Finally..... our trip to IDAHO!

California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah....................................then, IDAHO

Well our vacation started on Thursday, June 26th. We headed to Utah to spend the weekend with Stans family on our way to Idaho. We had a great time bbq'ing with the Arnolds, and playing rock band with them and Casey and Shannon. Jen is always the perfect hostess and great cook! Even homemade ice cream. The girls love playing with Cole and Grayson. We always have so much fun hanging with friends. Ruthie put together a birthday party for Olivia and Sophie at the park. It was fun seeing Brynnly, Annalisa, and Cristalyn and their kids. Of course they were spoiled with birthday gifts. Grandma and Grandpa Utah got them guitar hero to share for their DS. Guess what they did the whole 3 hours to Idaho on Sunday. The Barbee's gave them each a new Nancy Drew game for the computer. They have been busy with those since we have been home. Allie was in Hawaii while we there but got the girls some beautiful jewelery from her trip, a bracelet for Sophie and earrings for Olivia. We alway enjoying spending time in Utah, letting the cousins play together. Kira is getting so big and so much fun, Stan can get her laughing llike nobody else. Jensen is just a lovebug. He is going to grow up way to fast in Minnesota. Thanks Vern and Ruthie for a great weekend and kickoff for our vacation.

Sunday, London Anne Marsden's baby blessing!

Sunday we lefft Salt Lake and headed to Ashton, Idaho. London is the whole reason this trip got started. We figured we all wanted ot be there for her blessing so decided to make it a family vacation. My Mom and Dad rented a huge cabin, big enough for the 25 of us. We drove straight to church and then back to the Marsden's for a great dinner and a birthday party for Allie! The picture of Grandpa and Ian in the fields is Annie and Jordan's side yard. crazy is it. No neighbors, I couldn't imagine. We had a great time hanging out with Jordans family and were ready to get the week started!

Monday, Happy Happy Birthday Olivia dear!

What a great day we had celebrating Olivia's birthday. Before we left for vacation Olivia had asked me if I had bought her any presents and if any of them were clothes. She informed me that clothes were a waste of a present. So we decided to play a prank on her. Everyone bought her clothes and we hid all of the other presents. I was so impressed with my Olivia. She was so gracious and smiled and said thank you as she opened each present. I was proud of her! She was so excited when we told her that she still had real presents to open. Grandma and Grandpa got her a charm bracelet, The Morris' a Hannah Montana towel, the Marsdens a new book, the Clarks gave her a vending machine, her siblings gave her a snorkel set, and we got her guitar hero to go along with her WII~!I think she had a great day!

We spent most of the day floating the Snake River. It was a definite highlight of the trip!

We finished the day enjoying crepes and singing Happy Birthday to Olivia and Gabrielle.

Finally, a WII!

TUESDAY, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE DEAR!

Happy Happy Birthday Sophie Annie! My Sophie is 8 years old! She is so grown up and I am so proud of the the person she is becoming. We had a great day. She woke up to balloons, decorations and lots of presents. Even after opening her WII last night, she still had plenty to open on her big day. Of course, a new outfit from Stan and I, a snorkeling set from her siblings, a new dress from the Clarks, a HSM towel from the Morris', a new journal and goodies from the Marsdens, a watch and double dutch jump ropes from Grandma and Grandpa, and a HSM game for the WII. She was thrilled and more than spoiled.

We had a fun day celebrating. We headed into town where she got her milkshake from the cool old fashion soda fountain, and while we were in town found a second hand store where she got a pair of hot pink pumps! She couldn't have been happier about that buy. We hung out in Ashton for the day getting lunch at Big Judds where Stan got his picture on the wall for eating a 1lb. burger! We then went to the river where we fed the fish and then hiked to Mesa Falls. Ashton is a beautiful place. Did I say the Grand Tetons are out Annie and Jordan's front door.

We finished the day back at the cabin singing happy birthday to Sophie and eating her favorite, lemon ricotta cookies and ice cream.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE!

Stan's BIG JUDD, going, gone, gross!

WEDNESDAY, TEMPLE TRIP, MOVING PIPE AND SMORES!

Wednesday we got babysitters and the adults went to the Rexburg Temple and out to dinner. It was fun to have some adult time and be together as a family in the temple. When we got back Kris, Rodney, and my Dad, Stan didn't bring tennis shoes or jeans(I think he planned that), helped Jordan move pipe. Seriously I think farmers are the hardest working people on this planet. They literally move pipe. They pick a huge piece of pipe move it 60 yards and then walk back to get the next piece. They do this at least 4 hours a day to get their crops watered. Holy Cow, they worked hard. We finished the day by going back to the cabin building a big bonfire and making SMORES! YUMMO!





Isabella playing with Annie's kittens.

Ian loving roasting marshmellows!

So Wednesday was a big day for my Mom and Dad too! July 3rd was their 40th wedding anniversary. I love my Mom and Dad. 40 years later and they still love to do things together. I am grateful for the example they are to me and for their commitment to their relationship and our family. The kids had a great time singing them love songs and providing a candlelite dinner for them to enjoy on the deck of our cabin.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

THURSDAY, BOAT RACES AT SQUIRREL CREEEK!

We love going to Squirrel Creek when we are in town. The kids spent the morning making and painting boats to take to the creek to race. I think they looked forward to this more than anything else. We built a bonfire, roasted hot dogs, fished, shot guns, swam, and raced our boats! It was awesome!

All of the cousins (except London) at the bridge waiting for the boat races!

FRIDAY, THE 4TH OF JULY

Here we are on the 4th of July at the parade in downtown Ashton. Talk about small town USA. It is just like you see it in the movies. The old buildings, everyone knowing eachother, the crazy floats, the party at the park after the parade. It was fun and I am glad we got to experience it. I would do it again. Every single float threw candy at the kids, we had more candy than Halloween! This tank started the parade and actually shot candy out of the cannon. They all loved it.That night we went and watched fireworks at the baseball diamond in town. I was impressed with what a small town could do and there were no crowds to fight or traffic to drive home in. While we were waiting all the kids had a kickball game going that Sophie jumped right into. Olivia was too busy trying to finish her Fablehaven book, oh my little bookworm.

IAN WAS BATMAN FOR THE DAY(thanks grandma)!

watching fireworks at the ball diamond in downtown Ashton, it was a great show!


Ian and Allie watching fireworks , Bella, Gpa, and Ian, Sophie playing kickball

at the park after the parade. A fire truck hosing people off, a make shift waterslide


SATURDAY, HOME WE GO!
So, Saturday was finally the day to head home. We spent the morning packing up and cleaning up the cabin. We decided nobody was in a hurry to head home so Jordan was nice enough to take us horseback riding. Jordan has so much patience with us city folk. The kids all took turns with the horses and had a great time riding. From there we said our goodbyes to the Marsdens and headed to Rexburb to go to Bear World. Everytime we have been to see Annie we pass it on our way and say next time we need to go there. Well, we were on vacation and decided that it was finally next time! it was so worth it! It is a wildlife preserve that you drive through. All of the animals just roam free, in fact you have to keep your windows rolled up at all times. It is wild, it is a bit crazy when you have to stop your car so you don't run over a grizzley bear, especially because when you are stopped they like to climb on cars. We made it through unscathed. We would definilty do it again and encourage people to go. It is on your way to Yellowstone. They also have a great petting zoo, great until your two your old gets head butted by a goat, and fun carnival type rides for the kids. It was a great way to end the trip.
Olivia riding Toby, Sophie & Toby, Isabella & Toby

Uncle Jordan giving Ian a ride, Isabella & Olivia waiting for their turn, a MOOSE

The girls looking out the windo, stopping for a bear to cross, a black bear at our window

Isabella, Sophie, and a huge bison

a white elk(very rare), a huge elk, and a grizzley bear


So after horseback riding and Yellowstone Bear World we headed home. We were able to stop in Salt Lake City and spend some time with the Edwards family and get a few hours of sleep before jumping in the car at yes, 3:30am. I am glad Stan can drive like a truck driver. He decided he would rather drive while the kids were sleeping than awake. We made it until about 8 when they woke up and by then I had taken over the driving so Stan could sleep. The kids did great until Ian finally decided he needed out and cried until he barfed, UGH!!!!! Good thing Stan caught just about all of it with a blanket so there was very little clean up. What is a road trip without at least one person barfing! We stopped in Barstow pretended like we were white trash and let Ian eat and hang out in his diaper. Back in the car and after 2300 miles, $500.00 in gas, 28 hours in the car, and hours of great time with our family we were HOME! HOME SWEET HOME!