Friday, July 24, 2009

Granite Hot Springs

Granite hot springs is my family's favorite spot to go camping. We go at least once every summer. Mark and I went up a day before my parents were suppose to be there. We rolled into camp just as the sun went behind the mountain. We were driving through the campsites looking for one big enough for our trailer. As we went by, I saw some silhouettes of some people standing by a campfire. I was doing some wishful thinking to myself, saying...Could that be Kimberly and Tracy....and that little person....could that be Ethan??? So Mark yelled out "Tracy??" It WAS them!!! Whoa, what a pleasant surprise. I had no idea they were going to be up there. They only could come for one night and knew that we were all coming up the next day when they had to leave. Jade had just said that it would be cool if someone else from the family came early, but with it being so late, they knew that probably wouldn't happen. The kids were all so happy to have cousins to hang out with that night and the next day at the pool.There were so many wildflowers, I had to make Alyssa a crown.
(I'll show how I make them in the next post.)

Jade wanted to make a flower creation too.

The Granite Mountain

The view from a little hike my Mom and I went on.

My Mom and the big waterfall.

We could see the pool from the trail.

The river was raging. It was kinda scary being so close. This was upriver from the waterfall.

Alyssa went on a little hike with Grandma and Grandpa.

The Grandkids watching Bolt in G & G's trailer.

Alyssa loved playing with Angel!!

We saw this hippy van when we went for a ride on the fourwheelers. I swear I saw it at Heise a couple of weeks before. There is a note in the back window, explaining that it is NOT an abandoned vehicle so please don't haul it off. Funny.

Rob sacrificed his arm for this shot. Lots of mosquitoes!

The kids are always happy to get a ride on the wheeler.

Forrest was happy to camp with us. He was cute riding on the back of the four wheeler.

Off to the pool!

My legs know two colors. Here they are White, later they were Red, Lobster Red to be exact.

Genessa and Bridger.

Our third day at the pool, we were privilaged to get a free therapy session from this "therapist". (At first when we saw him, we thought it was a relative of Rob's.) He educated us all on sexual matters as he read out loud to us and his imaginary friends. After the pool worker told him that his material was not appropriate for the children that were swimming, things got even more entertaining. He went off about the constitution and his rights. Then he looked up to the sky and said "You were right, God, these people are just like the people in the book."

I had to laugh at Alyssa. She was doing a spread eagle back float. Her cheeks are full of air as she holds her breath to stay afloat.

Kenzie, Cole, and Ashley

You can see the rocks where the hot water comes right out of the mountain. The pool overflows into the stream and they drain and refill it every night. I love how the pool feels clean without the chlorine. We had a such a great time with everyone. What a fun trip!!

Monday, July 6, 2009

SUMMER FUN

We had a great spot for the Idaho Falls Firework Show. Great view, great spot for the kids to play, and great parking. And it works out that the roads that we take home, avoid all the traffic. Yeah!
Aunt Mindy brought some sparklers for the kids. They loved it!
Britton, Paige, Ryan, Grandma Sherrey, Mindy and Elly
Candace, Cole, and Mark. Grandma and Grandpa Hitz, Rob and Angel, Rob's brother and cousin joined us later.


Kiddos playing with their bubble necklaces
Brooke, Cole, Candace, Alyssa, and Grandma Gloria.
My cousin Brooke, her hubby and cute kiddos came to Idaho for the 4th of July weekend. The Rhodehouses got together for a BBQ. It was so good to see them all. I hadn't seen Brooke in years. We used to have lots of fun when we were kids. I have lots of fun memories with my cousin Brookie Rollerskates.
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Last weekend we had the funnest BBQ at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house with the whole Smith Gang. Grandpa pushed all the kids on the swing. We played the bean bag toss and volleyball. I wish I would have taken more pictures. I know my Mom got some good ones though.
The kids tossing bean bags. Can you see the river? It was high and flowing very fast. It was stressful to make sure Cole didn' t get too close!
The bean bag toss stand. What does it look like to a two-year-old?
A Potty!
He sat down and practiced some grutting sounds. I was laughing so hard!

Alyssa had a pioneer primary activity where all the kids got to dress up. We didn't have any pioneer clothes, so I went to the DI. I was lucky to find this dress. I thought there would be tons of options, but when I was looking through the racks, I had to keep telling myself, "Pioneer not Polygamist". I wished I would have had more time and I would have sewed her up a matching bonnet. I was able to make her a little pioneer hat and finished sewing it just before she walked out the door. She was really happy when she came home. She told me all about the pioneers, and the games they played.
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Some friends of ours invited us over to watch them rope, and let the kids ride their pony.




Alyssa was so excited, she made sure she had her pink cowgirl hat and pink cowgirl boots!
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We took the kids to the Rigby Stampeed Days Parade. Alyssa didn't want to ride the Rhodehouse float this year. She said "I want to get the candy, not throw it!"
Cole stuffing his pockets. He knows that Mom takes the candy bags away after the parade.

Watching Rigby's Stampeed Days Parade with Grandma and Grandpa.

Aunt Ashley with the dance team.We were laughing when we went to Wendy's after the parade and saw this!