IPod Nano, Hepton Lane, The Simmons Plantation, Heidi's Cookies

Last Christmas my little brother gave me an Ipod Nano and I finally tried it out this morning for the first time. I've been running with friends so much that I haven't needed any music. It was so small and convenient to use on my run. I loved it.

Hepton Lane was one of my favorite runs while we lived in Lewiston. It's about a mile away and there is a huge hill on it that makes it very challenging. I remember feeling pretty awesome the first time I was able to run the whole thing. It was tough today, but I did it and it felt great!

The Simmons have such a nice set up and such a huge property that I've given it the nickname of "The Simmons' Plantation." We were fully entertained hanging out here all day.

This piano is amazing. I wish I could sit and play it all day.

I've always loved chocolate chip cookies and Heidi makes the best ones that I have ever tasted. She made them for me tonight and they are just as good as I remember.

Church Music, Idaho, Sunday Dinner with the Simmons, Lewiston

This morning we went to church in Boise with Brad's parents and his sister Lesa and her kids. I got to sit next to my cute nephew Ty and my father-in-law. It was fun to sing the church hymns with them and listen to my father-in-law's beautiful bass voice and watch my mother-in-law play the organ. They have such amazing musical talent and I appreciate that they share it so well.

There was also an adorable young lady that played a solo hymn arrangement of Nearer, My God, To Thee on the piano. She did such an amazing job.

After church we made the 5 hour drive from Boise to Lewiston. I love that drive! It is so beautiful, especilly the stretch around McCall. Idaho is so pretty.

We made it just in time for Sunday dinner with the Simmons! For the 3 years that we lived here we had Sunday dinners with them pretty much every Sunday! We have some great memories from that and we loved having Heidi's yummy rolls, homemade croutons, homemade jam, and Kent's delicious steak. We felt spoiled.

It is so fun to be back here in Lewiston visiting. Brad and I grew a lot as individuals and as a couple while we lived here. We went through some of our hardest trials here and received some of our greatest blessings. We would not be who we are or where we are now without having made the decision to move to Lewiston and without the help from the Simmons. Lewiston will always have a special place in our heart and will always feel like home. We are so happy and excited to be spending a few days here.

Pigtails, Movies, Sprinklers, Lounge Chairs, 4-wheelers

I put Tenley's hair in pigtails for the first time and loved it! She looks so much older!

We took the kids to a the movie The Croods today. It was Tenley's first movie and she was in awe of the big screen and the loud noise. It was a lot of fun.

This afternoon we put a sprinkler under the tramp for the kids to jump on. Another fun first for my kids! Brad and I enjoyed watching them jump around on the nice lounge chairs in the shade. It was the perfect afternoon.

Then Brad got the 4- wheeler out and they really got excited! I had fun driving it around too!

"I Spy," Libraries, Boise River, Boise Parks, Krispy Kreme

This morning Kade's cute cousin Ty rode in the car with us and played "I spy" most of the time with Kade. We love that game! It is a sure fire way to get Kade happy.

We went to the downtown Boise library today to see a puppet show. We all really enjoyed it.

After the library we took a little walk along the Boise river. It is so beautiful walking along the river downtown! We stopped and threw rocks into the river and then eventually made it to one of Boise's many amazing parks. It was a beautiful day!

Today Krispy Kreme gave away free donuts! We tried the key lime filled donut and it was so yummy!

Snow Cones

Tonight after dinner we enjoyed another gorgeous evening outside eating delicious snow cones with the family. The snow cones had soft serve ice cream layered between the ice.

They were delicious!

Aunt Heidi and Dale, Splash Pads, Father-Son Time, Big Families

This morning Kade kept telling me that he wanted to go to the park with aunt Heidi and his cousin Dale. Luckily, after having a yummy lunch at Cafe Rio again, we went and found a park/splash pad for him to play with them at. 

He loves his aunt Heidi and her son Dale. We lived by them until Kade was 2 years old so the Simmons have a special place in his heart. He has loved driving everywhere with aunt Heidi and he is Dale's little shadow everywhere else.

This afternoon Brad got to go shoot ground squirrels with his Dad and brother Kyle. They had a lot of fun together. I'm glad he was able to have some good quality time with his Dad and brother.

Big families are so much fun. My Dad comes from a family of 7 children and my Mom comes from a family of 8, so I grew up with a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins and loved it. Brad comes from a family of 8 children and I've loved seeing Kade bond with all of his 27 cousins. It gets pretty chaotic now and then, but so many memories have been created these past few days, as they have been with all the other trips and reunions we've had with the Hobson family. I feel blessed and lucky to have a great family of my own and to have married into a great BIG family. Kade and Tenley have so many great cousins to have fun with and look up to.