Idaho and Wyoming

We finally made it back west! It had been over a year and a half since the last time we visited family in Idaho. We found a direct flight into Jackson Hole, WY that was a little less than the arm and a leg that it costs to fly indirectly to Idaho Falls. The best part about it was that Steve flew with us both ways, as opposed to me "flying solo" with the kids. If you haven't travelled alone with small children in large airports with long terminals, lots of luggage and eternal flight durations, you are really missing out. We packed a lot into that week that we were there. Here are some of the highlights that are completetly out of order.





We hiked up to Hidden Falls in Grand Teton National Park. It was almost five miles in and out. The kids were real troopers. The girls walked the whole way over rocks and through mud. But, the ferry looked awfully tempting. It was simply breath-taking. Steve and I asked ourselves several times what we are doing in IL.

A very tired Steve and Andrew. He fell asleep about half an hour before Steve got to the parking lot. He was determined to not miss a thing.

Sammi, in her new duds, hand selected by herself, playing croquet in Grandma S's back yard.

Enjoying a sunny afternoon in Idaho Falls!

Roller skating. That's right! 1980s skates, disco balls, limbo, and tweens! This is Alex strutting her stuff.

The Merrill clan and all honorary members! Notice Kooper and Andrew in their matching gear.

Steve rescued this carved bear from the river behind my parent's house. The water was extremely high due to all the rain and mountain run-off. Sarah, we won't mention names as to who believed his tall tale of carving it earlier that morning.

The first of two rounds of s'more making. This time around Grandma and Grandpa M's newly completed fire ring near the river.

Andrew wasn't a happy camper after camping the first night near Victor. To his defense, it was pretty cold. It had snowed that morning.

Grandpa turned them into fishergirls! Fishing was on the top of the girls' to do list. Can you believe with two parents from Idaho, these girls had never fished before? This was one of the true highlights of the trip. Within an hour, Andrew played with dog poo, mom cast a worm down her shirt, Sammi fell face first into the water, out of excitement Alex ran into the water, and four fish later there were smiles all around!

Thanks to everyone for all the memories!

What have we been doing?

On the few warm days we've had, we've been outside soaking up every minute. Here is what we each have been up t0:

Alex has been busy with soccer three days a week. (What am I going to do when they all have things going on?) Unfortunately, most of those days have been cold or rainy or both. But, she has a loyal fan club. Piano lessons are keeping both her and I on our toes. She enjoys practicing so there isn't too much nagging involved.

Sammi just finished her dance class and had a recital last week. She is such a cute little ballerina. She is sad that preschool is over for the school year. It is hard to say if she misses her friends or her teachers more.

Andrew has been pretty busy too. He has grown out of most of his clothes requiring an other new wardrobe. He recently had a sinus infection which was discovered when he woke up one morning with his eyes swollen and gooped shut. His latest word is "teddy", and digging in the dirt in the house plants continues to be his favorite activity. Although, he has also mastered the art of emptying sisters' underwear and sock drawers then tossing the entire contents over the balcony. If it wasn't such a pain to gather and put away, it would be quite entertaining.

Steve has been enjoying the warmer weather too. He has been feeling a gravitational pull toward a large green space with holes. He makes it sound so involuntary, something he can't control like he's being abducted by aliens. This happens every Saturday morning, sometimes during his lunch break and before work. He is gone fore (please excuse the pun in my typo) hours at a time. It seems that a small white ball is involved and he gets very upset with the ball. The ball is often lost as if it has legs of it's own. As a whole, he comes home much happier than when he left. So, I'm not too concerned over his exact whereabouts or how much each of these gravitational pulls is costing.

Me? I'm just trying to keep up with all of them. Sammi helped me plant a garden. I'll keep you posted as to the success or defeat of this undertaking.