PX

This weekend we drove down to Elko, NV for the Ellison Ranching Company's annual shareholders meeting at the PX Ranch. We left Friday afternoon and since my bro-in-law, Travis couldn't join us, drove in tandem with my sister Ann, her twin boys and our niece, Rachel and arrived just in time for dinner with my parents at The Nevada.

After dinner, we all went back to our rooms and hit the sack. Unfortunately, through the night, Rachel and my bro-in-law, Jared got really sick and Becky's whole family, except for Jonah, ended up driving back home Saturday morning and skipping the meeting.

The PX Ranch was recently acquired by the ERC, but used to be owned by Bing Crosby in the 1950's. A funny story I heard at the meeting was that Bing's wife had a drinking problem and he sent her to the PX along with her doctor to help her "dry out". When he came to check on her a few days later, both his wife and the doctor were drunk!

Sam & Daddy's trick that gives Mom a heart attack

Sam, Cael & Whit in their Beasts Of Burden with their cousin, Jonah

After the meeting Saturday morning, we had a nice lunch and then had to hit the road. Jonah was the helper on the way back, and after a few stops for all the babies, we all made it home that evening.

My parents brought all of Sam's books that we left at their house. He is in heaven! His favorite part of the day is storytime with Daddy just before bedtime.

We found Sam sleeping like this the other night. Now that he's figured how to get from lying on his back to sitting and crawling, we often find him sitting up in his crib when he should be sleeping. He must have worn himself out and then crashed! What a cutie!

Sun Valley

We spent a fabulous couple of days in Sun Valley, ID this weekend. Bill had an estate planning conference and Sam and I tagged along. I just love it there. I have such wonderful memories of going there with my family while I was growing up and they all just come flooding back each time I'm there.

We arrived Thursday evening, had dinner in Ketchum and checked into the Inn. Our room had a huge walk-in closet that conveniently fit Sam's portable crib, so we set him up in there and he slept like a baby! (pun intended) It made nap times very nice!

It was quite a bit cooler in the mornings there, but we still got out for our usual morning walks. Sam loved to watch the swans and ducks in the pond and babbled on and on at them as we walked by.

Bill was in meetings all day Friday, so Sam and I met one of the other wives and her baby for lunch that afternoon and then went swimming with Bill after dinner.

The water was nice and warm and Sam had a great time splashing and chasing his ball.

Bill had more meetings Saturday morning, so Sam and I went for our walk and then another quick dip in the pool before nap time. We packed up and headed home later that afternoon. It was such a fun weekend...I can't wait until next year!

Quick trip

We spent a fun, but much too short, couple of days in Logan last weekend. We left at 5 am Saturday morning and made it there by 10 am. Almost the whole family was there and it was so great to get to catch up with everyone since we hadn't seen them for a while. Some over a year ago!

Sam loved meeting his new cousin, Andy for the first time and hanging out with Grandpa.

Talent Show

Sam & Andy

Bill's brother James and his family are moving to Kazakhstan for his new job, so we were so happy to get to see them one more time. Bill's sister, Melinda and her family couldn't make it because she just had their 4th baby and Sam's newest boy cousin. That makes 4, all within a year!

We were also excited to learn that my brother, Dan and his wife, Zibbey are expecting a boy in January! Keep 'em coming!

A year ago...

I often play this little game with myself when I remember that something significant in my life happened one year before. Today it was that exactly one year ago Bill and I put all of our belongings into storage, said goodbye to our families, drove to the airport with our one-way tickets in hand, and flew to New York City to begin a nine-month adventure. I think I'll never be able to understand how time goes by so fast. We will always cherish that experience!

Things are quite a bit different now than they were 365 days ago. I'm embarrassed to say that we haven't really seen that much of Boise since arriving here the first week of June. We've had some fun outings with my sisters though, and are slowly getting to know the area.

Two nights ago, Sam and I drove into downtown and met Bill for dinner after work. We found a yummy little pizza place and then walked around for a little bit.

Idaho State Capitol Building

8th Street

This afternoon, Sam and I met my sister, Ann and her boys at Ann Morrison Park downtown and walked along the Greenbelt. It follows the Boise River through town and is gorgeous! We passed this Anne Frank Memorial...

Complete with a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Although there are days when I long to be back in Manhattan, I'm excited to explore our new city and make it our home. Here's to another year!

Sunny Sunday

It was a gorgeous afternoon today, so we took Sam outside for a little photo shoot after church. The weather was really nice and mild this weekend and made me so excited for fall.

Sam just keeps getting bigger and cuter! He's right on the verge of crawling and it's so fun to see him figure out how to get from sitting to on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. It won't be long before I'm chasing him down!

Looking very suspicious

He loves when his daddy throws him high in the air!

He Did It!

After two months of studying, Bill finished the Idaho Bar exam today!

Sam and I picked him up this afternoon and we went home to relax...

...and do some much needed wrestling.

While he was gone, I busily made this cake. It is the Versatile Vanilla Cake by Martha Stewart using the chocolate variation. I didn't dare attempt the Whipped Frosting, so I used store bought and grated a dark chocolate candy bar on top. I must say, it tasted pretty good.

After dinner, my sisters Ann and Becky and their families came over to surprise Bill and celebrate his great accomplishment.

On another note, this is Sam eating a peach. He sure knows how to make a mess!

Ellison Family Reunion and Other Visits

We spent 10 fun days in Utah visiting lots of family and friends. The first night we stayed with Bill's parents in Logan. Then we drove down to Syracuse to visit Bill's sister, Jacque and her family before going to West Jordan to stay with Bill's other sister, Carrie and her family. We were able to see several friends including my old crew at Smith Barney, my friend Vicki from my Seattle days and Ted, Sarah & Drew Gardiner before my family's reunion began. By Wednesday, all of my siblings and their children had arrived at my parents' house. We had 10 adults, 6 kids and 3 babies under the same roof. It was pretty crazy most of the time, but we had a ball!

Sam handled everything pretty well and got used to his older cousins toting him around and the younger ones mauling him. He even slept through the night and took really great naps almost every day. Here are some of the highlights...

Sam & Drew

Dinner up at Storm Mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Toadally Frogs exhibit at the Utah Museum of Natural History

Sam, Whit & Cael

Sam, Luke & Noah

Sam on the 4th of July up at Brighton Resort

Ann & Cael, Bill & Sam, Whit & Travis

Me, Noah & Rachel walking around Silver Lake

Swimming at the neighbors

Cool Dude