Tim and Laura

August 16^th- August 19^th

Tim and Laura came to visit us for a long weekend from Wisconsin.  I took Friday off of work and once they got to town we headed up to Banks.  Chris had lots of practice rafting this summer and wanted to take us down the Payette River.  It was my first time on a raft with Chris and he did amazing, which was no surprise to me with the way he can read water.  For the most part it was very relaxing to be on the river but Chris did make sure Tim and Laura got some decent splashes from the rapids.

We also stopped at the rope swing.  I had the start of a sinus infection so passed on getting myself submerged, but everyone else had fun.   

 

  

              

Saturday morning we got up and headed to Deadwood to go camping.  Molly loved being outside and even surprised us by wanting to go swimming in the river.  I know she is a water baby but figured it would be too cold for her.  However, after putting her toes in for a while she asked to be picked up and then pointed to the water.  I dunked her legs in but she kept saying more and again until I was floating her up and down the river on her back and belly.  (We obviously found a little wade pool for this so not really in the river river with my baby)

 

 

 

I love when she walks with her hands behind her back.

We were then surprised to find out Megan and Andy had picked a campsite very close to ours so they showed up the next morning to hang out a bit.  Even though Molly slept well that night she woke up early and was still extremely tired that morning.  I was able to get her to sleep a little bit more in the Ergo.  I loved that because she does not cuddle much anymore and I just got to sit and drink my coffee with her against me.

 

My failed attempt at trying to get her to sleep in a little longer...

  

Thanks Uncle Tim and Aunt Laura for such a great weekend!

 

Shakespeare Festival

August 13th~

I cannot honestly remember the last time we went to the Shakespeare Festival, so when Kristin suggested seeing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street I was all in.  I had been wanting to see the show for awhile and had heard nothing but great reviews from all who saw it at the Festival.  Chris, then being such a good husband, won us tickets over the radio.  That boy has quite the luck when it comes to radio ticket winning and you have to love him even more when he can get us a free date night!  That and Anna was an amazing friend to us and watched Molly so my mom could also join us at the show. 
The show definitely has a dark theme but was still comedic, had great music, stage props and as always incredible actors.

5 Years!

August 9th~

Saturday night (which was actually the 10th) Mom watched Molly again for Chris and I and we headed to the Sushi Bar in McCall for our 5 year anniversary.  The dinner was fabulous and we were able to sit out on the upper deck and watch all the activity on Payette Lake.

On the way back to the cabin we heard the news that they had found the missing girl and killed the kidnapper.  I don’t think any of us expected a good outcome so we were extremely happy by the news and Chris even gave the army crew site a few horn blows as we drove by.

I still cannot believe Chris and I have been married 5 years already.  As my dad said, not everyone makes it even this long, but I truly love him more today than the day I married him.  More importantly I know we only become better as a couple as time goes by.  I love you Chris!!!!

Fun time with Nana and Cascade

July 31st-  August 15th~

Some pictures while hanging out at Auntie Kristin's with Nana....

  

August 9th-11th~

While Nana was here we all made it up to the cabin together.  Earlier that week an Amber Alert went out for a missing 15 year old Californian girl and her abductor.  Some horseman spotted them in the Idaho forest before the alert was issued and contacted authorities once they realized the connection.  This then turned Cascade into the incident command with military helicopters, FBI, and 150+ volunteers .  We spent most of the weekend keeping tabs on the story and watching the helicopters fly by. 

 

Saturday everyone went huckleberry picking.  Our first stop turned out to be the best and we found about 2 cups worth.   The second check point turned out to be a dud but we still had enough for huckleberry berries waffles the next  morning. 

Nana was kind enough to watch Molly for us while we went picking and it sure looks like they had a fun time while we were gone. 

 

  

Great Grandma Jean

August 2nd-8th~

We always have such a good time when Great Grandma Jean comes to visit. 

Chris' Work

August 22nd~

Chris went to Sawtooth hatchery to help spawn Chinook salmon that will be raised at the hatchery. they handled some big fish during the day and spawned over 50 female salmon which is enough to produce about 200,000 baby salmon for future releases. Chris will monitor the survival of the salmon raised in the hatchery as a part of his work.

Zoo Time

August 7th~
Molly and I took Nana and Great Grandma Jean to the zoo.  We met right when the zoo opened to avoid the hot temperatures and it seemed like all the animals were also enjoying the cooler weather.  Molly had fun looking at all the animals, but surprised me by liking the animatronic dinosaurs the most.  The zoo had on loan five different large dinosaurs that were motion sensored and would move, breath, and roar.  I would have bet anything Molly would have been scared of them, but she was mesmerized.  I even started trying to sneak on by them so she would focus on the zoo animals, but she had an eye and ear out looking for them the entire time!

  

 

 

The baby monkey was so cute.

 

She loved the dinosaurs but was scared of the wooden penguins.  Go figure. 

 

 

                                 I could not get her to stop running back and forth in this tunnel.

                                                  This was her face looking at all the dinosaurs

 

And we still love slides!

August 14th~
The next week we met Miles and Andrea for another zoo visit.  Molly still loved the dinosaurs but got a little more excited for the Wally's (what she called them). 

 

 After watching Miles for a bit, and a little coaxing from me, Molly also feed the goats this time.  We have an animal book at home that shows goats and while reading it to her, I pointed out the goats and said that is what you feed at the zoo.  Well now she grabs the book and says "I want goat, I want goat" and will turn straight to that page and just look at the goats. 

 

We missed the komodo dragon last time, but Miles made sure to point it out.

 

I even managed a little better penguin pictures.