Kim's Komments: Some pictures from Idaho

I took the kids to one of my favorite spots in Nampa Idaho... Lake Lowell. This is a man made lake and wildlife refuge, and was a site for many swimming trips and ward activities as a kid. You can see the lake from my sister's backyard, and I just love it! I always think of summer when I see this lake... swimming, water skiing, picnics and sleeping under the stars. As a funny note... my brother's class ring is at the bottom of this lake, or it used to be once upon a time ;) !

Not all of the kids were feeling very cooperative this day. I had to just take what pictures I could and call it done, so I'm not thrilled with some of the shots, but I'm posting them anyway. Some day a few of my kids will look back on these pictures and wonder why I have such goofy shots of them... at least that is my hope... and then I will have the last laugh as I embarrass them to death with them!!

One shot of Lake Lowell:

These next few pictures are of the Snake River and Lizard Butte, which at one time was an active volcano. As a kid we could climb up to the top of it, but it is roped off now so that you can't. Every year, though, it is the sight of a Sunrise Easter Service, which is why there is a cross on top of it.

Can you see why this is named "Lizard Butte"? It took Kyle a long time to see it.

On the Monday night after the wedding, the kids were all hot and tired and wanted to go do something. My niece suggested that they go swimming in the small pond behind their house, and everyone agreed. The funny thing about this pond is that it was built as part of a housing development that just has seemed to take off. I guess the developers, though, are really trying to improve the place, and had just planted grass seed around the pond, which we didn't know until after the kids were already swimming. One of the neighbors thought the kids were up to no good and called the police on them! A nice sheriff's deputy came out to see what everyone was up to, but agreed that the kids were not doing anything wrong. It was pretty funny, and we all had a good laugh about it after he left! The area around the pond was nice and muddy, as Josh is nicely demonstrating!

Several months ago, Kyle decided that he wanted to grow his hair out long... and least longer than the buzz cut he usually wears. This was a hard fought struggle for me, but one that I finally decided to give in to. It is, afterall, just hair, and I'm sure that there will be bigger things to fight about in the future. He wanted it long until after school was out, and by the time the wedding was over, he was ready to get it cut... YAY!! Thanks to Chris, for cutting it for him! Here is the before shot:

And the after:

I like it so much better this way!!

Megan grabbed my camera while we were there, and went outside to take some pictures of my sister's beautiful roses. These next 3 pictures are all her's... I think we have a photographer on our hands (she has even asked for her own camera for Christmas!).