An interlude

We've returned from our annual family fishing weekend with
lots of fond memories and a huge pile of laundry. 
The kids and I are headed to our church convention while Bob returns to work.
For now there'll be a short interlude for "Growing up with Little Guy and Emmy."
Please check back next week!  I've got tons of photos to post!

Last Friday, after getting the kids off to their last day of school, Mom and I took a trip.
It was very strange to be away from Bob and the kids for three days, and it was even stranger to pack for just one!  But, it was a trip that I needed and came at the perfect time.
Highlights:
*  I heard a lot of good things that fed my soul and showed me where work needs to
be done and changes made.
*  Three days spent with my mom
*  I got to see a dear friend from Portland, who I miss terribly
*  Spent time with a "new" dear friend who lives just down the street...it's been so much fun getting to know her and her family.
*  I almost got to finally meet face-to-face a friend...whom I've never met!  Make sense?
*  The decision to make this a yearly excursion for me and Mom!
*  Last, but definitely not least, coming home to my family.

Last Day of School

Last Friday was the last day of fourth grade for Ryan and Kindergarten for Emmalee.
It came so quickly!  It seems like they just started school.  Go here to see a photo of them last August on the first day of school.

Look at how tall they both are!
I'm blessed with two children who LOVE school.  Yes, recess is one of the main reasons, but they also love to learn.  They'd had great teachers so far, so that has influenced it a bit I'm sure.  So now we look forward to a couple of trips and then long summer days at home.  We'll see how they go...Emma cried like her heart was breaking two nights ago because she missed school and her teacher.  :(  We've got lots of friends close by...and lots of chores!  HeeHee.  We won't be bored!

Lost!!

Lost:  One teeny, tiny tooth.
If found, please contact Ms. Tooth Fairy

Ugly Woodpeckers and Sickening Spins

Ryan's reading class performed plays this week putting a bit
of a spin on regular stories.  His group performed the story of the "Ugly Woodpecker."

Ryan is in his egg...he's the one in the red on the right.

The woodpecker family, with the "ugly" woodpecker about to
hatch in the green.  It turns out that the "ugly"woodpecker can't make a whole in the tree with his beak, he can't fly and he can't make a woodpecker sounds.  It's discovered at the end that he's actually a turtle.



Emmalee's been enjoying swim lessons.  On the last day of class, they learn about water and boat safety.  At the end of the serious stuff, they all pile into this boat and the instructors push them all over the pool and put them into some pretty serious spins.  Me?  I'd be getting sick over the side. 
Emma?  She loves it!



Little Girl Dress with Three Matching Ties

Click on over here to take a look!

Day Trip Stop #3: Shoshone Falls

We reached our main destination mid-afternoon.  It was a perfect day to visit the falls.
To read more about them, see here.
The weather was gorgeous, and the water was flowing like crazy.  Once the farmers start needing water for their crops, it'll go down to a trickle.  But, for now?  It's amazing! 
Shoshone Falls is actually a longer drop than Niagra Falls. 

Our first view of the falls.

Emma was a little grumpy from the Dramamine, and was a little nervous about being so close to the falls, so she wasn't too excited about having her photo taken.  When we got home (and it was much too late to remedy the situation), she told me that she had wanted to take another photo with a smile.

Before heading home, we cooled off with
SnoCones.  Yum!
~~~
Our favorite part of the trip:
Bob:  "Seeing all the stuff."
Katie:  "Spending such a nice day with my family and getting to "relive" part of my fourth grade fieldtip."
Ryan:  "Standing and looking at the waterfall because they were just so beautiful."
Emmalee:  "The snocones.  And my other favorite part was the waterfall."

Day Trip Stop #2: Malad Gorge

Our second stop was Malad Gorge.  Read a review of it here.
When you're traveling on I-84 just before Twin Falls, you cross over a short bridge.  It's very difficult to see over, so you might think that it's nothing.  If you take the time, however, to take the next exit and visit Malad Gorge State Park, you'll see an example of just how powerful (and amazing!) nature can be.

My dear son does not like heights...at all!  He'd rather do a roll in an airplane, than walk over this bridge.  But, he did it...twice!

The drop, the force it would have taken to cut this narrow canyon, the evidence of years of continual pressure from the water...this place just amazes me!  (And makes me hope that the builders of this bridge paid very good attention to detail!)

Day Trip Stop #1: Three Island Crossing

For Mother's Day this year, I asked Bob and the kids not to get me anything.  Instead, I asked that we take a day trip to see Shoshone Falls.  I haven't been since I was 18, Bob and the kids have never been, and the run off is near record levels.  We had to delay our trip due to Emma's stomach bug, but we were finally able to go this past weekend.  It was a perfect day.
Our first stop was Three Island Crossing.  Read more about it here.  Briefly, it was a location used on the Oregon Trail to (usually) cross the Snake River safely.  The fourth graders in Idaho spend the entire year learning about Idaho history.  Waaaaaay back when I was a kid, we did the same thing.  Twenty five years ago, when I was almost ten, is the last time I was here.  Back then, there was just a grassy area with a small concrete eating area.  They've redone the park, and it's beautiful.  There's a large overnight camping area, a gorgeous day area and 5-6 cabins, set under the trees, with air conditioning and wooden hanging porch swings.  I wish I had one in my backyard!

They also have a really nice interpretive center.  The kids enjoyed seeing the scenes depicting life for both those on the trail and the Native Americans that lived in the area.

I just have to say that I've very glad we no longer have to travel in one of these!



After touring the interpretive center, we had a picnic on the grass.
It was a beautiful day, and it was nice to be able to enjoy it!

After lunch, we did a bit of hiking.  The Snake River is very high right now, thanks to our very wet (and long) winter.  We saw lizards, cranes, and lots of fish jumping.

Emma hopped onto this rock, posed, and asked me to take a picture.  Little nut!

...and one with a smile.

This is my favorite picture from the entire day!
It's so sweet!

It was a bit hard to get a good picture of the islands, but there's one of them.