Boise July25-July 30

Because I have awesome family, we were able to have enjoyable trip up to Boise and Cascade Idaho. We stayed with my aunt Sandra and uncle Kevin in Boise, and then they took us to stay a few days in a cabin in Cascade.

Monday: We hung out in Boise getting ready to head up to the cabin in Cascade.

Did a little swimming to kill time before the play we were supposed to attend Monday night.

At the pool Eli jumps of the edge, like a flailing dummy, too close to the steps and smacks his foot on the edge of the stair in the pool.

He whines a little and tells me he hurt his foot. I didn’t see his foot hit the step, so I told him to suck it up, and that he would be fine.

We swim another 30 min or so.

In the car heading home. he says, “Look mom. When I hit my foot it pushed out part of my foot.”

Hmm..I look. Sure enough he has a small bulge on the side of his foot. I inform Ryan that I think we may have a problem. Me being the caring mother I am just kept thinking, “Crap! I hope we don’t have to go to the E.R. today. We have to leave in like an hour to make it to the play. And I don’t want to miss it. And we are on vacation!”

In swoops my uncle Kevin to rescue my crazy thoughts (he is a doctor). He looks at it and says, “Uh..I would give it a day or two before going to the Dr. It could just be bruised and swelling.” Sweet! That was all I needed to hear. We gave the kid a little Motrin and we continued with our plans.

We had fun at the outdoor theater. We watched The Scarlet Pimpernell. I thought it wa sgood, the kids got a little restless about 1/2 way through.

The Kartchner’s: Sandra, Kevin, Matt, & Kelsi

Eli continued to limp.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Enjoyed our time at the beautiful cabin. The boys did lots of golfing, the girls did nails, hair,reading, and napping.

WE discovered a new thing that Eli loves. Geo caching. Or as Eli and Hallie call it: treasure hunting. There were four close to, or semi close to the cabin. We were able to find them all. Eli thinks they are pretty cool. One we had to drive to basically the top of the mountain. A little scary. Another we hiked quite a bit looking for it. Eli was a trooper and hiked limped the whole way. No complaints at all.

We also explored a little of Cascade, had ice cream, roasted dogs and mallows, and played games at night.

Wednesday night we headed to some hot pots. They were fun. Kinda pricey, but whatever. We were on vacation making memories right?

Oh yeah, and Eli’s foot. Still a little swolen and kind of tender, but there really wasn’t an E.R. too close to where we were staying and he said it didn’t hurt that bad. So I was sure it wa on the mend, so we continued enjoying our vacation.

Thursday: We cleaned up and headed back to Boise. But before going all the way home we stopped and rafted down a stretch of the river. It was sooo fun! My kids LOVED it and they did so good. It was a few hours and I thought they would get bored, or tired but they didn’t. They had so much fun and were so brave.

Eli rode on the nose of the raft, just holding onto a rope most of the trip. Even through the rapids. Yes, they were class 2 and 3, but still I was impressed.When we were in calm parts of the river and the guide said we could get out of the boat and swim around, Eli was one of the first ones out. Hallie followed right behind. I couldn’t believe it. My kids are usually pretty, whats the word? Oh yeah, WUSSY!! But not on this trip. They were having the time of thier lives, and I loved watching them have so much fun. (I am sad. I have no pictures. I meant to by a waterproof camera and forgot).

I am so glad that my aunt lined up this activity. It was such a fun experience and one I know my kids loved!

And of course, we can’t forget storytime with Uncle Kevin. EVERYTIME my kids are around Kevin always reads to them. The kids love it!!

 

Friday: We headed home. Eli said his foot was feeling much better and there was hardly a limp. I decided I would give it one more day. If he is still limping on it Saturday I will take him in….

Thanks for the good times Kartchner Family. We always love visiting and love the way you love us like your own!

Herriman Lake

This year we discovered a new, super fun place…

Herriman Lake!

It is this little man-made lake in Herriman. We have been going with two of my best friends that I have had since high school, MEGAN and Jill. It has been so fun! It is so fun to hang out with them weekly and watch our kids become friends.

We bring a lunch, and sand toys, we throw life jackets on the kids and enjoy some time in the sun, while the kids have fun playing in the sand, water, and with each other.

  

I still can’t believe the three of us…

Me, Jill, MEG

Are now mom’s to all these precious little kiddies.

24th of July

We had fun at the 2nd annual neighborhood 24th of July party that our cool neighbors put on.

This year they had a crawfish boil. YUCK! So not my style, but others really enjoyed it! It was neat to have something different than just your typical bbq.

After everyone had their fill of fish, they put on a fantastic firework show.

I love our neighborhood and all the fun things that go on.

Splash Park

The splash park is always fun, and even more fun when we go with friends.

Will

  Eli

Hallie

Brian’s Birthday

July 18-

Celebrated Brian’s birthday. Although, his birthday isn’t until Aug. 28th, we knew we probably wouldn’t see him around his birthday, so we celebrated it early.

We had chocolate cake with sticky white icing.

The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins. They always love when Cole is around.

They dressed up and were silly.

 

And I thought this was funny…

As Brain, Brittany, and Cole were getting to leave Cole asked for his blanket. He then took the blanket and would rub it on his ear and on his face. But he can’t just use any part of the blanket, there are special parts of it that can be rubbed on his face. I thought that was so cute.

 

Cole and me. I love this kid. I wish he lived closer, so we could see him more. He reminds me so much of Eli when he was that age.

We had s’mores and enjoyed some time around the fire in my parent’s backyard.

Wild West fun

I had so much fun celebrating the birthday’s of Ryan and Hallie this year.

I decided to do a Wild West theme, complete with horse and carriage rides! It turned out fantastic!

Our neighbors, and Hallie’s adoptive grandparents, the Johnson’s, brought their horse and carriage and gave everyone at the party rides around the neighborhood. Hallie loves the Johnson’s and they love her. We love them too!

Hallie LOVED it! She insisted on “driving” the horse every time. She did not want the rides to end.

 

We ate yummy food that Ryan made. (I know I am mean making him cook on his birthday, but he knows if he wants to eat good food he’s got to do it himself, because I sure can’t do it.)

We ate pulled pork bbq sandwiches, fruit, chips, pretzels, veggies, and rootbeer.

 

We played games:

Lasso the horse:

  

Hunt for the candy in the hay!

Burlap bags to hold the loot.

We hung up little “Wanted” posters with all the kid’s pictures on them.

Oat buckets filled with popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and root beer barrels.

Hallie was spoiled rotten with many gifts. (Ryan did get a few too).

 

And we finished it off with cupcakes and ice cream.

(her favorite “princess” friend Oakley helped)

Some of the kids got little stamps for prizes. Hallie started stamping all over herself, and then showing all the other little kids how to stamp themselves too. When Hallie was covered in stamps, she lifted up her shirt and started stamping her belly. It was hilarious. They looked like they had little tats all over.

  If you look close you can see little yellow stamps on her belly.

 

Someone gave her a tramp stamp

We are so glad we were able to celebrate Ryan and Hallie with so much family.

The Johnson’s, Chris & Sandra

Shane Johnson. Hallie just loves him. Every time she sees him at church she yells, “Look mom. Shane!”

Thanks again, Sandra, Chris, Shane, and Sadie for sacrificing your Saturday for us!