Let's Wrap this Up :: Idaho/Canada Vacay, Part 4

We started our drive from Canada on Tuesday, July 29, around 9 or 10 in the morning.   Before leaving the plains of southern Alberta, we HAD to stock up on our Canadian candy, easily spending over 50 (Canada) dollars.  Worth it, I'm sure.

Once again, the boys didn't want to ride with me and Matt.  So our car (out of the 3) became the "needs a break from kids" car, and "I need a nap" car, for any of the adults.  It was really easy for me to drive and listen to a pod-cast via one ear bud, while a passenger took a nap.  Matt rode the last half the drive with Tyson to help with kids and such.  Me and Marcie had a fab time in our kid-free sharing tunes. She has really fun music and I do not.  But that wasn't a great surprise, was it?

Our last full day in Boise was spent having some park-time with a great friend and her awesome kids.  I've been very fortunate to make a good buddy or two where ever I've lived.  But why do we all have to live so far apart?  That's frustrating.
We spent the last half of the day with Boise family, swimming and talking and eating and having fun.  Seriously, Matt has some cool relatives!  And there was cake and ice-cream to celebrate Matt's upcoming 31st birthday, along with an aunt's and a cousin's too.

We woke up bright and early Thursday, July 31, and headed for the Boise airport.
It was a long day full of travel.  Once we made it across the country via airplane to Atlanta, we had to drive to our home which is 3.5 hours away.  We didn't make it back to coastal GA till like 10 at night our time.

We were ZOMBIES the next few days.  However, we couldn't be totally lazy since the boys were starting school on the following monday. PLUS Matt had to pick out a birthday gift!  Since the "going shooting" with the boys back in the first part of the Idaho vacation, Matt had guns on his mind.  I was like, "whatever, man," so he picked one out and bought it.  Apparently getting a new gun for a birthday is really fun?  He's very happy bout it, so I guess it is.

And then Monday happened and the boys started school (a post to come) and Matt had to go back to work, and our vacation and our summer officially ended.  WOW!

Alright, Here's the Deal [Idaho Recap]

It's been really hard for me to blog during this summer.  I'm not exactly sure what is the root cause, but what I do know is that when "the voices in my head" aren't talking to me it's like pulling teeth to publish something.  The voices have been quiet, and the narrative just hasn't been flowing.  Possibly I just need to do it, then things will start coming more easily.

There are 2 things about "blogging fog" which bother me.  1)  I can always tell the blog posts that aren't inspired.  And I think: lame-o.  2) I love keeping up-dated on the blog, seeing the pictures and reading the stories.  And I think:  neat-o.   It's all conflicting!  **I hates being conflicted**

Here's to finding my voice!  Here's to keeping up-dated!  Here's to talking to myself at 11:30 at night!

....................


Recap of Idaho:  The Last Two Weeks

To sum up, they were pretty fun!  Caitlin was dropped off to the MTC,  Marcie and Tyson went home to TX, and me and Darren and Deanne tried to figure out ways to keep the boys entertained.  Mostly involving water--sprinkler, swimming at the Y, swimming at Ivy Wild pool, etc.

Man, Boise was hot this summer.  Some of the time the boys liked to stay inside and build "houses."  They all got really into The Three Little Pigs, told by their Mume (Matt's dad, Darren) almost every night, and in the morning the boys would wake up with new vigor and vim in home building!  Houses were built from couch cushions, blankets, chairs.  Nothing to code, but still creative.


Trying to figure out my style, as usual it's a hot mess of everywhere and everything.

Naked, in the back of a pick-up truck, playing in the sprinkler.  Their mama is from Bama--they can't help but be red-neck with their fun!

Park time!  This adventure with the fountain was on a 110 day.  Oh, joyous!

Ran a ton.  On this week I was going to get 30 miles!  Then the damn new shoes messed my knees up, but busted my plan.  Got 20 instead, and the next week wasn't able to run.  Knees are still aching, actually.   Sticking with my sticky, smelly, old toe shoes!  Love those girls. 

So much cuteness, I may die.

Checking out the movie props, after seeing Despicable Me 2 on the 4th of July!

 MMMmmm.... Deanne's cooking.

Spray painted gravel is for keeps.  Treasure is everywhere.

 Eli, the Hulk-Man-Guy!   (Who lets me cuddle, if I let him take selfies)

Eli boxing a box.  To be honest, sometimes the box won.

It's soooo dang bright!  Why must we look at the camera?!  

Lots of sidewalk chalk activities.  (And the boys learned that mama can "draw.")

PS, Garbage Day is amazing.  Not to be missed, people.

And last, but not least, Titus wrote all over himself.   Lovely!

WAIT! Titus Turned 3!

That also happened during our 2nd week in Idaho.

What's even awesomer is that Aunt Caitlin and Titus share the same birthday!  Birthday number 3 for Titus, and birthday number 19 for Caitlin.  There really was no choice in the matter, Caitlin was going to have a Spiderman birthday cake.  That was settled months back by Mr. T.   Actually around Easter, see? ::

Easter program with Grammie 

He got like 4 Spidermen.  Amazing.

They had a great birthday, filled with cake and friends.  Deanne and I happened to make waaayyy too much cake so we hurriedly invited people over, and thankful persons accepted!  Post hast!  
Of course presents were opened, and of course they were all Spiderman themed.

Titus had issues turning 3.  He couldn't wrap his mind around it.  He was either: "I'm 2!"  or  "I'm 6!"  or  "I'm Spiderman!"  It wasn't till that evening, or the next day, that he finally came to conclusion that he is in fact there--at least for the next 365 days.


Pictures of the day::

Birthday buddies picking at icing!  

 The party!  Involving FaceTime-ing and Skype-ing with Matt on one end and Grammie on the other.

Opening the long asked for present, Spiderman LEGO.

The line-up of the rest of the presents, a day or two later: