idaho

We were in Idaho for a reunion. Dave and I sort of planned the event, but not very well. Our lives here at home the last few months have been hectic and the reunion plans were kind of low on our priority list. Dave's cousin, Karen, called a couple of days before we left to ask how she could help. I had to confess to her that we hadn't even planned menus yet. We were going to do that in the car on the way, and shop when we got there. Which we didn't do. Because I stayed up all night packing. And I slept most of the way up. And when I wasn't asleep, Dave was. We planned the menu when Karen and I got in the car to head to the grocery store when we got to Pocatello at 4pm with all the other family arriving at 6pm. Surprisingly, all the food ended up just right. We had to go through father-in-law's kitchen and pantry thoroughly before we left for the store to see what he did and didn't have. He assured us that he had enough milk because he said there were 2 quarts in the fridge and a whole container of powdered milk that tastes just as good when you mix it up. (Clearly his taste buds have declined in recent years. This is a man that raised his boys milking cows and having fresh whole milk on the table every day of their lives.)Dave's Dad has an amazing property which is just right for kids to run and explore and tire themselves right out. There is a great big lawn, a swing set, a tree house with a rope swing, there is a gigantic garden with fresh raspberries for the picking. There were apples ripening in the trees. Beyond the garden, there is a little patch of pine trees that were planted about 30 years ago that feels like you are in a magical, mystical place when you are in the middle of it. The reunion was very casual. The kids played, the adults visited, the guitars came out, family news was shared, lots of food was consumed. It was lovely. After everyone started leaving, our kids started down memory lane playing in the tree house and the swings. Our kids are aging out of the tree house stage of their lives, but here is what happens when older teenagers start in on activities geared for 9 year olds. The rope swing out of the tree house generally swings in a gentle arching curve. Brady almost cracked a rib as he nearly collided with the eaves of the house. Then they started jumping out of the swings. This little cousin made us all nervous jumping out of the swing at about 12 feet high. The neighbor's dog stopped by and was nicknamed armpit. He wasn't the sweetest smelling dog you ever met. All in all, it was a fun, relaxing event. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere very relaxing. Dave and the kids and grandpa are heading out to camp and fish for a while before they come home. I don't think I'll even hear from them for a couple of days, I'm sure they are out of cell phone range up in the mountians. It's nice to get Grandpa out of the house and back to the hills he loved during his many years as a scoutmaster. Dave definitely deserves the break from his never-ending work schedule.