Way to go, Idaho, Part II

Our family took an extended trip surrounding the family reunion in McCall.  We drove to Richard's house on Saturday, and got to hang out there a little before we headed to McCall.  Suzanne & family came for a little bit and dropped off Emily to spend the night with us while they stayed in a hotel.  Then on Sunday we went to church in Meridian, then drove up to McCall.
On Wednesday, we drove to Idaho Falls, and spent the night in a hotel there.  We drove around and looked at the river and some really cool benches.

Kids on a fish bench

Logan on a potato bench

Lauren on a horse bench

Easton on a bird bench

The kids by the Snake river, with the Idaho Falls Temple in the background

 The next morning we drove to Rexburg and went to Bear World, just in case we didn't see any bears in Yellowstone.  It's a good thing.

Some of the bears we saw

Another bear we saw

A real bear

The kids and really cute bear cubs . . . I could have watched them for hours

Easton being very brave and petting the chicken at the petting zoo at Bear World

Rozanne almost being very brave and almost feeding the pig

 Then we headed into Yellowstone and saw Old Faithful, and many more geysers.

Old Faithful and Lauren

The boys at a geyser

 We spent the night up in Gardiner, Montana.  The next morning we went back into Yellowstone and saw lots of animals, but no bears or wolves.  When we were watching a movie about Yellowstone it showed some mud pots and I could hear Easton giggling.  He thought it was pretty funny.  So we took him out to see some and he giggled again.  Apparently mud pots hit a funny bone in Easton.  They were quite stinky if you ask me.  We had a great time walking around and driving around.

Logan and a petrified tree

Dragon's Mouth Mud Pot (tee hee)

Easton and Lauren with a buffalo

Lauren acting as the wing tip of a pelican

Lauren and Easton at Yellowstone Lake

Thursday afternoon we drove down to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  It started raining just as we left Yellowstone.  Good timing.

Leaving Yellowstone

We got to drive by the Tetons on the way down, and they were quite nice to look at.

 We got to Jackson in time to catch the end of the shootout in the middle of town.  Then we went to dinner and stayed in a hotel that night.  The next day we walked around a little, did some tourist shopping, had some ice cream, then headed back home.
 

Kids' favorite part of Jackson Hole

Logan's great photography

YUM!

 We love our own family vacations, and we love the family reunion, but we think we need to separate them next year because we were really pooped by the time we got home.  We did have fun and made excellent memories, like how to fit a cot between the two beds in a Motel 6.

Way to go, Idaho

For our family reunion last summer we went to McCall, Idaho.  A few of us met up at Richard's in Meridian the night before, then we drove up to McCall after church on Sunday.  It was another big lovely house to enjoy.  We found our rooms and settled in.  

The next day we went for a nature walk/hike where we weren't quite sure where we were going, but we were together and had a great time.  

Here's the whole group (minus the photographer) heading out on our 'hike'

The same group from the front

Here are some of us waiting in the shade to find out where we should go

Sisters walking

Later that day we went to Ice Cream Alley where we all enjoyed delicious ice cream.  We walked around the shops and looked at touristy things.

On Tuesday we had our water day.  We spent the morning on some fun watercraft at Payette Lake.

Logan with his wind-blown hair

Lauren wishing she could drive

David with the 2 youngsters

Easton getting off his ride with Aunt Elizabeth and Emily

Coming in when the time was up

Mark riding by

In the afternoon we went and tried more watercraft, where we had to use our own power.  

David, Lauren, Easton & Rozanne heading out on our canoe ride.  Logan already went ahead in his kayak.

Kim, Liz, Luke & Richard

Kelly, Elizabeth, Sarah & Emily

Luke, pulling the canoe up on the beach

Then we enjoyed a little beach time.

Suzanne & family coming in, Logan and Easton on the logs

Cousins enjoying the water

The problem with writing about this so many months later, I don't remember any little details.  We all hung out together, we played some games, ate some food, and enjoyed our surroundings.  There were some deer sightings at the cabin, and the little ones liked riding bikes around in the garage and the driveway.  We had s'mores one night by the fire on the patio, and we all visited.  I love my family, and I look forward to these reunions every year.  This one was sad because my dad wasn't there, and I know he would have loved the ice cream.

It can still be done

A few years back my nephew Craig was showing us how strong he was by holding all my kids at the same time.  

 A few weeks ago we decided it was time to relive the event.  This time it was much harder.  I don't think Craig's muscles have deteriorated that much, but I do think my kids have grown.  So Craig tried, and dropped a few kids on the ground a few times . . .

Then Logan lost a shoe . . .

Then . . .

SUCCESS!!

How many years until it can't be done??

The Guest Room

Hallway to the Guest Room

 Most of you are aware of how much I enjoy company.  I like having friends and family come visit.  When we bought this house, we deemed one of the unfinished rooms in the basement our guest room, or Emily's room.  It had a lovely cement floor with some carpet remnants scattered about, and plenty of Harry Potter posters, old artwork and pictures adorning the walls.  I regret that I never took a picture of the room in its Harry Potter poster glory.  But, I remember it, and hopefully those who slept there will have fond memories as well.  Now, we offer the new and improved guest room.  There is real carpet, paint, and even a new window!

  

The old room had two tiny windows, but to bring it up to code we had one of the tiny windows made into a large window.  So now we invite you to come and visit and stay in a finished guest room.  We have had many come already, so we are glad we finished the room to make our home more enticing to visitors.  A guest room and a bathroom downstairs . . . what more could you ask for?

Lemonade

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?  Well that's exactly what we did.  Last month life threw some lemons at us.  My dad unexpectedly died.  It was quite a shock, and happened so fast.  I walked around in a daze for a few days, not really believing it really happened.  Then we went to the funeral.  It made it a little more real, and a little more sad.

Some things my dad taught me:
- you are never too full for ice cream
- how to give a talk
- to be generous
- to like Mexican food
- to follow the rules (unless the rules are wrong)
- love for reading
- how to behave
- to stand up and balance on his knees
- to fulfill my church calling
- graham crackers and milk is a meal
- treats are delicious for breakfast
- to be responsible
- school is important
- respect for my mom

 While we were at Elizabeth's house, Easton started picking lemons.  Then they made lemonade.  

My mom and dad were sealed in the temple.  They are together, and I can be with them again.  That knowledge is my lemonade.