4th of July Family Fun

We just finished off a fun filled weekend with the Brown's. It's always a good sign when the kids cry as we're leaving because they don't want it to end. We drove up to Lava Hot Springs, ID and 'camped' for 2 nights. On the 2nd day, it started to rain pretty hard and when we finished dinner, Ryan's bed was soaked and the roof was still dripping. That's why we 'camped', but the kids absolutely loved sleeping in the tent and I did feel bad for them that they missed out on the last 2 nights of tent sleeping. But the comfort of a hotel bed made that guilt go away for me.

When we first got there, we set up camp then went to dinner. It was a chuck wagon dinner and it was so fun. We drove to a farm and then rode a horse drawn wagon up the mountains to our cowboy dinner. It was such a picturesque place and the kids each gt to sit in front with the driver. There was a fun play area for the kids, the food was yummy and it wouldn't be complete without an injury for Brody. He got hit with a big old rock on the top of his head. But luckily, it didn't put a kink in our vacation or any of our plans.


Charlotte cleaning up the scraps


part of the play area

Abbey enjoying her favorite part of dinner

head wounds sure do bleed.


Friday we went to the local water park all day. So fun. The kids were in heaven as was I. And Charlie went swimming for the first time. Loved it of course. Then that night at dinner, the rains came down. After much deliberation on what to do, our brother in law Kelly booked us a hotel room with his points. Such a relief that we didn't have to leave early but I felt bad the kids were gypped of 2 nights in the tent.


"Abbey you excited to play at the water park?"

Brody coming down



Charlotte getting ready for her first swim

lovin it. suit wouldn't stay over her fat belly









g'ma and g'pa Brown relaxing




Saturday we woke up bright and early to run the 5k in Soda Springs, ID. Cloe's first 5k! I was very proud of her, she did very well. And I was also impressed with all of Ryan's family that ran/walked. The course was beautiful, it was all wild flowers, long green grass and a little stream winding around. Later that morning was the kids race and all the kids (minus Katelyn) ran. I thought it was a little long for a kids race but they all survived. Then began one of the best parades I have been to. Tons and tons of candy and other goodies from books to otter pops. Soda Springs is where our sister in law, Brittany grew up, so it was fun to see her old stomping grounds and eat at Arctic circle, her former employer. After lunch, we headed over to the park where they were having all kinds of 4th of July fun. They had a few inflatabel toys and tons of little booths of kids games. ALL of it was FREE!!! So awesome. I have nothing bad to say about Soda Springs, love this town!! It's beautiful and they know how to throw a party. Having free activites and free stuff, that's about as American as you can get :) We visited the geyser and tasted water from a natural mineral spring. Tasted like drinking carbonated water with a penny in your mouth.
Oh, and one more point for the wonderful city of Soda Springs, all the kids got a free pass to the water park with their race packet. So Uncle Jeremy and Uncle Kelly took them all to the water park when we got back to the campsite. That helped soften the blow when we had to tell our kids it was time to go.


Cloe about to finish her first 5k!! 46:40 was her time

Grandpa and Austin, the first to arrive at the finish


Grandma and Ryan's sister Stacy

Gavin and Landon. Gavin was pretty stoked to be the first cousin to finish


Go Brody!


Abbey and Dad

Cloe and Tianna



Sage wasn't very thrilled to be running so Gavin helped him to the finish line.

all the little runner kids with their popsicles. I thought that was a good idea to give out at the end of a race.





Charlotte and Abbey loved Max



Idaho is beautiful!!!!