Park nights and swimming

We tried to make the most of all the parks and pools in Boise this summer.  The girls had swimming lessons at one of the local pools.  The first day Ridge spent the entire time trying to jump out of my arms to get in the pool.  I couldn't blame him, it was so hot.  They wouldn't let him swim unless we paid for entry to the pool.  In order to make that worthwhile we would have had to come early because they closed the pool right after the girls were done.  However,  they wouldn't let the girls swim before their lessons unless they paid also.  It adds up fast.  Then we found out about the annual pass.  For the family to go to any of the six outdoor pools in Boise it was $114.00 for the whole summer.  They went on sale for half price two days after the girls started lessons.  We bought one when they went on sale and LOVED it.  A pass made it possible to run to the pool at night after Russ got home from work and spend an hour and come home without feeling like we didn't get our monies worth.  We will definitely buy a pass for the whole summer next year.

We also tried to visit as many parks as we could.  We found the park from the picture because it was the location of a park day.  It had all kinds of funky toys.  We loved it so much we took Russ back one evening and had a picnic and played on the toys. 

The girls did a few other classes during the summer.  Kyleigh did pottery and hip hop dance.  Katelyn did art and ballet.  During the time they were at classes the rest of us went to the zoo or discovery center (both of which we have passes for).  One of Kyleigh's classes was at night so we visited the story trail at Foothills learning center.  You walk around a little path and read a page of the story at each stop.  After we would pick Kyleigh up and go for a picnic and to feed the geese at the parks. 

We caught a few movies at the dollar theaters during the summer.  I am so happy to be back in dollar theater land.  There is one right by our house.  Three dollars for a REALLY nice theater.  They even do movies in 3D for five dollars.  Or if we want treats we can catch a theater on Overland that is $5 and includes caramel popcorn and a drink or candy!!!  I missed the dollar theaters.

I can't fail to mention the greenbelt.  Our girls are troopers, biking up to 9 miles in an afternoon.  We have recently learned the way to the candy store from the greenbelt.  That will be our next greenbelt destination.  We had to take a break from the greenbelt when the temperatures started hitting 105 and up.  Fall is here now so we will be back.

Of all those listed above I think the family favorite as a whole is floating the Boise River.  We got it down to a science.  We could leave home after work, drop off cars, float the river eating dinner on the kayak, pick up cars at the top, and be home by bedtime. 


And that is how our summer went.