Summer Update

July was a busy one for us. We traveled to Shelley, ID to a missionary homecoming. It was a quick overnight trip because of Kyler’s last performance. The boys enjoyed camping out with the cousins in the back yard. We had a good time with everyone there. The day after we got home the boys went to day camp. I picked them up an hour early to head up the mountain for our annual Stanley trip. We made it about 30 minutes when the suburban started to make a clicking sound and the power on it was low. We turned around and drove straight to a shop. It was too late to fix it that day so we came home. They fixed the truck the next morning and we were off. We were unable to stop at the hot springs because the water was too high and the river was overflowing into the pools. As we were making the last climb up to Bulltrout Lake where we would be staying the suburban starting huffing and puffing. Making really bad sounds that weren’t good. We barely made it to the top of the peak and stopped to give it a rest. We drove the final 2 miles to the camping spot and were very happy to have made it.

We had a wonderful week there. The boys enjoyed the fishing a lot. Daniel really took to it this trip. I can’t remember how many fish he caught. One time while he was casting off the dock he cast himself and his pole right into the lake. Joseph had to fish both of them out. Actually Daniel came straight back up to the surface, but the pole was at the bottom of the lake. Luckily the water was so clear you could see the bottom and he was able to drop his line and grab the line on the pole. Daniel was pretty shook up and while the rest of us were laughing I kept telling him he was okay and that’s why he knows how to swim.



We took a gorgeous hike. It was only 4 miles round trip, but almost all up hill. Unfortunately, I left the camera in the car and missed out on some amazing pictures. Besides the bugs being horrible we had a great time. On the way home, on yet another hill, the truck started to sputter and huff and puff. We again barely made it to the top and decided right there and then it was time we retire this vehicle from pulling this load. 3 days later we purchased a 2003 Ford Excusion. We were really trying to find a ¾ ton suburban but there aren’t many out there and the ones that we could find had high mileage on them. It seemed that anything with a decent size engine was being swallowed up fast. The Excusion has 71,000 miles. It was owned by the Federal Government and is in great condition.

Our time with Caleb (our Nephew)came to an end, but not before getting in some playtime.

Hiking Thousand Springs State Park.


Floating the River.


The kids enjoyed a two rounds of swimming lessons and the boys are really becoming good swimmers. Daniel and Brigham were taught how to dive and Daniel is quite the diver.