Sorry, it has been awhile since our last post. Alot has happend and we have been super busy. We went to get the kids from my parents house in Anacortes. It was so great to see them. We missed them like crazy and I think they were a bit excited to see us too!! When we got back I opened the mail box and got my results from my appraisal class!!! I passed, Woohoo!!!! It was so horrible opening that envelope, like the feeling when you get your acceptance letter from a college you have been longing to attend. I also got moved into another district at work, so I have a new partner and am appraising in one specific area on the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It is a great experience and a lot harder than what I was doing before. A lot of the houses are huge, waterfront homes.
Well, then we got word that a friend that I work with has a house in town that we are going to do a lease option to buy. (picture below) All is going great. We will be moving out next weekend. Bummer though, we were planning that weekend to go back down to Cali to get our stuff out of storage and spend the weekend with Jim's family. We were really looking forward to seeing them. It has been 6 months and we miss 'em. But I guess we didn't have much of a choice, we needed the $ and time to move. So, I think I have covered just about everything... Oh yeah, the kids also start school in 2 weeks. Arrrrggghhh..... must move quickly!!!
Gotta run...
Chryss

When we returned from our trip to Anacortes, we were so excited to see our pets. Buddy, Binx and Brunner. Well immediately when we pulled into town, we went and picked up Buddy from our friend, Maella's, house. She took such good care of him when we were gone. He was so happy to see us he peed. (TMI?)
Then we got home and only saw one kitty. Binx is nowhere to be found. He was by far the best cat we have ever had and even Jim got really attached to him. We have been calling for him every night in hopes that he will come home, but everytime... nothing. Our neighbor has mentioned that she has lost 8 cats out there, mostly due to coyotes and owls. We are so sad, and the kids don't know yet. I really want to keep from telling them until they get home from Gramps, Nanas & GG's house. Amber will be so devastated. Here is the most recent pics of Binx, Brunner (behind Binx) which was taken the day we left for Anacortes, and Buddy which was taken yesterday. We will miss you Mr. Binxy. You truly were the best!!

These are some pics from our trip to the San Juans this weekend. The kids are staying with my parents for 2 weeks (if we make it that long, we miss them like crazy). It is so beautiful there in Anacortes. The pic of Amber alone, is taken from their balcony. And the one of our fam by that bridge is Deception Pass.

So I am back from Boise and things are finally starting to slow down a bit. I won't get my test scores from my appraisal class for another 3-4 weeks and it is just killin' me. I can't take this waiting game, this was the first test I have ever taken that I truly have no idea whether I passed or failed. It stinks.
Anyways, this weekend we are driving to Anacortes to visit the folks and the kids are going to stay with them for a couple of weeks. They are so thrilled. The kids I mean. They are counting down the days and can't stop talking about it. They are having to double up on chores until then though. Which they are doing with few gripes, given the reward they get at the end. Buddy is staying with our dear friend, Maella, for the 4 days that Jim and I are gone. She has a lab too, his name is Odie. Him and Buddy will get along so good. We are so blessed to have such good friends. I am back on 4-10's at work, and so is Jim so we are very tired.....but that is okay, at least we get 3 day weekends together. It is a beautiful thing, given the fact that we only have about 4 weeks left until the kids start back up at school.
I wish they could stay little forever.....

Well right now, I am in Boise at my class and things are all in a huge haze. I think my brain is smoking. I hope that by Friday, all things click and I pass the test. This is so much harder than I ever anticipated. Please Pray that I pass. All I need is a 70 percent to pass (which means I can miss no more than 15 on my test).
Anyways, it is blazin' hot here too and I feel really bad cause at least I have air conditioning in my hotel room, while my dear family is at home in a house with no A/C and the temp inside the house is 94 degrees. Sorry babies!!!
Guess I better get off this puter, there are peeps waiting to use it. I am at my study buddies hotel and they have a community PC for the guests to use. I am so sneaky.
Love you all,
Chryss

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!!
Well that pretty much sums up our week in Beautiful North Idaho. We have been hanging out at the swimming pool most of the weekend. Yesterday we reached 103!!! It was a record. Chrystal leaves for Boise today for her final class (Appraiser II) Once she passes this one she will be good to go. Last week I interviewed for A Heavy Equipment position where I work. I don't think I will get the position due to the fact that I have only been back for 3 months, however there is another position opening up in October which I think I have a pretty good shot. The kids are doing good, nothing much to report about them, other than the fact that they are eating more, playing harder, and wearing Mom and Dad out. Well, today we are going to hang out at the mall, before we go to the airport, that should be pretty fun. Oh, I almost forgot, I lost my new softball glove at the game Friday....aaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!! Well, that's all I can think of for now..... Chrystal is doing much better, her staff infection is getting better everyday!!!! So with that said, remember, Life is beautiful where love is abundant, and the Northwest Boothy Babies are soaking it all in!!!! Love to everyone!!!

Here is Jimmy a couple of weeks ago when we went fishing. Unfortunately, (if you look really close between his legs), he caught something other than a fish. Good thing he listened when daddy told him not to set the hook.

Here is me and doodle bug out on the hammock the other night, it was such a great evening. After the kids fell asleep, Jim and I stayed up and stargazed for about 1 hour by the fire. The milky way is so bright from our house as well as all the other stars. But the most awesome thing was a shooting star that we both saw which left a streak behind it that lasted for about 30 seconds. I love living out in the Boondocks. The days may be hot, but the evenings cool off just enough so that we can sleep comfortably.

So, I have been home (doctors orders) for the last week and have had to stay on my back. I hate not being able to get up and "do things". Jim has been lovin' it, cause he is always wondering if I am ever gonna sit down anytime soon. I can never sit thru a movie, I always have to be up cleaning, doing laundary, getting the kids ready for whatever and so I have been humbled this last week. In case you were wondering why I've been so sick, it is cause I have had a staph infection on my leg. One of the doctors said it was MRSA, a fatal staph infection that resists any kind of methacillin. So, I am on 3 different kinds of antibiotics, hoping that one of them works. Well it turns out that one of them is working and the infection is receeding. It all started with some kind of insect bite and turned into a huge reddish purple boil about the size of a bar of soap. I know, GROSS, I will spare any pictures. But anyways, I am very happy to be getting better and extremely happy to be able to be 'up-and-about'. First thing I did when I was released from 'bedrest' was clean the kitchen, do 3 loads of laundary and mop my floor, and ooohhhhh it felt so good. Anyways, enough about me.... oh, one last thing... I would just like to thank all of those who were praying for me, I know that God was listening!!!
Chryss

Here is a picture of the cutest face I get when lil blue eyes wants something. How could one say no to that adorable thing? It's actually easier than you'd think.... but she is still cute as a bug!

Jim and the kids in early March at one of the local lakes. The weather never stops this family...we were hiking this day!!! Woohoo!!!

Here is a picture of Chrystal, Noelle, Clint and the Kids!!

Whatta Week!!!! Our work week has been rather uneventfully, however last Friday we had a wonderful dinner at our good friends Clint and Noelle's house, dinner was excellent we had tri-tip with salad and garlic bread....It would of been a little better if we had corn, but Chryss and I both forgot to pick it up at the store. We are so bad, we showed up without bringing anything....Sorry guys. That quickly became the joke of the night everything we did would have been better with a little corn. The best part of the night was when Clint and Noelle asked us to be the God parents of their beautiful little girl, Jesselynn. We consider this to be a great honor and are very excited to accept. Thanks Clint and Noelle!!!
Yesterday was also very cool, our other good friends Rob and Susan, who own Crystal Clear pool and spa, gave us an above ground pool!!!! It is a life saver for Jimmy and Amber, who have been burning up this summer. It will be well used and extremely appreciated. Thanks Rob and Susan!!!
It is very nice to see that Joey is doing his blog again, I will enjoy reading it as often as possible. 5 more weeks of softball left, I will be happy when it is over, it takes a lot of family time that we would rather be doing other things. Maybe it is time to hang up the cleats???
church was ok Sunday, but our regular pastor wasn't preaching, if it is not Jim Booth Sr. Or Jim Putman I find myself day dreaming. Sorry I just can't help it!!! well I gotta go check the level of the pool so I will sign off for now, God Bless everyone!!! Jim

Well, the weather is finally cooling down and so maybe we can get things done around the house again. For awhile it was so hot that we had to hide out somewhere cool, like the mall or the movie theatre, which brings me to my point. We went a few days ago to see Pirates of the Caribbean, I was expecting the best one yet. Don't get me wrong, it was great, but I wasn't prepared to be hung on by a shoestring in waiting for the next one to come out. Jim would say, "there was no closure, and I need closure."
I am very glad that we did see it however, it was really good, and Captain Jack Sparrow is so hilarious. But some closure would have been nice. Anyways, there is my food for thought for the day, not much I know, but what did you expect..... from me?

This picture was taken at the mouth of a river flowing out of Round Lake, one of the 100+ lakes here just in northern Idaho. It was about 80 degrees outside, but the mosquitos were so thick that we had to wear jackets. Why didn't we just think of wearing Bug Spray??? Duh!!!

Jimmy and Amber caught about 2 dozen little fish this day. Just a bunch of little whitefish, perch, crappie and small bass. But it was so fun cause they baited their own hooks and took the fish off the hook. Great fishermen (sorry, I am not one of those politically correct people) in the making!!! Fishing @ Whiskey Rock

This is Buddy. He is the newest addition to our family. Yes, I think he is smiling.

Jim and Jimmy at Lake Pend'Oreille. They look a little worn out. We had been fishing all day. Woohoo!!

Here is Jimmy and Amber on July 4th 2006. Jimmy is now 8 and Amber is 6. To date they are still best friends, let's hope it stays that way.

Well, the 4th of July was a rather uneventful occasion. The problem we encounter every year is always the same. We spend so much time playing hard on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd we are flat tuckered out for the fourth. Fortunately we could see the fireworks from Silverwood (our Local Theme park) from our house, so we managed to hold out until then. Last Thursday we got a little puppy, his name is Buddy. He is very precious. The weather has been very nice this year, so nice that the local burn permits are still open (no burn ban yet). I think that they are still allowing us to burn because they haven't seen my fires yet. If they had, the ban probably would put into effect immediatley LOLOLO. Last Friday's Softball game Had a rather funny moment, I had my usual one time a year lucky hit,it was a for sure triple. As I rounded second base I saw the third base coach waving me home so I immediately started grunting louder (this makes people think I am going faster than I actually am) the truth was I was already going as fast as I could. Then just before I stepped on third base he tries telling me to stop, I gave him my usual you've got to be kidding look. I mean do you really think that a 250 pound, out of shape, has been, is going to be able to stop suddenly? I don't think so!! At that point it was Home run or die trying, I really mean it when I say die trying. As Home plate quickly approached I started my slide, (at that time I could hear faint voices in the crowd yelling "Free Willy". After the slide I was proud to display to everyone exactly what a beached whale really looked liked. It was a pathetic display of an, out of breath, heavily panting, sweaty, middle age softball player, who just scored an inside the ball park home run. That's right after the dust had cleared, and the whale was beached, I was declared safe at home. Stay tuned for our next comic relief moment and please excuse the grammatical errors. Jim