Summer

I have been posting more on Facebook, so a lot of this is a repeat of what I have posted on there, but I still want to record it on the blog... 

I love Summer. I am not a huge fan of the heat, but I love the freedom. We have had a full and fun time so far, with lots more fun and adventures to come! 

We spent the first part of the summer in Utah, for the marathon. We spent some time with family. A seriously nasty stomach bug was going around, and it was very contagious. We wanted to go and visited Nan in Midway, but we did not want to infect her. So, we all loaded up in the cars, and we did a drive-by visit. We all stayed in the car (or at least 10 feet away), and we just waved and chatted at a distance. Nan was doing great, and in good spirits, as usual. Kary asked Nan if she had any advice for me for the marathon. She told Kary, "All she needs is to have you by her side." She was right, that is just what I needed. 

The cousins were all feeling good on the first day there... they played in the backyard and had loads of fun. 

 Run, everybody, run!

 The littles all decided to jump on Daniel.

 Cute cousins.

And then everyone decided to jump on William.

 He seemed to enjoy being smashed.

My brother, John, had a root beer tasting night. They were trying to determine which root beer is the best. I missed the evening, and so I am not sure which one won? 

My family likes to talk. We often stay up late talking into the night. When you put me and John together, you get some pretty interesting conversations. We are both deep-thinkers, with lots of questions we like to throw out for discussion. Here I am asking him something really profound like, "What's for dinner?" 

Henry 

Summertime clouds

 Cousins being silly

Henry in motion

Beautiful roses

 My beautiful mom and cute baby.

 More clouds. We were storm watching.

This is "cute baby." That is his nickname, and what everyone calls him. His real name is Charles Richard. He is just the most mellow baby. He was named after his Uncle Charles. He is so stinking cute.

Back in Boise... Somehow we got signed up to host a party at our house. It was for the boys in Daniel's junior high choir. It was pretty entertaining.

 I was surprised at how well-behaved the boys were.

 We provided loads of junk food, and I was amazed at how the teenage boys could EAT! Wow.

 Aren't they just precious?

It will be fun to go to their concerts

 They sang karaoke...

 And danced to the music... good times.

We have been going out daily for 2 hour hiking/running adventures. We mostly head for the hills, because I have a personal beef with them, after the marathon. We are all "Trek Training" to prepare for what is to come. It is starting to really warm up now, so it is getting even more of a challenge as we climb the hills. Whew!

I work the kids hard, but they can handle it. They are super tough. We usually end up taking a nap/rest in the afternoon, because of the workout and the heat, it is pretty draining.

Sam and Dan take turns pushing the stroller... they want to, because it will prepare them for the handcart.

I went to my first mid-singles dance. Well, actually, I made it to the building the dance was in, and I sat in the parking lot. I watched as people went in, and I could not do it, I could not go inside. I had prepared to go. I even had my friend, Rachelle, come and curl my hair for me. I am afraid I was just not enticed by anyone I saw entering the building. There were so few people there, and it was supposed to be a regional event. It was sad. I had driven 30 minutes to get there, just to turn around and come home. I did learn, however, that dances and such events will not be the way I meet someone. I feel strongly about that. Another way will be provided for me. I take comfort in that.

The day after the boys choir party, we had a youth fireside in our home. It was on "Finding Courage in Troubled Times." I led the discussion, and I enjoyed hearing all of what was shared by the youth and their leaders. After the fireside we went to the backyard and cooked a special treat called Woofums. (Not sure if that's how it is spelled?) It is basically a biscuit loaded with sugar, berries, and chocolate.

 Brother Henley was in charge of the dessert.

 We were supposed to eat it in one big bite.

 Our friends, the Harlins, stayed after the fireside for some quality time.

We have been going to the river after our workouts. One day Sam and I went for a run, and I decided we should just stop and get in the river. It is so nice to not be training for anything right now, because running has become enjoyable again! It was the best to just soak our hot feet in the water. We took some time there, then just dried our feet off, and kept running home.

 Sometimes you just gotta stop and jump in the river...

 We had a haircutting party. Everyone wanted a trim...

I looked up a youtube video for Sammi's hair, and I was brave and added some layers... it was a little scary, but I felt adventurous, she trusted me, and so we went for it. It looks much better than the straight line I cut before.

After the fun Sammi and I had in the river, we decided it is a great way to end our daily workouts. The kids just love playing in the water.

 We are so lucky to live so close to such a fun place to play.

Daniel is the bravest of us all... he went for it full-gusto!

 Sammi is such a good big sister!

 The water and sand feel so good on the feet

 I offered to help Daniel up, but he almost pulled me in.

Daniel floating away

This is what summer is all about.

I found some pictures on the marathon website of me and my sister.

The marathon feels like a dream now. I am glad I have pictures to prove that I actually did it!

Ray, me, and Kary eating Creamies at the finish line. 

Last night, I woke up to the smell of smoke coming through my open window. It was so strong I went and looked around to see if something near was on fire. I could not see anything. I looked on the news, and discovered that Table Rock was on fire. I looked back out the boys window and I could see a glow coming from the hillside. The glow got brighter, the smell got stronger. It was 2am, but I decided to scoop up the kids and go check it out. We loaded in the car and drove 3 minutes to see the entire side of the foothills ablaze in fire. It was breathtaking and shocking. There were a lot of people out on the streets just watching the event unfold. I brought my camera along and captured what we saw... 

This was the view from the Parkcenter Bridge, near Bown Crossing. 

It was dangerously close to neighborhoods full of homes. But amazingly, only one or two structures were burned. The fire was all around the Mesa, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Boise. These are the hills that we have been doing our Trek Training on... all burned.

 Table Rock up in flames. The cross on the top of the hill was such a dramatic image.

 Light in the darkness

 Henry kept saying, "Don't go in the Lava!" It looked like lava, as the fire was pouring down the hill.

 This is the view from the Albertson's parking lot on Parkcenter.

 While on the bridge, different fires would appear.

 I believe this was a structure that burned

 People were gathered watching the flames consume the hillside

 A fire started at the end of the Parkcenter bridge.

 The view from Amity road

 You can see how dry the conditions are here in Idaho

 Structure fire

 The view from the Fred Meyer parking lot

The next morning... the hills are black. You see where the white truck is going up the hill... that was where we start our daily hiking and running. We could not go up there today, and maybe not for a while. The pictures above of us hiking with the stroller...now that entire hillside is black.

The firefighters did a phenomenal job at protecting the homes in the area. It was so close to so many homes. It was amazing to watch their work setting fire perimeters, and putting out the blaze.

 The helicopter was scooping up water from a local pond

 There was still smoke and hot spots this morning they were working to put out.

 The fire burned all around the Mesa, it is a real miracle that the homes were safe.

 The blackened foothills of SE Boise.

Life is never dull.