to sum up the driving experience

On our drive home the kids were pretty tough for the first hour until Shay feel asleep, and then again when all three were awake from Spokane to Missoula. We had pretty smooth sailing from Missoula on…that is until Kysa punched Raleigh in the face and gave him a bloody nose about 15 minutes from Idaho Falls. At that point Damon and I just chuckled. Luckily we had lots of extra napkins in the car from our stop at Taco Time in Missoula. Raleigh got Kysa back today. They were playing “kung fu” on the trampoline and he kicked her in the face and gave her a bloody mouth! If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry. Glad Ty will be home tonight.

Movies, Fountains, Frogs, and Hot Tubbin'

This has been such a fun vacation, and a great opportunity for our kids to
play together. I think the first day we were here the little girls changed
dresses about 5 times each. They really were going all out with their
princess attire. Raleigh, Brenner, and Hailey have had fun with the Wii and
squirting each other with the hose outside on the trampoline. I got in a
couple early morning activities, including a five mile run on the Columbia
River trail, a visit to the temple (just a visit for some scripture reading
time--sessions started too late!) Best of all lots of opportunities to
visit with Tallan. Now we are off to Spokane to hopefully see Ty's team
play a couple pool play games and then on our way home through Missoula.
Raleigh is concerned about making the trip because he doesn't like long car
rides. He said, "Mom, why couldn't they drive to see us?" I think at this
point he'd just prefer to stay here! Damon has been a great help and I
wouldn't have attempted the drive without him.

Fun in the River

 

Columbia River Wading

Beaver Mountain Lookout

It was over 100 degrees, but we still enjoyed looking out over the beautiful
Columbia Basin from Beaver Mountain.

Tallan and Ella

Ella reminds me of an adorable little pixie. Damon and Brenner took it to
the court.

Parking It

Tallan's house is next to a park, which we took full advantage of. Loved
watching Shay and Addison hold hands on the walk back home.

Sunday Best

This stake center is right next to the Richland temple just up the road from
Tallan and Chad's house.

Getting There is WHAT?

Did they say this was supposed to be HALF THE FUN? Seeing Janie and Mike in
Meridian (at a McDonalds) on our way to Richland to visit Tallan and Chad
was the highlight of the journey. Janie brought fun books, crayons, drinks,
and grapes to help us on our journey. The lowlight was when we missed the
turn through Umatilla and added about 20 minutes to our already long trip.
But yay, we made it!

Tri-Cities View from Beaver Mountain

 

Playing Dead with Nochie

What a fun week! This is the Reader's Digest version. Got home from the
Shippen reunion to go to Raleigh's last baseball game and team swim party,
then head to Paul for the Spudman. Jen Cannon and two of her friends came
and stayed with us in Paul the night before and we had a really fun race.
Then off to Tallan's with Damon. Ty is at the Gonzaga basketball camp with
his team this week and we will stay at Tallan's until Wednesday morning.
I've taken lots of pictures of the kids so I will have to put together a
slideshow or something. Loved these pictures of Raleigh and Kysa with Noch!

Field of Flags

It's so cool to have this beautiful display right by our house. We love it.

Shippen 5:12

And it came to pass that in the commencement of the 9th year of the reign of
the Mother over the house of [Shippen], that the children did become idle
and did not honor the traditions of their fathers by keeping a house of
order. The Mother's wrath did rain down upon them that their hearts might be
awakened and called to repentance....

(From my friend AnnaMarie Emfield Miller, posted on her Facebook status.)

Google Earth Rocks

Just used the ruler tool in Google maps to figure out these distances for
different routes on the greenbelt in Idaho Falls. Three of these routes
were exactly the same as the distances told to me by a runner with a Garmin,
so I think they are fairly accurate. I want to put these on an interactive
flash map and submit it to the city for use on the Parks & Rec web site.

Snake River Greenbelt Route Distances

Broadway to Grandview Loop: 2.3 Miles
Broadway to Pancheri Loop: 1.4 Miles
Grandview to Pancheri Loop: 3.5 Miles
Grandview to Sunnyside Loop: 6.7 Miles
Broadway to Sunnyside Loop: 4.65 Miles
Pancheri to Sunnyside Loop: 3.5 Miles
Grandview to Loop in Freeman Park Loop: 1.7 Miles
Broadway to Loop in Freeman Park Loop: 4.2 Miles
Pancheri to Loop in Freeman Park Loop: 5.4 Miles
Sunnyside to Loop in Freeman Park Loop: 8.5 Miles
Loop in Freeman Park: 1 Mile

Giff and Mari

Here are some pictures from fishing at Mt. View one of Grampa's many favorite spots.  We went with the pilot who has done most of the aerial telemetry for me this summer.  Great people.   --Gifford