Her Father's Eyes

It is interesting how a song can get you thinking about things that you normally wouldn't think about. The other day I was downloading a bunch of songs that I like to classify as "daddy" songs. They were various songs that talked about dad's and their little girls etc. Well, I happened upon a song that I have heard many times before, but not for a long time called "Father's Eyes" by Amy Grant. It talks about a daughter that says the greatest compliment that she could receive was for someone to say that she had her father's eyes. The song procedes to talk about all the things that her father's eyes were capable of seeing: eyes that find the good in things, eyes that find a source of help, eyes full of compassion, etc.

Now, when I was younger, people used to tell me all the time that I had my dad's eyes. As much as I knew that it was true I didn't really think much about it at the time, but when I heard this song the other day it really got me thinking. I don't know that I had my "father's eyes" in the sense that I could see all the wonderful things in people that he always did, but at least they looked like his. Knowing I had my father's, never meant so much to me, until that day.

Now I have two beautiful baby girls, both with beautiful eyes.

Ella will forever be able to say that she has her father's eyes. Both Ella and David have the most beautiful sea blue eyes that could melt the coldest heart. (I should know, I get pretty cold sometimes!) It's no wonder that people comment both of their eyes on a regular basis. Someday I hope that I can look into Ella's eyes and see that she has the same open-minded and charity driven eyes that her father has always had. Sometimes I can't believe how patient and loving Dave can be. I nit-pick and bug him a lot more than I should sometimes, but somehow he still puts up with me and the kid's and loves us anyway. I could never thank him enough for giving Ella the best example for what her eyes could be.
Elena on the other hand has been blessed with beautiful, dark, brown eyes, which do not look the slightest like David's, but they are just like both of her grandfathers. Dark soul searching eyes, that make you feel the love that she has for you. Both my dad and Dave's dad have/had these same warm welcoming eyes. It amazes me how both of them saw the good in people, in a way that I can't even imagine.

I remember my dad always helping everyone, no matter their race, intelligence level, or opinion. In Dave's dad's eyes I have seen an extremely loving grandpa who has stepped up and been there for my kid's when they really needed it. It is so nice to know that your kid's have grandparents that will watch over them, love them, and maybe even spoil them once in awhile. Thank you Mike, you're the best!!

My new hope is that these two beautiful girls grow up that they can see the examples that these wonderful father's have set for them, and they can do more than just "look" like their "father's eyes", but also see all the wonderful things that these father's can see.

Elena's mess

Need I say more...

HORSE CAMP 2008

(I know that I have been running about 2 weeks behind on posting this summer, but bear with me I will eventually catch up!)
As is tradition my mom and I went and taught at Alpine 4-H horse camp again this year, only THIS YEAR we got to take Mickell, Ella, and Elena with us. Plus, we got to hang out with Tracy's family that she brought up. But, the most exciting thing about Camp this year was that Ella got to do Cloverbuds classes, which included making her own stick horse (Belle) to ride on a trail ride and through the poles and barrels. Here are a few pictures of Ella, Trisha, and Kaylee (her cousins) riding their stick horses.

After we were done teaching classes on Friday David, Lisa, Landon, Ethan, Carson, Sydnee, and Madelyn all came up to go to "THE" DANCE with us. We had tons of fun dancing, and the kids just loved being thrown in the air by Misty and her "friend" Mike. Although it is common known fact that what happens at horse camp stays at horse camp, here is just a small peak of some of the fun that we had...

Elena's 1st Campfire

Elena went to her very first campfire while we were at horse camp, and here are a few pictures.

2008 Tamara Boyle Reunion or BOYLE's INVADE TETON VALLEY!

On the 4th of July this year, the poor town of Driggs was invaded by the Ruffy Rowdy Posse known as the BOYLE GANG! We camped at the fairgrounds, so that we could get up and see the hot air balloons the next day. While we were waiting for it to get dark, we played a ROWDY game of baseball.

Although we had tons of fun playing and camping the night before, we woke up to them telling us that it was too windy to launch the air balloons... We spent the rest of the day watching fiddlers at a fiddling competition, visiting the arts and crafts fair in Victor (where my uncle Nick sold his butt gourd... long story...), and playing around at the cabin.

While we were at the cabin, we had a HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY PARTY for all the grand kids. They each drew a name and bought a present, since they are rarely together on each other's birthdays. The best part about the party was the awesome-ly AWESOME cake that their favorite aunt (who shall remain un-named do to humility reasons) made for them.

For more information regarding cakes that the pictured children's FAVORITE aunt has made, please visit www.frostedwithlove.blogspot.com

Later that night Grandma gave all the kids a MILLION light sticks (ok maybe not a million) and this is what we witnessed...

After late hours of pinochle that night...

The next day we cleaned up and got ready to go home, but before we went home Mickell was kind of enough to provide us with some good old fashioned fiddling, and you know us... we couldn't help ourselves...

Leave me a memory

A Memory
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It could be scary what ya'll remember about me, but that's the fun of the game!!

Redneck Intuition revived

What do you do when you are camping and you don't have a bib? This week we were at Horse Camp and I was feeding Elena some baby food. Grandma Tamara decided that Elena needed a bib, so she got a diaper bag and cut arm holes in it for Elena to wear. Chaulk it up to Redneck intuition, but the bib actually worked quite well!