Summer in England

From our last few blog posts, it probably looks like we're always traveling. Here are some miscellaneous photos taken this summer in our area. 

Our Lucas turned 4 in June. We had a small family birthday party. 

(L) For his birthday cake, Lucas chose chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles. (R) Lucas playing with Noelle's chubby cheeks.

(Above) Three cute kids. Can you see the sibling resemblance? 

Using our English Heritage annual pass, we returned to the Audley End House near Cambridge on a lazy Saturday. 

Jack turned 6 in July. We had a family birthday party, and then the next day, held a small party with some of his school and church friends. 

(Above) Jack and his new Joker Tank (since when did Joker have a tank?)

(L) Eating a well-balanced lunch of pizza and cheetos. Yum.  (R) Cleaning up after the party.

(Above) The boys love playing outside on the picnic table.

(Above) The cat and mole are the two most popular toys in this household. 

(L) Jack at his school's sports day. (R) Lucas running to go to school. 

(Above) The local base has some great family activities now and then, provided by the USO. Some Sesame Street performers came to base this summer.

(Above) The boys got some practice with photography this summer. What did they decide to take pictures of? Their toys of course.

Idaho

After visiting family in New York and Utah, we headed up to Idaho for a couple of weeks. One of our first outings was to the City of Rocks near Burley. The park was absolutely beautiful.

(Above) No outdoor activity is complete without roasting hot dogs on the campfire.

During our two weeks, we had a lot of visits from Harmony's extended family.

(Above) Jack trying out the trumpet and Lucas playing the clarinet. 

(Above) Harmony and her Grandparents
(R) Violet, Harmony Violet, & Noelle Violet

(L) Grandpa and Eleanor. (R) Aunt Jaimie reading the kids a story. 

(Above) Some of the grandkids riding in trailer behind the 4-wheeler with Grandpa.

(L) Some of the cousins watching a movie (R) The best chicken strips and home-made fries dinner we've ever had.

(Above) Jack and cousin Jared

We took a day-trip to see some sites around Twin Falls. The first stop was the Snake River Canyon by Twin Falls.

(Above) We lucked out to be able to watch some crazy people base-jump from the Perrine Bridge.

(Above) Natural springs flowing from the canyon walls.
(Harmony): This was the clearest water I have ever seen in nature.

(Above) A fishery near the natural springs.

On one of our last nights, we went up into the mountains near Burley for an afternoon of four-wheeling and campfire cooking.

(R) Jack and Lucas with Uncle Jaxon

(R) Lucas had a hard time keeping his marshmallows out of the ash.

(R) Noelle and Grandma

Brian, Jaxon and I hiked up to Independence Lakes in the mountains south of Burley for a day of trout fishing. We caught a few- enough to feed us lunch, but not enough to bring home.

(Above) Faffing around on our last night in Idaho.