JuLY fUn!

Ok, so we haven't posted anything for a really long time, and so we thought we would just bring ya'll up to date on what has been happenin' with us.

Well in the beginning of the month, we were able to Avery to his first parade & fireworks for the 4th of July. It was just a small Pocatello parade, and we found out about it right before it started, but it was still fun. The funny thing about it was that they weren't allowed to THROW the candy instead, they just HANDED out candy. Apparently Avery doesn't look like he needs a lot of candy, because we only came home with a handful of tootsie rolls :). Later that night, we went to the IF fireworks (Amanda & Avery's 1st time). We went with Aaron & Shaunie Fife, Trevor & Candace (Shaunies cousin & husband), and Colin & Vanessa Carr. Avery did really well, but was very sleepy when the fireworks started. He tried really hard to keep his eyes open, but eventually fell fast asleep.

Well over the month, we have been doing some other fun things. We have been kayaking a few times (Amanda learned how to roll the kayak!) There will be more about our kayaking adventures to come.

We also got Avery's swing finally put up. We have had it for a while, we just needed a couple of screws and that for it. Amanda went to put him in it for the 1st time, she tried to adjust the strap and ripped it apart with her super human strength (the strap was a little weathered, and it turned out that it didn't need to be adjusted). The swing still works with only one strap though. Avery loves it and does not like to be taken out of any swing.

Avery has been eating more solid foods (like noodles and veggies and stuff). He tends to get a little bit messy though, so we thought you might want to see what we have to clean up after lunch. However, Avery loves having his face washed- he loves wet rags. He will play with them like its his favorite toy.

We also bought Avery a blow-up swimming pool for him to splash around in. (He doesn't get to splash alot in water because we don't have a bathtub). He is fascinated by the splashing and doesn't mind that the water is cold and that it splashes his face.

to Bone & Back!

Well Brian's brother Lance's work sponsors a race called "To Bone & Back." It is a 20 mile run to Bone and then 20 miles back to Idaho Falls. Some people run the whole 40 miles (it is quick elevation rise, so a lot of hills), but most people divide up into teams of 8, each person taking 5 miles. Lance asked Brian as well as family Taunya, Bret & Jane and Jill to participate. Brian & I had been running a little bit in the mornings all month to get ready.

However, a few days before the race, Brian's grandma passed away and the funeral was the same day as the race. So instead of running the relay, all the Turpins ran the 5-mile solo, which was 2.5 miles from the start of the race, turn around, and run the 2.5 miles back to the start.

Well I was hanging out with Avery in the van waiting for them to come back. I saw the first couple of runners come in at about 34 1/2 minutes or so, so I decided to move the car closer, thinking I had a while before anyone else came in. I was wrong, because as I was parking, Brian sped passed me and through the finished line!!! He made it in just over 36 minutes!!! A little bit later, Bret came in, then Jane, Taunya & Jill. I didn't get a picture of Brian coming in because he was just too fast!!! Hopefully next year they (and maybe me) will get to run the whole relay!

Down the Oneida Narrows!!!!!

Brian has been wanting to try kayaking down the Oneida Narrows near Preston. Amanda's brother Michael bought a kayak, and so they decided to go. We heard that people floated down it on tubes, so Amanda and Brian's nephew Dawes floated down the river in tubes. It was a blast! It was a little crazy with some of the rapids, but we were cautious, even though some of the rapids were smaller than they looked. Amanda and Dawes only got out once in order to dodge a big rock.

After we had made it down the river, Dawes wanted to go over to Glendale Resevoir to try out a cool rope swing. It was a pretty sweet swing!

Then we went back to Brian's sister Joy's to get Avery. All in all, it was a grand day!

We are Family!!!

We took some casual family pictures a couple of weeks ago with Amanda's family. We had short period between the clouds and rain to get some pictures in the sun. They aren't the best pictures, but they are still so fun!