How We Spent Our Summer Vacation - Part 4

From the Grand Canyon we headed up to Rexburg, Idaho to spend Independence Day with the Idaho Smarts. We have to admit that the first thing on our mind was making a stop at the local shaved iced shack, "Snoasis". Paul dreams about this place. We spent about a week with John and his family and in that time, Paul and I purchased about 24 drinks, filling out our punch-cards so we could get the "buy 12 get one free" deal. Favorite flavors? Paul's is Tiger's Blood and mine is Malibu Barbie. Mmmmmm Snoasis....

Heather took us polly wogging near the sand dunes where the winter rain run off collects and warms over the summer leaving a large lake 2 1/2 feet deep the whole way across. Perfect for kids!

Catching tadpoles!

Disgusting little creatures.

Uncle Paul doing what he does best!

John took us all on a hike way up in the mountains where we actually crossed into Yellowstone Park boundaries. The mosquitoes were trying to eat us alive but we prevailed.

Brothers!

Joseph, Heather, Peter and James.

We hiked down near a calmer part of the river and attempted to go for a swim but 3 seconds in that freezing run off water and I was out like a cat on fire! I don't know how the guys stayed in!

I love these pictures here. It's John with his ducklings.

Independence Day was awesome. Rexburg has this cute town parade with all the old-time charm and none of the political activist nonsense. Tractors, horses, floats, 4-H clubs, soldiers, departing missionaries ... Even Darth was there!

I have never seen so much candy being thrown at a small-time parade! Well, it wasn't so much the volume as the SIZE of what they were throwing! One float was chucking frozen otter pops and this local dairy was handing out chocolate milk by the crate-full!

At one point one of the floats passing by had people dancing and they came to the side lines and pulled John into the parade and put a coat and hat on him and he danced! They couldn't have picked a more willing guy! Then they came and grabbed Heather to join him!

That night Paul and I went to a rodeo at the Rexburg fairgrounds and it was the most action-packed rodeo I've ever been to! There was a huge bull in particular that, after throwing his rider, did not want to go back into the holding pen. He charged at the wranglers' horses and he was so angry! On two occasions the bull leaped straight up high into the air, twisted onto his side, and fell, BOOM! right on the ground on his side. He was huge and I swear Paul and I could feel the ground shake. I wish we had a picture of it!

As the evening came we got to witness a beautiful Idaho sunset! There were about 20 missionaries at the rodeo and I love how you can see them here in the half light.

Sunday after church, Paul and I drove down to Idaho Falls to visit with my cousins, aunts and grandma on my dad's side. We had a BBQ and just a WONDERFUL time! I miss you guys so much!

Here's cousin Jason playing with some of the kids.

Cousin Kristy and Aunt Sheri, Aunt Kathy and cousin Jed.

I love my grandma Fern.

Me with Grandma and aunts with cousins Rachel and Alex! That's Ali, Mackay's wife in the middle. They're all so awesome!

I love Rexburg. I'd live there. At least during the summer.. I'd absolutely love to be around all the family all the time! Before we left Idaho the Smarts took us down into an ice cave out in the middle of the desert.

Yeah. It was really dark and scary down there. All I could think about was that the Blair Witch must have relatives.

It took forever for my eyes to adjust since my flashlight wasn't much help. Heather brought mint lifesavers so we did that Lifesavers trick and chewed them quickly to see them spark!

I was really happy to be out of there!

Afterward we went to Beaver Dick Park (yes that's the real name) and John and Paul built a fire while we roasted marshmallows and made delicious 'smores!

Then the little boys played on the playground. And by little boys I mean Paul and John.

How gorgeous is Idaho?! It doesn't even need any help to be it's own picturesque masterpiece everywhere you look! God is awesome.

So is Heather! Look at these jumps!

Next stop, UTAH! To visit the rest of the neiphews in West Jordan and American Fork!

I just love Madeline's and Beth's hair in this one.

Paul's sister Meredith is pregnant....and apparently so is Paul. Wasn't me.

His bro Michael drove us up into the canyon to experience a river twice as cold as that Idaho river. Seriously. Is it all glacier water?!

It was a very beautiful place nonetheless! But how do they stand there!

Emma! She happily took this one herself! Sneaky!

We played tag in the park and the Emma was it and the rule was she had to close her eyes to hunt for her victims but Paul outsmarted her (pun intended) and was never caught!

My happy reader.

It was Emma's birthday so we celebrated with the fantastic Udall family! They're so great!

Happy birthday Emma!

It has been a long time since I've had a 4th of July holiday as good as this year's. Independence day is my favorite holiday because I'm a hopeless patriot at times and I just love summer and fireworks and family. The good stuff. Thanks everyone for sharing it with us! xox