I know I've been blogging about our trip for way too long and I just need to wrap it up. Especially since school started this week. Holy Hannah, where does the time go? I have no idea where the summer went, but it was here and now it is gone.
Before we left for Idaho we made a list of the things we wanted to do while we were in Rexburg. The only thing that Gracie wanted to do was go to Porter's. My little crafter has been missing this store and she was over the moon to get to go back. So Michelle, Gracie, Colby, Leelee and I went to Porter's on Thursday while the boys went shooting with Grandpa Archibald. It must be noted that Colby was completely distraught at this decision. He begged and cried and begged and cried to be able to go and shoot some guns, but we just decided he was a little too young to go.
Gracie at her happy place.
That night we had dinner with Uncle Eric and Aunt Lynne's family (she's the one who set me and Kris up on the blind date that started it all...) She likes to check in with us and revel in her success. :)
The next day we went to IHOP and the Tautphaus Park Zoo with Grandpa and Grandma Grover. That zoo is just about perfect, just the right size and nice and shady.
Matthew and Gracie and the lion.
Colby loved the lion fountain.
Is this picture not the cutest thing ever? I love it.
Someday all of my children will look good in the same photo. Maybe.
Owen and the tiger.
We don't get to see these bad boys at the Phoenix Zoo.
Colby feels right at home with the monkeys.
The kids each got to pet this turtle, the lady explained that turtles can feel touch down the middle of their shell where it is attached.
One big happy family.
We were glad to get to spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma Grover!
That afternoon Matthew got to go hang out with his best friend and the rest of us went to Smith Park (on the list) and then the Flood Museum (also on our list).
We love that little museum with all it's antiques, scavenger hunts for the kids, the old grainy flood movie, and the children's room. What more could you want in a museum, really?
I was looking at these old dresses thinking, "I would totally wear those."
In the tree house of the children's room.
That night the kids got to sleep over at Michelle's, they had been wanting to since we got to Rexburg and it just didn't work out until the last night. They had a blast!
We went to the splash park with Michelle and Mia (and Dan for a little bit) on Saturday.
And rode the merry-go-round one last time...
Oh Mia! We miss you. For some reason Colby and Mia just get along really well. She tempers him in just the right way. He honestly does not get along with anyone else better. It was so hard to say goodbye to these two. We just wish we didn't have to leave them behind.
We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Walz before we packed up the car. They've been living in an assisted living home and we know their time may be short. We had visited them several times during our stay but knowing this was our last visit was pretty emotional. We miss her and Grandpa when they aren't down here in Arizona. We love them so.
As you can see once again, some good faces in one picture, some in the other. And grumpy Owen in both. Sigh.
Whew! This post turned out to be gigantic but I didn't want to drag it out any longer. Our trip to Idaho was a great success! We were so stinkin' exhausted with everything going on and all the people we were visiting. We didn't even see any of our old friends and some of our family (sorry Owens'!) We miss everyone and everything about Idaho (ok, so maybe not those looooong winters)! The kids talk about it all the time and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. So many wonderful memories.
Luckily, we can always come back for more visits!
