The Move pt. 3 & 4

July 3, 2013

We got to see many wonderful things this day.  First we headed over to Bear Country USA.  We witnessed over 100 bears lying around, walking around, eating, etc.  They were fascinating!

We loved the deer, elk, cougars, wolves, bison, sheep, and all the rest...

 but our favorites were these little cubs that had tons of energy!

This one, above, in particular, had developed a bond with this caretaker and actually played with him.  We learned this is not typical.

Later on, his brother really wanted to wrestle.  This went one for an hour! Eventually a 3rd one came into the picture and they were like 3 brothers that I know when one wants to play and feel tough and another one doesn't and they just won't leave each other alone and they keep touching each other and….. you get the picture.

The kids wanted a picture with the 3 bears up in the tree.  The big bully had scared the littler ones all the way to the tippy top.

We then HAD to drive by Mt. Rushmore.  This has been on my bucket list for quite some time.

A different view of the side of George Washington's face.

Crazy Horse was next.  This, too, was fascinating.  If it ever gets done, I'd love to see it again.

July 4, 2013

 The Fourth of July represented our new beginning in Idaho.  What a GORGEOUS drive by the Tetons!  We even had to stop as a rogue buffalo ran across the road right in front of us!!

 That evening, Steve's cousins invited us to go watch fireworks with them to make my kids realize it really was a holiday and a day to celebrate.

A man went missing in the river, so the fireworks were delayed an hour and a half.  Luckily, the kids had a few things to keep them occupied, like glow sticks and a group who was playing with a ball of yarn ON FIRE!

 So, this is where we are now..

427 Sunterra Drive

This house was bought site unseen.  When we drove up to it on the 4th of July, we were seeing it for the first time.  It was so much better than we imagined.  In fact, by Sunday evening, as we sat around our table the kids all talked how it already felt like home.  A big thank you to my parents who helped me unpack and get everything set up so that we even had pictures hung on the walls within 2 days.  I had previously warned Steve that if I didn't like it, I wanted an escape clause and I wanted permission to look for a different home in 3 years.  Well, I can't imagine it happening.  This home, although it is not my "dream home", has everything we need and is plenty big.  It's comfortable and just right for us. 

The Move pt. 2

Day 2 of the Move entailed a ton of driving.  We drove from Omaha, Nebraska to Rapid City, South Dakota--530 miles.  I try to have something every day for the kids to see or do, so our point of interest on this beautiful Tuesday was Winter Quarters, IA.  I love this visitors' center.  The Temple and neighboring cemetery have a palpable hushed peace that even my kids felt.  

This statue moves me to tears.  I am in awe of the sacrifice and devotion these early saints showed on a daily basis.  What testimonies!

My kids can't complain anymore about sharing beds!!!

or pushing a lawn mower!!! 

Eating out is such a luxury for these boys.  They acted like Jimmy John's was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!

We ate at this teeny hole-in-the-wall joint in the middle of nowhere that had decent ratings on Yelp--one of Steve's loves.  It was good, but Braxton, especially, loved the signs hanging on the walls.  This was his favorite: Things to do Today--Wake Up, Eat Ice Cream, Take a Nap, Repeat.

That evening we got to the hotel with an hour to spend in the pool.  The girls had been playing for about 20 minutes near me when I realized 2 teenage girls in bikinis had made their way over to talk with Evan.  He had a grin on his face even as he fell asleep.

Did I mention we were in the car for over 7 hours?

The Move to Idaho pt. 1

With the truck loaded, and the cruise, youth conference, and scout camp over, we tied up one more important loose end....

Braxton got his braces off!!

Before

After

To celebrate, I took him out to eat.  Of course, he chose 5 Guys 

and look where the potatoes were from!

July 1st, we started our road trip to Idaho, but we took a major detour through Nauvoo.  It was an added bonus to see Steve's cousin, Emily Jex, who was currently serving in the Nauvoo band.  How cool!  The show Sunset on the Mississippi was the highlight of the whole day!

It's always fun to revisit the buildings and be reminded how to make rope, candles, rugs, etc.

how to lose gracefully...

and win gracefully (Evan)...:)

how to look cute in pioneer attire...

enjoy the talents of people around you... (this was our private show--he was unbelievable)

how to get good marks in school...

show your devotion...

and be a role model for your daughter ;)

It was so nice for me to have my mom to switch off driving and keep me awake, but mainly to share experiences with my family.

My boys

My Emma

Ummm...

My family

My eternal family

Scout Camp

Camp Napowan

This was Steve's 7th year to attend Napowan.  This time he was able to have 2 of his own boys with him.  Carter and his friend were given permission to go despite being young.

Carter got his rifle merit badge and was the very first person at camp to meet the requirements of 3 shots in the center.

Leather working

Loving being awakened for flags. :)

Imitating the "kraken" that dwells in the boating area. 

I love this contemplative look.

Evan's jumping in to save a life.

Intensely.

Canoeing

Camping

Small boat sailing

Swimming (yeah.  pretty easy for my fish.)

Jumping in with you clothes on to make a floatie out of your own apparell.

Evan got shot gun

Having fun hanging off the side of a mountain.

Metal working.

All in all, Carter got : rifle, swimming, canoeing, first aid, painting, leather working, totem chip, and advanced to 1st class

Evan got: shotgun, small boat sailing, metalworking, camping, cooking, wilderness survival, and lifesaving

Steve got: closure as he was leaving these boys whom he has loved and enjoyed and a nice bruise from running into a metal park bench while speedwalking home in the dark.  Nice.  There's still talk about going back with Carter for next year because it's such a well run program.  Time will tell.