Annual Idaho Trip

We were so glad to be heading to Idaho and cooler weather at the end of June. As we left the Phoenix valley, temperatures were at 115 and remained that way until we reached central Utah.  Troy, Nancee and the girls were staying in St. George (which is our normal stopping point for the night anyway) so we stayed the night with them so the cousins could play together. The drive up to Idaho was the best drive we've ever had with the boys. I don't think they fought once, they both slept for some portion of the drive and they ate when it was meal time. The drive was filled with watching movies, watching shows on their ipads, playing their DS, listening to the radio or playing I Spy.

We quickly settled in to the basement of Tutu's house. I was still working so I set up my office and the boys quickly took over the playroom and the Star Wars toys. Since Ricky and I were both still working while we were there, the boys attended a summer day camp school.  Each day they went on a different field trip with activities including the movies, the park, gymnastics studio, swimming, the zoo and more. They seemed to really like it and it kept them from just being home all day.  The evenings were usually spent having dinner with Tutus, riding the green machines (ride-on kids cars) or playing in the playroom.  Papa Tutu also took the boys on golf carts rides or just out to work in the yard and play with the dogs. This year was fun because Lincoln and Logan are both old enough to go to the movies. Throughout the month we took them to see Turbo, Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University.  They sat through the entire movie and then talked about it for the whole next week!

There were several special activities that we participated in because of the holidays.  We kept with our annual tradition of attending the Inkom town 4th of July parade.  That afternoon Tutus took the boys to the park for all the holiday festivities. They participated in what turned out to be an unsuccessful rubber ducky race down the river but it was still a good memory.  They also attended the annual Inkom Pioneer Day dinner at the park on July 24th.

During our stay we went to Salt Lake City for a night.  That evening we got to watch J play percussion with an orchestra at a concert in downtown.  It was a fantastic concert and I was so proud of Lincoln for sitting through the full three hours. It also provided an opportunity for the boys to play with their Utah cousins for the night - which they loved!

Overall it was a jam packed action filled month.  It made it feel like the time just flew by.  When the end of the month came, I couldn't believe it was already time to head home.  It felt like we had just gotten there. It's a trip that we all look forward to every year.  It's a chance for us to get out of the heat, enjoy the mountain/country lifestyle, make memories with Tutus, play in the dirt, participate in projects, eat yummy food, and just enjoy summer time.

 This is what made for a peaceful ride to Idaho.

Ipads are hands down the best invention - ever!!

Photography by RC Phillips of the valley. Not a bad view from the balcony.

This open field, amazing view and beautiful home is what we look forward to every year.

The boys look forward to these "green machines" or their "tractors" as they call them.

 This year Papa Tutu bought a second one so they could each have their own to ride.  Smart man!

This is at the annul 4th of July parade in Inkom.

I love my little patriotic boy. 

 Proud to be a cute American.

 Lincoln was so good at just sitting in his chair and waving at every float as it came by. He collected a lot of extra candy with that cute smile!

 Grandma Tutu had quite the set up for us along the parade route. 

We got to meet Aurora for the first time.  Isn't she just the tiniest and cutest little thing?!!?

 It was fun to see Micah and all the work he's done on the house but we were sad we missed Kolissa.

 J's concert in downtown SLC.  Lincoln was a trooper and watched the entire thing.

 We celebrated Grandma Tutu's birthday with her. Ricky made a yummy cake for her.

 Logan LOVES to be outside. He was fine wandering and exploring the property. 

 Ricky spent a little time to capture a few beautiful pictures including a sunset. 

 We were graced with a rainbow one night. Somehow it looks so much prettier when it's coming down into a green valley.

 It would not be a trip to Pocatello without at least one stop at Outer Limits.  The boys absolutely love that place. 

Papa Tutu let the boys steer the golf cart and they now think they know how to drive! =)

 We also got to celebrate Papa's birthday with him and he was pleasantly surprised to receive the Star Wars series in Blue Ray.

The kids were all plotting which piece of the rainbow cake they were going to get. 

Thanks Tutu's for such a fun, wonderful and very memorable time in Idaho this summer.