Memorial Day Weekend

The grandparents left Friday morning but then our family packed up to go to Lewiston so Curtis could help Stillman with his shop project. We had just one little hiccup. Jack was scheduled to speak on Sunday in our Sacrament meeting. He had already put it off once, so we didn't want to do that again. We ultimately decided to come back Saturday night, go to church in our ward, and then drive over again, except we would meet Stillman's family at the Palouse waterfall. Jack has started driver's ed and he has his permit, so he drove us to Lewiston on Friday. It was the first time I had ever been in the car while he's driven, and he hasn't driven much. Curtis got him past the busy parts of town and off the freeway first, then Jack took over. There were a few scares, but he did pretty well. Garrett did the driving on the way home Saturday night.

Here we go Jack!

The girls were excited to finally get to sleep in a camper. They shared the top bunk. Garrett slept on a couch in the house. The rest of us were in the camper.

We mostly relaxed or played games Friday night. Then Saturday we helped Stillman. I didn't do a whole lot. Just handing them stuff when needed or sweeping the floors or raking gravel. I also would turn the power off and on when they were testing lights. The kids just played video games and then got in the hot tub.

Writing down measurements.

Pulling electrical wires up high for the outside lights that will be installed.

They had to figure out a problem with these lights that Stillman had already hung.

Stillman cutting a hole for the next light to be installed.

Relaxing in the hot tub.

Garrett drove us home Saturday night after we were done working. I think we left around 7:30pm. Fortunately, I was able to get a dog sitter last minute for this trip and she watched Milo until Monday. We got in bed as soon as we got home around 10pm. Jack did a good job on his talk. Is was about testimony. After church, we ate lunch and then packed up to go again. We had decided to go meet at the Palouse waterfall, which is about 1 1/2 hrs from our house. Then we followed Stillman's family back to their house so we could have more fun. We learned a couple of new games but to be honest, I was just not wanting to play. Those games were a little more complicated to play and I do not really like those kind. I like them simple.

Monday we packed up the 4 wheelers and drove up to the mountains to do some riding around. Unfortunately, one of the 4 wheelers kept dying and we had to take turns with the one that worked. It was absolutely gorgeous up there! It was a great weekend being able to see the beautiful waterfall and then the beautiful mountains!

The Palouse Waterfall

Trying to line up for a picture 😂

We saw several of these little critters around the picnic area and fence by the cliff edge. 

They are called marmots, which are a type of groundhog. They were so cute!

They had one of their burrows in the rocks where she's pointing. There are two of them sitting on the rocks but it's hard to find them. They blend in!

I love that I got a rainbow in some of my shots. So pretty!

Hanging out under the covered picnic area. They're sitting on a rock that sticks out of the wall.

We didn't do very well at getting a selfie.

A cool formation of rocks right behind the falls.

Up on the mountain in Waha, ID which is near Lewiston.

It's so green and beautiful! 

Anxiously waiting for a ride.

We had to cook lunch first. Hot dogs, chips, apples, bananas, pop, etc.

We were the first to ride on this one and it was the one that kept dying. Fortunately I was able to get it back close enough to our spot before it completely died.

Jayden and Jack took a ride together.

Me and my brother Stillman!

Jack, Jayden and Garrett

Had some fun with the panoramic option on my camera. Garrett's fighting himself 😂

Even though we had one four-wheeler quit on us, it was still a lot of fun and just beautiful up there. The weather was great also, warm with a light wind. As soon as we got back to Stillman's house after our venture on the mountain, we had to immediately pack up to get on the road back home. Our kids had school the next day. We didn't get on the road until about 6:30 or so. It's a 2 1/2-hour drive. I decided to ask our dog sitter if we could pick up Milo the next morning because we were getting home later than we thought. She was happy to keep him an extra night. Thank goodness because we were exhausted when we got home. I picked up Milo the next morning after the girls got on the bus. It was a great weekend with lots of beautiful scenery! And great to be hanging out with my brother and his family!

Thursday

Curtis took Thursday off from work so that we could go to the temple with Dad, Mom, and Grandma. It's the first time they have ever been to the Columbia River Temple. We did the 9:15 session and then walked around the grounds afterwards. We love the waterfall fountain they have at this temple. Afterwards, we drove down the road to eat at The Olive Garden (our first time to this location) and then next door to Costco to pick up our dinner for later that night, street tacos. Curtis challenged me to order something other than fettucine alfredo at the Olive Garden, because that's what I used to get every time we went. We haven't eaten there in several years, but I took him up on the challenge and ordered cheese ravioli this time. It was good too, but I do still like fettucine alfredo. This Olive Garden seemed bigger and nicer than the one in Boise or Nampa, but maybe I just don't remember them. It was a little busy for lunch but much quieter and nicer than Red Robin. I could actually hear our conversation, lol.

The front entrance.

After the kids got home from school, we went on a walk to the park by the library, which is about 1 mile from our house. Grandma stayed at the house to rest since that would be too far for her. It had rained and was really windy the first two days of their visit but on Thursday it was beautiful and warm. They even had the splash pad on, and the girls got good and wet. They had asked permission to get wet first since they were in their clothes, and I told them it was fine, but they would be walking home wet.

Milo got to go with us too. We had decided to put the animals out in the garage and keep them out of the house while grandparents were here because Dad has bad allergies. They were so confused as to why we wouldn't let them in. Milo would even come and sit by the sliding door while it was raining. He had a kennel right there he could lay in or the garage but he chose to get wet. They were pretty happy when we let them back in on Friday morning right before the grandparents left. We had to show them the tricks/commands that Milo could do.

Taking a rest after some running.

This is before she got soaked.

Curtis wore Milo out good. He kept throwing or kicking his rubber orange ball and Milo would run after it. We kept him on a long leash while doing that, just in case we needed to chase after him. Fortunately, we did not need to do that.

We walked back and ate dinner. Then we finished off the night by watching a classic, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". This is the first time the girls watched the entire movie and apparently Laverne as well. They all loved it! It was basically a Friday for the kids because they did not have school last Friday so that was our movie night. We had also bought some treats to eat when we were at Costco. 

Friday morning the grandparents packed up to go home. They had to be back to work the early shift in the temple on Saturday. It was so great to have them here for a few days! Last time it was a real quick overnight trip. This was their first time meeting Milo also and going to our temple.