LAS VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past weekend we traveled to Las Vegas with my family for the funeral of my Uncle Steven. He had been sick for quite a few years. I am so glad I was able to go to the funeral. Uncle Steven was a very amazing Man and I new that but I didn't realize how much. His kids gave terrific talks at the funeral. I will always remember Uncle Stevens smile. I dont think I ever saw him without a smile. I came away from the funeral being so thankful for the privilege of knowing my Uncle Steven and wanting to be a better person. He was sooo service oriented!! He loved his family so much and I want to be just like him!! I am glad to be a BRINKERHOFF...they are some amazing people...well you knew that right!! hehe
Well, after the funeral my kids and I took advantage of being in Las Vegas and went and took in as much as we could!!! WE had such a great time just being together...It was HOT!!!! to say the least..111 degrees but we didnt seem to mind..we cooled off a lot by going in the casinos and seeing things. We walked somewhere between 6 to 7 miles.. a little more than we planned...one guide told me how far we had come and I told him I wouldnt tell my kids till we got back to our room for fear they would kill me. Corey was a trooper and stuck out everything just like the big kids..we were all exhausted by the time we got back to our room at 1 in the morning but we had a great time so it was worth it.

as soon as we got to Vegas at 10:30 p.m. and opened the car door and that 100 degree weather hit us...oh my!!! We stayed at the Stratosphere so we ventured to the top of the building to enjoy the view. Mary and her family were the only ones that went along with us.


We got up the next morning and had to leave for the church at 8....



After the funeral we went to the top of the Stratosphere again to see Vegas in the daylight. Then we began our journey.....



Corey would have been thrilled to stay at CIRCUS CIRCUS all day long. It would have been fun but there was just too much else to see....

Corey LOVED the pirate show...a ship sank and there were cannons shot off and tons of fireworks and fires. It was so fun to watch his face..here we are waiting....




FINALLy....after all the walking we made it to the M&M factory



after all our fun we decided to find the Monorail to ride back..I knew we were not going to be able to walk all the way back ..it was almost 11...we had to still walk about a half mile from the last stop of the Monorail. We enjoyed staying at the Stratoshpere but it is a long ways from the main part of the casino..but we wouldnt have been able to go the top of the space needle thing if we didnt stay there and that was definitely a highlight.

The next morning we woke up and got out of the motel by 9:00 to head home...but we decided to stop at one more casino on the way home. Uncle Kent has told us about a Casino that you could see mermaids swim..so we had to see that.





So that was our trip...it would be so fun to stay a few more days in Las Vegas. there are so many things to see. We had a great time together and I am so glad that I was able to remember all the fun times and fun things about Uncle Steven and a rejuvination to be a better person. I am so blessed!!!!!

Happy New Year 2011!!!

Our new years was a very interesting one. Both Amber and Heather had their own parties they went to so they were gone most of the day. Clint is taking a new job that will be in North Dakota and he left Saturday at 2 in the afternoon...so Friday he and I spent all day getting him ready and all his stuff together and a little apprehensive and the whole thing. Kinda a sad time. We did have a fun time though..Santa always comes back to see us with family games on his way back to the North Pole...so of course he brought X-Box games. The boys has a great time playing them.
IT GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR!!!! I just know it!!!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

This year we have gotten quite a bit of snow and the kids have really enjoyed it. Corey and Craig have really had fun this year and even Corey has stayed out there longer that I thought he would. One night Clint pulled them on the four wheeler till like 9:30...it was crazy(and a school night!!!)Oh dear!! Us Romriells!!!

John Deere Christmas Party

Dec 12th was Clint work Christmas party. It is a really nice dinner for just the adults. This year they had it at the Hilton in Boise and offered rooms for really cheap so we decided to get one cause the kids LOVE staying in hotels. It was a lot of fun. I didnt take many pictures ...but the pool was a hit :)

Family pics

Time for catch up....life is great...

We took these pictures Thanksgiving day...we need to do more soon

Brinkerhoff Christmas Party...2010

Christmas party already...oh my is time flying. It was so much fun to be with family again. This year we didnt exchange gifts with each other. Instead we all did service throughout the year and shared out experiences during the party. It was such a great feeling and so neat to hear what everyone did. We are going to continue with this which our family is very grateful for. There are so many ways to serve others every single day and in the simplest ways. It really makes us feel richer all the time. After that we did a white elephant gift exchange which is always very loud and exciting for the Brinkerhoffs. It was so fun.. this year the hot items that we argued over were...pliers, scissors, and tape measure..all from Home Depot...and John Deere hats and a John Deere waterbottle. Great stuff for the lucky people who ended up with them..next came Santa and of course we ate in there somewhere too. It was a great party and great tradition...let the Holidays begin..I feel a great spirit this year...Thanks Mom and Dad










Thanks Mary for the great job organizing the party...it was terrific!!!

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 1st we woke up to TONS of snow and it snowed most of the day. As a result I think every school in the Treasure Valley closed for the day. It was soooo much fun. Heather and Craig stayed out pretty much all day. Corey lasted for a couple of hours which was great. Amber...well you will see pretty soon. She didnt have snow pants so wasnt very excited to be out. I love when the kids are home! I would have it everyday..but I know their friends like me to share them..it was fun to have the house full of cousins and friends...even if they were et and cold...lot of hot chocolate and hot soup we had this day :)

Tree Cutting

Saturday was filled with Thanksgiving festivites at the Romriells. Horribly I didnt take any pictures but it was a blast just the same. We cut down trees..Mc Michaels and Thatchers came to help Clint so he wouldnt have another accident :) They were tremendous help and made it that much more fun. Cousins galore were there and when we were all out there gathering, chopping, and all that fun stuff we got a LOT done. Many hands make light work...Grandma Carroll always used to say that...it is so so true :) I wish I had pics because it was a glorious site...Theresa took video of the huge tree falling....and there were no casualties! We also had a scrumptious dinner. Lots of hot chocolate and a warm fire as well. Once again it is great to be surrounded by such great family and friends. Life is GOOD!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year was the Brinkerhoff side of the familly. It was great fun and everyone was able to be there..except Sarah who had to work...bummer!! Lots of laughter and being together. I am so thankful for such a great family and great parents that brought me up in the gospel. I am so grateful for a loving Savior and that cares so deeply for each of us. We are truly blessed to live in these days.
ALL OF US.....

THE GRANDKIDS......

Pictures showing what a great time we all had


I got these pictures from Diane and when I posted this I realized there isnt one of John and Diane...darn...
What a great family we have..Thank you Mom and Dad for doing such a great job and for being such great examples to our kids..they all think the world of you and I love that!!! Thanks for the great day!!!

October stuff

Since October is gone...which I am in complete denial....I better hurry and get this post done. I didnt take pictures during Halloween at all but we had a great time. WE had Trunk or Treat at the church Saturday which was real fun and then we went o Thatchers haunted house and had a great time there. It is so great to have such fabulous friends!! Then Sunday night we hung out with the Romriells and had a big bonfire..which in an understatement..it was huge...we burned a whole tree at once..It was really a fun time and hopfully you can see from the pictures..I only had my cell phone. Life is good and we are gearing up for the holiday season!!

Thanks to Jamie for taking Corey to the pumkin patch.(also thanks Jamie for the great picture..I stole them:) He loves Jake and is always saying he is his best friend. They are great pals and are going to have such a great adventure in life together..I just hope the parents can keep up!!!!!

Salt Lake Trip

The kids had Thurs and Friday of the first week of October off of school so we decided to go visit Robert, tour the University of Utah, and go to LAGOON. It was so much fun and we are so glad we went. We didnt spend a ton of time with Robert but we appreciated him letting us stay there and seeing him what little we did. Mary and Troys family were down there to so it was fun to see them a little bit too.


Amber and I toured the University from 1:00 until and little after 5 on Friday. It was well worth the time and I really think that Amber really got excited and is ready to head to college now. It felt so weird going through and campus for a daughter..really I dont feel I should be this old!!! Im glad we were able to do this for Amber though..she meet with a nursing advisor as well and that was very helpful to her. While we were doing all this Clint took the other kids to The Aquarium located in Sandy.. I really think Amber was greatful to see the van leave the parking lot..hehe!!!
Heather was instructed to take pictures...when they got back I asked if she did and she said yes....but....not of anyone...just the fishes and things....silly girl!!!


After that we all rode the trolleys and train and meet at the mall...Heather left the camera in the car at the train station...hence no Salt Lake pics..one from my cell phone..it was too dark so I didnt take many.

We headed back to Roberts by 9:30 on the Train...our favorite thing!!!!


The next morning we headed to Lagoon where I didnt take any pictures except for 1 of Corey from my phone. I didnt want to carry around the camera and since we didnt have to have a stroller this year I was selfish and didnt take it...I love riding the rides and ride as many as I can so who can be bothered with a camera. We had a ton of fun..It was all decked out with Halloween things and come night spooky people came out all dresses up to scare...Corey was thrilled with it...Amber and Heather were freaked out and wanted to stay in the kid section where they wouldnt scare you...silly girls...all in all we had tons of fun and stayed until 9:30..we waited for Corey to say he was done..he rode like crazy and wanted on the biggest rides he could go on..no little kids rides for him anymore...we love lagoon...Oh Amber was not feeling the greatest after a few rides so hung out with Corey most of the time..Sh was a good sport for not feeling great.

I stole these from Mary...Sunday morning we all just hung out at Roberts before we all headed home. We are so thankful for Robert. He has such a beautiful place and the kids love it there.




The trip home was lots of fun...Amber was in a silly mood and we were so goofy and had a great time....we stopped like 3 times before we were even 50 miles away and that seemed to be funny to us...maybe we were tired...nobody slept the whole way home though which surprised me...I really thought Corey would...We got home about 9:30 pm..unpacked..and headed to bed to be ready for school tomorrow!!!

We stopped at Shoshone Falls for some site seeing...