What a Reunion

Nothing like starting the ol' family vacation off with an overnight trip

on unknown roads to the E.R.

 Yep, our little frequent flyer decided to have us try out a new

hospital-- St. Luke's Magic Valley in Twin Falls.

We had just arrived Friday night at our Leavitt Family Reunion

when Kean woke us up sounding like a seal barking--

darn croup.

 All I can say is thank heavens for modern medicine and steroids.

Kean was breathing fine and wired with energy (mom and dad were not)

by the time we got back to our camping spot-- just in time for breakfast.

We gathered at 1000 Springs for my dad's family reunion.

We had our entire crew there-- except my niece who is serving

a mission in Oregon.  

Even my younger brother, Marc and his family made it from Texas.

And it was if these cousins hadn't been separated at all.

The reunion wasn't just for our family but for my dad's side--

all of my aunts and uncles and cousins.

These are my cousin's kids-- mixed in with our kids.

And I'll tell you, it didn't take long for them to bond and

become besties.

We camped at the coolest place-- right along the snake river

and across from several gorgeous waterfalls.

We packed in the fun.

That first full day (after our all night hospital visit), we toured

an old dairy museum .. where Kean was quite lethargic.

 Uh... but not the girls.

 Byron, our girls and a bunch of cousins, trekked up to a waterfall.

 These three had to show off the dirt they worked so hard to get.

 Kean perked up for the other days.

He ran us ragged and LOVED swimming in the hot springs pool.

 I was really worried about camping next to the river

 but once he felt how cold it was (and it was)--

he was fine staying out.

The girls were a different story.

 We just partied all day and all night.

My sister-in-law led us in a rousing evening of Bingo...

with a prize table that kept us oohing, ahhing, giggling and teasing.

In our opinion, Kean came away with the prize of the night--

a new Curious George DVD.

 The highlight for me was a 3-hour trip I took on paddle boards

with two of my cousins.  

Sorry, after Kean threw my cell phone in the lake last summer,

I left it in the camp trailer!  No pictures.

I did get pictures of Byron and Reese coming back from their trip.

 We all took this trek across the river and around an island.

 We saw monster sized trout, and massive waterfalls.

Some parts were so lush, we felt almost like we were  in Hawaii.

It was that gorgeous.

The kids played non-stop-- every game you can think of.

One of the best was "flour dodge ball".

 They pelted each other with nylons full of flour

and came out looking like extras from an I Love Lucy episode

shot in a bakery.

 These kids would get dirty or hot or sweaty-- then cool

and clean off in the river.

Rinse and repeat.

 I think these kids maybe, just maybe had some fun.

 I know I did.

I love, love, love my aunts and uncles and cousins.

A Slice of Heaven Served up With a Side of Hell

Excuse me while I scream.

We were back in the doctor's office tonight.

Kean has, yep, two more ear infections.

His third set in a months time.

Who knows if they are the same ear infections that never cleared up.

All I know is he's miserable.

Those are his toes sticking above his shoulder while we waited.

 He's on antibiotic number three (a stronger one for a longer time).

and we've been ordered to see his ENT.  Today's doc suspects

an underlying sinus infection is to blame.

Well at least we had a few days break.

We went up to Sun Valley for the weekend-- mostly

so I could testify at a hearing on behalf of Camp Rainbow Gold.

They are trying to build their own camp on a pristine

piece of property up a canyon.

Unfortunately, the uber rich neighbors don't want it in their backyard.

 It was a long, long and depressing experience.

It's a good thing we made up for it in fun the rest of the weekend with the family.

The snow was unbelievable-- cars and homes buried.

 We saw signs of avalanches everywhere-- even Baldy,

the big ski resort was closed down for a few days while they

set off charges to trigger avalanches.

We spent one day with our favorite Camp Rainbow Gold counselor,

Jaime and her family.  The girls couldn't get enough of her

little baby, Maeve.

 She took us up this amazing sledding hill...

 where, I'm not sure if we talked more or sledded more.

 That night we all relaxed at the hotel.

 On Saturday, we took a leap and got Byron back in skates and on ice.

The last time he tried skating, he skewered his leg, got a metal plate,

10 pins and was on crutches for months and months.

 He said it was playing with his mind-- but after a few minutes

he settled in and boy, did we have fun.

 Kean sat in that little chair for a whopping 1 and a half hours

while we took turns pushing him around.

 He was in heaven.

 Hopefully, he's hanging on to all those fun memories while

he feels so lousy.

Poor kid.

Land of the Shining Mountains

Nothing like blogging about our family vacation nearly two months after the fact!

It may not be timely but we sure had a phenomenal trip.

We went with our close friends, the Borup's to Montana.

We visited the old farm where Byron grew up...

 We spent time with his mom, Grandma Kay

and some dear friends, the Morgan's.

 We strolled the quaint streets of Byron's hometown, Big Fork.

 And then headed up into Glacier Park for a couple of days.

 We all had fun taking family pics with the stunning scenery

behind us in every picture.

The Borup's were so much fun to be with 

and get this, they still are our friends after spending that 

many days with us in our camp trailer!!!

 We hiked up about half way to where Byron was chased

by a grizzly bear years ago.  If you haven't

heard his crazy story, you should.  That bear had him

and for some reason, let him go.

 We also oohed and awed over

some of the sites.  It was so pretty, it

almost looked fake.

 We walked the shores of the lake in the rain.

But that didn't stop us from spending a good half hour

seeing who could skip rocks the farthest.

 This boy.

He loved, loved being outside

and got a good work out nearly every day.

 We love visiting Glacier in the fall...

 Even though several of the hotels and lodges are closed,

it is as if we have the whole park nearly to ourselves.

 And there is a picture perfect picture to take

nearly everywhere you turn.

 Outside the park, we visited White Fish Lake...

gorgeous.

 Swan Lake...

gorgeous.

 And Holland Lake.

Yep, that's right.

Holland has her own personal lake.

Or at least she thinks so.

 And yes...

gorgeous.

We love Montana.

In fact, I think, Byron would move back in a minute.

Uh, not gonna happen.

I'd be the first white cross on the side of the road...

Too cold.

Gorgeous but too cold.