Western Vacation

Friday July 6th, 2012
Our much anticipated vacation out west finally came!  We have been talking about going camping with Grandma and Grandpa and seeing our girl cousins for months!  It had been four years since we were able to go west and visit family. 
Now I really enjoy the east coast but for  me there is something missing.  I'm so glad that we get to take our kids to the west where they can experience a place that has less...less rules, less people, less taxes, less humidity, less pre-packaged safe "fun".  With grandma and grandpa in charge Adam and Zach got to experience the rugged grit of the west.  From Boise Idaho's neighboring jagged Sawtooth Mountains to empty desert valleys of central Utah and all the way to the southern boarder of Utah's Zion's National Park.  We got to see and do things that the East Coast just can't offer.

The adventure started in Newark NJ airport at least for me and Josh.  It is always an experience getting your family through airport security and on to a plane.  All went better than expected and we got ther in great time.  As we got settled in Grandpa got out water guns and recruited Adam and Zachary to a battle.  Water war is something that my boys understand and they got right into it.  Adam's favorite part was getting Daddy wet.  Zach got shot in the face one too many times (he was also getting over being sick) so we sat with a home made cookie to watch.  Andrew liked the cookie idea and had himself one too and then decided to prune Grandma's petunia flowers.

Saturday July 7th, 2012
Grandpa has been pretty saturated with girlie stuff (since Claire and Ella live close) so he had some boy fun planned.  He found a Nerf war place in Boise that is like paintball only with Nerf darts and disks.  After going to the park in the morning and feeding ducks and playing around for a little while with Andrew then older guys took off to shoot each other up.

Josh, Grandpa, Daddy, Adam and Zachary went to have a Nerf gun battle at the Dart Zone.  We all rented the biggest and best guns that we could handle.  Adam wanted to do free play so we spent most of our time having a shoot out with Adam.  Whenever the odds were against Adam he would call for time out, but if someone else would run out of ammo Adam wasn't very sympathetic to his plight as he would pelt them with Nerf bullets.  We also participated with some other groups in an epic Nerf war.  Adam was always sure to be the last man standing on his team.  Zachary wasn't very interested in the big Nerf war, but he loved following Daddy and doing battle as a team.

I got to enjoy going to a big nice fabric store with Jo and I bought a few boys fabrics which is fun for me since where I live the nearest fabric store is 45min away.  Thanks goodness for the internet and online shopping.

Sunday July 8th, 2012
There was a traveling train museum and and show that was coming through Boise while we were there and so Sunday morning we stopped in to see that.  Kevin told us how he would ride the train from Nyssa into Boise and this station is where he would come.  His dad would drive in for business and they would meet up at the station.  He described it being very different that what it is today.  It still looked very nice but he said it was a live with people.   

It was fun they were handing out little hats and pendant flags that the boys enjoyed.  Andrew LOVED it!  The only show that can capture his attention is Thomas the train engine and so this outing was perfect for him.  We got to go into the train car where all the interior had been taken out and a train history exhibit was set up.  He got to touch the tracks and the wheels of a train.  The crowning event was a ride on a little mini train.  The cherry on top was the little dog we got to pet as we waited for grandpa to get the car. 
Grandpa took us up to see a new development that had a river park.  It wasn't just any little park it was a place that was made just so for kayakers to "play" and practice river kayaking.  I like the attitude of the people there in Boise.  They really love the land and doing things to experience it and have a good clean thrill.  The boys thought it was nice but they really enjoyed throwing rocks off of the foot bridge. 

Great Aunt Helen came over for Sunday dinner.  Jo of course made a fantastic meal of grilled salmon, creamed peas and potatoes from fresh from her garden and lots of other sides.  Helen was pleasant to visit with.  She has really declined in her mental health.  Jo and Kevin take really good care of her.

Monday July 9th, 2012
I think that my boys have decided the jet skiing is super fun.  Grandma and Grandpa took us up to Lucky Peek reservoir.  Josh told me that this is where he would ride his bike with his friends when he was in High School.  Now there is a really nice bike trail that goes right up to the lake about a 20 mi one way trip.  Boise is such a fun active place I can see why so many people are moving there.

At first Zach thought that he was too scared to get on the jet ski but he got over it real quick.  They first took off with daddy and then grandpa.  Those two were slow pokes.  After we got things settled at this really nice picnic site across the lake I got to take it out.  Jo hopped on with me so I just went really slow across the lake and toddled around.  Once she got off I got my thrill in.  I went as fast as I could and tried to throw myself off.  That got my boys interested and they wanted to ride with me.  I let them drive and have fun.  I really enjoyed them.  When it was time for Andrew's nap I took him for a ride in the big tube and he went right to sleep.  What a cutie.  Andrew enjoyed playing in the sand and water.  It was just an awesome day.  I'm convinced Boise ID is a great place to raise a family.  If only there was a job there.

Tuesday July 10th, 2012
There was a serious heat wave while we were there so Josh took the boys to the neighbor's pool while I packed our family for our big camping trip.  We went out for some things and then we picked up Uncle Marv and cousin Will.  Will is a 12yr boy that Adam and Zachary fell in love with the moment they saw him.  Will was really nice to the boys and he won me over.  That afternoon we went swimming again and Will got Adam to jump off the diving board with out a floatie and I saw Adam swim for real for the first time.  Thanks Will.  I'm so glad that I saw that.

Wednesday July 11th, 2012
The great exodus to the big family reunion at Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains.  Jo packed it all and because she couldn't detach the kitchen sink she rented one.  Good smart thoughtful Kevin rented a camper to bring with us so that Andrew would have a good place to sleep while we were up there.  Man, do I have the best in-laws ever?  Redfish lake was everything that you could wish for; clean pristine lake, private beach, gorgeous mountain scenery, and surrounded with family. 

I got the kids out of everybody's way (so that they could set up camp) and took them to our lil private beach.  I sat in a chair with my feet in the snow melt cold water and watched Andrew pick up rocks and throw them in and get super excited about it.  He would choose his rock scream at it, throw it in the lake and then scream at it some more.  Adam and Zach were going in and out of the water never getting too deep because it was SO cold.  We tried to catch fish with buckets (which never works) and then played in the sand.  The jet ski was launched and the kayaks were brought out and that everyone really had a lot of fun with that too. 

Each night that we were there Jo had everyone gather to one of the campsites for us to share a desert and visit.  This first night we celebrated Great Grandma Green's 80th birthday.  She said some really nice things to us all and we presented her with a book of thank you's.  This was Adam and Zachary's first time to meet their Green Grandparents that they could remember.  Green being Zach's favorite color made his Green Grandparents super special and he just loved on them. 

Thursday July 12th, 2012
Our first full day of camping.  We took off family by family  in the jet ski and the tube to the other side of the lake for a family hike.  Andrew didn't have the best night of sleeping so he of course fell asleep while we were on the jet ski.  He stayed asleep too about half way up to the water fall. Val got her chance to hold him she carried him for a good part of the way.  Zachary enjoyed hiking next to Ella.  Grandma over heard them say "Ella you're beautiful."  "Zach you're handsome."  They are too cute.  It started to heat up right about the time that we arrived at the falls then we found relief from the cool mist coming off of the water fall.  It was so beautiful and a perfect place for a picnic.  I'm pretty sure that in the east there would have been railing and signs of caution around the cliffs of the falls.

We got back for more beach and jet ski fun.  I tried to get Andrew down for a nap but there was too much fun to be had so we played, screamed at some more rocks.  That night we played a big family game of white elephant gifts.  Adam got a giant calculator and Zach got glasses and a red nose and Andrew got a ball.  They all really LOVED their little treasures.  Zachary got some good laughs with his funny face, Andrew and Adam both slept with their new lil' gifts. 

Friday July 13th, 2012
I had the idea to go fishing so we had gotten some gear which was almost immediately broken.  Determined to stick a hook in the water we went to the lodge and asked where to go they told us to go the fish hatchery and they have a kids pond.  So off we went.  We walked into the office to get set up and ask questions.  We were met with a skinny bearded fellow, we told him that we would like to go fishing what do we need to to.  He looked at us and said "well there are some polls right there and some more outside and there is bait in the cooler.  I asked about rules.  "uh, rules?  Yeah, there are some they are posted outside somewhere."  I asked "Well, if we catch a fish how much does it cost?"  He looked a little puzzled "Oh, yeah if you want it you can just take it."  Then I asked "Where do we go pay?"  I was expecting to pay at least $15 per child to do this.  "No, there's no charge."  I was shocked!  Then I knew I wasn't in Jersey any more.
Fishing was a great experience.  I hooked the worms for the boys and they caste a couple of times and caught a nice sized trout.  After we caught the fish is when the problem came.  I had no idea how to get the poor thing lose.  Fortunately there was someone close that had some players that helped us out.  We left the pond really excited and some guys that were there tagging the hatched fish invited us in to their lab to see how they tag the fish, calculate, measure, etc. all of these trout.  Again not in Jersey.

We got back to camp and it started to rain and it didn't' let up.  We held out and played some games and kids played in their tents.  But it wasn't letting up.  Once the tent bedding got wet that is when we called it and broke camp.  We packed up, said our good-byes, and hauled bootie back to Boise. 

Saturday July 14th, 2012
It was clean up and shift gears for making the trek down to Zion's Ponder Rosa resort.  Josh took the older boys including the coolest guy Will, to WaHoo's.  It had go-carts, bumper cars, lazer tag, games, etc.  Of course the boys had a good time and won some prizes.  That evening I got to meet for the first time Terrise.  She is Uncle Scott's wife.  I was thrilled to meet her.  She has a lot of energy and keeping up with her was exhausting I fell asleep at 9:00 that night.  Tiffany was there and her lil' family and they were super cute.  I really enjoyed seeing her again.

Sunday July 15th, 2012
We had to say good-bye to Will and uncle Marv that morning.  they boys were really sad to see them go.  We got to go to church as a family.  It was interesting for me to attend a church meeting there out west.  The congregation was very homogeneously white.  Which is different than what I'm used to out here.  I guess I like my spice.  It was a really nice service and the best musical number that I have heard in a very long time.

Monday July 16th, 2012
We packed up again but this time we weren't coming back to Boise.  We were bound for Val 'n' Jon's house is Salt Lake City.  We stopped for lunch at Grandma and pa Green's house.  She always puts on an amazing spread.  She just made some delicious bread for the sandwiches that we had and everything that was on their table was from the garden so it was just picked.  Even though our visits are short they are sweet.  I really really like Grandma Green.  I got to take a tour of her quilting land (loved it) in the basement.  She opened up a cabinet with 6 quilts that the boys could choose from.  Zach was so excited about his quilt (because it was green) that he slept on it the rest of the trip.  What treasures to have hand made quilts from your great grandma.  My boys are so blessed.

We got to Val's house and the kids reunion was sweet.  Ella and Claire got to show us their bunnies and all of their fun house.  I'm so glad that they get a long so well. 

Tuesday July 17th, 2012
We loaded up again to make the second leg of the trip to Zion's Ponder Rosa.  At this point we have done a lot of travel and I think that my boys had been doing a great job.  It isn't easy to be a little guy and sit in a car for a long time like that.  The house that we were in was amazing and beautiful and big.  We got to rent golf carts which the kids thought were the coolest things ever.  Prettymuch the only activity that we could do by the time that we got there was play mini-golf.  Wow, Adam loved that.  That is all that he wanted to do the next day.

Wednesday July 18th, 2012
We Played at the Ponder Rosa.  We took a trip down the zip line first (Zach found his love) then we did the bunjie jump, horse rides, atv, rock climbing, swimming, mini-golf and in between all of that we found time to eat.  That night there was a bon-fire where the kids made smores and got to burn stuff which is always atractive to lil' boys
I have to admit there wasn't a lot for Andrew to do but the one thing that he loved was the golf cart rides.  He was foot lose and fancy free, no car seat, no five point harness, just wind in is platinum hair.  So even Andrew had his western experience.

Thursday 19th 2012
Zion's National Park.  Going back there brought back a lot of  Japanese tour guide memories.  It was fun for me to revisit this wonderful place and to bring my favorite people here, my family.  We took the tram into the park and got off at a couple of places to hike around.  The weather was perfect for us and was just starting to heat up when we were leaving.  I would have liked to have stayed but Andrew was a time bomb that was really start to come apart.  I left too late and he cried all the way back to the car.  Oh well, at least he slept for us in the car. :)  It was a good start to many more western adventures that I want to take our kids on in the furture.  I would love to hike the narrows of Zion's and raft down the Colorado river throught the Grand Canyon and hike through Bryce canyon with the boys.  I love living where I do but I really like giving our boys the opportunity to taste the spirit of adventure of the West.

That evening I got to go play mini-golf with the older boys and there was a point that I was trying and they were smoking me.  Adam, Zach, and Ella were blazing through the course and by they time that Val and I got done with the 18th hole Adam was on his 2nd round at the 10th hole.  I was glad that I had the opportunity to be the parent that got to play with the older ones. 

Friday July 20th 2012
Pack it up and move it out.  Before we left we had some more tickets to use up at the ranch so Zach went on the Zip line 5 more times.  He really really loved that thing.  Since Zach was the only one doing the Zip line they would give his a lil' ride on the 4wheeler back up.  He got a real kick out of that.  We had to say good-bye to our cabin at Ponder Rosa and make our way back to Salt Lake City.  On our way we stopped in Provo at our old stomping ground and showed the boys were daddy and I met.  We got to meet up with Kevin and Morgan.  Our kids finally got to meet their new Aunt.  Then they took us on a tour around BYU campus.  We took them to the Science Center which was really fun because they had a lot of science demonstrations set up to play with.  Which we did.  It was really great to see my brother. 

We made it back to aunt Val's house.  Andrew got to play with the bunnies.  Claire was so sweet with Andrew and really helped him with the bunny.  They played outside for a long time then finally we had to go to sleep and jump on a plane the next day

Saturday July 21st, 2012
Airport, plane, New Jeresy.  Boom, vacation over.  Just took a week to recover and then My Super Sister come up to visit.  Is this the best summer ever?

Independance Day 2012

We celebrated the 4th of July by going over the the McIntyre's house for dinner.  We ate, visited, played, and lit sparklers (which are illegal here in NJ so we felt extra independent).  We are so happy to have the McIntyre family living so close to us.  I hope that in years to come that we will continue to become close.

Zach's 5th Birthday

Not only did the end of the school year bring a lot of closing ceremonies etc it brings my Adam and Zachary's birthdays.  In our family we have a big party when you turn 5 and 8.  So Zachary turned 5 years old this year and he got what was promised.  He picked to have his party at the Party Jungle with all of his friends from his preschool class and more. His favorite superhero is Green Lantern because his favorite color is green.  Which apparently all of his classmates knew that because most of his presents were based on the color green and Zach LOVED it.

The Party was a lot of fun and Zach and his friends had a good time. They played, got their faces painted, tattoos, went on the zip line, played games, ate, had cake, danced, got prizes and went home.  I'm so happy that he had fun and made memories as we celebrated him on his special day and 5 years of Zachary.  Love you sweetie.

A few weeks later he actually had his real b-day and he got to open up some gifts.  All he really wanted was to get a pet and a Hamster was it.  So he received all of the gear to house, clean, feed and entertain a hamster.  He will get to get it after we come home from vacation. 

Her name is Belissa and she is the fattest hamster that I have ever seen. 
But she is sweet and smart.  So far she has escaped 4 times and twice survived a 4ft drop.
 I'm surprised at how much I enjoy her.