TAXI

One of the reasons I love to go to Teasdale is it encourages independent play.  I see Facebook articles about the problem with  kids growing up without playing outdoors and I think it's because we no longer as a society send our kids out to play all by themselves so they can learn to imagine and think.

In Teasdale you still can!!  This year Emily is old and responsible enough to be trusted driving the 4 wheeler by herself.   We set up some ground rules that she could go over 12 MPH and had to stick to a trail that circles up around the field.    Emily has proven to be a very good driver.  I saw a leap of confidence in her as she backed out from the deck and  heard Grandpa Dick said "Emily sure knows how to drive that thing"

One activity I noticed the girls doing was playing Taxi.  Bentley, Emily and Jane set up a hut in the trees next to the 4 wheeler trail.   Emily would take off on the 4 wheeler and slowly circle around and come back.  As she drove up either Bentley or Jane would run to the trail and say "Taxi please" and off Emily would take that girl on a ride while the other stayed behind.   Sometimes Emily would get off to play for a while before setting off to take the next girl on a ride. They did this for hours.  I know this will be one of the memories my kids will take with them about how much fun summers were in Teasdale.

Feed the obsession

It all started with a quick trip to IFA to get some fish fertilizer for my tomato plants.   Aaron came along and when we pulled up he said something like "Oh the store with tractors".    How he ever remembered this store is a mystery.  I've only been there a few times and the last time was last November when I picked up a gift for my dad for Christmas.

Sure enough he remembered the store because he ran directly to the display of mini toy tractors and began fiddling.  Meanwhile I picked up the fertilizer and attempted to check out.  Aaron then said "Me have one" as he showed me one of the tractors.  Usually I don't buy my kids toys other than Christmas or birthdays because well we have more than I know what to do with.  Aaron picked a good day to ask because earlier in the day he was upstairs playing with Jane and her friend. He became the model for Jane and her friend's "fashion show".  The boy had on more ruffles, necklaces, girly hats etc than I've ever seen.    So I happily bought him a tractor to encourage some normalcy in a young boy.

Aaron loves his tractor! It wasn't a big surprise when as we were  heading down to Teasdale  he got so excited each time we  passed a few slow moving tractors on the highway.  The excitement rose as we drove up my parents road he noticed a few ploughs and things parked off to the right.

We lucked out that during my stay my dad still had a little raking left of the hay so we met up with him in Grover and gave Aaron a tractor ride.

Aaron was all for the tractor ride until we got up close and he realized just how big and loud it was.    Jane saved the day by offering to go with him and he climbed up in

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Aaron went with my dad another time and eagerly got on the tractor and gave me a "I'm such a big boy" look.

Nothing stopped Aaron in his track faster than this big tractor going by in the parade.  The firetruck did come in a close second.  

Bookmobile

One early afternoon during our stay in Teasdale we set off with a picnic to share with Grandpa Dick who was cutting hay in Grover.  As we were driving through town my dad called to say he was rained out and was on his way home.  So we decided to detour back to the Teasdale Park to eat our lunch there.  As we were driving back through town we pasted by the Bookmobile parked in an old familiar spot   What is the Bookmobile you ask?  Well it's basically a library on wheels. Growing up it was the only library 100 miles around and it came every other Thurday. if I remember right.  Nostalgia swept over me with so many memories of the joyful summer days when the Bookmobile came to town.  Sometimes I would be playing with my bestie Melanie at her house and run over with her or other times I would bike into town alone or with a sister or two with a great anticipation for my next book to read.  

Of course I had to stop and experience it once again with my kids.  

The Entrance

Finding a book

The old Bookmobile looked and smelled the same as I remember.  The only difference was instead of this lady it was an old grumpy balding man who sometimes refused to let me check out "Sweet Valley High" books, because he thought I was too young.  Allyson told me once that in 4th grade he tried to talk her out of checking out "The Work and the Glory" because it was too big for a 4th grader.  Allyson stood her ground and got out the door with it.  

Oh such sweet memories of a book worm!

Run Run as fast as you can!!

Right before school got out, Emily came home from school with a flyer saying she really wanted to run rec track this summer.  So we signed her up.  After a couple practices she came home saying "It's kind of boring all we do is run"  So we talked about sticking with something you commit to and then I said if you stick it out at the end of the season we'll all go out for shakes.  That was the kicker.  She didn't complain or question it again.  

The first track meet was quite a learning experience for all of us.  I have personally never been to a track meet.  We wondered around for a little bit and finally found where she should go and then I ended up on the wrong side of the track and missed her race.  She told me she stepped up to the start line and after she heard the gun go off she noticed everyone running so she started running too.  

She got the hang of it and actually started to enjoy it.  She took 2nd place in one of her heats and ended up with a 4th  place and 2 sixth place ribbons which she adores.  The last track meet she even went out of her comfort zone and ran the 400 which is a little longer than she likes to run and did great!  

Idaho for the 4th

This year for the 4th we went to Idaho to visit Joe, Sarah and Kate.

We just can't drive right by Lagoon without stopping.  We lucked out that Papa was executive on the Park that day.  Nona came along as well and it was so fun to meet up with JB and Mary's family and enjoy some rides together.

Rumor had it that Cannibal was going to open but when we got there John said that it wouldn't be until later in the afternoon.  So Bart and the girls immediately headed for Wicked, Spider, Wild Mouse and the Colossus to get a head of the lines.  Luck would have it that the girls were able to ride in the front of the Colossus.

My fearless girls

Jane loving the life being tall enough to go on the big rides with dad and Emi

Meanwhile I followed Aaron around as he ran from ride to ride in the kiddie land

Aaron on his new favorite ride

After a while we met up with Bart, the girls and his parents. 

The only ride my 3 kids all went on together.  They even wanted to be right next to each other.  I need moments like this to remind me they do in fact love each other even though they fight are constantly fighting lately

Love them

Ice cream with Papa and Nona what a treat!

We then made a way North and met up with Joe, Sarah and Kate at Lava Hot Springs.  I had such nostalgia as I vaguely remembered a family vacation that involved horse races in Wyoming and a stop here at Lava.

 This is me meany years ago floating around with my dad

Lava Hot Springs is exactly the same as I remember it

Fun with Kate

All the diving boards were a real treat for the girls

Bravery!!

Joe jumping

 

You know your having a fun day when you get an admission stamp on top of another stamp

Up next we headed to Pocatello where Joe treated us with a fireworks show.  

Fireworks time

Joe and Sarah are so great!  Here's Joe lighting one sparkler after another even for the neighbor kids who showed up for the action

The next morning after a A+ breakfast with the Preston's ward. We headed out to the Pocatello parade.  

Parade time

A parade isn't complete unless one of my kids spills an otter pop down his shirt

We went back and spent the afternoon relaxing while the kids watched a movie on the the love sack

We all loaded up and went out for Pizza and the Pizza Pie Cafe.  Then it was off to a fun park for the kids to run around

Fun little park we hung out at nears Sarah's house

We ended the night driving up to Idaho Falls for the Fireworks show.  It ended up being a sub par show and even Sonic was out of chocolate and spoons for our Shakes.  Good thing we all just laughed and had a good time together anyway.


Joe and Sarah were so good to have us and incredibly hospitable. The  packed a picnic for all of us to eat at Lava Hot Springs, had comfortable beds,  and the highlight for the kids were real mickey mouse waffles with an actual face from a special waffle maker for breakfast.  

Big Day for Jane

Jane just finished reading her first chapter book!  I tell you she is so motivated to succeed! It's fun to watch

Bring along a friend..

For the past several years we've gotten the Seven Peaks "Pass of all Passes" and love it!  It's worth every cent of the $19 for each annual pass.  I got excited when an email came across saying they reached some instagram followers goal and each pass holder can bring a friend along for free.   I called up Brooke and Sarah to see if they wanted to bring there girls up to Seven Peaks for a day and soon it became a party.  Along with Brooke, Bryler, Sarah, Bentley and Bergun came Luke and Branson.  It was such a fun day.   So many friends to ride the water slides with.  I wish I would have taken more pictures but water parks and cell phones don't go well together.  I did capture Luke and Sarah on a slide as well as Brooke.   All the kids were going at full speed and no time to pause and take a picture.  

My girls had such fun with the cousins that I called up my sister Raquel and met her at the Salt Lake Seven Peaks (old Raging Waters) on the last day of the promotion.   Once again a fun filled day with cousins.