.... on top of your head.

The winning "baby".

Joan-Candice's mom & Candice

After snacking on jungle food, opening gifts was next.

Candice received lots of C-U-T-E baby boy things.

This diaper cake was from Jacque.

See? I told you she got lots of C-U-T-E stuff.

Can't wait to meet baby boy!