Father-Son Cross Country Adventure!

This post was supposed to happen a few weeks ago, but I was going to have Dan help me with it, (since it was 'his'  trip and I wasn't with him), but I finally realized that's just not going to happen, so I'm just going to post some pictures and have KJ help me with some captions!  

Dan bought an old 1970 International Scout, the car he's been wanting for a long time.  The only problem was that it was in Virginia!  Dan didn't see this as a problem at all, he instantly thought that it would be a fun adventure to have him and KJ fly out there and they could drive it back across the country together.  Not my idea of a good time, but he loves road trips and thought it would be fun for the boys to have a week to themselves to see parts of the country that they haven't ever been to.  Here are some pictures they took along the way.

The first day in Virginia with their new 'toy'!

Can you believe there is really a SPAM museum?!  Yep, they had to stop here.  What?!

They also went to the BadLands Park.  KJ says that "this is where some dinosaurs used to live a long time ago".

The next couple of days they didn't take any pictures, (but they are male, what can you expect?).  They stopped at Dan's old college buddy's house to sleep and left early the next morning and made it to Dan's parents house in Illinois and were able to spend the day with them.  It's too bad they were on a tight schedule to get back that they didn't get to spend more time with Grandma and Grandpa.  KJ really loved getting to see them, plus they got to go eat at their all- time favorite pizza place so that was a bonus!

The day they spent in South Dakota, they got to do the most 'touristy' things.  This was Mt. Rushmore.  KJ loved seeing "the presidents HUGE faces cut in to the mountain."

Another one of their South Dakota stops was the Wind Cave.  This is one of the world's oldest caves.  It was regarded as sacred by the American Indians because when the wind blows thru it, it makes a whistling sound.  The wind is still felt at the caves entrance.  KJ thought there were going to be bats in the cave, but once he found out there wasn't he was very relieved!

As any boy would, KJ was also fascinated by the Mammoth Site.  He said that he got to watch the "people still dig up the bones in a big mammoth pit.  But it was roped off so he couldn't help them.  Some of the mammoth skeletons were 14 feet tall.  It was good to see all the bones."

KJ tried a fried pickle and actually really liked it.  I didn't even know they existed, guess I'll have to try one sometime.

One of KJ's other favorite stops was Evan's Plunge.  It is the world's largest natural hot spring swimming pool.  It has waterslides, tube rides, and kids pools, plus the water is around 87-90 degrees.

They also went to Jewel Cave which is, according to KJ, the world's largest cave.

Devil's tower used to be a volcano.  Wyoming.

KJ loved seeing the buffalo or 'Tatonka' in the road.  Just a little delay in the trip!

KJ said when he stood here he felt 'funny' because of the elevation!

This is how KJ was welcomed home!  Do you think he was missed?! 

We were so glad to see them again, safe and sound, a whole week is a long time.

Yee-Haw!!

 

(click on collage to view larger)

Last night was the kick-off to the annual Sister's Rodeo!  Dan and Jack were on a little road trip and so I thought it would be fun to take Liv and KJ as my dates for the evening.  I was a little worried because there was a big thunderstorm during the day and it was pouring rain pretty hard, but we decided to face the elements head on!  Luckily right about as the rodeo started, the rain stopped and we really enjoyed our time there with the Candland family; wet clothes, hair, seats and all!  KJ was in heaven dressed as a cowboy, boots squishing in the mud, eating an elephant ear and drinking a rootbeer float, watching the 'show' and getting to spend the night with his other little favorite cowboy!  Even Princess Olivia seemed to really enjoy herself, she loved the 'horsey's'.  One more memory to add to the books!  

Where has the time gone??

I can't believe that our little boy just isn't so little anymore!  Tonight KJ had his kindergarten graduation and it was so cute!  I wish I could post the video but it's too long, and most of you probably wouldn't want to watch it anyway!  We had graduation in the Summit High School auditorium and it was packed.  As any parent would be, we were happy, a little sad, and VERY proud of our little KJ.  He's been an excellent student and has really loved learning this year!  Thanks to his teachers for making it so memorable for all the kids.

BIG thanks to Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Craven for being such great teachers!

KJ made these pots to give to his teachers...he was so excited!

Some boys from his class

A zoomed in shot of KJ during the program

The Kindergarten Graduating Class!  Around 150 kids.

Keaton picked Red Robin for his special night!  We ran in to lots of families from school and some of our friends from church which was lots of fun!  Thanks Tasha for taking our family picture!

And a special Ice Cream Sundae for the Big Graduate!  We love you KJ!

Remember when....

We had a lot of little things happen this week, no One certain thing was super exciting to us as adults, but the kids sure enjoyed the adventures that the week brought us!  I don't know why, but this week all the things the kids were involved in brought back so many fun childhood memories.  It's always fun to 're-live' some childhood moments thru your own children.  It's one of the great rewards for being a parent! 

Remember when....

One balloon equaled hours of enjoyment....

Getting a trophy at the end of Little League season made you feel so special....

Playing grocery store in your own kitchen would annoy mom and make her laugh all at the same time....

Daddy was your prince charming....

Thunder and lightning storms were so exciting....

It was especially great when the wind blew so hard it knocked a tree down and you got to watch dad use his chain saw.  You couldn't wait to be older so you could try it too....

Gathering the neighborhood kids together to use the tree scraps as part of your neighborhood fort....

playing with the older kids made you feel cool...

Spending hours making the fort 'just right'....

(I used to make forts when I was little and I remember spending hundreds of hours trying to get it just the way we wanted.  I bet my mom loved having us stay busy and making a mess outside of the house!  It was great having a never ending backyard as a kid!)

looking for frogs was the highlight of your day....

seeing someone on stilts was mesmerizing and something that you'd possibly consider doing as your career in the future....

(We went to Balloons Over Bend and played in the play park for a little bit today.  Notice KJ still holding tight to his trophy!)

And going to a movie was a rare treat!

(we saw UP in 3D today and we all loved it!  We especially loved that we ALL went together as a family, it's the first time we've attempted it with all the kids and they did great!)

Anyone have any of these childhood memories??!!

Our weekend in Boise!

We went to Boise for a long weekend and had so much fun, as usual!  Here are some highlights from our trip.

(Click on these collages to see the pictures larger)

We spent a day up at the lake!  The kids loved tubing behind the boat and playing with their cousins!

 

Ninny Shell also spent the day with the kids at Eagle Island State Park!  The kids can't get enough of the water obviously!

 

And as always, we had lots of fun just hangin' around the house!  The kids love to mow with papa on his riding mower, and we also got to meet my sister's boyfriend.  He was a good sport to play so well with the kids.

 

We love spending time with our family in Boise, I'm so glad we are able to live so close.  What a fun weekend!