Hello Idaho...

We had such a nice visit in Idaho this past week. I haven't blogged about my plans because it was all a surprise for my mom, who just retired. As a surprise for her retirement we drove there and met Tracy and her kids, and Josh and Kristie and we rented a cabin in West Yellowstone. My mom thought my dad was just taking her there for a retirement getaway. She was very surprised to see us all jump up and surprise her when she walked into the cabin. We went to the Playmill to see the Secret Garden that night, and the next day we went to chuch in West, then we took a drive through the park. It was great.

Goofy Kids at Old Faithful

After a 2 day stay in Yellowstone, we spent a couple days in Blackfoot. We enjoyed being with Tracy and her kids and Isabella (Sandy's daughter).

My parents have been trying to sell their house and move to Boise. They had a showing last week and it went so well. They got a full price offer. We are so happy for them. They are going to be looking for a home in Boise. I hope to go back to Idaho in a few weeks to help them get moved.

We then went to Rupert and spent some time with Jason's family and visiting Grandma Lindsay. Jason's mom had this gorgeous rose bush in her yard. I just had to get a picture. I love roses. We enjoyed being in Rupert. The kids loved it when Grandpa Allen watered his lawn by irrigating the whole thing.

The girls had fun climbing the cherry tree. Kate loves to have her picture taken. She always tells me to take her picture.

We took a trip to the Shoshone Ice Caves and to the Shoshone Falls. Beautiful. Lots of water coming over the falls right now.

The night before we left Rupert, we were inside playing a game of Phase 10 with Jason's parents. The boys and Kate were outside playing in the yard and the windows were open. A great night, then we heard a horrible, scary screeching sound and rocks flying and metal and lots of frightening screeching and my heart just stopped. I followed Jason out the front door afraid of what I might see. A car had ripped through the corner of their yard and run right over a Dead end sign that was in the corner of their yard. Kate was 50 yards away, watching the from one angle, and the boys were in the cherry tree watching from 50 yards away in the other direction. The kids had been all over that yard, and Kate was just starting over toward the boys across the yard. I was so grateful to Heavenly Father for protecting my children that day. I know he was watching over them. The man was arrensted for DUI and wreckless driving. This was his third DUI, so he is in jail. What a scary experience. A good reminder for me of how precious and fragile life is and how much my children mean to me.

When I got home, I found even more pretty flowers popping up all over the yard. Of course I took some pictures...