What We Did On Our Summer Vacation

We had a great time on our summer vacation to Idaho. While it was short compared to the last couple of summers (we've stayed in ID anywhere from 3 months to 7 weeks) it was still fun and memorable for us.

We arrived in Boise around 4 pm on a Saturday and went straight to the McGee's. Sunday morning was Mother's Day and we did a brunch with Marianne, courtesy of Kelly and Uncle Shawn. Sunday evening we all went to Aunt Kimberly and Uncle Caleb's house for a nice Mother's Day dinner in honor of Lillian. Everyone had a fun time, but it was especially fun to watch the competitve family volleyball game going on in the backyard.

After dinner the boys and I loaded up with Grandpa Joe and Grandma to head out to Melba to stay for a few days. Kelly stayed to play volleyball a little longer and then went to his parents to spend quality time with his parents.

These are some of the things we did at Grandma and Grandpa Briner's house:

Uncle Andy let Hunter play a video game with him.

Hunter had a blast! Andy was patient!

Hunter helped plant and water the plants with Grandma.

Chance liked chasing and teasing the dog.

But isn't he cute?

Such a good helper

Hunter helped pick the nicest tulips for a bouquet

Then....the adventure begins!

We had four cousins, and uncle and a grandpa

on a "Bug Scout Adventure"

I had read on a favorite blog of mine about how to throw a "bug party" so we decided it would be fun to do one for the cousins. Unfortunately we missed several cousins being there due to conflicting schedules.

But we still had FUN!!!

Grandpa Joe was the fearless bug scout leader

What is it? What is it?

Aunt Kimberly found these great bug catchers and we put them to good use.

Uncle Andy helping out...he is such a good guy

Grandpa Joe even wore our official Bug Scout Hat

And look.....Hunter caught a giant nose :)

Bug Scouts 2009

Chance, Trenton, Hunter, Gavin

Fearless!

After the boys successfully returned from their adventure we had lunch which consisted of:

Ants on a log, strawberry lady bugs,

Bug Bites Graham Cracker cookies, and chips with spiders crawling all over them,

we even had

Tasty Blue Bug Juice which is made of bug guts!!

And for the main course we had wormy hot dogs!

(Hot Dogs shaped like worms, with a little face)

After lunch was done, each of the boys got to create their own bug.

Grandma Lillian presented each of them an award based on their creativity.

I think Uncle Andy got craziest eyes for two reasons.

(no his eyes aren't normally crossed)

Chancey's picture was drawn for him courtesy of Gavin.

Good Lady bug Trenton!

The proud artist

The bug party was fun for everyone, and definitely a fun memory for these boys to keep with them.

We hung out a little more with G&G Briner, watched movies, flew kites, jumped on the trampoline, and just had a good time, but it was definitely too short.


Wednesday afternoon we went back to the McGee's and here are a few of the things we did while we were there:

Practiced riding the lawn mower

(Chance couldn't get enough of this thing!)

Then we REALLY mowed the lawn and rotated turns on Dad's lap

Chance

Hunter

We celebrated Grandpa McGee's 61st birthday with a

Divinely Delicious German Chocolate Cake made from scratch.

The boys gave Grandpa a Little Critter book, "Just Grandpa and Me"

Gee Gee did a lot of reading and a lot of playing with two of her favorite boys.

She took Hunter on a picnic, she threw rocks into the stream with them, picked strawberries, played baseball, watched them swim, and kept their tummies full.

What would a trip to Idaho be without a ride on Great Grandpa West's merry-go round?

(This is a merry go round that my Grandparents have had for a zillion years, right now it is in a less colorful mode than it was in my growing up years. It has been dug up and moved to three different houses!)

The boys love to ride and want to go "faster, faster"!

Sweet Grandpa West, still works like he's 30!

I LOVE THIS MAN!

We also made a quick jaunt to Idaho Falls to visit Kelly's favorite Granny T.

She is always so sweet to our boys. They look forward to looking through her bucket of toys and playing in her front yard. Chancey even decided to pick a tulip (bulb included) out of her yard.
Granny T. is 86

Well, our trip to Idaho was so much fun and it wore these guys right out!

I also have to mention that we went "camping" in Gee Gee's back yard. All four of us in a tent that Kelly made super duper comfortable. We slept well after Chance got over the fact that there were bears outside that were going to eat us. It was pretty funny!

Thanks to everyone for making a fun trip for us.