Way to Go, Idaho!

 We moved to Idaho as I was about to start high school and I thought my life was ending.  Of course, coming from the "big city" of Salt Lake, I was definitely up on all things hip and fashionable.  Right.  It was a hard adjustment for me but it probably had more to do with the timing and already feeling vulnerable during those teen years of angst and identity searching.  Thankfully, I did make it through and have a lot of great friends from both places now to show for it.  Now as I take my own children back to visit, I really appreciate the slower pace and plethora of outdoorsy things to do.  With a large family like ours, we can only gather about once a year so we try to cram as many activities into our time together as is humanly possible.  My parents did a great job of trying to make everyone happy and entertained.......which is a pretty monumental task considering all of the ages and personalities they were dealing with.

{The Reunion}

We did a lot of Olympics watching

Played lots of Speed Scrabble and Rummikub.....I am anxious for a rematch!

This 16 passenger van was our mode of transport for the trip.  This was our view from the back seat.  Halle thought it was an actual tour bus and kept asking when it was time to get back on the "tour bus" again.  

We made our first stop in Island Park for a hike, lunch and horseback riding.  Halle had her pick of uncles willing to cart her around.

My kids got to have their first experience riding a horse that didn't require tokens.  They loved it!  

We only had one little detour to the local mechanic shop for a near blowout.  Something is always bound to go wrong when traveling with that many people on that tight of a schedule.  Lucky for us, we had several strapping young men along who were anxious to prove their manhood by fixing the tire.

We got to meet my sister Ashley's boy toy, Matt.  Nice guy.  Even nicer to spend the whole day with ALL of us!   Somehow Emma got convinced that he was part of the cast of High School Musical and she wouldn't leave his side for the rest of the day.

I had to keep a close watch on my baby bjorn.  I think they liked it a little too much.

Caught ya!  I am pretty sure that he is texting all his friends about how great the Playmill Theatre was.

Aunt Natalie.......when did she grow up?

Mutual admiration?  I think so.

We capped off the weekend with a family talent show.  We had a little bit of everything......from lip syncs to baseball skills, breakdancing, comedic readings, singing, interpretive dance (that was us!) Travis and I re-enacted the mattress dance from the hit show of the summer "So You Think You Can Dance"  with rose petals and all.  To see our inspiration, click here.  Of course, we were fully clothed and performed with far less grace but it was funny nonetheless.

  After it was all over, I had to ask my parents if they felt truly blessed to have such a "talented" family.  Yep, of course they do!  

next up

{Yellowstone}