Joseph Kenneth Pyfer

On March 1, 2011, our Grandpa Joe passed away. Jared was able to go up there to spend time with his dad just before he passed. All 5 of Joe and Sue's kids were able to go up and I know for Jared it was an amazing and yet humbling experience. The day after Jared flew home we piled in the car and drove to Idaho for the funeral. We were all there for a sad reason but it was truly joyful to spend time together. Joe has 10 kids and 8 of them were able to come to the funeral. The kids were able to meet some cousins they had never met and they loved it. I know that it made Joe so happy that we were all together. His family so so important to him. I dont know a man more proud of his kids than Joe. In his eyes, they could do no wrong. I love the pride he had in his family. His whole face lit up when he smiled and with his family he truly had joy. He will truly be missed but I am so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge that while we wont see him again for awhile we will see him again!

This is 8 of his 10 kids and their spouses. This is about 75% of his grandchildren. He had 3 great grandchildren that were unable to make it. We are a huge group and a little rowdy!

Most of the grandchildren.

Our family.

Sue and Jared's sisters, Jodi and Jaylene.

Jaylene and Greg.

Joe and Sue live literally next to the church and since there were so many of us the kids and dads went over to the church to play games. It was cold outside and the kids needed to get some energy out. They are so attractive!

Uncle Jason, dad, Uncle JD, Oaklee, Dayne, Bria, Brigg, Court, Rhett, Kyra, Harlee, Ella, Breil, Hayden, Jason, Carson, and Travis.

A lot of ping pong was played.

Harlee and Kyra. Harlee had a blast getting to know her cousin!

A lot of games were played.

Apparently some people played too many games!

And of course, in true Idaho fashion, it snowed!

Joe and Sue only live about 2 hours from Rexburg so I drove out one day to see Katy. We went to lunch, saw her apartment, walked around campus, went to the temple. It was a lot of fun getting to see her!

Oklahoma!! (lots of pictures)

Over the weekend of February 20th we went with our friends, the Bakers, to Oklahoma for a little rock climbing trip. I had only been once before so I was not sure what to expect but it turned out to be so much fun! Its this cute little town in Oklahoma about 2 hours from our house. The town has this "lake" in the center of it with rocks to climb all over and cute bridges and wonderful views of the Wichitas. The first day we got there was Sunday so we just explored the town. Threw rocks, climbed on rocks and just walked around. We found this cool tree and took some fun pictures in it. Not everyone was as equally excited as others to be up in it but it was still pretty cool. On Monday Jared and Jon got up early and set up the climbs and Michelle, me and the kids ventured out a little later. It was cold but the kids still had a blast! There is a cool canyon at the bottom of one of the climbs with a little creek that the kids had a blast playing in. All in all it was a super fun 2 days and we cant wait to go back!

Poor Michelle had to help Jared get up.

But what a stud he is!

There are remnants of an old jail in the middle of the town that the kids had a fun time exploring.

One of the beautiful views of the weekend.

No fear baby!

That is Jon up there setting up leads. Trying to keep Harlee from falling off...

Playing in the canyon...

Ella going up.

Thats the highest I have made it. I have never considered myself afraid of heights but I get very nervous up there. I am getting better though.Harlee really really wants to climb but this is the extent of her climbing for now.

Breil going up!

Valentine's Day 2011

For Valentine's Day this year Jared and his friend Jon planned a fun Valentines Day date. It started with my friend Michelle and I sitting in the back of the van wondering where our dates were. Eventually we rec'd a ransom text with a clue to find our husbands and off we went on a scavenger hunt. We had to find a clue underneath a treadmill at 24 hour fitness, inside a book (in the romance section) of Barnes and Noble. We had to go into a place called the Flying Saucer (a bar) and drink milk, dig a clue out of a cow statue, and perform other various tasks before we found our husbands. When we did they were in a park and had yummy Pei Wei and nice music and flowers for us. Apparently they were following us the whole way taking pictures. Most of the pictures didnt turn out so good but these were ok. It was such a fun date and I really loved the time and effort that they put in to it! It was a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Snow February 2011

In North Texas we usually get a little bit of snow every winter. It usually totals a couple of inches accumulated through the entire winter. Last winter we had a lot and so that usually means that the next year we wont get very much. That was not the case. We had record snowfall and the kids missed a whole week of snow. The crazy thing was this wasnt our only snowfall for the winter.

This is our street.
The kids did a lot of playing outside but they did a lot of lounging outside. The electric companies implemented rolling blackouts. They were only supposed to last a short while but we went without for a couple hours. It was about 10 degrees outside so it started to get pretty cold inside so we couldnt open the doors and let them out to play.

We played Wii, board games, etc.

Its a good thing we have family up north that we visit. We were fairly well stocked up on snow clothes for a bunch of southern folks.