Ana is 18!

 This poor girl spent her birthday all by herself at home. The rest of us went up to Island Park for opening weekend at Henry's Lake, but she had to stay in town so the Bonnevaires could make a recording. Regardless, we did celebrate her birthday. First, we gave her a present the day before her birthday.

A new pair of glasses with heart-shaped lenses.

Then Hudson baked her a birthday cake and brought it up to Island Park to share on Monday, May 26.

Winnie, Ana, Hudson, Grandma Susan and Ana getting ready to enjoy cake at Grandma's cabin.

Ana blowing out a gigantic candle (and wearing her new glasses) after we sang "Happy Birthday."

Ana invited a bunch of friends over for a birthday "hang" on Thursday, May 29.

The Beatles cupcakes Andrea made for Ana and her friends.

The line of shoes from her friends.

Then we hosted a family birthday dinner on Sunday, June 1. 

Ana opening a card from Grandma Susan.

And a laptop from us. Seth bought it from D.I., then we discovered that it wouldn't start up unless it was plugged in. So we ended up buying a new battery and installing it.

The chocolate raspberry cake Ana requested.

For her parent dinner this year, Ana chose to introduce Seth and me to the Mongolian Grill. Ana had been there before as part of a formal dance date, but Seth and I had never gone. 

Adopting Dixie

 As Peach got close to her 12th birthday, Seth and I thought it would be a good idea for us to get another dog. Our logic was the new dog could learn to be chill from the old dog, and Peach would have constant companionship (since Toad is free to wander as he will). 

First Seth and I took a trip to the Snake River Animal Shelter to look at some possible candidates. The first dog we met was a rambunctious boy. The second dog we met was a timid girl. We thought maybe Millie (the second one) would be a good fit for our family.

Since our other pets are named for Mario characters, we had considered other such new names for our addition. "Goomba" and "Dry Bones" didn't seem quite right for this girl, so we did some more research and chose "Dixie" (as in, Dixie Kong, Diddy Kong's girlfriend) for our new pet. Then on Saturday, April 19, we took the girls with us to the shelter to bring our new dog home.

Winnie, Ana, Seth and Miriam outside the shelter after signing papers to bring Dixie home. People at the shelter had suggested we bring our other dog when adopting the new one so they could start to get used to each other.

Ana giving Dixie some love before heading home. As we were getting in our car, we overheard a couple telling their young daughter that the dog they had planned to adopt already had a home. I guess if we had come by a half hour later, we wouldn't have gotten the dog we did.

We weren't told a lot about Dixie's background, but through experience we've learned a few things about her and her personality. Unfortunately, Dixie has some food aggression. And unfortunately, Peach has borne the brunt of Dixie's food aggression more than once. So once we figured that out about her, we've made sure to carefully supervise all food and treats. 

We've also learned that Dixie gets anxious. Thunderstorms will send her running up and down the fence line. She barks and whines at fireworks. When she's around strange dogs, she gets very tense and the slightest provocation can set her off. The first time I took her to the vet, she jumped up on the tiny end table and refused to get down. 

Dixie has a strong prey instinct. In the past when we've had the neighbors chickens roam onto our lawn, Peach would maybe bark at them. Dixie becomes a flippin' Houdini and escapes the fenced yard, chases down the offending poultry, snatches them in her bear trap of a mouth and refuses to let go. We've added extra security measures to all three gates (an extra latch at the bottom of the skinny gate, cane bolts to both other gates, plus Seth worked to straighten posts on two of the gates so everything would fit together more securely), but Dixie still managed to squeeze through a tiny gap in the corner of the back gate the other day. More than one chicken has had its life ended by our ferocious chicken-napper. Several other chickens and one piglet have suffered her wrath but lived to tell the tale.

Because of this, Dixie and Toad haven't been cuddle buddies like Peach and Toad. We're still trying to get Dixie and Toad to get along, and as long as their interactions are supervised, thing have worked out well. But just yesterday when we came home from a walk and Seth had taken Dixie off the leash, she saw Toad in the front yard and gave chase for a second or two until we called her off.

But Dixie won't play with toys. We can sometimes get her to chase an apple (turns out, she loves the apples from our tree) a few times, but she won't tug on a rope, she won't chew on the squeaky pirate chicken-duck toy I bought from Costco, she won't chase a tennis ball. Seth built a flirt pole because we read that dogs with strong prey instincts will go nuts for one of those, but she won't have anything to do with it.

Despite the surprises and setbacks, Dixie is typically a sweet girl. She's never shown any aggression toward a human, small or large. (Tyson's kids have played in our backyard, and Dixie has been patient and kind with them.) She gives Peach kisses. She munches on apples and stands guard in the corner of the yard where she can see people passing by. She has gone on a few hikes, and she loves roaming the trails. Dixie also loves belly rubs and uses the cement step on the back porch as a pillow.

And we're getting some extra help. Starting this week, I'll be taking Dixie to get training at Idaho Elite K9. Once we have the tools and knowledge to help her with impulse control, Dixie and our family will be even happier.

Andrea and Dixie hiking the butte on Thursday, April 24.

Trying to safely introduce Toad to Dixie in the back yard on Sunday, April 27.

Miriam giving both dogs some love in the back yard on Saturday, May 3.

Silly Dixie lying on her back on Thursday, May 8.

Peach and Dixie "helping" Andrea as she moves the sandbox from the side yard to underneath the swing set on Saturday, May 10.

Winnie, Seth, Andrea and Dixie hiking the Menan butte on Saturday, May 17.

Ana's graduation

We couldn't have been prouder of Ana as she closed the high school chapter of her life. 

Senior Award Night: Monday, May 12

Ana receiving a complimentary hoodie from the representative from BYU-Idaho. He came to announce those BHS seniors who had received scholarships, including Ana. Then he specifically called her down to receive this gift. Why? Because although the college receives countless high school grad announcements from future students, Ana was the first (in his recollection) to also send a thank you card with hers.

 

Ana looking down the line to see students receive their awards. Ana received a stole from CSI for earning her associate's degree, a medal and two ropes for highest honors, and later she received a medal for Bonnevaires and a rope for receiving her food handler's permit. This girl was blinged out on graduation day.

Last day: Friday, May 23

Andrea getting a ride to BHS with Ana on Ana's last day of high school. I was filling in as a sub for the home ec teacher. Ana was taking culinary arts at the time, so I got to be her teacher on her very last day.

Senior Walk: Tuesday, May 27

As per tradition, graduating seniors are invited back to their elementary schools to walk through the halls and then take pictures outside. I was busy subbing that day, so Seth took some time off of working from home to capture the moment.

Ana hugging Julie Schuster, her kindergarten teacher.

Getting a hug from Kimmie Martin, her 3rd grade teacher. Seth said Mrs. Martin didn't recognize Ana at first, but then she realized who it was and was very excited that Ana would stop by her room.

This picture kills me. These kids were recreating a silly photo they took on their last day of sixth grade, but Ana was the first to jump into her "silly picture" pose.

Everyone else doing their silly poses.

Graduation: Friday, May 30

The big day. We celebrated Ana's graduation at the Mountain America Event Center. 

Ana's slide on the screen at the Mountain America Event Center.

Ana and her blue hair (which made her easier to spot) waliwith her classmates. Ana was a little salty because every other year prior, both the valedictorian and the salutatorian got to speak at graduation and sit on the stand. This year, someone decided to only have the valedictorian do the speaking. (Ana was salutatorian.)

Coming down from the stand after singing with the Bonnevaires.

Shaking hands after receiving her diploma cover.

Miriam sitting with the other band members (and yawning).

Our family with Ana after graduation.

Grandparents with Ana. Yes, she's a tall girl. Yes, she was wearing heels and a mortarboard.

Photo shoot: Monday, June 2

At her request, Ana and I made a trip to Twin Bridges campground to shoot these cool pics.

Memorial Day weekend

 As per our usual, we spent the weekend at Henry's Lake fishing. But unlike other years, we were there by ourselves for most of the weekend. And because Ana needed to stick around for a Bonnevaires recording, she didn't join us until Sunday.

Saturday, May 24

We went to the lake late in the morning for a little while (nobody caught anything), then went back to the cabin for lunch and some downtime. Seth and I hiked along the Targhee Creek Trail just for something to do in the afternoon.

Winnie carries a can of pop and her phone in her back pockets while she hauls a tote and the tackle box in her arms.

Andrea sitting by the lake with Seth, Miri and Winnie.

Seth hiking along the Targhee Creek trail. Parts of it were covered in snow still.

Seth crossing the creek.

Watching a movie at the cabin.

Sunday, May 25

Ana joined us at the cabin, we went to church, then we spent the rest of the day playing games and watching movies. 

Andrea, Ana, Miri, Winnie and Seth playing Hex Casters.

Ana wins at Smash Bros., a game she where she has no idea what to do so she just mashes buttons and crosses her fingers.

Winnie not looking at her sisters while playing Hex Casters.

Sunday, May 25

Some of us went out on Grandpa Hendricks' boat (once we got a jump from someone else because the battery was dead) that Grandpa Dennis brought up, then we fished from the shore before going back to Grandma's cabin for lunch and cleanup. Grandma Susan and Grandpa Dennis had brought Kelsey and Hudson with them, so we got to spend some time with them on Monday. Then we went home. Although we did get a couple of nibbles, nobody ended up catching fish this weekend.

Seth's shirt gets puffed up by the wind while the boat zips along Henry's Lake.

Andrea and Miri on the boat.

Ana on her phone at the shore. The bugs were annoying (it was just a harmless fly hatch, but they get EVERYWHERE), but the head nets that Grandma Susan brought saved the day.

The minnow Winnie caught at the lake.

Miriam is 15!

Miriam spent her birthday at a ballroom competition, but she did receive some gifts from the family on her big day. 

Beautiful Miriam dancing on her 15th birthday.

The alcohol markers she asked for, plus colored pencils and black markers of varying widths.

Then we celebrated with a family dinner on Sunday, March 30. 

A panorama of everyone who came to dinner: grandparents, Scotts, Wildes. We grilled chicken for everyone to enjoy.

Cousins on a hammock: Oakley, Winnie, Hudson, Easton.

Miriam opening a card from Oakley.

Easton helping Miriam choose what to open next. Miriam received money from grandparents, sour candy from Scotts, and a crocheted bumblebee and a purse from Wildes.

The cake Miriam requested: She wanted an ugly one, so Ana delivered. The HBD stands for "happy birthday."

An then, as is customary with our teenagers, we took Miriam to a restaurant of her choosing (Hokkaido Ramen ... as always) on April 9.

Miriam, Andrea and Seth with our ramen.