A VISIT FROM THE WISCOMBE'

While on our way home from Bear Lake, I got a text from Charcie, my niece. She asked if she and her family could stop and spend the night with us on their way to Yellowstone for a family reunion and then her brother, Will's wedding in Idaho Falls.

    OF COURSE!!

We hadn't seen them since my mom's Memorial and we were excited to have them stay. They got her at 8:15 Monday night.

I couldn't believe how tall Elizabeth had gotten. She is 12 and taller than her short old fat Aunt. lol

I had made them dinner so they all came in, got settled and ate. I made Mac and Cheese for the kids and we had roasted vegetable's and baked chicken. Ben and Charcie are on Keto.

Little Gabriel sure looks like his grandpa Rick, my youngest brother.

Little Kate is getting those long lean legs like her mom and dad. 

The kids watched ZORO after dinner. They had started it but didn't get it finished so Ben asked if we had it. SO FUNNY, cuz Tony had watched it recently, so it was still on the counter by the TV.  Little Abraham watched BLUEY on his screen.

Gideon and Kate

Gabriel aka Gabe

Ben was also working on his iPad while the kids watched the show. He watched too and explained some things to the kids. We stayed up till midnight visiting and catching up. They are such an incredible family. The children were so well behaved and we absolutely love being around them. They ALL slept in the back room. They had 2 girls on the big long couch, little Diana on the small shair, Gabe on the bigger chair/couch and Gideon on an kid air mattress they brought. It was like a blow up car. So cute. We got up at 7:30 and I cooked sausage links and scrambled a dozen eggs with cottage cheese and melted cheddar on top. We also had grapes and milk. The kids got up, ate and packed up again. 

I got a picture of them on the front porch before they took off. We were both so glad they stopped. I invited Traci over and she was going to come when they thought they would be here at 6. But they got away later than expected and forgot about the time change so when it got later, she decided not to come. I didn't blame her. She's a working girl. They may be stopping again on their way home next Tuesday so if they do and it's not too late, maybe Traci will be able to see them then. Scott and Jill might be home by then. We'll see.

ONE MORE DAY

The kids came home on Saturday and stopped at Twin Falls for some lunch at Subway. Deedra sent me a text and said something is going on here, there are cops all over the place and we saw one with a gun. Then we find out about the shooter at the IN & OUT BURGER. Man, I'm so grateful they didn't eat there. So scary. We went over to Lynn's when they arrived and played games. Sunday they went to church with us and then we had pizza, carrot stix, olives, chips, etc 

We got some family shots before the kids left for home.

And one with Gramma GG.

Deedra and her dad. We appreciated these kids so much for sharing their vacation with us. It was so generous of them and we had the best time.  They are great kids and wonderful parents!

A STOP AT THE INL

Friday, Tony and I packed up and got ready to head home. All the Butterfields planned on leaving on Saturday. We got away and were able to stop at the INL and get a tour of the museum from our     very own grandson, Hawkins!!

He knows his stuff and he did an amazing job!!

It was a fun tour and he was so cool and confident. He answered questions that people threw at him with no problem.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and we were so happy to have seen him in action on his summer job.

It's an incredible plant turned museum.

Here we are actually standing on what used to be a nuclear reactor.  

He took us down to a room where they have kids come for a camp of some sort and he had a geiger counter and he showed us a plate that people used to eat off of. J+He held the geiger counter up to it and the machine went wild. One gal in the tour told us her parents had a whole set of that dish wear. lol  WILD!~

After the tour, we got a picture with Hawkins.

Then we all got a picture as the "MAD SCIENTIST" lol

TONY

Hawkins, our wonderful tour guide! So glad we were able to see him in action. His summer job is nearly at an end and he is going to Japan in September with his high school friend. It was a great way to end our week vacation.

MINNETONKA CAVE

After the horse back ride, we went up to the cave on the Idaho side. We had to wait a bit but it was a good time to take pictures and play with the wildlife.

Deedra took a picture of us waiting.

Then I took a picture of them. 

Deedra and the two little girls walked down a hill aways. There were cute little chipmunks running all over. 

Charlotte (our little animal whisperer) found some nuts left by a garbage can and she got one of the little critters to come right up to her and eat out of her hand!  AMAZING!

It was beautiful looking out over the canyon and a great photo shoot.

We're showing off our new Bear Lake sweatshirts.

Up at the mouth of the cave, we took more pictures. Notice the smile on my face.....I didn't have it after the hike in and out of the cave. lol

The family all kept their smiles! Before AND after!!

Oh, to be young again!!  lol

There are 444 steps in the cave. Some went down and some went up. AND, when you get to the end, you have to turn around and do them again! 888 steps nearly did me in!

This set of stairs was called

"THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN"

Even Tony looks apprehensive! We were both huffing and puffing when we finally reached the top. AND, we still weren't out. 

There were amazing structures to see inside. Mother Nature is creative.

At the end of the cave, we took pictures again.

We look a little more worn for the wear and now to go back out.  lol  At this point, our guide asked who had on a wedding ring? I said I did. She turned out the lights and then shone a black light on my ring and it reflected a ton of sparkles on the ceiling. She said, "Oh, your husband loves you a lot!"  It was so cool that all the women on the tour wanted to have their rings lit up.  SO FUN!~

These formations were called straws. Each one has a hole at the end.

Some incredible formations.

The thousands of years these took to form is mindblowing!

OK, the trip back out was horrific! I literally thought I might have a heart attack! It was so hard and Tony agrees!!

Remember that smile I had at the beginning........

Well, it was gone. lol

YES, I felt as bad as I looked!!

So, of course, I used  AI  to make us look better. lol

Actually, it doesn't really look like us at all. 

It was a fun day but we were exhausted and ready to relax when we got back to the Verbo. Gaya and Steve were a lot smarter than Tony and I and they stayed in town. She had all the fixings ready for a great hamburger dinner . Curtis BBQed the burgers and we ate and watched THE SHEEP DETECTIVE,  It was a wonderful end to a great day and nice to sit and relax.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Wednesday was a BIG DAY!!  We went down the mountain a ways and rented horses. The little girls were so excited and really wanted to ride. I was a little apprehensive but game. lol

Aren't they cute!!

Well, the dude rancher's got us all situated on a horse and off we went. Tony was on a horse named THOR. I told Tony he must have been like Thor in his fat stage because he was stubborn and didn't want to move. And his hind end looked like he had rolled in mud. It was funny!

I was on a horse named Romeo. I really liked him. He was much better than the one I rode 8 years ago. Curtis got a shot of me. I was trying to get my phone out to take a few shots. lol

And again. lol I kinda feel sorry for old Romeo!! It might have been better if he was riding me. Poor fella.

They had us line up after our hour ride and they took  a picture of us all. The little girls did such a great job. We rode up the mountain a ways, through a creek and a ton of rocks. It was fun. I was a bit embarrassed getting off old Romeo though. I had to slide onto the shoulder of the dude rancher. He was sweet. It wasn't pretty but he was a good sport about it. I fear this was my last ride. Just getting too old. Like old Kenny said, "Ya got to know when to fold um." lol

PICKELVILLE

Tuesday, we all got up and had a great breakfast and then the Wilmont's took off for home. They live in Bountiful. We did our usual walking and playing games until Tuesday afternoon at 4PM. Then we took off for the theater.

We watched:

 THE BALLAD OF BUTCH AND SUNDANCE. THIS IS THE 2ND PLAY WE'VE GOT TO SEE AT PICKLEVILLE. It's so much fun!

It was super hot outside but they had the air conditioner inside working really good.

So good that Tony went out and got a couple of blankets out of the car. lol He put his over his legs and I put mine over my shoulders.

Gaya got up and took a picture of the group before the show started. It was a fun play and some of it was improv. A good laugh. 

YOU KNOW ME!!  lol

  I had to do a couple of AI pictures and put Tony and me on stage at Pickleville.

At least these are realistic and show us fat! ;lol

After the play, we ate at the cookout and it was 

DELICIOUS!! 

We got a picture of our group in front of the theater after we ate.

Then we drove to a couple of fun photo shoot places and managed to get someone to take a picture of us all.

After we got our photos' we went back to the house and played games. We were too full to eat anything. lol It was another good day!