D's Paintball Birthday Surprise

Every year I rack my brain 

trying to think of something better than what I did for Derek's last Birthday.

It's a difficult job. 

We have been together for quite some time now

and I am starting to run out of fun, new activities. 

I have learned that Derek is not a huge fan of gifts

so I try my darnedest to keep his Birthday's active and adventurous. 

I think I may have done well this year......

I was able to pull together enough of our 

amazing friends to have a 

PAINTBALL GAME

We drove out to Action Center Paintball 

which is way out in Morgan Utah. 

Barely made it in time to play before sunset

but it turned out to be a blast. 

It was mine and Kris's first time playing. 

We were a little frightened 

but it didn't hurt too bad. 

Although she did get quite the bruise on her leg and neck. 

Birthday Boy all geared up!

Kris is ready to kick some ass!

Mission accomplished

on the whole new, fun Birthday activity front. 

Better start planning for next year already. 

Sun Valley with the Peterson's

This fall we took a really fun trip to Sun Valley

to visit the Peterson's.

They live near Boise,

but we all decided to mix things up this year and play in Sun Valley.

All the Jensen's together, except for Greg. He was there in our minds :)

First stop, 

Sun Valley Gondola Ride!

We found this cool guy up there. 

Our fun little Southwestern themed rooms

Shirley loves her crystals...

Can't look like real tourists without sitting in a giant chair.

Look at that handsome boy!

The big kids snuck out and went to the Cellar Pub for a bit

of shuffle board. 

After the very grown up family photos 

that "some" people were struggling to get through...

we had to let the big boys

 play around a little 

We had a really ridiculous video 

of Derek and Ricky throwing this giant log

off of a bridge. 

It makes you think it's going to be super exciting but ends up being

fairly anticlimactic. 

And even more so...

being that I cannot find the video. 

Oops. 

On our way out of town,

looking for some famous Huckleberry ice cream

we found this really cool wicker house.

That is pretty much it... 

Sun Valley is cool. 

We really liked it :)

TCS

This summer we started, 

what hopefully turns into,

 a new and very long lived tradition. 

We made a point to attend every Twilight Concert Series show, possible. 

Well every one that appealed to us, that is. 

We did very well. 

I am actually not bummed about missing any...

other than the fact that we missed most of  Blitzen 

at the first show. 

Which is the band I wanted to see more than the headliner. 

The difficulties of trying to get such a large group of friends to an event.

Our attempt at documenting each follows: 

Twilight #1 - Blitzen Trapper and Belle & Sebastian

The first show we went to was probably the most fun 

and I think it was just because everyone was excited for the beginning 

of a great summer. 

Everyone showed up to this one

and we just had such a blast!

Oh boy....

Derek was so kind to carry all of our purses... seriously
we love him for it!

As I had mentioned before, 

we came over a little late

and missed part of Blitzen Trapper,

which was a little upsetting because they are who I was excited to see. 

I have never been much of a Belle and Sebastian fan, 

but Blitzen Trapper has like a whole year of my life trapped with it,

and it was a good year.. 

~

Twilight #2 - Flaming Lips with CSS

Sadly, this show was probably the most disappointing

of them all. 

We were actually very excited to see The Flaming Lips

They are sort of a band from our youth.

One that, as far as we are concerned, hasn't made any music since...

"Do you Realize?" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots".

Wrong. 

They played lots and lots of music... 

and nothing that we recognized or even could say we enjoyed. 

Harsh, I know... but the truth.

I do have to say that they put on a very cool show though.

Confetti and lights flying everywhere.  

Kris and Kris's failed attempt at getting a "cute" picture

Attack of the photo bombers... and sleepy eyes.

My Super-Derek!

~

Twilight #3 - The National with Sharon Van Etten

For us, this was the show of all shows.
We are all HUGE fans of ... 
"The National"
So for them to be at a Twilight show
was a big deal. 
We were freaking out a little. 

Not only were we super excited to see The National

we also love love love Sharon Van Etten.

These two cuties! We miss you Scotty!

and then...

The National came on...

and blew us away!!

It was one of the best times I have had at a concert.

The energy was just so fantastic. 

These are the shows that remind you why you love music

and how much it impacts your life.

~ Thank you Matt Berninger for fulfilling our lives.  

Funny thing about this show...

For some reason, all of us girls were extra emotional.

Five of us actually shed tears at some point or another. 

All for separate reasons and at different times. 

It was really strange when we thought back to it. 

My little episode was the most ridiculous.

I literally cried because Sharon didn't play the song that I was waiting for. 

At that point in my life,

I was seriously obsessed with her song, "One Day". 

It had a lot of meaning to me during that time

and when she didn't play it,

it struck a few personal cords with me

 and I just couldn't hold it in. 

Ridiculous.. right? 

But owell, it happens. 

~

Twilight #4 - Grizzly Bear with Youth Lagoon

~

These are all the shows we missed.... 

Twilight #5 - Erykah Badu with THEESatisfaction

Twilight #6 - Ludacris with Two-9 - I drove by the park during this show and it looked absolutely INSANE!! I am so glad that I did not even attempt this show. 

Twilight #7 - Kid Cudi with King Chip

Twilight #8 - Empire of the Sun with Alpine and Jesse Walker

~

Twilight #9 - MGMT with Kuroma

For this show,

things just got a little confused. 

Everyone came at different times and ended up in different places. 

We all love MGMT 

but I think it was just the last show 

and we were all a little burned out on the pre-planning.
It also didn't help that it was insanely crowded
Derek and I actually got stuck in a mob of people.
It got a little uncomfortable for a second. 

Fortunately, we eventually found Amy and Nicolle.
They had VIP tickets but came out to hang with us for a bit.
MGMT was great from what we actually had a chance to hear. 

And that was the end to our beloved Twilight summer

until next year TCS....