Off to the Races!

Look how nervous Ridge looks.

and how happy my Dad looks.

That is my brother!

We finally did it.  I have wanted to go the races to listen to my brother as the track announcer for three years.  It just so happened that the weekend of the trailer race of destruction was the same weekend we needed to meet my Mom to pick up the kids after Kyleigh and I spent the week at Girls Camp.  I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!  I will do everything in my power not to miss this event next year!  We had a plan to meet at pizza hut but we (Kyleigh, Rusty, and I) got to Twin a little early.  We stopped at the visitors center and took a stroll out to look at the Perrine Bridge.  Then we went to pizza hut, had dinner and headed to the races.  I didn't think it was too expensive to get in and we got good seats.  The whole night was fun.  It was cool to listen to Nate, and every single race was entertaining to watch.  But...that trailer race of destruction was something else.  And the way Nate says trailer race of destruction...also worth the trip.  I highly recommend it to anyone!

Fourth of July in Pocatello

The pics are lacking but our fourth of July weekend in Pocatello included cousins, fireworks, BBQ, parade, candy, candy sort, candy eating, and bonus...Got to hang out with Marc and Coco and have a giant water fight!

You have to at least smile a little at his randomness!

Cow Appreciation Day

 You know it is pretty much my favorite day of they year!  I don't really like fast food, not even chick filet.  But free is a whole other ballgame.  I love free!  I also love not cooking dinner! I did the same thing as last year.  Random sized pieces of typing paper, taped on black clothes with painters tape.  I did step it up a notch by using old headbands and attempting cow head things.  Just before we left Holly called in a pickle with the girls.  No worries though, we just took them along with us.  This year was even better than last.  There were no menu restrictions.  You could pick whatever meal you wanted.  Our bill was over $50.00, we paid 0.  Then we decided to make it an all out night and went to the dollar theatre, on dollar day.  All seven of us had dinner and a movie for the grand total of $7.00.  Woo Hooo!

 This was our third year at the Boise city swim meet.  We have come a very l..o...n...g way.  First year- no shade tent, no food, no idea what to expect.  This year- shade tent set up at 6:30 a.m. for the very best spot at the meet.  That way you can see the line up tent and know when it is time to go.  You can hear when it is your turn to line up and you can see the kids move forward, which ensures you don't miss their race and don't have to wait inside for an hour.  Food- check!  For the last couple of years we have done a co-op dinner with Rob and Sarah.  This year was taco salad- delicious!  We got our program, hung towels to maximize our shade, had entertainment for Ridge, and we were off!  We even got GG and GPa to join us this year. Both girls won blue ribbons in one or more of their heats.  Katelyn hadn't gotten a poster from her "big."  A big is an older kid that is teamed up with a "little."  They exchange a candy poster at practice and another treat at the city meet.  Her big didn't have her poster done at practice but boy was Katelyn excited when she got it at the city meet.  It is so fun having the Christensen's at the city meet.  I especially love Riley's photo bomb in the picture below.  The girls work so hard on swim team every summer.  We are out of the house before we would be for school and they are swimming come rain or shine every single morning.  It provides so many things for us, including a schedule to adhere to in the summer, time outside, exercise, and fun.  I am so grateful we stumbled upon swim team when we did.  It has revolutionized summer in such a great way.  Go Dolphins!

Arches National Park

 On our way to New Mexico we stopped for a quick visit to Arches National Park.  We climbed up into some arches, slithered under some rocks, took lots of pictures, and got back on the road.  I have no idea where my NM pics are.  While we were there we went to the Cliff Dwellings (and saw a brand new still wet baby deer on the drive), swam at Faywood hot springs, went to the City of Rocks, had a hot dog roasting night with the Porters, went on a few mountain bike rides and hung out with the Fam.  Always a good time to be had in NM.

Summer Bike Ride

 We spend a lot of time riding bikes on the greenbelt.  Our favorite place to ride to is Powells candy store at Bown Crossing.  It is about 14 miles from our starting point and the kids have motivation because the ride involves candy.  This particular July day was an especially notable bike ride.  On the way to the candy store we stopped at the MK Nature center and saw a fawn resting nearby in the shade.  On the way back we stopped for a candy break and Kyleigh lost a tooth while chewing on a piece of bit o honey.  She bit down and her tooth came right out.