Memorial Weekend Exploring

We were able to do some exploring over Memorial day weekend. We did the Saturday night mass so we could start out first thing Sunday morning - so of course we didn't leave 'till almost noon. Our first destination was only and hour and a half away though, so there was still plenty of time.

First stop:  Malad Gorge.

 



 

Isn't that awesome?  You're just driving on the highway and, oh - look at that.  I remember seeing a glimpse of it on our drive out here, but hadn't realized how utterly awesome (and terrifying) it was when we drove over it.

 

 

There was a bridge to go over to the other side.  I've realized I definitely have some height issues.  Having children has given me a touch of anxiety.  I am too much of a cause and effect person and always think things through to the possible conclusions and with kids and heights - that isn't good.  Or maybe it is - at least for their safety.

 

 

I still get a touch of anxiety even looking at pictures with them that close to the edge.

 

 

It wasn't really a huge park, but a nice little visit.  After seeing the gorge we drove along and it takes you all along the rim of it and to other neat little areas.

 

 

We came across this little gem too.  It felt very Hawaii like.  There were birds swooping down there, you could hear the waterfall pounding on the rocks and every now and then the wind would blow just right so you get a spray of mist.  Very relaxing.  Well, somewhat relaxing.  Probably more relaxing if you didn't have a kid and dog with you and weren't responsible for the lives of others.

 

 

We decided it was the perfect spot to eat the picnic we brought with us.

 

 

These are the moments that also remind us of how good of a listener Little Lady is.  She isn't a runner and listened when we would tell her to stop or not get any closer to the edge.  We try to figure out the balance of explaining what can happen so she knows the dangers and trying to make sure we don't scare the poop out of her.  Although, next to stuff like this, I think a little fear is a good thing.  Did I mention there is a huge sign when you enter the park saying to keep control of your kids?  I think Little Man will have to be in a carrier for these kinds of trips for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time.  Like, 'till he is 13 or something.

 

We then piled back into the car and drove another 1.5 hrs to our next destination while the kids napped (perfect timing). 

 

Next stop:  Bruneau Dunes.

 

Yup, we've got those.  Pretty neat, huh?

 

 

We parked in a spot where there was a little lake.  See the little pointy peak on the right hand side of that dune?  We could see people trekking up there.  THAT would be a workout.

 

 

We actually spent the first 15 minutes sitting in the car as a storm blew through, but it then cleared up and we were able to explore.  We headed out to do some dune climbing.

 

 

It was nice to get our toes in the sand.  Perfect temperature too.  Once temps get up to the 90's or 100's I don't think that would be a very enjoyable trip.

 

 

We brought the Ziffy Whomper with us for her to do some dune sledding.  It was used more for pulling her up than for going down.

 

 

THIS girl had a great time.  She LOVED climbing up and down the dunes.

 

 

We also then had a fun perch to look around.

 

 

We then hung around the lake so she could play a bit.

 

 

Papa tried teaching her how to skip stones.  Someday. :)

 

It was good to see them get to spend lots of time together.  He really stresses about not getting much time with them.  I hope she remembers this stuff and the fun things they get to do rather than all the times he is in class or has to study when she wants to play.

We took lots more pictures on our camera but, in all honesty, if I wait 'till I get around to uploading them on the computer I'll never get this posted.  At this point I am using a blogger application on my phone to upload the pictures (while I'm nursing or something.  Yay, multitasking!) and then typing this up on the computer in the wee hours of the morning, after my 5am workout and after Little Man has gone back down for a little extra sleep.  Maybe I'll do a post someday with just nice fun pictures.  Maybe.  Someday.

 

Papa

Let's talk about Papa for a bit.  Who is Papa?

 

Well,

 

 

 

He is a worker.  He typically works at least ten hours a day, at least forty hours a week.  He is moving non stop, on his feet all day.

 

 

After that he will still have the energy to carry his children around, however they want.

 

He is an explorer.  Coming out on his own to find a job and then exploring our new home before we made the big move.

 

He likes to make his own path, but is happy to come across the paths of others now and then.

 

He is a provider.  He relishes in being able to provide for and take care of his family,

 

in whatever way he can,

 

 

enabling me to be home with the bambinos.

 

 

He is a caretaker.  Tending to any bumps or bruises.

 

Helping us get through tough spots.

 

He is a proud Papa,

 

and a loving Papa.

 

He is a protector.

 

 

He will always be willing to hold their hand,

 

 

 

or carry them on his back.

 

He is a son, who hopes his parents are proud of him.  He wants his Father to be proud of him, and know that he has inspired him and driven him and helped make him the person he is today.

 

 

He is a handy man.  Helping me when I need it and  even when I don't.

 

He is a teacher.

 

 

Whether it is teaching how to throw rocks

 

 

make ice cream

 

 

or checking out a frog - he does it all with excitement.

 

 

He is a sherpa.

 

 

He will gladly trek up any hill or mountain for his kiddos.

 

 

He is an outdoors man.  He loves sharing this love with his children and wife.

 

Enjoying Daddy-Daughter dates in the great outdoors.

 

Passing on his love of it to the next generation.

 

 

On top of ALL of that - he is also a student.  Spending countless hours in class and doing schoolwork.  Missing out on lots of adventures with us, but busting his tail for our future.  And any time that he isn't working, studying or sleeping?  He spends it with us.

 

Thank you Papa.  We love you,

 

 

 

and the man that helped make you who you are today.

A little of this, a little of that.

I have been keeping pretty busy with the kids and getting adjusted to the new house.  The trick is trying to get the house set up while still watching/entertaining the kids.  Not an easy task. 

One thing I did with the kids was participating in "Seven for Sophie" - something that was organized to celebrate the life of one of two sisters that passed away in a house fire in the Frederick area at the beginning of her year.  For her birthday, her Mother asked that everyone commit seven acts of kindness in her memory.  Little Lady drew several pictures for people that we mailed or dropped off. 

 

 

We baked brownies that she delivered to Papa's work for his coworkers.  We delivered a picture and brownie to our Monsignor and we sent off a grocery store gift card to a family that could benefit from it.  Tons of people took part in the "event" with many people then paying it forward.  People hashtagged (that is when people use a # and then type a word - it is a way of "tagging" a post so it will show up when that phrase is searched) #sevenforsophie on Instagram and uploaded pictures on the facebook event page so Sophie's Mother could see everything being done in her daughter's memory.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate the birthday of a passing child.  I still tear up when I think of this family - or any family that has lost a child.  I can't imagine - and then having two children gone.  Their mother, Chrissi Lillard, is working on getting a park in their memory set up.  You can donate here if you are interested in helping.

 

Sophie and Madigan Lillard.  Photo from Sophie and Madigan Memorial Park Fund GiveForward page.

 

 

We also discovered that we had quite the aphid population in our new back yard.  Did you know that aphids poop all over everything and make it sticky?  It is call "honey dew".  At first I thought it was sap, nope - it was poop.  So, I went by our local Zamzows and picked up some lady bugs!

 

 

They are supposed to be a nice, natural way of getting rid of the aphids.  They eat them.

 

Even Little Man found them interesting.  There was supposed to be something like 1000 in the container.  Of course, then we had tons of lady bugs in our backyard.  And tons of BABY lady bugs too.  Do you know what a baby lady bug looks like? 

 

Photo courtesy of http://gardeningfromthegroundup.blogspot.com/2011/05/bugs-good.html

 

Yeah, I didn't know those were ladybugs either at first.  So - great topic for our weekly homeschool preschool!

 

 

The kids really had a blast with this one.  We did our normal song stuff and then looked at a book with the different stages of ladybugs.  Then we went in the yard and found several baby ones and adult ones.  We (temporarily) put some in the fun magnified bug container Little Lady got for her birthday and brought them inside to look at while the kids made their own ladybugs. 

 

Some of the "lessons" are better than others - this was a great one.  None of the parents knew those were baby lady bugs either - so now we all know and won't squish them anymore!

 

I still learn new things constantly too.  For example:

 

 

The first house in the Nation that was heated by geothermal water was located in Boise!  How cool is that?!  Many of the Downtown buildings are also heated by the hot springs that run under Boise.

 

 

I've learned that our new neighborhood has the same ice cream truck that our old one had.  The name of it?  Scary Larry's.  Yup.  I'll just leave it at that.  No, we have not bought anything from him.

 

 

I've learned about our new oven, and what does and doesn't work with it.  It had a bottom "oven" which seems like a warming tray but has a dial you can select a temp, so I decided to see if cookies could bake in there.  Didn't work out - maybe too long...

The oven is also convection.  I had been a total traditionalist on that and was not into convection - except I had now discovered that convection is the absolute best way to cook bacon in the oven. 

I'm sold.

 

I have also learned how to make my own mayonnaise.  Best part?  I made baconnaise. 

 

 

We collect the bacon fat and keep it in the freezer.  This was the perfect use for it.  Now, of course this is not something you would want to do all the time.  Well, maybe some people would,  but I think mayonnaise is a "treat" item.  Whole Foods had country ribs on sale so I had to come up with some sides to go with them.

 

Coleslaw.  Perfect with the ribs and perfect for the baconnaise.

 

I like to bake.  I already knew this, but had thought I would miss out on this with the whole paleo thing.

 

 

Scones.  Yup - plenty of things to bake that are paleo.  Papa even puts this on the "meal" list I try to make at the beginning of the week to help me stay organized.  He'll add it on.  I take that as a compliment.  I tried putting in chocolate chips but that honestly didn't work out as well.  Dried fruit is the way to go.  Getting back to cooking and baking also shows I must be getting settled into the new place.  Working on it.

 

 

Also learned that topping stuff off with an egg certainly makes it look more interesting.  Good thing Papa is into sunny side up - I still prefer scrambled.

 

 

 

Learned that this guy likes spinach....for now.

 

And learned that cuddling with two kids in bed is even better than cuddling with one.

 

While I've worked on getting the rest of the house in order, we've also had to organize a work space for Papa.  He had an awesome coworker that was moving and gave him this desk.

 

Things that were made in the 1950's are so much more solid and awesome.  Such a deal.

 

Look at this Man.  Doesn't he look professional?  He is in the "assessment" phase of his classes, learning to do physical assessments of people.  For this he needs to have a "patient" and do a video of specific assessments and then submit the video with written reports.  So - I'm his patient.  Our wild and crazy Friday nights involve me sitting on our dining room table in shorts, a sports bra and a patient gown and complaining of odd problems while he checks me out.  We are up 'till midnight or 1 am getting them done.  Sometimes the cat suddenly decides she wants to be in them.  After we finished the first one (several takes later) we realized the cat was in the background batting at the sheet covering the "exam" table.  This past week the dog suddenly decided she wanted to go out in the middle of the video - so we had to start the 20 minute assessment over.  Geeez - having the kids in bed means nothing when you have pets!

 

Papa has also gotten some new tools to play with now.

 

So now he can tell me if Little Man has an ear infection and how bad it is, saving us a copay and trip to the doctor.

 

And since this dude is into everything, not having to head to the doc is a very good thing.

 

Yes, he is trying to flush the toilet.

 

Into.......Everything.