We left Oregon on the HOTTEST day of the year in July (at least up until that point...) - my original thought was for us to pack up our truck and head out after the Sandy Mountain Days Festival. But it was 98 - at 7pm....so I made the executive (and much appreciated) decision to forego the tradition of us going to the Mountain Festival...
We left at about 9pm....kids were in PJ's....Gigi was ready to go...we had her steppin' stool so she could get in and out of the truck...and she was a peach!!!
I'm telling you...traveling with a "Gigi" is the only way to go!! Our boys just snuggled up next to her and loved on her...she read stories and kept them entertained with songs and snacks....and it was so....peaceful!! It was an awesome trip!! And I thoroughly advocate leaving at night. It takes all the guess work out of how to entertain your children. (though I wrapped up new cars, new primer books, coloring books, crayons, etc...that they got every hour on the hour after they woke up....BEST idea EVER!! It kept their attention - and every hour they had a brand new distraction....between THAT and our BonJovi CD....the boys were thoroughly entertained!!)
We made it to Pingree, ID by 11 AM. :)
Some of the more "unfamiliar" sights in Idaho....The world's largest potato chip.
The world famous Idaho Potato Museum. I have to admit...I originally thought it was corny...but I found out some interesting facts about potatoes that I never knew!!
Our family & Gigi posing by the worlds largest baked potato.....
A large collection of Mr. Potato Head dolls...that are IN the museum....boys thought that was great...
And....I had to take a picture of this. The largest collection of potato mashers. Vintage & Brand new.
{The only other person in the world who might get my fascination with this is Jodi.}
I wished I could've nabbed a couple of the older vintage ones.... ;)
Pictures at the Ranch....the boys just looked at the horses and cows for hours....
possibly one of the FEW times I've seen them sit still...aside for re-runs of "Ask This Old House"....
Little boys....Big Toys. It was a little boys dream come true. To hop on tractors, four wheelers and pretend that they're driving and chasin' cows....
While we were in Pingree, we took a little detour (45 mins or so...) to Rigby, Idaho, so I could visit my cousin Rebecca and her husband Kelly. :)
I almost cried...I was so excited!!! The last time I got to see my cousin was at my Grandma Fran's funeral. :( And she passed away in December 1999. RIGHT before Stann and I got married. So it had been 10+ years since I'd seen her...and I'd not even met her kids!!! She has four!!
Monika, Natalyah, Keayen & Boston (sleeping upstairs). They kept our boys entertained while we visited for awhile...I LOVED her home. :) It was beautiful and I'm thoroughly in love with Idaho Falls. :)
{WHY'D you leave there, Dad?!}
From Pingree, we went to Bountiful, Utah....so we could visit with more of Stann's side of the family. Gigi's sister Bertie lives in Bountiful. Patty came down to Utah too....this is a picture of the sisters. :)
L-R: Gigi, Patty, Bertie
My boys fell in love with Aunt Patty and Aunt Bertie. I still don't understand why we can't take them home with us?! We love them and miss them so much!!!
Group picture. Taken under duress on my part. I still had MOST of the Bell's Palsy while in Utah.
I WAS NOT A FAN OF PICTURES!! So no comments please. ;P
LOVED the temple. I wish it would've been open for us to attend a session!! :(
Family picture in front of Aunt Bertie's. Boys were NOT happy about having their pictures taken. This was Sunday Evening...we had a family BBQ at Aunt Bertie's. I love her family!!! They are all soooo awesome!
Wait...I guess I mean...I love my "married" family....you know...the one I married into. They are amazing! No offense Sweetie...but you know I married you for your family.... ;0)
I wouldn't be able to tell you about this trip - without mentioning Scotty. Scotty is one of Stann's younger second cousins...and my boys took to him right away. He played outside with them....tetherball, park...you name it...they absolutely adored him!! Stann and Scotty played tetherball and Scotty whooped his butt! ;) I myself, was just so impressed that a 13 yr old boy would take the time to play in the yard with the little kids...and to be so kind. :)
When they had to leave that night...my boys cried. Thank you Scotty!! I hope my boys turn out to be kind and thoughtful young men - just like you!!
One of our favorite pastimes....playing in Aunt Bertie's front yard...in the sprinkler.
From Bountiful we went to Pleasant Grove. :) But of most note...(Stann's opinion anyways):
CABELA'S.
The boys loved the fish tank. :)
We stayed with our friends the McBride's....we got to do a couple of "firsts" with them...the boys took their first train ride in Salt Lake City on TRAX. :)
We took TRAX to Temple Square.....
I got to tell the boys that Mommy, Grammy, Papa, Uncle Mike, Aunt Lee-Lee, Auntie Sari, and Nana were sealed as a forever family in this temple. :) Just like they got sealed to Mommy and Daddy in our Portland Temple. They thought that was really neat. :)
They also wanted to play with the model of the Salt Lake Temple...I couldn't believe all the detail!!
And they thought the statue of Jesus was HUGE (It is) and amazing!! But they liked the spiral case leading UP and DOWN to the statue even more....(running up and down it....'til we could catch them).
Most of our motley crue: L-R:
Annie, Karli, Karl, Stephanie, Matt, Kelsie, Josh & Stann
All the chillun's...in front of the Conference Center....
L-R: Kelsie, Josh, Ashlee, Matt, Annie & Karli
Oh...I can't believe how much those girls have grown!!! :*)
We also checked out the inside of the Conference Center. That place is HUGE!! (My 1st time inside)
We liked the seats...obviously. ;0)
View from the rooftop - did you know theres 4 1/2 acres up top?! AMAZING VIEW!!
We also went to the Hogle Zoo. I really like it sooo much better than Portland. ;0)
Outside the Gorilla & Monkey enclosure. I took a picture inside of the Gorilla...it was so sad...he was probably the most "human" of all the animals....and he just looked so....bored.
But it didn't turn out!!!
The kids liked climbing on this particular gorilla...
Kelsie & Matt. Ah...Kels. We're missing you tons!!!
And Ashlee too! You girls did AMAZING keeping up with our kids...and playing with them!! We miss you already!!
Karli, Josh & Ashlee....Joshy was one happy camper...getting to play with "da grills" all the time.
I do think though...that he revised their opinion of wanting a younger brother. ;P
They helped us soooo much with our boys!! So awesome and amazing!!
We also went to Seven Peaks in Provo. Stann would kill me if he knew I posted this picture. But it was the best one of the boys. Did I mention I got the mother of all burns here?!
I did good keeping the boys hydrated and sunscreened up. Stann and I just burned the holy-living-tar out of ourselves!!
I didn't get pictures - I was too busy socializing - of my family. But I got to see my Aunts Sharon, Laura & Susan! My uncle Mike! My grandparents! My cousin Laurie and also meet her husband and their 2 kids...she's expecting another any day now!! And also...Lauri...remember paybacks happen!! Thanks for sugar high's on the ride home!! *grumble* : P
I did come to a couple of conclusions while we were there....
I would love to live in Bountiful. Or the Rigby area. :)
(hint, hint...if you're reading this Stann...)
I miss my family. :) But I was so glad we got to visit them and see them!!!
The drive back home was uneventful....albeit harder! I slept for the first time...EVER...in our truck. We went during the night and both Stann and I hit our walls...we both had a hard time staying lucid enough to drive. But what an awesome drive....I loved looking at all the beautiful parts of Oregon and Idaho - even Washington from across the Columbia. ;) It was beautiful. I wish I had words (or had the presence of mind to take pictures) to describe how gorgeous it was!!
1 comments:
Happy to see some pictures from your trip! You guys packed a lot in and got to do some really fun stuff. Glad everything went so good!
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