Summer 2014: Week 4 - Quick solo trip to Idaho

On Monday (June 23rd) Nichole, Tyler and Kate headed to Logan to spend time with more family (Ryan's brother, Sean, and his family). Jeff and Dallin also left for scout camps. Jeff joined the teachers and priests on their campout for the first three days then came home for an evening before grabbing Danny and joining Dallin on his campout for the rest of the week. Amber and Laurin were back at work, which meant Danny was home...and bored! Danny came in on Monday morning asking what we were going to do that day. I don't think he was happy to hear that I had only planned on cleaning and laundry. I think he may have had his expectations a little high after our fun marathon week last week. However, on Monday, I did take Danny to get some new motorbiking boots. The next morning (Tuesday 24th) I found Danny doing his morning reading with his boots on. Silly kid! Tuesday and Wednesday (25th) were much like Monday. We didn't really do any big activities. Danny played with friends while I caught up on chores and responsibilities. Tuesday night Danny had pack meeting. They planted flowers for their activity then Danny received his Bear. Way to go! I'm so proud of his motivation in scouts. I just pray it lasts!

After pack meeting, Laurin and Danny decided they wanted to do some geocaching. For those who have never done this, it is essentially a treasure hunt. People have hid little boxes or other containers with small trinkets inside all over. Seriously! If you can find geocaches in Payson, Utah, you can find them anywhere! The idea is that you can take a trinket if you put one in. I decided to join the fun and be the driver. We actually found about 3 or 4 geocaches. It was a fun, different activity and a good way to end the day.

Thursday (26th) morning, Jeff and Danny left for Dallin's scout camp. The girls were both at work so I decided to meet up with Nichole at Lava Hot Springs then go to Blackfoot to visit my brother, Michael, for the weekend. I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the break! It was nice not having to be the "mom" or the one in charge. I just got to go along for the ride. This was my first visit to Lava Hot Springs. It was another cold, rainy day (crazy June weather!) so we didn't float down the river, but we did enjoy the hot springs and the water park. I even got in on the diving/waterslide action. After we were completely water logged, we had dinner then headed to Blackfoot.

Friday (27th) morning we went to see the only attraction in Blackfoot - the Idaho Potato Museum! After all, you can't go to Idaho without going to the Potato Museum. We even got a small, free container of dehydrated hashbrowns because "out-of-staters" get "taters" when they visit. It was actually a pretty informative museum although I thought the whole experience was a little comical.

Nichole, Jenn, Michael, Tyler, Me, Kate

Michael, Kate and Jenn in front of the world's largest potato chip.

After we left the museum, we headed to Rexburg for the day. First stop, the Taco Bus! Yup...you read right! There is a little taco restaurant inside this bus! It was crazy...but good food! Once we finished eating, we headed to Fat Cats for a day of arcades, games, and then a movie (Transformers 4). It was another cold, rainy day so we stayed indoors.

Kate, Jenn, Nichole, Me, Tyler, and Logan (Tyler's friend)

On Saturday (28th), the weather eased up enough for us to enjoy some outdoor activities. We headed back into Rexburg to grab Tyler (who had spent the night with some friends) before venturing up to Mesa Falls. These are some really gorgeous falls. In fact, I even loved the drive there. Idaho is really beautiful. There were so many green farm fields with rolling hills and quaint, picturesque homes and barns. As we got closer to the falls, the terrain turned to pine trees and quaking aspens. When we reached the falls, we had a quick picnic lunch before walking back to the falls. There is an upper and lower fall. The walk back is simple and the view is breathtaking. I loved how the upper falls just disappeared at the sheer drop off. It wasn't a gentle cascade. It went straight from river to falls.

Lower Mesa Falls

You couldn't see the Lower falls as well because you were quite a bit away from the falls. After exploring the beauty there, we decided to visit Cave Falls. These falls weren't as spectacular but again the drive and terrain were gorgeous. Plus, these falls are located in the Western most region of Yellowstone so it was kind of cool to venture to a more remote part of that beautiful park.

Before leaving the area, we stopped to feed the fish. There is a spot along the river that trout gather in hordes. It was incredible! They were huge! Kate and Tyler even stuck their hands in the water to touch the trout as well.

Finally, what trip to Idaho would be complete without getting some Reed's Dairy ice cream?! This is seriously my favorite ice cream! It is so creamy!!...and the reason why? Potato flakes! That's right folks! They put potato flakes in their ice cream. Who knew?! I guess being in Idaho potatoes are a must in any food. Sunday afternoon I headed back to Utah to welcome our next round of guest...my parents! I was excited that they were able to come up and spend a week with us. Michael and Jenn came down as well as Nichole and the kids. Next week is going to be another fun, family-filled week!

Summer 2014: Week 3 - Nichole's in town!

WARNING: Plethora of pictures ahead!! This week my sister, Nichole, and her kids, Tyler and Kate, came to Utah for their 3-week summer trip. This has become an annual tradition for them...and now we get to benefit. Since this is their big summer trip, they do it up right! She packs in a TON of activities (in fact, we always tease her that she never slows down) and we were able to join them for most of the fun. On Tuesday (June 17), we met up with them (and a few of our other cousins with their kids) at Thanksgiving Point's Museum of Natural Curiosity. This summer Amber has been a nanny for my niece, Kaia (my brother Scott's kid) so both Amber and Kaia were able to join us this week as well. Unfortunately, Laurin's job isn't as flexible so she missed out on most of the fun. Growing up isn't always as fun as they think it's going to be! In any case, the kids loved the museum and we loved the fact that we were indoors when the cold rain (and a little snow!!) hit. I don't think Mother Nature has received the memo that it's JUNE!!! After the museum, we took the kids to a movie. I joined the little kids in watching How To Train Your Dragon 2 while the older kids watched Edge of Tomorrow.

Kaia and Kate with Nolan in the little chair in front of them.

Kate and Danny in the tornado trying to dry off.

Dallin and Danny

Kaia, Kate and Danny

Colton Backus, Dallin and Tyler

Carter Enloe, Danny, Kaia, Kate and Olivia Enloe

Kelsey Backus, Amber, Dallin, Colton Backus, Braydon Tarwater, Tyler, Jackson Enloe

On Wednesday (18th), we joined up again. Each summer (since Tyler has been old enough) Nichole has tried to make sure that Tyler has the opportunity to do baptisms at a different temple in Utah. Last year she took Tyler (Dallin and Laurin) to the Manti temple. This year they decided to visit the Mt. Timpanogos temple.

Jackson Enloe, Tyler, Dallin, Colton Backus (Amber was already inside.)

While the older kids were in the temple, we took the younger kids to Discovery Park. They had a blast exploring this wooden wonderland. Danny was (of course) climbing on anything and everything he could. I swear I wish I could siphon out just a fraction of his energy for me!

Danny, Kate and Kaia

After we finished at the temple/park, we had a quick lunch before heading to Lowe's Xtreme Airsports. (See what I mean about non-stop fun!!) This is always a highlight for my kids (although I think Laurin has out grown the fun of it.) The boys LOVE the new ninja course. After we finished there, we called it quits for the day. Surprisingly enough I think the boys were finally worn out...but only until the next day.

Jackson Enloe, Colton Backus, Tyler, Danny, Kate Backus, Dallin, Kaia, Kate, Kelsey Backus

Thursday (19th) wasn't as fast paced as the previous two days. I'm not sure the boys knew quite what to do with the morning while I was doing laundry. Nichole and the kids finally showed up around 1:00 p.m. They would be staying with us for the rest of the weekend and the boys were antsy for them to get there. We decided to take the kids to the Payson pool to kill some time before the main activity that evening - ziplining! My boys are little fishes so they loved the pool time. Amber and Laurin are slowly becoming unenchanted with all the swimming and chlorine and having to re-do their hair, etc. Still, Amber and Kaia joined us.

Danny

Tyler, Dallin, Danny

Danny

Amber, Dallin and Tyler playing keep away

Nichole and I working on our tans.

After swimming, we went back to the house to grab some dinner. My other sister, Krystle, joined us at that point and after dinner we went to a new soda shop in town, Sip 'N Spot. These drink and treat places are the new "in" thing...at least here in Utah. It's a cute little place. As long as they keep their sugar cookies the way they are, I will make sure they stay in business!

Nichole, Me, Krystle and Nolan

Finally it was time to head up Provo Canyon! The boys had been looking forward to this for quite some time!! Kate was a little nervous about the whole thing but after the first zipline (there were 5 total) she was hooked! It was a fun adventure. I can't say that it was anything marvelously spectacular (especially after ziplining through the Jamaican jungle on our honeymoon), but the kids had a blast. Our guides were great too. It was worth the discounted price we paid.

Tyler, Kate, Dallin, Danny 

Nichole and I

Our guide, Safari (yes, that's her real name), Dallin, Danny, Me, Kate, Tyler and Nichole

Dallin

Danny

Me...taking a leap of faith!

Friday (20th) we took the kids to Classic Fun Center. Nichole did this with her kids last year and they loved it so we decided to do it again. It was actually a pretty fun place! (Too bad it's all the way up in Salt Lake!) For $7.50 a kid, they had access to skating,  bounce houses, jungle gyms, arcades, and water slides. We spent more than 4 hours there as they played around. I was exhausted just watching them!

Amber and Kate

Dallin

Danny

Dallin

Dallin

Danny

Finally the week was drawing to a close...but not before one last adventure! Nichole generally comes up in July, but because of Tyler's scout camp she came up in June this year. This meant that she had the opportunity to see the Manti pageant. I had been once before when I was in high school. I came up with my YW group, but I have not been back since. We decided to make a weekend of it (sort of) and found a camping spot at Palisade State Park. (This was more a survival technique so that we wouldn't have to fight the traffic to drive home at 11:30 p.m.) We drove down Saturday (21st) morning and arrived at noon. We packed a picnic lunch and ate before heading to the lake. The water was FREEZING, but it didn't keep us from getting in...at least mostly in. We rented a canoe and the kids took turns paddling around the lake. There was a little floating dock that they paddled out to and jumped off of. Once everyone was done being wet and cold, we tried our hand at catching the little minnows in the water. I don't think I've ever seen Danny hold so still!...but (as you can imagine) it didn't last long. 

Tyler, Kate, Laurin, Dallin and I

Dallin and Tyler

Laurin, Kate and I

I was brave and let the boys (Tyler and Dallin) paddle me out to the dock. 

Danny and Nichole

Jeff, Kate and I

Laurin and Kate

Jeff, Laurin and Kate fishing for minnows.

After we swam, we cleaned up and hung out at the campsite until dinner. They have a little restaurant at the park so we ate there before heading up to the pageant.

Dallin, Tyler and Danny playing cards.

I really enjoyed the pageant. I think the kids mostly endured it, but they got snow cones and kettle corn out of it so there weren't too many complaints. I am so grateful for this gospel. I'm grateful that I have the knowledge I do of why I'm here, where I came from and where I'm going. I'm grateful for temples (this pageant had the beautiful Manti temple as its backdrop) and the chance that I have to be with Jeff for eternity. I felt a renewal of all this gratitude as the story of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the translation of the Book of Mormon was unfolded. I was also grateful that we didn't have to drive home at 11:30 at night and fight all the other people who were trying to leave Manti on a one-lane freeway!! We had a quick 10 minute drive to our campsite and settled in for the night. It was a fun day!

Danny, Kate, Dallin and Tyler with Moroni and Zerahemnah

Our week finally wrapped up with a quiet Sunday evening at home. I invited my other siblings (we were just missing Michael and his wife Jenn) over for dinner. I love having my family around. It has definitely made this move to Utah a little easier. I may be a little biased but I think I have the best siblings EVER! I remember all our squabbles growing up (and even the occasional disagreement now), but they truly are among my best friends and my biggest supports. I never doubt that one or all of them would be at my side in the moment I needed them. Family is everything to me! I'm so grateful for the family I was born into and the family I married in to.

Making S'mores - Dallin, Tyler, Danny, Kaia and Kate

4 out of the 5 - Nichole, me, Scott, Krystle