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

Snowy day in Idaho Falls

Nothing much happening this weekend. Amber has 3 days off, Frank has the weekend off... no school and its been snowing all day. Had to get about a 1/4 cord of wood today, paid about 10 bucks for some clean wood. We put the wood away and chopped the rest so we'll have a good supply for a few weeks.

Here's a few pics of us just hanging out this weekend. Keeping warm downstairs, playing with the turtle, and watching Barkley sleep 2 inches from the incredibly hot wood stove.








We still burn from the time we get up to past going to bed. The girls are both a little sick; Mia's cough isn't getting any better and now Graycie seems like she is trying to get one. Been to the store and have everything we need so we don't have to leave this weekend. I posted a few panoramic photos of snow in Idaho Falls.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get out bunny hunting with the guys. Should be great conditions for it, plenty of fresh snow and the bunny tracks will be fresh. I think Seth, Frank, Steve and Dave will be heading out the the bunny grounds early in the morning.

Here's a few short videos of the girls playing with the long icicles and of the snow falling out front of the house.

Pumpkin Patch in Idaho Falls

We took off toward south of town, near Shelly Idaho, but just 5 miles from Idaho Falls to get our pumpkins for the season. The girls love going here because they get to pick their own pumpkins out. Plus they have a hay maze and other small things for the kids to do.

Here's a video of Daddy pulling the girls in the pumpkin basket



A beautiful day it was, sunny and no wind. Last year we went here it was windy, with 40 mph gusts. Not today though... a very sunny nice day!

We picked out 4 pumpkins, two big ones, and two small ones that the kids could carry. I had to pull the kids around in the cart to make the trip complete, they love it. We didn't stay too long as we wanted to get home and watch Battlestar Galactica :) Can't miss that show, ever!

Kayaking on the Idaho Falls Greenbelt

It was Frank' birthday so we all went down to the Idaho Falls greenbelt, downtown Idaho Falls. It was a hot one, probably 90 degree's and being down on the water sure felt good. We went down to the usual drop in spot, right under the visitor overview deck looking over the falls. The kids were happy to get another boat ride and go right up to the falls.



It was a good float, taking maybe 40 minutes. We usually drop in right below the falls, goof off for a while and go right up to the falls and other outlets. The girls like going right up to the smaller falls and putting their hand in the running water. There are a few inlets that are similar to a cave like entrance. We can pull the kayaks right up to them and the girls can hang out under the waterfall, not getting wet.



Pretty calm day, say a few jet skiiers and a fishing boat, thats it, we had the river to ourselves. Of course when we put in, we were right next to the tourists on the greenbelt and they staired at us thinking we were nuts. When they saw us in the water having a good time, another story. The ride cruises along about 4 mph on the first part of the float. Once you float under the Broadway Bridge, there is a nice side current, that once you hit it, it speeds you up to about 9 mph for about 400 feet. The girls love it because we're crusing along pretty good, right along the southern bank of the Snake River.

Here's a very short video of us on the water



Here's a short video of the girls rolling down grass on the greenbelt