Cave Bears

We took the scenic route from Utah into Idaho and made a side trip to Minnetonka cave

And since Bear Lake is in the neighborhood we took the time to wet our toes.

Well, maybe more than just our toes.

The Stitches on My Chinny Chin Chin

Mere minutes after arriving in Pocatello at Sue's parents house, Cole tried to jump off the side of their pool slide, away from the water. Something went wrong and he landed on his chin.

Here's the (slightly blurry) closeup photo from the E.R.

It was late in the day and he fell asleep waiting for the doctor. He's getting too good about sleeping in the hospital.

He woke up pretty quick once they started poking him but he handled it like a trooper and came away with 6 stitches from the experience.

It certainly didn't slow him down. Here he is less than 20 hours later, violating the doctor's orders about swimming.

The Mechanized Managerie

The following is an accurate transcript of Grant describing the robots he made with Legos. I don't know where he came up with the names but he was pretty consistent about them over the course of several days.

This is Antatockta. He's very good at flying but he's the most good at being tall. He's the most good at remembering. He's the most good at two things, the others are only good at one thing. He's very good at fighting.

This is Flyacogger. He's the most good at flying.

This is Sollacleaner. It's the most good at cleaning. This one is the mama because the window only reaches to Antatockta's neck.

This is Sollacogger. It's good at changing into other things, like other robots. But it just can't change into this one (Flyacogger) because it doesn't have enough blue.

This is Windowbetter. It's the most good at making windows.

This is Steadycogger. The baby is the most good at standing.

These robots all live in Idaho.

The Idaho Trip - Bryn's Take:

First of all, let me tell you about Lava Hot Springs. Ahhhhhhh.

And after mom annoyed us all to death with reminders to pack our swim suits, naturally, she forgot hers.
Thanks for taking us, Grandma and Grandpa!
Then off to see the baby goats at McKee's Feed and Petting Zoo. One of these times, we're pretty sure mom will end up bringing a couple of these goats home with us.
The South Jordan Temple in Utah was spectacular - especially the part where our cousin Nathan came out with a wife!
Grandpa kept the boys occupied with pounding competitions.
And last of all, Grandma's food was.........
well..........
finger lickin' GOOD!!!!!!!

Bryn & Grandpa

Speaking of Bryn, here's a little video from our trip to Idaho last month. I think they speak the same language.

Happy Birthday, DAD!

Dad, Thanks for making our stay there in Idaho a few weeks ago so much fun for us and the boys. You always made the place so much fun for us as kids, and now the grand kids enjoy it just as much!

p.s. Cole said he's sorry about the "pool incident/brown alert" that resulted in immediate evacuation and emptying of the ol' trough.

Summer Trip Summary

2837 total miles (according to Google maps)
5 states Most expensive gas: $4.51 in Blanding, UT
Least expensive gas: $4.03 in Chinle, AZ
We saw all of Ma and Pop's parents, siblings and their children except one nephew (on a mission) and Pop's sister's family (whom we saw a couple of weeks ago). The boys traveled exceptionally well, considering the amount of time they were strapped into their seats. We watched the beginning of Cars at least five times, because the boys mostly just like the actual race scenes.

Summer Trip Episode 4

Time: 28 June 2008, 3:29PM - 7:45PM
Location: 42°52'N 112°26'W Grandma & Grandpa's House, Pocatello, ID
Event: Family Party

Water Slide into the old Cattle Tank
Cavorting with Cousins
Minor accident involving slippery feet and a resulting lost tooth.
Sharing Grandma & Grandpa's array of bikes.
More water sliding.
They call him "The Streak". (Don't look, Ethel!)
Riding uncle Brad's new bike.

Clothes Make the Man

... but you only need shades to make a boy.

Fire and Ice

On our second full day in Idaho we took the boys sledding. In short, they hated it. To start with, they were wearing so many layers they could hardly move. Adding to that, it was cold enough to make a brass monkey nervous and the wind was blowing just hard enough to prove that the "wind proof" jacket wasn't. But they were interested in the snow and headed out to investigate it. It wasn't long before they were done and we headed back inside. I think we spent more time dressing them than we did outside. We probably should have stuck to the sledding down the impressive piles of snow in their Uncle Gary's front yard.

To make it up to them we took them to Lava Hot Springs, which they loved. The most temperate pool is not quite as hot as a typical hot tub, and just deep enough to cover their shoulders when they stood up. They splashed happily with their cousins until we adults started feeling the heat (although our hair was frozen stiff) and 0° F actually felt refreshing when we got out.

Slip-N-Slide

Our first full day in Idaho was marked by bone chilling cold, a fun family party, and our first rollover car accident. Fortunately, we were spectators and not participants. To be fair, the freeway didn't look icy, but there was a bridge, it was snowing lightly, it was very cold (5°F), and it was in Idaho (if you've driven in Idaho in the winter, you'll understand). As we were driving up the hill (prior to the Clark Street exit, for you Pocatello aficionados) we saw the truck immediately in front of us hit their brakes and then ahead of them we saw headlights, tumbling end over end across the freeway from the left shoulder to the right. My stomach matched the flips. We pulled up behind the vehicle, now revealed to be a Dodge Durango with Utah plates and a Utah State license plate holder. It was on it's top and all of the windows were broken out, the glass scattered like sugar across the freeway, mixed with the obvious flotsam of a family: shoes, pillows, books and blankets. As we got out of our car and approached the upended vehicle amid billowing clouds of aromatic engine coolant, a head emerged from one of the windows, gratefully followed by the rest of the body of an adult female. Then, one by one children began to crawl out, most of them in stunned silence. Soon, five children, aged 3-10, were huddled with their mother and father by the smashed remains of the family SUV. Apart from a few bumps on heads, there weren't any serious injuries. Hmm, seat belts really do save lives. As I said, it was very cold and many of their shoes were scattered across the road, so we loaded the kids and their mother into our rental car, which had the advantage of being warm and upright, but wasn't really designed to hold six extra people, especially with our two boys in car seats. We gathered up their belongings from the roadway and waited for the police and paramedics to arrive. It didn't take long and then we loaded them all into the ambulance and headed home ourselves, at a speed somewhat slower than before. According to the Pocatello paper, two more accidents occurred on that same hill within a hour and a half of that first. We were grateful to have played only a supporting role.

Grandpa's House 'O' Fun™

Welcome to Grandpa's House 'O' Fun™!

When you visit Grandpa's house you get to take Grandma to the park.She'll push you down the slide!Grandpa will turn on the water for some splish-splashin' fun! Grandma knows how to splish and splash too.Grandpa will find a bucket that's just your size.*Only one passenger per bucket, please*

(Be sure to help keep each other properly hydrated)
Later, you can dry out on the Rocket Swings!Grandpa is a certified personal coach/trainer/tour guide/cheerleader/carpenter/piggy-back/tickler/mechanic/grounds keeper/comedian/snuggler.
Check out our full line of sporting equipment.Don't forget to get the whole gang together for a family photo on the lawn.
And when the moon comes out, grab your blankie and go for a ride!

Grandpa's House 'O' Fun™ is a registered trademark of Grandma and Grandpa. All rights reserved. Void outside of Idaho.