Idaho Trip part 3

We went to David's baptism Saturday morning, but I don't even have a picture to prove it! The only picture I have of David is from the sand dunes right after the baptism. David is the one in the red shirt:)  

Brian, Amity, Joseph, Wayne, Ezra, Ori, Thomas, Aaryn Frewing

This trip was about experiencing new landscapes for the kids. They felt like they were on a different planet with each stop we made. The Falls, then Craters of the Moon, these sand dunes, and then to top it all off they got to experience the other-worldliness of Yellowstone! Idaho is actually pretty interesting! We had limited time to explore Yellowstone, but it was perfect. The park had only opened two weeks prior and only a few roads were open anyway. We drove to Old Faithful, walked through the new visitors center while we waited for the old geyser to go off, and then drove back the way we came. Since that was the only open road.

I look this picture through Joseph's sunglasses lens. 

This was my favorite. It was
 spraying up this red mud nonstop.

Idaho Trip part 2

After visiting the Boise Zoo we drove to Twin Falls where we had booked a hotel. When we pulled up, the hotel was obviously under a huge renovation and it looked like a construction zone outside and in. The swimming pool was also under construction which was a major deal breaker for us! The kids were there to swim more than they were there to sleep! There was an intense half hour or so where we sat in the car on our phones looking for another hotel. It was made intense by Kilynn's constant agonizing over our situation. She was sure the whole trip was going to be ruined and asked the same questions over and over and over as Joseph and I tried to concentrate on finding accommodations. We ended up at a Super 8 and immediately got dressed to go down to the pool. The pool was absolutely frigid and I refused to get in. Joseph was a good sport though and the kids had so much fun anyway! In the morning we visited Shoshone Falls. It was so enchanting and spectacular! I'm so glad we went!

I gave Marji a journal the day before we left and she was very diligent about recording everything on our trip. We had a picnic in a park nearby and she brought along her journal, sat down right away and wrote about the Falls.

After Shoshone Falls, we took off for Rexburg by way of Craters of the Moon. Ezra has been so interested in volcanoes. He even wanted a volcano cake for his last birthday. He was excited to see all the volcanic rocks, but ended up falling asleep right before we got there. He woke up right after we stopped though, so he did get to see it from the car. The kids were in awe of this place.

Idaho Trip Part 1

The first weekend in May saw us in Idaho. David Waite was getting baptized in Rexburg, so we decided to make a little family vacation out of it. We left on Thursday and traveled first to Boise where we stopped and visited the Zoo. They've been to the Portland Zoo before, but Ezra was too young to remember. The Boise Zoo doesn't have as much as Portland, but the kids still liked it.

This goose nipped at Ethan shortly after this picture was taken. It shook Ethan up and I felt so bad! I probably shouldn't have let them get so close.

Prairie Dogs

Bike Riding Boys!

Balance Bikes have been one of my favorite discoveries! Ezra got one last year and loved it. This year we found a real bike for him and he took off on it like he's been riding one all along. This last Christmas, Grandma Waite got Ethan a balance bike that is meant for as young as an 18 month old! He has really taken to it these past few weeks since the weather has turned nice. He can coast with it balanced no problem already! These boys are out in the front riding constantly. At first it was scary because Ethan would try to head right for the street. I've trained him to stop at a certain line in the cement well before he gets to the road and he's pretty vigilant and proud of himself for not crossing it now. He likes to go up to the line, stop abruptly, and then come back and report to me that he did what he was supposed to by yelling "Line! Line!" The boys are both pretty proud of themselves and too cute to watch.

My Martha Stewart

Kilynn likes to redecorate everything. These Spring blocks rarely say "Spring." It struck my funny bone this morning though when I noticed this! I love how she even replaced the bird to match her word.