Help Please.

I have seriously tried everything to get off this baked on grease from my new stove. I have tried oven cleaner, specialized stove top cleaner. I even made a trip down to Don Aslett's cleaning supply store. The first thing I bought was a dud so I took it back and today they gave me a super orange degreaser that can take oil out of concrete. The final result? No change. This grease is never coming off. Makes you think twice about eating fried foods right? If anybody has any other suggestions of how to get this clean, PLEASE let me know!!!

In other news I found a u-pick raspberry farm in Tyhee area which is awesome! $1.50 a pound. I picked 12# on Monday and made a ton of jam. I am headed out there again Thursday, hopefully it doesn't freeze before then! 

I am tired.

We recently purchased our first house and moved in. Whew. Here is the picture of the outside, I am going to wait on inside pictures until I finish canning the peaches, hanging the pictures, and all the other million other things I have to do! We are excited. Now the only downstairs neighbors we have are Ian & Eliza. They love having their own rooms and having a yard to play in. Ian is adjusting to a new school. Settling in Pocatello was never in the plans but we are here and we love our new house.

Backpacking

Mike took me on a 30 mile backpacking trip in the White Cloud mountains this week. The kids went and stayed with Aunt Julie and had a wonderful time. I have gotten reports from them on how good her oatmeal tastes and how much fun their cousins are to play with!

We only took a couple pictures of our trip, most the time I was too exhausted when we were anywhere beautiful to do anything besides look with my eyes. To get out the camera would require too much effort!
This is Monday morning, after a sleepless night of deer running through our campground all night!

 Yes, we had to hike OVER this mountain. I did it and have the scars to prove it.

 The views from the mountain tops were amazing! We crossed multiple mountain passes but didn't get pictures of all of them.

 The mountain in the background it Castle Peak, it was a beast to climb to that pass.

We crossed steep snow fields, hiked up loose rock mountains, battled bugs, survived a thunder storm. We both have mountains of mosquito bites and Mike had to put up with my whining. But it was great. I would do a 30 mile backpacking trip again, just maybe not that route! I saw some beautiful parts of Idaho that I would not have been able to see without hiking into. We have one more trip planned this summer and then it is back to business for this family.

Ian is 7!

Where in the world has the time gone???? I can't believe my baby boy is 7. We had a fun day of playing with neighbors, swimming at Ross park, opening presents and eating a delicious Ice Cream cake. Yum.

 Ian was not happy on the waterslide because they didn't let him wear his goggles and he hates water in his eyes!

 I think the lazy river is a favorite with everyone.

 Here Mike is helping Eliza across the lily pads.

 So excited to open presents!!

Ian wanted an ice cream cake this year, so I got one at Fred Meyers. It was really good. We had some friends over to share it. Happy Birthday Ian! Now stop growing up.