More Memorial Weekend 2015

 We picked up subway and then right on to the snow caves. We ate in the parking lot because there were no tables, or lounging area. It was the desert.

The snow caves are part of the 17 volcanoes in Idaho.

 This particular cave was a lava tube.

 Nathan of course loved the rock talk.

 In the cave, it was less than 20 degrees. The bottom of the cave was covered in thick, thick ice.

 The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the cave, and our kids asked 14 questions.

 Mason just HAD to touch the ice.

 Then we went to our next stop.

We were not planning on going to Craters of the Moon, but it was 30 minutes out of our way, on the way home,so we thought, why not?

 Mason wanted a pressed penny. The kids went in to the national park HQ. 

 It was raining, but nothing too terrible.

 As we were headed up, we saw our ward friends, The Warners. They are a lot like us. 5 kids same order, husbands work in similar fields, and remotley. And they bought the house I wanted, because they moved here in October too! Haha.

 Craters of the Moon is where all the lava rock has settled. 8 of the 17 volcanoes are in Craters of the Moon National Park!

 Lucas and Mason hiding from the full on downpour.

 At the top of one of the cones you could climb.

 All of this is Lava.

 Funny Story:

This was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Nathan and Lucas and Scarlett walk up the hill. (it is a big hill covered in lava rock) then it starts to down pour. I look up the hill and see Lucas running down frantically screaming "it hurts, it hurts" and then following him 14 other people running down the hill. It was hailing like crazy. I don't see Nathan or Scarlett until I see him yelling at her to stay by him so the umbrella could block the hail. What does my 6 year old do? She runs all over the place like a tazmanian devil, crying and laughing and screaming. Everyone is in their cars watching this little girl going in a zig zag pattern all over the hill - and Nathan trying to wrangle her. But, you couldn't help but laugh. They were soaking wet, had ice pellets in their hair and the "storm" lasted maybe 8 minutes. When we talked about our favorite part of Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve they said this was it! Even my kids in the car watching it happen, said this was the best part. I guess this is how my itty bitty wittes make memories.

More Lava Flow!

We drove home and talked about what memorial day meant, and why there were flags everywhere, and the kids were so quiet on the way home. Luckily, we had beautiful views on the drive back to Ammon. 

I am so glad we decided to take this mini trip. Woot!

Memorial Weekend 2015

Nathan was asked by the Primary Presidency to teach both sharing times on Sunday.

Right after church we hurried out the door.

Nathan and I needed an adventure and thought the kids would enjoy it too.

I booked a hotel in Twin Falls a couple of weeks ago, so this all was falling into place. Twin Falls is about 2 hours from us.

We ate at Idaho Joes for dinner. It was like a Chili's.

Then we went for Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins.

Apparently, we share:

The kids had a rough time going to sleep, partly because they didn't knowwhat was happening the next day and the anticipation was killing them. Aaaannndd partly because they are children. Hotel rooms are fun, and it is hard to be quiet in a room you just have to explore every nook and cranny in.

Don't let this angle fool you, he is very small in comparison to other 3 year olds.

I also practiced Juliet's recital hair.

What do you think?

We got up the next morning, ate in the hotel, and drove out to our first stop.

Shoshone Falls

There were several observation spots.

 A rainbow! Do you see it?

 Then we hiked up, there were cool little honey combs to explore in.

 see, Mason is Mini

 A beautiful picnic area, and rocks to climb.

I have no idea when this was taken. Nathan took it, but I love this picture.

We got there at 8:30 and left around 11. We drove around the lake and then headed out to our next destination...

Friends Over - part 1

We are very fortunate to live in an area where each family has a minimum of 3 kids. We are in a very heavily populated LDS area, and I love it! I also love that we live in a really small neighborhood/ward/stake. Our stake is one of the biggest in this area, but the square footage is small.

Anyway, Lucas and his friend Cole both wanted to earn their world conservation patch, so we worked together to get it done. It worked out that our neighbor had this happening in their backyard:

So we worked on a bunch of things, read the books needed to complete the requirements, and made 2 types of bird feeders.

I always seem to have scouts on the brain. I am glad we checked this off the list. :)
We also learned that Cole's birthday is on the next pack meeting, and Lucas's birthday is on the one after that! Awesome!

Pack Meeting! - Recycled Raingutter Regatta

Today was regatta day!

We moved right before our old ward had their regatta, and I am pretty sure theirs wasn't as fun as this one!

So, the snack was Jello with boats.

We had been collecting recyclables for a month. Then let the boys loose on designing their boats!

It has been rainy all month, and todays storm was particularly gnarly.

We didn't have the usual numbers, we only had 16 boys come, but, it was okay.

There were 2 set up areas.

One for the boys, and one for siblings.

The siblings had pool noodles, so nothing too hard. But, they had a great time!

Then it was time to race. But, not before the check if it floats/isbalanced station!

Ready, Set, Blow!

Poor Scarlett, Poor Sweet Scarlett. She didn't understand, even though I told her eleventeen times that you blow and then move up, she just didn't get it. So she stood there, hyperventilating trying to get her boat to move. *sigh* She is so intelligent, and at the same time...she is six.

 and then I look again, and Mason is totally getting it!

This is Brody, another one of Lucas's good friends. He made 4 boats trying to get one to move/balance/not fill up with water. He didn't complain one time,and had a good attitude the whole time. He reminds Nathan and I, of Mason. A little crazy, but such a good and kind boy.

Lucas walked out of pack meeting with the following:

The sailboat segment, Silver Arrowpoint #5, and the World Conservation Patch!

I walked out with sore feet, and colored duct tape on my butt.

I absolutely love my calling.