McCall of the Wild...

After the Fourth Mike had to head back to Utah for work while the rest of the family headed up to McCall for the week.  McCall is a beautiful mountain town two hours north of Boise. It's where Mike and I honeymooned and where his family gathers almost every year for a family reunion.  It was a beautiful week with cool weather and lots of rest and relaxation.  But we sure missed Mike.

While we were there everyone got together for a little letterboxing.  Ever heard of it?  Letterboxing is essentially hiking to hidden boxes according to a set of clues you find online.  The box contains a stamp and a book.  You bring along a stamp for your family and stamp it and your name and the date in the book from the box - and use their stamp to put in your own book.  It's really fun and there are letterboxing sites all over the world.

While in McCall we mostly hung out - playing games, watching movies, and reading but the main attraction is Lake Payette... One evening we went late in the afternoon when everyone else had cleared out.  While everyone took turns on the boat we watched the sunset, challenged each other to swimming contests, and built sand castles - it was dreamy.  I love swimming in cold lakes and then sitting on warm sand with a sweat shirt over my swimsuit.  It really doesn't get much better than that.

In the end, the trip wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have such awesome in-laws. Not having Mike on a trip is hard but everyone was always so helpful and gracious. Especially Jodi, whose husband also had to get back to work. We were like sister wives...  Thanks everyone!

God Bless America - or How I Spent My Independence Day

I really don't know if the Fourth of July could be much more American than it is at my in-laws house in Boise, Idaho.  We usually get up early and head over to the church pancake breakfast - listening to a great program on freedom while eating way too many pancakes.  Once we head home the rest of the day is spent decorating bikes for their street's parade, swimming, jumping on the trampoline(crack the egg, anyone?), as well as all sorts of general fun.  In the evening their street does their very own parade - with decorated bikes, cars, motorcycles, and this year we even had a police car!  It's really a dream come true for the boys.  Afterwards we start with our sparklers and smaller fireworks - though the true show is across the street.  Mike's childhood friend, Evan Green, puts on THE best pyrotechnic show you've ever seen.  He dresses from head to toe in black - drenches himself with water - turns on some sweet tunes - and dances with firework nun-chucks.  It rocks.  Every year he becomes my kid's hero all over again.  So, that was a lot of talk... how about some pictures?

So, thanks for hosting us so graciously every year, Billy and Sandra.  This is the making of some seriously happy memories for my family.

Happy Fourth!

Peter got a big boy haircut yesterday - if you recall his hair was ridiculously long and unkempt.  Peter didn't get to be the baby of the family for very long because his little brother came along before his first birthday - and with this new hair cut he looks the part of a big brother. 

We are leaving tomorrow morning for a two week trip to Idaho - from Boise to McCall to Sun Valley - it's going to be a great trip.  Have a wonderful Independence Day Weekend!