Pictures in Idaho

Idaho

We headed to Idaho to see my Grandma and celebrate her 85th birthday. As soon as we arrived Carter found a broom just his size. He was immediately taken with Grandma's house and spent the evening sweeping up for her. The girls love throwing rocks in the canal and wandering around the farm. Emily found wildflowers by the potato cellar and picked a bunch for Grandma. I love it here. It's one of my favorite places in the world. It's quiet and relaxed and everyone moves a little slower. John and I decided we want to retire here, or somewhere like it. It will probably never happen, but we can dream. It was the first time back since my Grandpa's funeral and it was sad and strange to not have him there telling his stories and asking us trivia about the world. I was feeling a little reminiscent and took a lot of pictures. There is something magical about Grandma's house to me. I'm sure it's because I spent 2 weeks every summer on vacation here. I enjoyed being with my grandparents and experiencing all that country life has to offer, before heading back to the crowded city life we knew. It's even more magical to me now as I watch my kids skipping rocks, picking flowers, and walking down the dirt road with Grandma. They are enjoying the same little moments I did as a kid. Twenty five years have passed, but in this one place nothing has really changed.

On Saturday we went to the air show. Grandpa loved to fly and never missed this yearly show and we couldn't bear to be in town and not experience it for ourselves. It was really amazing!

That afternoon we went to visit my Grandpa's grave and got a picture with Grandma. I miss my Grandpa so much. He was one of the neatest people I have ever known and always made me feel so loved. I am grateful for the knowledge I have that he is in a better place, surrounded by his parents and brothers, and that I will see him again one day.

Then we headed to the elementary school for my grandma's 85th birthday party. My uncle opened the PE closet and let the kids at the scooters, balls, and jump ropes. What fun! We did a big tug of war with families against one another. John got a little too into the tug of war, not that any of us were surprised by that at all. He can't stand to lose any type of competition. He took everyone down, but ended up pretty grass stained and scraped up from it! The highlight was when the giant parachute came out. Everyone joined in that fun and Grandma was out running under the parachute with all the kids. She has a lot of energy for 85! And Carter thought the parachute was the greatest thing ever. That may be the happiest I had ever seen him in his life. He was giggling uncontrollably and running in and out. He got pulled under during "shark attack" by an older cousin and he couldn't have been more thrilled. It was a fun time! Happy Birthday Grandma!

Visit to Rigby

On Sunday we went to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Peterson (my dad's parents). They live at my Great Grandpa Matson's house and work the farm so it can stay in the family, which was my Great Grandpa's dying wish. The yard has huge, old trees with a canal running all the way through it. It is beautiful. Kelsie and Travis are standing on the bridge that leads up to their house. As a kid I remember there just being some rickety boards over the canal, we would cautiously walk across them, hoping not to fall into the canal. We enjoyed a visit with my grandparents and the girls enjoyed swinging on the rope swing, playing with their dog Pepper, and playing with Grandma's old dolls and dish sets (the same ones I played with as a little girl). Oh, the memories. At the end of our visit I found Carter and my dad hanging out on the porch together chatting. I love these pictures of my dad sitting on his Grandpa's porch, with his grandson.

Kelsie on the rope swing

Emily playing dolls at Great Grandma Peterson's.

Carter and Grandpa chatting on the porch.

Soccer

We just ended our soccer season. John was Emily's coach this year. He really enjoys coaching and looks forward to the games even more than the kids. This was Emily's first season of playing and she loved it. She couldn't be prouder to finally be on a team and to have her dad as coach. She even made a goal at one game. It happenned to be into the other teams goal, but to a four year a goal is a goal so they cheered her on and she still doesn't know the difference. She couldn't have been prouder when she got her medal at the end of the season. She held it and examined it like she had just won an Olympic medal. She was so proud.

Kelsie played her third season of soccer. She likes soccer practice and the social aspects of soccer but that's about it. She came home from her game on a particularly hot day and announced that she might have made the wrong decision when she decided to play this season. We are glad she played one last season. It was fun to have both our girls playing soccer, even though it did take over our Saturdays for the last couple of months.

Quacking Like a Duck

While we were waiting for the parade to start, the kids saw these ducks that were waddling around the park. It was the highlight of the morning. Carter started quacking at them and then took off following them and quacking. I think he was trying to join the family.

City Days

Last week was our "city days". We enjoyed going to a picnic in the park with bounce houses, fire engine tours, and lots of cookies. Emily was in shock when we got to our park and she saw the bounce houses (she gasped). It was her own personal heaven. Carter was very taken by the cookies...there was a never ending supply of them. The next morning when we went to soccer games he headed over the hill to the pavilion and kept saying "cookie". He was quite dissappointed to find that the cookies had all vanished in the night.

On Saturday morning we went to the city parade. It was fun and we didn't have to camp out for two days to get a good spot. We love our young city. We have really enjoyed being a part of it's growth and watching the progress of new roads, schools, and stores. Just this year we got our own Walmart and a new High School that will open this fall. We are moving up in the world. We love it here.

Museum

These pictures are from the Hutchings Museum. Emily is very interested in old fashioned and pioneer stuff and begs to go to this museum. She chooses it over the Dinosaur Museum. Kelsie had never been with us and she enjoyed all the hands on exhibits. The great thing about this museum is that it's just tiny and we always have the place all to ourselves.

Dressing up--Kelsie, Ethan, Emily

My little engineer

Kelsie playing the Indian drum

The spooky guy that is in prison. Emily is really scared of this guy (I think she is really convinced that he is real). But she is big into conquering her fears (thus part of the reason she keeps wanting to go back). She couldn't wait to show Kelsie the prison cell and the prisoner and kept reminding Kelsie not to be scared.

The prison cell is very realistic. It is an original jail cell with heavy doors and cement surround. Really cool. This is my nephew Ethan locking my kids in the jail. It went over better this time. Last time Emily totally lost it...thinking she was going to be locked up with that prisoner guy forever. :)Don't they look studious? Examining butterflies and other insects with magnifying glasses.