Lava Hot Springs

Last weekend we met up with Devin's parents and our friends the Deans in Lava Hot Springs.  We did everything we wanted to but enjoy the hot pools.  It was way too hot outside.  Now we have to go back this fall to try them out.

We started out at the water park with Morgan and her kids.

Bentley hung out in the stroller while the rest of us enjoyed the water. 

They had a fun area for little kids. 

Peyton and Ryleigh had a lot of fun together. 

We didn't get to spend the whole day there like we planned because of the weather.  They kicked us out because of lightening but we got to go back in for a little while.  Then they kicked us out again.  We thought the storm would pass quickly like the first one.  We were wrong.  We hung out across the street at some picnic tables under a covering hoping to go back in.  It started pouring down rain and it didn't let up for quite a while.  Devin finally decided to brave the nasty weather and go get the cars.  We loaded everyone up and headed to the Deans house in Pocatello for dinner.

 The next day we headed to Soda Springs to see the geyser that goes off every hour.

Grandpa and Grandma wanted to show us a grave stone of a family that came across on the Oregon Trail but didn't survive.  They buried the family in the box of their covered wagon.

Then we headed a little way out of town to the Hooper Spring Park.

Grandma and Ryleigh walking down to the spring. 

Dad testing out the soda spring water. 

Ryleigh thought it was terrible and spit it out. 

Next time we are going to bring some flavoring and make ourselves a tasty drink.

Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids while Devin and I tubed down the river in Lava Hot Springs.  We got a few bumps and bruises from our first run down.  After that, we did a lot better navigating the next few runs.

After the river, we ate at a tasty hamburger place there in Lava.  Ryleigh holding Bentley after dinner 

Bentley's Blessing

We were able to have Bentley's blessing the day after the reunion so my family could stay and be a part of his special day.  We were sad that Devin's family couldn't make it because of another family member's special day.

Bentley got to wear the same outfit Devin was blessed in.

Our friends, the Randalls, were able to join us too! 

McDowell Family Reunion

It was our turn to host the reunion this year.  We knew for a while that we wanted to go camping and last year we found the perfect spot when we were camping with Devin's sister.  We took everyone camping up at Bull Trout Lake.  We found 2 sites right on the lake, away from any other sites.  I reserved them clear back in January to make sure we got them.  It was perfect, minus the horrible amount of mosquitoes and the fact that my youngest sister couldn't make it.

Cousins from oldest to youngest

The girls getting drinks out of the pump

Bailey didn't make it very long on the walk before she was out

The little girls had fun reading Kelci's books

They even talked Grandpa into reading to them

Remember the mosquitoes I mentioned?  Ryleigh was showing Uncle Nathan all of her mosquito bites.

The kids had fun playing Ashlyn's new game

Bentley was a champ on his first camping trip.  Thanks everyone for offering to hold him.

The Uncles teaching Blake how to cut firewood

Some of us braved the cold lake.  Devin's shoe got stuck in the muddy bottom of the lake.  It was like clay. 

The last evening, the majority of the crew headed down the road to test out the hot springs.

We had such a great time! Thanks for everyone's help and making the trip out.  Can't wait for the next one!

Photo Shoot

I took some pics of little Bentley the other day so I could make a collage for his bedroom.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Lucky Peak

Grandma and Grandpa Larsen came to visit to me our little Bentley.  They brought Demitri and Amaryah along too.  So we decided to take them out to Lucky Peak for some fun in the sun.  Auntie Ann and the kids joined us for the afternoon too.

Amaryah was sure she didn't want to play in the water.  It didn't take her long before she was in playing with the kids.

Brynley digging in the sand.

Zach digging too.

Auntie threw Bailey up on the tube with Ryleigh.  They thought it was pretty funny.

Demitri pulling Ryleigh and Brynley around in the tube.

Zach can't get enough of his new little cousin.  

Ryleigh the water carrier.

Bentley enjoying his first time at the lake in the stroller.

Bentley Wallace

I was scheduled to be induced Sunday morning but since I tested positive for Group B Strep, my doctor wanted two doses of antibiotics in me before they induced.  So we spent all day in the hospital and finally started the induction at 4:30 that afternoon.  My doctor broke my water at 4:30 but I wasn't making much progress.  They started pitocin at 10:30 and Bentley finally came at 2:03 Monday morning.

7 lb 12 oz

21 inches long

My biggest baby, not that it took much to be bigger than his sisters.

Aunt Nicole and Grandma brought the girls to meet him at the hospital.

Ryleigh was pretty excited to see her new brother that she had been waiting for.

Bailey was pretty curious and had lots of questions about her new brother.

Ashlyn got to miss a few days of school to come meet her new cousin.

Zachary is so excited to have another boy cousin.

Bentley couldn't keep his blood sugar up so they admitted him to the NICU to give him fluids and antibiotics in case of infection.  He ended up not having an infection and kept his blood sugar up with after getting fluid so he only had to spend two days.

We finally got to go home on Wednesday right before lunch!

Ryleigh and Bailey were so excited to finally have him home.

Ryleigh asks several times a day to hold her baby brother.  She would hold him all day if I let her.

Nap time and snuggles with Grandma.