Tripping

In keeping with the craziness this summer is, we have continued to make trips and have company. A few weeks ago, during what is typically "Fargo Week" in our family (wrestling families you know what I'm talking about), Collin drastically decided not to go (wrestling families, you also know how drastic this is), and instead went down to Utah to help his mom with a bunch of attic and garage cleaning. I had already planned to go over to IF for a few days to pick up my sisters for.. what you will see later in this post. So, our little family loaded up to head off to Pocatello to meet my dad, who picked me and Ashlyn up, before Collin and Lucy continued down to Saratoga.

BUT FIRST, on our way, we stopped at Malad Gorge. We drive by it like 30 times a year, but have never ever stopped. Actually, the original plan was that we were going to pick up some fried chicken on our way out of town, then stop and have a picnic at Malad Gorge. Well, we left like an hour later than planned, and we were both so hungry, we ate the chicken in the car 10 minutes after we left Boise, and then ended up stopping for about 10 minutes at the Gorge. It really is pretty cool, there is a bridge across it that totally freaked Lucy out, which was funny.

Ashlyn wasn't quite sure what to think of the wind.

When I came out of the bathroom, this is what I found. Collin says this is Ashlyn's road-rage picture. "Hey, get out of the road, moron!"

I thought this was pretty much the funniest ever. Collin just needs to have his mouth open and be sticking out his tongue too.

So, I had a few days to spend in IF. I realized that I hardly ever go over there when it's not some sort of family get together, meaning the siblings closer to my age are usually around. This time it was just me, my parents, and the 2 little squirts, who are 10 and 12 years younger than me. But I'm not saying it was bad, just different. Ashlyn kept me busy and I did a lot of work perfecting my piano website, so it was a good trip. I got to go visit Kaylin, (hint--I need that cute picture, K!) which was great too.

My parents and the little squirts have been doing an Oh So Noble and Gospel-Enriching activity for their Family Home Evening every week this summer: They made a chart of all the local ice cream places and have been "testing" out one a week. Lucky for me, I happened to be in town when Reed's Dairy got tested out. It happened to be like 30 degrees with 100mph winds the night we went (again I was thanking the heavens I live in Boise), but the ice cream was delicious.

Aunt Elise, McKae, and Grandma also came along! It was a fun girl party (girls and Dad, that is.)!


Saturday night the little squirts, Ashlyn, and I made the drive back to Boise in my dad's car. (thanks again for letting us take it, Dad!) Ashlyn was surprisingly good, (thanks to Jodee's help), and we had a good time pigging out on snacks and watching The Office.

We had a great time having the little squirts here to visit for part of a week. We did lots of fun things--rollerblading, biking, floating the Boise, frisbee golfing, eating out, READING (oh wait, that's just Andrea), and other things I can't remember right now.

Lucy loved having some extra buddies.

Our trip down the greenbelt on bikes and blades. Oh how I wish I had a video of Andrea rollerblading. It was memorable! :)

We rocked Donnie Mac's Trailer Park Cuisine. I had always heard of it but never been there. Thanks to restaurant.com we all ate there for $15. It was super yummy food (I wouldn't exactly say healthy though), and a cute place.

We took the girls to a Hawk's game.... I am always amazed at how good I am at paying attention to pretty much everything but the sport being played right in front of me at these things. Somehow I missed all the exciting parts, but I had a great time people watching! Ashlyn made it through the whole game and had fun too.

I love the little squirts! Ashlyn loved hanging out with them too!

Let's hope they had enough fun to want to come again someday.