A Weekend in Walla Walla

A couple weeks ago we got to go to Walla Walla for my niece Ashlyn's baptism.  As we were sitting there waiting for it to start, it dawned on me, I was baptized in that same font!

We got to stay the whole weekend so we had time to do other fun things too.  My brother-in-law's co-worker took us out on the river in his boat.

Ryleigh was excited to go out until the boat started up.  She covered her ears and said, "I don't like it, I don't like it.  I want to go back."  Devin got her calmed down enough that they didn't have to bring her back.  There was no way she was going to get on the tube though.  Devin and Uncle Rick took a turn and then Ashlyn was quick to volunteer to go next.  Blake wasn't sure he was ready for it yet.  He wanted to wait until he got used to the water.  He gave in though and had a great time.

So great that he came along on the next ride too.  Bailey had a blast on the boat! 

I so think we need a boat.  It is so much fun.  Look at me go! 

Blake did awesome.  He lasted forever back there. 

Aunt Nicole even braved it! 

Bailey was too little to go on the tube, but she wanted to jump off the back of the boat and play in the river with Uncle Rick.  She was shivering bad but didn't want to get back in the boat.

We also went to Whitman Mission.  Devin likes to look at things under glass, according to Aunt Nicole, so she thought he would enjoy it.

We walked around the Whitman's Settlement and read about or listened to a narration about the history.  There were stones marking out the perimeter of where the buildings were.  The map showed where Dr. Whitman died after he was shot.  Bailey is showing us that spot

and Ryleigh is showing us where Narcissa Whitman died.  She was shot inside and then died right outside the house.

Aunt Nicole, Blake and Devin hiked up the hill to the memorial and the grave site where they buried everyone that died that day while I took the rest of the kids inside the nice air conditioned museum.

It was fun to learn more about the Whitmans.  The thing I found most interesting was that they were warned by the Indians that if they didn't leave, something bad was going to happen.  They didn't want to return home and be looked at as failures so they decided to stay.  Guess they didn't think the "something bad" was going to be death.

Thanks for letting us visit, Aunt Nicole!  Can't wait until next time.

Lizzie and Bentley

Lizzie has always loved lying down by the babies on the floor.  She is no different with Bentley.  I think it is so cute.  She is so gentle around him.

Bentley is a pretty happy baby.

If Bentley ins't using his mat and it gets left on the floor, Miss Thing thinks she can take it over.   

Ryleigh's Gymnastics

When Ryleigh turned 5, she moved up to the next class.  She has found this class to be a lot more challenging based on the fact that it is twice as long and their warm-ups take place around the whole blue mat, or all the way down and back on the blue mat instead of going from their dot to their star. 

 Supergirl-Love her expression

 The bridge

Coach has them somersaulting all the way down and back

as well as cartwheeling all the way down and back.  She has almost mastered her cartwheel!

They are vaulting,

doing different things on the low beam, 

using the low bar for various stunts,

and learning to do a back flip. 

She is doing very well and is learning a lot.  However, she has decided to take a break from it this fall because she is going to be starting soccer.  Devin is going to be coaching her team and she is very excited.  We got her all outfitted this weekend.

Bailey LOVES Gymnastics

Bailey has watched Ryleigh attend gymnastics for 2 years and has been waiting for her turn.  We put her in at the beginning of the summer and she loves it.

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!