Float Boise River - check

Yesterday we got to check something off our bucket list that we have been wanting to do since we moved here six years ago. We finally floated the Boise River. Shelia and Wayne were in town with Sam and Shelby which gave us a good reason to go. 


We have been waiting for Tanner and Faith to be a little more water safe prior to floating the river, and this year we finally decided they were good to go. Tanner is a full out swimmer now and Faith is very water safe (especially in her life vest - which she still wears to the pool). 


The Parks and Rec department, really has this trip lined out. There is a private raft rental company (which is what we did yesterday), but the county has pump stations and launching ramps at the put in. There are rest stops set up along the way that are really clearly marked and the take out at Ann Morrison park is easy. 


We are Truckee River floating veterans, but this is the first time we have ever been on the Boise River. It was similar to the Truckee River. Wider and the float is a little longer, the river isn't a much on the highway as the Truckee River is, so it's a little more quiet. At the same time, it flows right through downtown which is really cool. You float through the BSU campus, right past Bronco Stadium and end up right next to the playground the kids like in the park. 


The weather was perfect on the river. The water was clear and cool and it was just a great trip. We packed a picnic lunch/snack for the kids, which Tanner was into before both my feet we even in the raft from putting it in. We had some cold Diet Cokes and enjoyed a cool float through the heart of our new hometown. It's amazing how one small thing can make you re-connect to a place. 


I got up early this morning and went out fly fishing on the river before the kids woke up for a couple of hours. It's such an amazing thing that this beautiful river is only minutes from the house, and I plan to take better advantage of that in the future.

Diet Jake

We dropped Jake off at the bus for YCamp on Monday morning. We briefly met his counselor, talked to the camp nurse, and then said goodbye. He had been really nervous on Sunday night but at drop off he barely hugged me before rushing back to be with his buddies and camp leader. We have written letters to him and are allowed to send one email a day but we haven't heard from him- except for a brief letter we got in the mail on Day 2. I am sure he is having a great time- he is rooming with his best friend and knows two other people in his cabin. Plus he is familiar with the camp since it is the one we have gone to the last two years as a family.  

It is so weird, though, not getting to hear about his days as they happen. I don't think a day in his life has gone by, until now, that I haven't spoken to him-even when we were in Hawaii we called to say hello every night- so five days with no communication is definitely a first. I am so proud of him for being able to do this- especially in the wake of last year's anxiety. It is hard letting go- he'll always be my baby- but I am so glad he is independent enough to do this type of thing and thrive. 

We have all missed him but his absence, while making our heart grow fonder, has also shown us that having two children is SO MUCH EASIER than three!! Brian and I have enjoyed our "alone time" with  Tanner and Faith.  They did such a great job playing together and entertaining themselves while we had a busy work week that we decided to reward them. It was Tanner's turn to choose an activity so Thursday night we took them glow-in-the-dark miniature golfing, and last night we had Movie Night with Big Miracle and a Sleepover.

We are all so excited to go pick Jake up this morning. It's a two hour drive each way so it will be a day-long event. Sirius Radio and a scenic drive. Heaven.  I am sure we will have lots of stories and camp songs to entertain us on the way home- unless, as I suspect may happen, he gets in the car and immediately falls asleep.

Non-Baseball Day

Due to a rare (this summer anyway) break in the baseball schedule, we got out on the boat yesterday. It was great as the forecast was for 104, and the lake was gorgeous. We woke up and got out early and were on the water by 9:00 AM.


Jake and Tanner both tried waterskiing and each got up briefly before they tired out. Everyone got in the tube for bit. We swam, fished, ate lunch and just enjoyed a day out on the water. We even got a campsite across from the Marina, which we have never been able to do before. We're going to try and come back for an overnight in a couple of weeks.


Even though we don't get out on it near enough, the boat is just perfect for us. Lucky Peak is a quick drive and it's a great way to unwind after a long baseball season. Hopefully we'll be able to get out a few more times this summer.

Summer in the Neighborhood

The biggest critique I hear about Hidden Springs, from those that don't live here, is that it is too much like "The Truman Show" (the Jim Carrey movie), that the people that live here are  Stepford Wives (Ummmm... not sure anyone would describe me in that manner!) or that it is like Desperate Housewives (if this is the case I definitely am out of the loop on all the drama going on behind the scenes!). None of these is really very accurate in my mind. In fact, probably the best way to describe our neighborhood is as a modern day Mayberry. Still not everyone's cup of tea, but also not nearly as sinister as the other comparisons.  In any case, we love our little Mayberry and one of the things we like most is the community events. In the last two weeks we have had three great events.

The first was a concert on the green in mid-June. Great music, great friends, and perfect weather. Tanner and Faith rode their scooters in little "pre school and kindergarten gangs" around the Merc and through the closed parking lot for hours and I only had to check on them every once in awhile to be sure all was well. They knew where I was sitting and came and got me as needed. Lots of neighbors gathered with umbrellas and picnics and drinks and we hung out until way past bedtime.

The next week was the Annual Camp Out. Again, lots of neighbors and friends joined in the fun. We set up our giant tent and the boys each invited a friend to join us for the sleepover. There were s'mores and a campfire, a movie on the big screen outside at dusk (10PM here!), and a pancake breakfast the next morning. The kids all stayed up playing with their friends in the dark, playing light stick tag and light stick baseball until midnight and then sacked out until 7AM the next morning. 

We all slept amazingly well, but the fact that the kids only got 7 hours of sleep instead of their usual 10-12 was definitely felt the next day (actually it was felt for the following 3 days) which was nothing short of a nightmare. They were all overtired, hyper, and misbehaving. I think we are finally caught up on sleep now, despite being out until almost midnight again last night for the 4th of July.

Speaking of the 4th... Again, we didn't have to go far to enjoy the festivities. The kids and I watched the parade at 11AM from the front porch of a friend of ours on Hidden Springs Drive. They collected candy that was thrown from the people in the parade and used their water guns to soak the participants. We headed to the end of the parade route and joined in the party on the South Meadow Green (nearer to our new home) and stayed until almost 3PM. There was more music, BBQ, drinks, a bouncy water slide, and lots of friends.  

Having learned our lesson (see "lack of sleep" in paragraph 3 above) we required all the kids to nap from 3-5 because we were headed to the Hawks game and fireworks at 730. Only Faith slept but the boys rested and after an impromptu BBQ dinner of hamburgers, fruit salad, and corn on the cob (how patriotic!) with Sheila and Wayne we headed to our first Hawks game of the season. The weather couldn't have been better. Not too hot, a nice breeze blowing. It was a really fun night. The Hawks lost, but the kids loved the game, being there with Sheila and Wayne, and of course the fireworks display afterwards. Just like last year we sat very close to where they were being set off and got to witness several fire balls that nearly singed our eyebrows. Faith wasn't so pleased with that part of the night but the boys thought it was "awesome". Tanner did remark after the fireworks ended, however, that he "liked watching fireworks but he wouldn't want to have a job where he would have to set them off". Smart boy. So we had  a 4th of July that involved friends, family, fireworks, baseball, community BBQ, watermelon, and music. I'm not sure we could be more of a cliche but it was a great day!