Utah and Idaho Trip

Our big summer trip was to Utah and Idaho!

The boys found a pay phone at a random truck stop.

Every time we stopped, we let the kids get out and run around while I fed Ivy, then let her wiggle around too. Usually we found a park, but at this particular tiny town in Nevada, there was no park. So the front lawn of a cemetery had to do!

On a super hot day in Utah, we went to a huge splash pad.

Felix loved throwing the ball for Scout.

Ivy getting smothered.

Ivy did not sleep well on this leg of the trip, which meant that Jeff and I didn't either. So tired!

Playing games with family.

Felix got to sit in the truck while it was getting loaded.

Next we headed to Malad, ID, for my grandma M's funeral. On the way, we ate at Maddox, where my grandma used to drive down from Pocatello in her youth. We ate there in her memory.

The cemetery is in a beautiful spot, and it was so nice to see so much of my extended family.

Grandma's favorite Primary song was "Love One Another," so we had the little kids sing it (with help from everyone else when they got a little lost).

9 of her great-grandkids.

All 5 of Grandma and Grandpa M's kids.

Grandkids who were able to come (Ben and Kira are siblings, and Dallin and I are siblings)

All the family who were able to attend. 

Ben was like the pied piper, the kids loved to follow him! He brought his drone and was showing them how to use it.

Alicia had a preying mantis come to visit on her arm.

My dad holding Renee and my aunt Staci holding Ivy.

Super happy girl! She loves attention.

Then we drove from Malad to Sun Valley, ID, to rejoin the C family for the R family reunion (Rhonda's family).

We stopped at a random little restaurant called Pickle's Place, which ironically was out of pickles.

The next day, Felix had a puke day. And it was quite possibly his worse one yet (not helped by 3 meals of chicken nuggets the day before). So Ivy and I stayed at the airBnB with him while Jeff and Axel joined the rest of the family for a hike.

In the evening we played games together. This is Mitch, Leanna, and Ziva.

Playing with Great Grandma R

Aunt Anjie

Proud Great Grandparents

The next day we went to a pool that is fed by a natural hot springs. We had the place to ourselves, which was great because we are a wild and crazy bunch.

Jeff's cousin Ranae

Felix drawing on our nice AirBnB deck.

Then we drove about an hour away to the Ice Caves. The entrance was super random, with this huge dinosaur and caveman, and there was also a huge Native American statue (not pictured).

Starting the short hike to the ice cave.

Collapsed lava tube.

Most of the tour was our group, which was about 30 people!

It was pretty cold in there, though it didn't feel quite this cold. I was fine in a sweatshirt and shorts.

We walked on suspended bridges over the ice.

Coming out, Rob wanted to scare Grandma Judy. I thought her reaction would be bigger, but its still fun.

Panning for gold. Didn't find any.

Alex helping Felix break open a geode.

Next just the 5 of us drove further away to the Mammoth Cave.

Once we got to the end at the sign, we turned off the flashlights and were in complete darkness. It was awesome.

Mammoth Cave is owned by a taxidermist, so it also had his collection. He did most of it himself, and some was bought (like the giraffe). There were also a lot of random old items like chairs, even a shrunken head (I assume he didn't do that one himself). I cannot accurately describe the smell to you... You just have to experience it! Also not for the claustrophobic... There was so much in there it was impossible not to knock into things accidentally. It was such a weird experience but I'm glad we did it! 

Two headed calf and two bodied lamb. These were donated from local farmers.

That night we had a BBQ at a local park and played pickle ball and spike ball.

Ivy loved aunt Jenny!

Next morning people were mountain biking, so we took our crew on a scooter ride to the river.

Then Jeff went golfing with his brothers, Dad, and uncles, so the boys and I played games on the deck.

And played with Nana when she got back from mountain biking.

Then we went to a car show! We parked pretty far away so took this nice paved trail back to the car.

The last day, we went to our favorite place from last time we visited, Red Fish Lake! We got there pretty early so had the place mostly to ourselves for a bit.

We rented kayaks. Jeff and Felix.

Papa and Axel.

Felix loved being out on the water.

He went out again later with Kaden.

Jeff and I went out together.

Axel followed us for a bit in the one man kayak, then turned around and stayed with other family members before Jeff and I got too far out.

The fam.

Then that night we took a big family picture. I'll have to add that once I get them.