Summer 2011

Well, here I am.

Last summer we spent a couple of months at my parents' cabin in Cascade. It is so stunning, it's hard to believe we have access to such beauty such a short way from home. Even growing up in Idaho, I guess it's something I'll never get used to.

Jason came up a night or two each week and then was there for the weekend. I think I will always feel a special connection to Cascade because of the summer of 2011.

Cascade had a summer reading program through the library. Each week they had an activity at the park. They focused on a different country each week. My kids each got a t-shirt and a backpack. It was the highlight of the week.

Becky & co. came down for the week before the 4th of July. The kids played outside and enjoyed each other's company. We had so much fun we decided that it has to be a tradition from now on. My brother and his family moved to Spokane. More close family, yay! They got there just before the 4th, unloaded their moving truck, and then drove the 5 1/2 hours down to Cascade to be able to sit on the golf course and watch the fireworks over the lake. (Gorgeous, by the way. It's my favorite way to enjoy fireworks.)

After that the kids and I spent a week in Pocatello, where I suffered through 3 root canals. Joy. Not. But I will survive. We also made a trip to SLC while I was visiting to see my friend from TX, Megan. It was so great seeing her and Makena!

Then it was back to Cascade for another month. In August it was another family gathering! My sister Leslie and brother-in-law Alex came to visit and brought my newest niece, Lola. Norah, Lola, and Ila (destined to be BCF-best cousins forever) got to meet up! They were born between January 2011 to June 2011. They haven't seen each other since, but I'm hoping they will again this year over the 4th.

We didn't plan on being there as long as we were. However, when buying a house in this crazy economy, you never know when it will all finally fall in to place. We had a stressful time of it all, and closed a month and 10 days after we initially hoped to. Luckily we were in to our house before school started, and that was really what I was concerned about.

We had 2 weeks to enjoy the neighborhood pool. It was pretty fantastic, something I would have really liked to have available in Texas, but I'll take what I can get!

Now for the pictures. There are about a million, so I apologize ahead of time, but I have problems cutting down.

Field right off the deck.

Our friends came up to spend a few days with us.

We drove up into the mountains when the Binghams were visiting. The day after we were swimming at the lake.

Miss Jo

Story time

We went to a church picnic on the beach and didn't put the kids in suits because we thought it was too cold. Instead they went swimming in their clothes. Take a closer look at Elliot. :)

Maggie, Naomi, and Lilia

My grandma and Ila

Greatest float in the Cascade 4th of July parade

Colby teaching grandma how to play DS.

Ila and Norah

Sitting waiting for fireworks

Cousin time

In-N-Out in Utah with Megan and Makena

Hogle Zoo

Tina, Emma, and Jake came for a visit

One of our trips to Boise for a work party

The most amazing view.

Rodeo/Fair in Cascade

Back to Boise for good. Some quality daddy/daughter time.

Into our house!!! YAY!

Lola, Norah, and Ila Jo

Cousins at the cabin

Western Idaho State Fair

The neighborhood pool.

Jason and his dad pulled up all the weeds covering our backyard, put down sod, and killed the hundreds of bees/wasps. Real manly work.

Sweet Jo again

Enjoying having a real backyard of their own again!

After thinking back and looking at all these pictures I almost want to live in Cascade for the summer again. Hmmm....