The 4th on the 1st

Get ready...this is a long one, it was a long, fun day!!!

Madilynn showing off her new sandals that Granny & Pepaw got for her!We spent the morning running errands. Then after a quick lunch it was pool time!

And water the plants, of course!

Our yummy treat for the evening

We enjoyed eating in the backyard. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, lemonade, and fruit. It was so good...here's the spread.

Elizabeth figured out that she could just help herself to the olives...she LOVES them!

Swinging in the big girl swing

Family picture

Elizabeth taking pictures of me and dancing. Our neighbor's a couple of houses over had a live band for the evening and we could hear their music. It was great and the girls loved dancing around.

the girls hanging out, waiting for it to get dark - check out the tan lines on Elizabeth's feet...

Once it starting getting dark we got out the glow bracelets

So fun!

Daddy swinging Elizabeth around

Madilynn's turn

Finally at 10:05pm the fireworks began. The girls were so tired by that point, they couldn't even stay up for the entire 30 minutes of fireworks. After 15-20minutes Madilynn was ready for bed. Elizabeth kept telling us there was "more" fireworks to see. We had such a fun time hanging out outside and watching the girls play outside. What a great day!!

Boise Getaway!

Michael had a conference to attend in Boise the last week in June....so, we decided I would tag along! Granny & Pepaw made the journey to Utah to stay with the girls for a few days while we were away. It was a great break for me before baby girl arrives. I got caught up on some reading, and did some shopping, and resting-oh yeah and touring with Michael. We had a great time and it was fun to have a few date nights -in a row!

Monday night before walking to dinner at PF Changs

After dinner we walked a few blocks down to the Boise River. There was an Anne Frank/Human Rights Memorial just beside a bike path and this bridge.
the view from our room

Tuesday I was able to go with his group for a tour in the area. He chose the Agriculture/Aquaculture tour. So first we went about an hour on a bus and saw where they pump water out of the Snake River to irrigate crops - lots of potatoes in Idaho.

Then we traveled another 30-45min (away from Boise) to a National Fish Hatchery.

There we learned about what kinds of research they do, we got to tour their labs and learn about their equipment. Then we went outside to see some of the fish. It was mostly rainbow trout that they raise.

Here are the rainbow trout while getting some food

Blue & Gold for Boise St.

I can't remember what these were called, but they have really long life spans (over 80 yrs.) and they grow pretty large, but at a slow rate. These can be harvested for caviar.

It was a very interesting tour and I enjoyed hearing about what they were doing to raise these fish.
Before hitting the road back to Boise the bus made a final stop to see these waterfalls. By this time we were ready to get back it was 4:45pm and over 90 degrees outside. It was a long day!

When we got back to the hotel we got our car and went to eat at Red Lobster (we hadn't had it in a long time there isn't one where we live). We were starving and so tired from the day. I was really glad I still had Wednesday to rest up more.

Wednesday afternoon we ventured over and checked out the Cabela's in Boise. Then we got ready for the banquet that evening...

Thursday after a yummy breakfast at a local place downtown we headed out. We stopped in Twin Falls to do a little sight-seeing and eat lunch.

There was a beautiful canyon with the Snake River running through it that you cross over to get into Twin Falls.

Here's the bridge

Then we drove a few miles down the road to Shoshone Falls

It was beautiful

They call it the "Niagara of the West"

One of many attempts at a picture of us at the falls

We got home around 4, the girls hadn't been up from their nap long and they were so excited to see us! This is the only picture I got though. Elizabeth just kept giving us this huge smile and saying "Daddy" and then "Mommy"! It was so sweet.

Madilynn told us about all they did and showed us what she had made at school that day. They had a great time with Granny & Pepaw and enjoyed themselves!

Fishing with Daddy!

Daddy rented a canoe from the University rec center and took Madilynn fishing this morning. So, so fun I can't wait until I feel like going!!

Getting ready to get in the water...

Daddy said she had to "pet" each fish they caught and then she would put it back into the water. I'm so proud of her!!

Elizabeth was so excited to see them when they got back home! She said "hi, Ma-Ma" and put her arm around her for a hug! She had to try on Madilynn's hat!

Daddy got a video of Madilynn reeling in a fish. I'm so glad he thought to do a video - I thought this was great! She is so big and can do it all by herself!

Love you

I finally took the camera outside with me the other day and got one picture- ha! We've been playing outside a lot lately and the girls love to "chalk" as Elizabeth says. Riding bikes/cars is also lots of fun!

Elizabeth likes for Daddy to hold her like a baby and say "baby, baby" and it's so sweet that she lets him cuddle her that way. Well, Madilynn wanted to be held too, so this is what happened. And Daddy sang rock a bye baby to them, they are just laughing!
This is why the post is titled "love you"...
Wednesday we were playing downstairs and I told the girls it was time to head upstairs for naptime. Madilynn went on up, and Elizabeth (playing with her babies) said, "night, night baby la-lu" while she laid her babies down for nap. I couldn't believe it, I thought it was so cute. It was the first time I've heard her trying to say "love you". Then last night we were driving home (late) from our home group dinner and we were seeing if she could say it and she did, she said plain as day, "love you".
So, this morning I thought I'd try to capture it on video, and here it is!