Fourth of July

We LOVE going to Idaho for the 4th of July. It's my favorite holiday & it's always a lot of fun there so this year we made the trip! I went and spent a few days with Melanie in Utah before Brock met up with us to go to Idaho. I was so mad I couldn't get my camera to work while we were there. We did a lot of fun things & I couldn't take a single picture. I was sure I would have to buy a new one, but my handy husband spend two minutes with it when he joined us & it was fixed. Now if I only I could have figured that out a week before. While at Melanie's we played hard. The kids always play great together. One day we took Trax into Salt Lake and met up with a a childhood friend of mine. I hadn't seen her since her wedding reception before I was even married. It was fun to catch up and get reacquainted and let our kids meet and play together. We had a picnic together at Temple Square and then Melanie and I went and checked out the new City Creek Center and let the kids play in the fountains. Another day we met up with one of our good friends from Wyoming. Jen and I with our 6 kids went out to lunch and then we got to go swimming with them. It was so fun to catch up with them & our kids hit it off right away just like no time had passed. We also did lots of free lunches and breakfasts at the school and played outside. We made a trip to Ikea and Melanie & I also got pedicures one day. We had such a fun week it was hard to leave. Melanie and her family are moving to Arizona in a few weeks & we are so sad that they won't be around the Salt Lake area anymore. I have so many great memories of being at her house with Tyler so it was kinda hard for me to say goodbye since I will probably never be there again. Brock flew up on Saturday & we drove up to Idaho and finally my camera was working. Here is some of the fun we had up there.

Can't go to Grandpa's house without going on at least one horsey ride. Kayden usually doesn't like to ride the horses but this time he was brave & did it.

Brock and his mom

 

Brooklyn wasn't a big fan of the horses. I don't know whether it really was the horse or the fact that I handed her off to someone else. She is so stinkin' attached!!

One day we went to Lava Hot Springs. Miss looked so cute in her little swimming suit. She loved the water even though we went right thru her nap time.

Taking a break from swimming to have a snack together. I'm pretty sure Brooklyn goes anywhere just for the snacks.

Kayden had WAY too many late nights with his cousins so one day we made him go lay down and take a nap. He slept for more than three hours. For a boy who never takes naps we knew he was pretty tired!! I couldn't resist snappin one of him snuggling with his lamb.

Brock wanted to help his dad with the pump house while we were there so on the fourth it came down. They had lots of little helpers!!

It was an all day project and I'm sad I didn't get any after pictures. This is just the beginning stages. All that was left pretty much when they were all done was that big ball you see in the pictures

Grandma always seems to have lots of kitties around when we are there. Kayden loves to play with them A LOT! I can always find him in the backyard with a kitty attached to him. It's a good thing he doesn't mind leaving them there because I definitely don't want a cat around.

 

The night of the fourth we went and ate yummy dinner at the Taylors house. Usually we just sit in their backyard and watch the fireworks but we decided to join the masses this year and enjoy them a little bit closer. It usually takes a few good hours to get home once you have been down by the river but we were in a great spot this year and got right home fast. We might have to try it there again. 

Brooklyn was pretty mad at that glow stick Grandpa put around her neck.

Waiting for the fireworks to start. The weather was perfect this year & we didn't even need our sweatshirts.

I picked out the kids some pinwheels to put on Tyler's grave so we went and did that one afternoon.

Brooklyn was not in the mood for a picture even with Brock holding her. We sure do miss our Tyler. It's weird but I feel a little more complete when I am in Idaho.

We had originally decided to go camping but scrapped that idea because we were nearing the end of our trip & it was just too tiring putting together a trip. Instead we decided to do a day trip up to Mesa Falls & Harriman State Park.

Cousins

Brookie fell asleep about 2 minutes before we pulled up to the falls but she was so tired our light sleeper slept while Brock just carried her.

This is a weird one of us by the falls but I couldn't resist putting it on here.

We went and had a picnic in Harriman State Park and then went on a little hike. The little lake and flowers were so pretty!! We had brought Kayden's bike with us & he pretty much rode it the whole time on our hike.

  

After our hike we headed over to Max Inn where we did a little canoeing, paddle boating, and swimming.

 

 Kayden and Brock took out a canoe and Kayden did pretty good in it. (Well he looked good way out there paddling but if you ask Brock he wasn't much help)

 Brooklyn liked to just play on the paddle boats until her dad actually took her for a little ride.

 

 

This girl has no fear of the water. She insisted that Brock not hold her hand while they were walking around and she of course fell in face first but it didn't even faze her. 

 On our way home we stopped and visited some friends in Rexburg. We lived right across the street from the Robisons in Rock Springs and became good friends there. Our jobs have taken us both out of Rock Springs but we are sure glad we still get to see them when we visit Idaho. We sure do have so many great friends scattered all over the place. It was fun to catch up with them!! We also got to catch up with the Evans and meet their new addition to the family. Once again it was great to see them and catch up with them too!

And last but not least Brooklyn got to have her very first 4 wheeler ride. She loved it but was ready to get off after 20 minutes. So was I. Its not all that comfortable of a ride being prego and all.

We ended out trip with a long drive home we did all in one night. We had a great trip and got to do so many fun things and see so many great people. We sure didn't want to come back to the Vegas heat that was awaiting us! If only we could have a summer home in Idaho.