Fun at the Gateway

When we left ID, we headed to UT to spend time with friends,  plus Kade had to fly from SLC to Spokane for work (because it would not be a family vacation if Kade didn't have to leave in the middle). So while Kade was gone we went to the Gateway to play in the fountain.

We went with are friend's the Croasmons.  This is what we did after going to the Aquarium in SLC.  I guess the theme for the day was "Water".

This picture of Liam getting squirted in the face cracks me up!  I don't know if a mother is supposed to laugh at such things but this mother does.

This kid cracks me up, even when he is not getting squirted in the face!

This one cracks me up too!

This is our friend Lizzy.  Isn't she a doll!

The Canal

When I was a kid one of my favorite summer activities was to float down the canal with my cousins.  I thought that everyone in ID spent the summer floating the canals but my friend Nancy who is from there told me that she has never done it.  I think that maybe she is not really from ID she just says that she is to be cool!  And if she  really is from there well than next summer I expect to see her in a canal somewhere!

I think that McKinna was not really sure where she was going to end up but she didn't seem to worried about it.

Liam was somehow assigned to a very "manly" inner tube.  (at least it wasn't pink)

Diesel really wanted that duck, but that duck really didn't want Diesel.  Survival instincts won out and the duck got away but it was close!

This is just Kade taking a brake between feedings! (if you want to know what that means you'll have to check out Kade's blog of our trip).

I don't think that this horse was too happy that we were in his space. Or maybe he was just jealous cause he wanted to be in the canal too.

McKinna got a free lift from the Float organizer also known as my cousin Monica.  Thanks Monica for the fun trip down the canal and down memory lane!

City of Rocks

We went to City of Rocks but we had to stop and ride horses first.

I think McKinna thought that this was as good as the real thing.

City of Rocks is really an amazing place and I don't think that the pictures do it justice.  I wanted to take my kids there, I just wasn't sure if they would find a big bunch of rocks as exciting as I do.

Luckily they got a real kick out of climbing and exploring.

It was a fun day,  the kids thought that they were real adventurers!

The Snake

My sister and her husband Mark took us to the river one day.  I was just going to ride in the boat but Mark was pretty insistant that I take a ride on the "molecule".  He assured me that he would take it easy and not dump us.  Well he didn't dump us but I am not so sure that he took it easy,  after that ride the kids said "wow that was a much better ride than our first one!"

My sister got me going in a Kayak.  It was not as easy as it looks but it was fun.

Liam really wanted to try it and off he went.  When he first got in and the current started to take him,  he just yelled out "tell me when you want me to come back!"  I think he thought his final destination was going to be the ocean.

Liam picked up Kayaking better than we thought he would and my sister kept saying to him "wow Liam you are doing better than your Mom did!"  And all I have to say about that is "screw you sista, screw you!"

Kade got to water ski, which I don't think that he has done in the 11 years that we have been married.  I was impressed he got up the first try and stayed that way until he was too pooped to go on.

Mark took a ride on his wake board, after he skiied and it was pretty obvious that it wasn't his first time!

It was a great time on The Snake but I think that we were all a little tired by the end,  I am pretty sure that Liam was asleep under that Hat.

Happy Birthday Dad

I was able to get one more picture off the computer so I could say Happy Birthday to my Dad!!

This was a big birthday for him and I am glad that we got to have a little celebration together while we were in Idaho. He is such a great Dad and my kids are so lucky to have such a great Poppy! If there was such a thing as blogging when I was a kid, I am sure that mine would have included many funny stories about my Dad. As a matter of fact now that he is retired I think that he should get started on his autobiography, it would be a hilarious best seller! Love you Dad. Happy Birthday

cats

I have to start this post by saying I am having a major computer dilemma and I can't get to all my pictures. So much has been happening, we went on vacation and the new school year has started but no one cares about the words if there are no pictures! (actually, no one probably cares about the words at all, those are just for me). My point is I will be playing catch up for a long time after this gets resolved.

Here is a quick post from out trip (the only pictures I could get to). The first leg of our trip was to Idaho to see family and friends and of course so Kade could have his fill of fair food.
My sister just got two new kittens and my kids were in love! McKinna almost looks like she could shed tears of joy!
Liam is really allergic to cats so it took him awhile to get used to the idea that he was on allergy medicine and that he could actually touch the kittens without experiencing terrible consequences.
You might ask "who could deny these kids a pet that makes them sooo happy?" Well the answer to that is me!
Do you think they would love these cats this much if they were theirs and were around them all the time? I am just trying to keep the love alive for when we visit aunt Nikki. right???
I have to say these kittens supplied hours of entertainment for my kids. The weather was perfect and they got to be outside on real grass, with real pets. It was fantastic!!! When can we come back?

Obedience

The other night the missionaries came over for dinner and before they left they wanted to leave us with a message. The elder got out his scriptures and what he shared he really directed toward the kids. He read 1 Nephi 2:3, which talks about how Lehi was obedient when the Lord commanded him to do something. The missionary then talked to the kids about how important it is to be obedient to the Lord and also to there parents and that when their parents ask them to do something even if they don't understand why they should probably do it because it is for their own good. Mckinna looked at the missionaries, raised one finger and said "I'm trying not to drink coffee." (The above picture was taken while camping recently and I promise that is not coffee in that mug!)