From a Mountain Top Out in Idaho

These are in order of our trip. After we left California there was a lot of driving. My dad took us to Boise from Sacramento and we picked up my sisters car and stayed for two days. Then we went to Eastern Idaho to visit Krista and her family and Rexburg to see old friends. After that we went to Wendell for my cousins wedding and then to Utah for the Miller family reunion. Brad flew home after that and Kellen and I drove back to Boise for a week. Yes it was a lot of driving but so worth it! We loved seeing everyone that we could and Kellen did surprisingly well in the car for all those hours!

My brothers loved (have I used that word enough) having Kellen around and I loved having the boys to keep him entertained! Efrain really took to looking after Kellen and liked to make sure he ate all his dinner!

We spent one evening with our good friends Alyssa, Luke, and Lily! We didn't intend for them to get in the pool but how could they resist. I'm so glad Kellen and Lily got to play and we could catch up! Wish we could have spent more time with them!

We are so glad we got to spend time with Krista's family! While the weather was a little chilly, typical eastern Idaho weather, it was still fun to be outside and play with the cousins! Another place where Kellen was in his element, I think family time that is! We are also glad we could stop by Rexburg and see old friends. It feels great to still have contacts there and show Kellen the campus.

We drove to Utah on Sunday and spent the evening with Brad's Aunt Xanthe, Uncle Randy, and Grandma Farnworth. Kellen loved all the otter pops and great place to run, play in the sand, and jump on the trampoline! It was a great oasis especially with the long drive in the car!

Lagoon was the major event for our family reunion and the day went great! Kellen did much better then we expected and he actually enjoyed sitting most of the time and watching people go on rides. We all, including my mom and dad, took turns watching him while we went on the rides. They even talked me into riding rattle snake rapids with my dad, boys, and Brad. And yes I got soaked...even though they said it wouldn't be too bad! At the end of the day Kellen rode the merry go round. We were exhausted by the end of the day but a great day spent!

 

Kellen got creative in how he fell asleep. Sometimes it was quite exhaustive and other times, like this one, was fairly quiet! Before Brad flew out we spent the night at Aunt Xanthe's and Uncle Randy's house which included more otter pops! We also spent more time with his grandma while Kellen napped! So happy to see her!

 

After Brad flew out Kellen and I spent the morning with Angie and went to breakfast with her and Chelsea (sorry we forgot to take a picture). I'm so glad Angie let us hang out for so long even though she had grad school applications due! We also were able to see my old roommate Alison and her new addition, baby Jet before the ride home!

 

So while in Boise my mom told me that YMCA does a track meet for the community each week and even kids who are just walking can do it. I was so excited to have Kellen run in his first race I made sure he wore a good outfit! :) While it was still fun to have him race you will see below how it actually went. Its obvious he didn't win.

This sums it up....he was pretty upset that I left to coax him to the finish line so he just screamed and my mom finally just had to pick him up. Yup, not so sure about this running thing just yet!

Kellen loved hanging outside and talked everyone into pushing him on the swing. Marcelino finally one day came in and said will you push Kellen on the swing because he is your kid! :)

We spent one afternoon at the little aquarium they have in Boise. Kellen was adamant about not touching the sting rays but did touch some star fish.

The day before we left I went to the zoo with Janelle, Kelsey and their kids. The kids had fun and seemed to enjoy it. So glad we could catch up!

For family home evening we went to my grand parents to swim in their little pool they have. It was the perfect size and we had a blast. One night Kellen and I spend the night there and enjoyed dancing to music and listening to grandpa sing and play the piano! After Kellen fell asleep we enjoyed talking and watching one of grandma's favorite shows! It really was an enjoyable night. After everyone was asleep I found old family reunion albums and loved going down memory lane! I'm so glad they have kept those!

Here is a big family picture of us at the wedding. To get a good close up the had to split them in two! Just missing Leanne! I am so glad we could spend time in Boise before heading home. It may be a zoo at my parent's place but Kellen loved it! My sister, mom, and I even got to go shopping! I really have enjoyed this time in my families life as everyone is growing up and becoming adults, well almost all of us! It truly is awesome that Kellen has not only cousins his age but uncles who love to play with him. It took us  a little bit to transition back from vacation but I'm glad to be back with our little family in Virginia! We have been enjoying the time before Brad starts school and feel so blessed to be able to spend a whole month with family before we embark on our new adventure!