Off to the races

Plenty of stuff for the girls to do the last few week. They were able to go to fun land and Tautphaus Park for Akashia's bday and ride the rides. We were able to head out to Noise Park just West of Idaho Falls to watch dirt bike racing.


Girls had a good time but had their ears plugged quite a bit. Tonight we took them with the neighbors to the horse races here in town at Sandy Down's Race track. They absolutely loved that...anywhere, anytime they get to see a horse, they are in heaven.




Other than that... nothing much happening. The girls have been water kids for the last month. Swimming about 3 hours a day in the pool and getting pretty good. Probably more than 3 hours some days. If they're not in the water, they are outside playing something ... never inside the house, never. So here are a few photos and videos of the last week doing whatever. Have a great week!






VIDEO: Girls playing at Ross Water Park


VIDEO: Girls dancing in the red room


VIDEO: Water balloon fight at the park


VIDEO: Horses running the 100 yrd dash

Just around home and visits

The days were hot, anywhere from 85-95 all week long with little clouds, no rain, nice and dry air. The kids had their fill of the Miller's pool two doors down, pretty much all day. Both Miller and Tomasetti kids are now swimming good after only a month in the pool.



Saturday Amber and Matt were in town from Phoenix so Amber 1 had Amber 2 and Matt, along with some friends, over that evening for pizza and hanging out. Two many Mojito's were going around and everyone got a bit toasty. The kids all got along and played outside in the backyard while we all sat around and chilled. The weather was perfect that night!



We put the girls down, grabbed the monitor, locked the house and went next door to go swimming... about midnight. The water was excellent and we swam for almost an hour. We're going to the park Sunday for Steve and Christie's girl's bday at the park. May even pop into the zoo to go for a nice walk.



So, here's a few photos of the last week or so. Quite a few of the yard and flowers since we like to see when things grow, especially for next year. The new trees and roses are doing absolutely great and we have about 50 sunflowers, taller than the roof, ready to bloom. The girls love to plant and watch the flowers grow so it's pretty much a family event ;)

Boating at Blacktail Reservoir

Blacktail reservoir is only about 25 minutes from here and it was a hot one. Joe and Frank got their early in the morning for some morning fishing before the women and girls got out of bed. Calm and warm the water was... couldn't wait to get in. Since it was the 4Th of July we also wanted to get on the water before the parking lot filled up.




The girls were all smiles the entire time we were out there. They hadn't been on a boat so fast before and they were able to ride the tube behind the boat for the first time, over and over again. Mia went with Frank and Graycie went with Amber. Amber also road the tube quite a bit and finally bit it hard on the last one.




The weather was absolutely beautiful.... sunny, clear, and 85 out... a perfect day on the water. We headed back to shore around two o'clock. But, not before marking out quite a few camping areas on the lake for next year when we can take our boat out. We plan to camp a bunch on the lake where only boats can access. Here are some video's of the day...

VIDEO: Graycie ready to go on the tube


VIDEO: Getting started on the boat, going fast...


VIDEO: Amber tearing it up on the tube

4th of July fun in Idaho Falls

Had a great fourth of July in Idaho Falls. We started the day by going out to Blacktail reservoir and going on Joe's jet boat. Frank and Joe went out at 0600 to do some bass and trout fishing. Nothing much, Joe caught a rainbow and a bass, Frank caught two bass.


Picked the girls up at 0930 at the docks and spent about 4 hours on the water. It was the girls first time getting on the tube pulled behind the boat. Amber had a few nice runs also. Both girls were able to ride the tube 3 times, loved every minute of it.


Got home, swam in the Millers pool, ate left overs instead of BBQing due to the insanity of the heat outside. Then we all biked down to the Idaho Falls Greenbelt to watch the Idaho Falls fireworks. What a great time. Perfect weather and probably 150 thousand people packed on the greenbelt, three times the size of our population.

Graycie's first top tooth came out today (Saturday) She's so proud :)

The show was great as usual, not disappointing anyone. We rode home in the dark along with hundreds of other bikes. But, we were home in 20 minutes, not having to deal with any traffic. Here's a few videos of the day. There will be another post on the morning boating once uploaded.

VIDEO: Playing croquet, girls playing up front before fireworks


VIDEO: buying girls glow sticks on greenbelt



VIDEO: Walking around the greenbelt before the fireworks started


VIDEO: Starting of the Idaho Falls fireworks show

The week before the 4th of July

Nothing much happened last week... just another hot one, a very unusual hot week in June. Hottest weather we've had in June since we've been here in 10 years.


This week is no different, it's gonna be 85-90 all week, but great for the 4th of July celebration on the Falls. From what I hear, Idaho Falls will be the largest Firework display in the Western US for the last three years.


The girls and Amber hung out two doors down at the Miller's pool most of the week. Frank jumped in the pool when he came home from lunch and usually after work. We've been playing a lot of croquet in the backyard. Both Amber and Frank and also with Joe and Amber.




We started the annual week before every night lighting some fireworks for the kids. They usually stay up till 2200 each night this time of Summer. We light off about 10 minutes worth each night for them...

Fishing at Camas Creek near Kilgore Idaho

We (Frank and Steve... and Pinot & Buddy) took off from Idaho Falls early around 0630 and cruised directly up the I-15 towards Spencer, Idaho. We took the Stoddard Creek exit and went down the dirt road about 12 miles over porcupine pass. We saw a coyote run in front of the truck and thought about plugging it. The rifle was in the back seat but unfortunately I left the clip and shells in the garage. Smart.




Here's a panoramic photo of 12 pictures stitched together. If you click on the picture below (or any picture) it will open into a much larger high-res view. But, the one photo below may take a minute to load as it's huge! A complete 360 view of the Camas Creek valley.

We were about 2 miles from the trail head to start hiking when we passed by Dave, Tyler and Alice camping. We stopped by for a while as they were packing up and then went to check out a pretty far out beaver pond. Camas creek was looking perty!



We ended up parking on the dirt road and hiking in the long way since one of the farmers put up a no trespassing sign. We had to go through the normal maze of willows that had tunnels the size of cows... The cows push through the willow trees creating a maze of willow bushes. We fished here about 8 years ago and bending over through the maze seemed quite a bit easier :)

Video Steve releasing a fish and the creek area


We followed the creek and fished... fished.... fished. Took a nice safety meeting break to just chill out under some tree's, in the middle of no where. All we could hear was the creek water, the wind, and the dogs running and having fun. I think we may have used worms a few casts but other then that, we caught probably 30 fish, all beautiful Brook Trout. Mostly off spinners with a tail, and another assortment of spinners.



It was hot as hell out there, probably 90 degrees just as we were heading back on the hike to the truck. Great day, didn't see a soul while out on the creek. Bugs weren't bad at all, I don't think either of us got any bites. We did about 8 miles total hiking in and out of the bush and then into open valleys that were a nice break. Until the sun felt like it was melting our skin.

VIDEO: Frank fishing on the creek


We were a little late returning back to IF because we got held up because of an enormous amount of sheep in the middle of the road. On the side of the road. All over the place! So, we had to stop while the guys on horses, along with the two sheep dogs herded them down the road. A strange ending to a great day in the wilderness...



VIDEO: Sheep surrounding the car