Idaho

Through the rearview mirror on our journey to Idaho: Kids enthralled with a movie about gorillas. We had many fun adventures.

First stop was Boise where we visited the Shreeve family (Michael's older sister and her sweet family). We played at the park, on the trampoline, shaved ice at a local booth, playing with the kittens (a little too much sometimes), and a fun Sunday family dinner with the McBrides. This is baby Joshua McBride and James playing.

The next stop in our travels was the Fredin family. These Chicagoans turned Idahoans were deluxe with their premier pasta, pulled pork, "panacakes" and pies. We played in the creek at Grandpa's farm, went on walks to the park, and had a slumber party with the beautiful Andrews family. Throw in a day at the splash park, antique malls, dancing around the kitchen island, late night talks as we attempted to solve the world's problems, and a personal concert from Lauren and you have yourself a good time!

Above, kids playing in an old pasture shelter, and Ivy and Clara as dancing princesses.

We left Boise and made our way to Idaho Falls to visit our favorite Klepich family (Michael's other older sister). What did we do in Idaho Falls? A leisurely walk to the antique store, games on the trampoline, movies and treats each night, and riding Uncle Gabe's horse. A highlight was a fun trip to a local dairy where we milked a cow, saved a goat from beheading itself, let calves suck our hands raw, and you can't forget the fresh dairy ice cream! Mine was black licorice. Very tasty! (Camera ran out of batteries at this point, so I'll have to add some pictures later when I get them. Thanks Heather!)

After leaving Idaho Falls, we picked our way through the fertile plains of central Idaho and wove up into Sun Valley to visit the Norris family. One evening we got babysitters (poor girls!) and went on an almost double date to dinner and the movies. We played at the splash park with treats, watch the Office, ate BBQ and coconut cake (then ran laps around the neighborhood loop to work it off), solved more world problems in midnight talks, and graced the Hailey buckaroo with our whoopin' and hollerin'. A highlight of that trip was a date I took my boys on up the ski lift. The view down into Sun Valley was incomparable. A special thank you to Carrie for keeping the younger ones while we went.

Kids at the splash park, and a party at the Hailey Rodeo. Below, the midgets and me on the mountain tops hearing the sound of music.

And, in nearly 2000 miles worth of speeding I was pulled over only twice. The first time, a legitimate pulling over, the guy saw 5 noisy kids in the car and told me to slow it down a little and have a good day. Yes, sir! The second time, not a legitimate pulling over, the mister gave me a ticket. All in all, one $75 dollar ticket didn't sour our experience though. We had a wonderful time at each place we stayed, and in the all adventures in between (historical sign stops, bathroom stops, nursing the babe stops, lava field or snow stops, momma's getting sleepy stops, etc.). A huge thank you to you all for putting up with way too many Allens at once, for the hospitality and love you showed our family.

What would we do without our cherished friends?