Idaho Aquarium

We got a season pass to the Idaho Aquarium in Boise this past black Friday half off, and I'm so glad we did. It's a perfect activity for the whole family, or just to drop by for an hour right by the mall.  We went last weekend for the 1st time, and were well pleased.  They had so much hands-on exibits, more than I thought they would for being a smaller facility.

This huge lizard was just hanging out

on top of the boat under a heat light.

 I thought it was so cool they turned this old boat

into a little fish/animal life aquarium.

 

There was this guy in the back corner who kept bringing out these reptiles for my kids to learn about and touch and hold. Cole loved this! He held an iguana like on Tangled, a dwarf alligator and (touched) this huge yellow boa constrictor .

There was also this jungle gym playland to explore and jump down into foam blocks... my kids are sometimes little wimps when it comes to trying new things, but with a little encouragement from us, they climbed and were proud of themselves for climbing to the very top.

Brock was asleep during most of the entire trip in the stroller, but at the very end we saw some movement under the cover. This was his first time getting to "experience" and touch animals at the exibits. Usually at the zoo he's strapped into the stroller, not sure if he really ever gets to see much.

1st Guests & Eyelashes

{Kaylin, mom, Elise, Stephanie, me}

Last weekend my sister and her family and

my mom & step-dad came to visit my new house in Star.

I LOVE my new home, we're so happy to be so close to family,

 and Scott's so excited and busy with his brand new office opening next week!

We had so much fun catching up, going to the temple, going out to eat, girl's movie night to see Safe Haven, and having a famiy dinner on Sunday.

We celebrated my cousin's birthday, and her sister Elise moved here to Boise a month before us, so fun to have lots of family close!

My cousin Elise who just moved here too,

does eyelash extensions as a side business,

and put some on my mom and I.

WE LOVE THEM!

Seriously, why have I not gotten these earlier?

 Elise made this cupcake cake for her sister's birthday.

Happy 24th Birthday Kaylin!

 

Tubing in Garden Valley

The first weekend after moving in we went up to Garden Valley (about 90mins away) to go tubing with some friends. It was way more fun and intense than my kids thought it would be!

My kids were a little timid to try it alone, so we did the double tubes with our kids. I had fun, went down a couple times... but was fine watching Brock while Scott took the kids up. I think I've turned into a wus as I get older and older. I took a single tube down and caught some ice on a corner on the way down and hit my already bruised elbow, which sent me spinning down the hill. I was dizzy and sick by the time I hit the end... so I was fine taking a break! :)

 Scott was a little sick that day

(which sick bug I caught the following week- much worse though, 

gave me the flu and strep throat, thanks hun)

 but Scott toughed it out and went on some runs with the kids.

Ella is my biggest scardy cat and she would only go with some major convincing from her new friend Addi. These two went on the double tube for the next hour and a half straight. They loved it!

I was too protective to take Brock down at all, so we had fun playing and falling in the snow. He didn't know what he was missing. What a fun weekend to start our life here in Idaho with some new friends!!

Move from Santa Fe to Star

Moving time again. We left our home and life in Santa Fe, NM  a couple weeks ago to move to Star, ID (Boise area).  My mom and step-dad came out to help us pack up the house, load up the Penske (pictured in distance above) and drive out for 3 days and 2 nights.  We first spent the night in Farmington, NM.  It was the next morning that we had our only moving setback. We were about to head out when Fred told Scott "we have a big problem."  The welding somehow broke apart on the trailer, and penske didn't have a replacement there.  So, Scott had to drive his little Corolla while my mom and I were in the minivan, and Fred in the penske. 

From Farmington to Utah we stopped in Moab, UT

 at "Hole N' The Rock." Right around the corner is the actual Hole in the Rock, like we saw last time driving through. It's a pretty entertaining stop for everyone. There's a shop that's literally built in the side of the mountain, and then they have this little petting zoo there where you can feed the animals. My kids loved it! Moab is pretty cool, someday I want to see Arches National Park.

 

 

Papa Fred "kissed" the camel. You put a carrot in your mouth to feed him and while he takes it from you, you snap a pic and it looks like a kiss! Most of my kids were too scared to do this.... and I just didn't want to get THAT close to a camel.

Cole was my brave child who "kissed" the camel!

 

 

My mom and step-dad were actually amazing helping us along the way. Our last night before making it to Idaho, we stayed in Provo/Orem area. We got to go out to dinner and visit with my brother, so it was a great night!

Now we have almost completely unpacked, and starting to settle in nicely... more to come!