These were taken from inside the car as we were driving alongside the Payette river to Boise. The fog is incredibly dense and just literally sits on top of the river. This was a beautiful drive.

Murray, ID

We had a short stay in this historic mining town. This was once a booming hotspot and now it's almost a ghost town. The Sprag Pole restaurant has decent food (um, minus the coffee...pretty much undrinkable) and the museum is pretty extensive, you'd be surprised.

I didn't think I would find mining history interesting, but I have to admit, I was fascinated. I was especially fascinated with one of it's more famous residents, Molly B'Damn.

ahem...more pics....

I am really trying to give you all the "short" version of our trip and trying to pick out the best photos that represent different aspects, but I really could not pass up showing you what we got to look at every day. It's just too awesome. I must have taken about 50 photos that were just of trees, mountains and rivers. And it was pretty cool to imagine early explorers and their expeditions, like Lewis & Clark. This area is surprisingly still relatively unspoiled.



This was a gorgeous mountain pass, only a few miles from Montana.


Dan and his cousin Matt, enjoying the views.

More trip pics

4th of July...our friend's parents have a condo overlooking the Coeur D'Alene lake. They take their fireworks display pretty seriously. They were truly spectacular. I'm not usually very into the whole fireworks thing, but these were really fun and the kids loved them. Although, Elise fell asleep before the grand finale.


This was our first day at the camp site. The river is unusually high because of the very long winter they experienced this year. Typically, this spot on the river is very shallow and the kids can play in the rocks.


One benefit of all the flooding were these neat little sand lots that were left behind. Lola is playing with her cousin Noah here.


A frog!!! The highlight of the camping portion of our trip.


Sharing the frog. I totally forget what they named it. It was cute, whatever it was.

New and Improved Trip Blog

The kids digging for bugs...


Nice views


Elise was pretty happy to run around endlessly


Lola with her cousin Myria



hmm. Do you think Lola knew I was taking a picture???

Idaho trip, part deux

Tomorrow we begin the second leg of our trip...we are driving south and we are told it's a beautiful drive, albeit somewhat dangerous in parts. I have soooo much to blog about this trip, but I really wanted to do it with the related photos, so, as a result, I've been mum about the whole thing. I forgot my camera cord so no photos until we get back.
In short, we got here, then spent 3 days visiting the resort (of which we are proud owners of a waterfront lot that is totally undeveloped because the economy bombed on us) and stayed in a lovely little condo. Next up, camping in the mountains. We had campers to sleep in so it wasn't so "roughin' it"....running water, etc...The folks we camped with do it every weekend and they do it BIG. They busted out the karaoke machine once the young'uns were asleep, tummies filled with s'mores, then things got really interesting!
More fun days followed...picnicking, strawberry-picking, visiting family, etc. The kids are in heaven because there is, no joke, a trampoline in every other yard here, plus the grammas and aunties are all slipping them popsicles and gummi bears. I'm trying hard to just look the other way, while I cringe inwardly.

more after our long drive tomorrow....!

Happy 4th, folks

We are having fun up here in northern Idaho. The weather is whacked, but that's ok. Today, it looks like rain and we're secretly happy about that because it's been super hot and muggy up until now. I have tons of photos of our girls, deliriously happy playing with their big ol' pile of cousins. But, of course, I forgot my camera cord to upload any photos, so that will all have to wait till we get back. We'll be in the north for a few more days, then head south near Boise. We miss our friends, but we're having fun!