Spring Break: Heading East, our stop in a snowstorm to hike

    Noel requested that we take the northern route home.  Without checking the weather we did so.  This took up up from Idaho, through Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and down into Wisconsin.  We had snow and freezing temperatures all the way.

    I still think it was a good choice to go the northern route. One of the kids' favoirite camping spots over the years of our cross-country travels has been Makoshika State Park by Glendive, MT.   It is part of the badlands, but one of Noel's favorite landscapes. 

     I can see why the indians would call this part of the country "the Badlands" (which is what makoshika means in Lakota).  It lacks the heards of antelope, deer or buffalo we saw along the road in other places of our trip.  It would be tough to travel through the ravines.   But, it is a rock hunters paradise.

    Ephraim only tolerated the cold for a short time before we headed back to the car. T

 It was so cold we had to tie a t-shirt around Sylvia's head for a hat, and layer her in several of my sweaters.  We hadn't really packed our bags with a Montanan snowstorm in mind.
  

Hiking buddies to the end, Noel and Sylvia followed a long trail back to the van.

 Sylvia enjoyed setting up her stuffed animals at several of the hotels we stopped at.  Some of them were on loan from her friend at home, Laura.  That way it was almost like Laura was travelling with us, but it was quieter.  :)

Finally reaching home, Ephraim was so glad to see his own dog again, and play with his own toys.

    It was a long trip, but worth the memories.  Not only do we have great extended family, but I love having snowy adventures with my own kids and Sean. They are the best!  But... perhaps in the future we could look at making memories together without the 60 hours of driving. Definately something to consider.   Who knows where the HinkyPunks will find themselves in the future.  Stay tuned.

Spring Break: Heading East - Easter in Rexburg.

  After unpacking our bags and showering all the hiking trail dust off at Daniel and Kaydee's house... we went to my mom's for the grand Easter Egg Hunt.  This was Ephraim's first time dealing with Easter eggs, and he wasn't sure what to do at first.

He did let grandma hold him for a few minutes.  We will have to stay longer for him to really get to know her another time.

 Dave and Daniel both brought their kids to grandma's for the fun. It was more for the little kids. We will have to have an Extreme-Egg hunt next year for the older kids.  We could put eggs on top of cliffs.

 Here is Sylvia showing off her loot with Grandma.  both, lovers of pink.

After the egg hunt, Mom had a delicious ham dinner for everyone.  It was amazing they can fit over 20 people at their place.

In the evening the boys all went to church.  There are some handsome looking guys in this bunch.

The mom's and grandma all stayed home, to clean up after dinner and keep track of the kids.  There was a rodeo going on across the street at the fairgrounds, so we went to check it out.  It was so fun!  I loved stepping into a rodeo areana, with all the sounds and smells.  I just wanted to skip for joy.

 Ephraim sat entranced on my lap while we watched the horses zip by.  It was one of my highlights of the trip!  Afterwards, Joel and Syliva scootered until dark. I think Grandma should get a couple of new scooters so Joel, Spencer and Sylvia can all have races at the same time.

     Before everyone left to go to their own homes, my mom was trying to co-ordinate the next get together. (This was a really funny moment for me.  ) Mom wanted Daniel and Dave to bring their kids to a spring kids/family fair.  She had on her busy-bossy-instrution-teacher voice and was telling them the dates.  It was funny because my brothers are both big tall boys, but they were looking down on my mom with total attention as she bossed them about. It was such a funny sight to see these  two giants looking down with all seriousness at my mom.

   
      I laughed and explained why it looked so funny.   I had them turn and got a shot of my mom and her two boys.   I know I have  a lot of the same bossy-let's-do-this tendencies that my mom has.  The kids used to call it "the marchy voice"  because it got everyone marching. I love her for it, it is a great trait to have inherited!   Still,  I wonder if I will look like this among my boys in another 20 years.

We left with hugs and kisses all around.  I about cried when we left little Colter.  He will most likely be all grown up and throwing rocks with the big cousins the next time we see him.  He is such a sweetie.

Ephraim gae him a sweet kiss.  He will miss "his baby".

Then we were off... only 3 more days until home.   This is what the car looked like most of the time.

I am so glad we got to spend Easter with my family.  I think my parents are wonderful for all the work  they put into oraganizing activiies for the kids. When grandkids go to their house, they know that they are what matters.

Spring Break: Heading East, a stop in Twin Falls

   Heading back east, with 4 days of driving ahead of us, we tried to pick interesting stopping spots.   On our way back to Rexburg, we stopped in Twin Falls and Shoshone Falls State Park. The view was beautiful.

  
The falls are in a deep gorge, that just begs to be explored.

There were also lots of weird looking volcanic rocks to keep all of my geologists happy.

 Sylvia and Noel stuck together for hiking, and found a cave, and some good rocks to climb on.

    The boys went up a trail to the top of some cliffs, hundreds of feet in the air. They waved down at us people still eating cereal at the picnic bences.    I am glad I wasn't up there to see them standing right on the edge of the rocks. After eating we all explored some trails along the cliffs.

Ephraim of course, wouldn't be capable of walking without a rock in his hand. Sylvia is just as bad.  She would load up her pockets and them empty them out into the van.  I guess they are cheap souveniers.

This outing was fun for all, even if we made it back to Rexburg a little later than planned.

Spring Break: Destination Reached! BOISE!

     After a total of 30 hours of driving, we were so glad to get out of the van and stay in one place for a few days.  We spent the first night at Grandma and Grandpa McMullin's new home, the following nights were spent at Sean's cousins house.
               The first morning, Mattias helped Liz make some delicous service berry pancakes.  There were many tasty breakfasts to follow.

 Ephraim was fascinated with Liz's matreshka colletion.  We went all over the house searching for new ones to open.

 
One day, we drove out of town to see the foothills surrounding Boise.  It was beautiful.

And of course, the kids found more places to look for rocks.  I don't know why we don't have any geologists yet!

     Back in town, we went to a park. Ephraim's favorite part was.. you guessed it, picking up rocks to throw in the canal nearby.

    His cousins, Crius and Tyden also thought this was a great way to pass the time.  They were very picky about the rocks they selected.

    Finally Hero showed up in her pink skirt, and kept up with the boy cousins. She can throw rocks with the best of them.

We also did the usual park things, like swinging and playing tennis, but you don't want to see pictures of normal park things.   We also did some relaxing.. like Sean and his dad here on the lawn.

The pictures I would love to post are of the beautiful Boise Temple, with gardens and gardens full of tulips.  It was so beautiful!   But, I didn't take me camera with me, and I'm still waiting on family to get me their pictures. If I do get some I'll post them here:


    Being in the temple for Colin and Sabrina's sealing was my favorite part of the trip. It was wonderful to see all the family there.  I also loved seeing their two little boys, all dressed in white suits, come skipping into the room, yelling "mommy!" and "daddy!".  It was very sweet.


We took a few family pictures in the backyard afterwards.. here are Sean's parents with Sean and the kids...

And my boys with Grandpa Brad...

And Sean's parents with their children...

And the goofy siblings of Sean...

Sean enjoyed getting to see his siblings.  I like this shot of the crew.

A potluck reception was held at the grandparents.. lots of good food and extra cousins.

 Here are Sabrina, Grandma Liz, Lisa and Julie getting the food pulled together.

Sylvia got to know some second-cousins she has never met.  The girls were wonderful including her, especially Kinszey.  After the dinner they went back to Julie's for movies and games.

     Mattias and Asher also enjoyed getting to know their second-cousins.  Kobie and Caleb went with the boys back to Julie's to play games and eat food until almost midnight.

These two little nephews cracked me up. It was fun to get to know them better.

   Ephraim and the young cousins just milled around in a gang, not sure what to do with each other.  It will be fun to see them grow up together.

     Our visit to Boise was originally going to be about checking out jobs and neighborhoods.  It became all about family.  We are so glad we got to see so many aunts and uncle and cousins!  With all the hugs, even though it has been over ten years, it felt like hardly any time had passed.  Family really does break the bonds of time.  I'm glad this is a forever sort of family.

Spring Break: Heading West, a day in Rexburg

    We were glad to see some family after 3 days of driving.   We stayed the night with my brother, Daniel.  My parents had brought some food over to there place for dinner, and set up an extra table in the living room.  It was a little funny to see the older teens still having to sit at "the kid table" due to space.

   I loved seeing my niece Nicole.  She just finished her freshman year at BYU-Idaho  and put off doing homework in order to come over and visit with us.   These cousins (Nic and Noel) are two of the kindest hearted people around. 

    After dinner, Daniel took us over to Wakeside Lake to show us the property he has invested in with some partners.  I had a nice lake for fishing, his office property on one side, and a family reunion rental house on the other. Ephraim bonded with his cousins (Spencer and Eli ) while throwing rocks.   Sean made sure none of them fell in, until his nerves couldn't take it anymore. Then we all went inside the reunion house for a tour.

      Addie and Sylia tried to play pool in the house, but found out it was tougher than they expected.  Eli wanted to be part of the fun as well. 

       Ephraim was fascinated by his youngest cousin, Colter (Daniel and Kaydee's baby).  Ehpraim  kept asking to hold him.  This was the first time we have seen Colter.  We loved having him smile at us.

 The next day, Grandma had an amazing Easter egg dying station set up out in her backyard for the grandkids.

 Addisen and Sylvia were in creativity-heaven.

    To wear kids out before another 6 hour car ride,  we took them to the nature park to feed the ducks.. a classic Grandma activity.  I have picutres from the older kids doing the same thing 15 years ago.

   Sylvia found somthing she has in common with a couple of her boy cousins - scootering fast!  She and Spencer scootered all over the paths at the nature park, and all over grandma's neighborhood.  Everybody was very tired by the end of the day.

      Asher and Mattias went up to the college (BYU-Idaho) in the afternoon for a tour.  They were impressed by the campus and Asher enjoyed meeting the viola professor there.  Soon he will have to decide where to attend college.  If he attends in Rexburg, he can ride scooters and go to the nature park with Grandma to feed ducks any time he wants!