To Idaho and Back

Now from where I left off. We picked up the kids from my mom's house Friday morning, got the fridge that afternoon, Jennett came around 5 p.m, my mom came Friday night, we did fireworks, mom left. We all went to bed. We got everything packed up and left the house for Idaho Saturday around noon. We hadn't even lived in our house for a week when we left for our first vacation. It was so much fun, but we were happy to get back and finishing putting together our new house.

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We have done this trip now 2 times in the last 8 months. I think I need a LONG, LONG break from the van.
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The kids did GREAT in the van on the way there AND on the way home. Jennett hasn't made this trip since they moved out to Ohio 4 years ago. She was very brave to make this trip with us and we hope she had a lot of fun. We had 8 people in our 7 seater van. I promise we were all buckled!!!! Thanks to Nate's ingenious ideas - we buckled Linz' seat to the built in Latch system - one on each of the bucket seats in the middle row. It is hard to explain, but you can see from the picture she at least looks safe.
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The kids played together and played Nintendo DS (we traveled with four of these) and really didn't complain much at all. Linz and Abby had the best seats, they got the most treats since they were the closest to us and the ones that complained the most since they didn't play DS much.

This will be brief, but here are some of the HIGHLIGHTS of our trip to Idaho:

• Fourth of July in Illinois

the night before we left for Idaho

My mom and step-dad, Richard

• Riding in the van for 27 hours

Our rolled over to 100,000 miles on this trip - somewhere in Wyoming I think. It was a very sad and momentous occasion for us. The van has served us well these last 2 years, now let's hope for 10 more wonderful years?!?!?!?!

• Boating
  

• Visiting Great G'ma & G'pa Huckstep's house

Playing in the backyard

G'pa and G'ma Huckstep have THE BEST backyard. They have SO many fun things to play on, the kids just love to go over there and play outside.

The Trampoline

The Merry-go-round
The makeshift porch swing
The Tree House Nate introducing Ethan to Ant Lions under the trampoline.
Eating Ice Cream Cones

This is a tradition at the Hucksteps. Even for Nate growing up, you just know when you visit the Hucksteps, you eat ice cream. The kids have caught onto this tradition and now we can't go visit the Hucksteps without eating some ice cream there.

• Meeting new Cousin RYLEE

Linz just loved to hold Rylee, feed Rylee and just do anything that involved Rylee. It was very cute and I hope she is this good with her new baby come February.

• Blessing Rylee

Makall just being CUTE

• Weeding G & G's Garden
  

• Visiting Hucksteps at their campsite

Nate's grandparents helped out at a church run campground this summer. They lived in their motor home up in the mountains. This is near his parents' cabin so we visited grandparents while we were in Idaho. They are GREAT and AMAZING people and it is always a JOY to see them. Thanks grandma and grandpa for the fun time, we love you!!

G'pa and G'ma Huckstep's Motor Home

Getting Dirty at the Campsite

Just Playing

Making Ice CreamNathan's Grandpa and Grandma Huckstep
Diggin' In

• Four Wheeling

We loaded up the four wheeler with kids and Chris and Kristal.

Then, when just the four wheeler wasn't big enough, Grandpa Huckstep got out the trailer and we loaded even more kids in there.

• Meeting Alex

Nate's little sister Corinne and her boyfriend, Alex.

• Playing with Cousins
  
  
  
• Getting Ears Pierced

We had only 2 ears pierced. Abby got too scared and someone wouldn't let Linz get hers pierced:(

• G'ma and G'pa Noakes' Cabin
  

ALL the boy cousins

The whole family minus Dave and Jarom (we missed you guys) and plus Alex