Summer Trip to Twin Falls

Lance always asks why I make the long trip home to Twin Falls every year. It's not an easy drive with the kids (although it's much easier now that they're older), I'm always driving tired, and we return to Spokane so tired. My answer is always the same: the kids need a relationship with their grandparents and cousins! It is very important to me to keep strong bonds with family even though we live far away and it is crucial that we keep visiting home as often as we can.

Aubrey wanted to have a water party at her house with all the Pettingill cousins so we headed over for some awesome fun! Slip in slide, weiners and watermelon for dinner, bubbles, water balloons,  swimming in the canal, popsicles, etc. It was so fun!

Haha, Christine!

This little boy is just the darn cutest!

Pettingill cousin temple trip

One of Kimball's favorite things was getting to drive the tractor with Grandpa. No better way to learn to drive than on Grandpa's lap.

Devin cracks me up, he's got some good faces.

Sage did her senior recital for the Cox family, she's so pretty and did an amazing job!

While visiting Sally, the kids had to try out her new theater room.

Grandpa Cox is always cold from his cancer medication. This is how he sleeps including a heated blanket and a heated vest on under there. I had to get a picture, it made me laugh.

SnoShack!

You would never know that these two are only 2 years apart. Sidnee is quite tall and Kimball is quite short. It's a good thing Heavenly Father made us all different and unique, otherwise life would be boring.

Happy birthday to Grandpa Goofy! He's so kind to share his cheese balls.

Swimming in Brad's canal was one of the kid's favorite things. They eventually got into mud fights and were caked in mud from head to toe, it was pretty funny to watch them fling it at each other.

This is where you'll find Kimball on any given summer day: in the water.

Little kids camp was at the cabin this year.

Joseph's new cowboy hat. He wears it everywhere and looks like a city slicker, haha.

Big kids camp was white water rafting on the Snake River. Kimball LOVED it!!

During little kids camp, Kimball stayed with Sidnee at her house while I went with Christine and Trish up to Boise for a girl's trip. We shopped until we dropped. Literally! Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory was delicious and we stayed with Debra and Craig so we could say hi to Grandma Watson. She's looking good but slowly winding down with age. I wish I would have gotten a picture with her.

Our shopping haul.

Biking Around Gonzaga Campus

On a cooler day we took the kids to Gonzaga Campus and rode along the Centennial Trail. I had no idea it was the same trail that went through Riverfront Park! If I had stronger legs I could have made it farther, but we biked about 2 miles and then went out for ice cream. The campus is so pretty!

Bear Lake

Bear Lake, WA is about 25 minutes north of us and is a small lake so the water was really warm. We went with Brimhall's, Dubois', and Black's joined us as well. The kids did awesome, Ezra loved being able to swim in deeper parts with his life jacket on and Cora is really getting the hang of swimming.  The kids swam hard and lasted 5 hours before we went home. What a great day!

Celebrating Indepedance Day

Nothing says 'Merica like a good baseball game, overpriced hotdogs, and fireworks!

 

Hiking Bowl and Pitcher

 On Monday I took the kids on a 4 mile hike to Bowl and Pitcher at the Riverside State Park. It's about 25 minutes West of us and has been on my hiking list for a while. We went with Brimhall's and Dubois' and had 9 kids and 3 moms between us all. It was so rad! The views were just spectacular and hearing the river and wildlife as we hiked along was just amazing. On the way back we found a little spot to dip our toes in the water and take a break. Then we ate lunch at a hidden picnic area right by the swinging bridge. It was a great day and the kids were awesome!