Saturday, August 30, 2008

Fair Days...

We took the kids to the Western Idaho Fair last week and we had a blast.... most of the time.

Caitlin loves roller coasters and is already a thrill seeker - Mikayla on the other hand is not that way. We went to Disneyland last year and we found out the hard way on a ride that she doesn't like things that go fast or are jerky. So we took it easier at the fair and went on some little rides and and then Kaylie decided she was ready for the kids roller coaster. Oh what a mistake that was! They had to stop the ride and get the girls off - poor thing was so upset! Here is the story in pictures...
Kaylie is terrified - I felt so bad!! Caitlin had fun though!

A new ride on a much smaller level! She looks scared but she's trying!

There's the happy face I'm looking for!

Wow - she's so brave - no hands!!!

Caitlin wanted to go on some bigger rides, so here she is with Mike on the "big" Swings!

Here's the thrill seeker on the roller coaster by herself!
Look no hands!
I got the chance to go with Mikayla on the carousel!
Mike and Caitlin on some ride that went around in a circle very quickly!
Caitlin getting off of that ride - she was very dizzy and a little sick to her stomach for about an hour. Oops.
Mikayla going on a ride all by herself - The Slide!!
She looks nervous but she was all smiles at the end.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Scenic Views of Idaho...

I promise this is the last of the Polly Bemis photos - I just want to share as much as I can about our vacation and the beautiful State of Idaho! For all of our friends out there in other states - I would love for you to come visit and show you around! Enjoy the last of our vacation photos...

There are Gems in our mountains - Mike found Garnets at this area!

Just thought this was a great view! This was my view from our cabin!
There were a ton of deer - pretty much anytime I looked out our cabin window they were right there in the grass eating on the apples and pears that would drop from trees. These little guys were in the bushes right outside our cabin. We had a couple of big storms come through while we were there - Here is a shot of the clouds moving in. Pretty cool!
Caitlin enjoying the Rec room!Mikayla also enjoying the rec room!
This is the lodge on the left and the rec room on the right - clouds are still moving in.
This cute little barn in the distance has a very special resident in it... The Pig!

Every year the crew brings up a piglet and the guests feed her their leftovers every day. At the end of the year you can only imagine what happens to the pig!! That's right my friend - Bacon!!


Loved the storm clouds!!!

This rock was on our hike - Those are little caves carved into the rock.
From our hike again - looking downstream.
This is Brundage Mountain - a wonderful ski resort in McCall!
Picture of Payette Lake - LOVE this place!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Steep Mountain side, Narrow Road, Sheer Drop off = High Anxiety...

Most people don't know this about me but I have a fear of old, narrow logging roads. Sounds crazy right? What's strange is that I don't have a fear of heights at all unless I'm in a car.

I truly rather be hanging from a rope on the edge of the cliff while rock climbing then to drive along a narrow road in the mountains with a Steep cliff on one side and having a car coming towards me, knowing that my only option for a pass is to hug the side of the road that has the raging river 300 feet below. Just thinking about it speeds up the heart rate and makes my palms sweat! Here is my little story of our journey to Polly Bemis.

At this point we made it through the construction on the narrow road - I don't even like to imagine being in a bulldozer on the side of the cliff - how do those guys do it? This is a picture of a one lane bridge from the distance - this is the nice one...

Here is the bridge as we are coming up onto it - I was actually relieved to get on the bridge - no cliff to fall off of! Is it just me or does the bridge look a little crooked? Still no fear in that.

The view from the bridge - you can see the nice road we just traveled on -
the cliff isn't so bad - not too far from the river.

Okay - I thought this sign was funny. Our destination to meet up with the river boat to take us to the ranch was literally at the "End of Road" - with all the stuff going on in our lives it seemed fitting. Ugh - 8 miles to go!

10 feet from the End of Road sign is this sign - not a good one for me! We believe the sign should say "Road Not Maintained For Winter Travel" but someone covered up Winter - my question is why? Are they not maintaining this road in the summer either? YIKES!

Thankfully, we didn't pass a lot of cars heading up but I did manage to snap a quick photo of this car coming - I will admit this part of the road was good - not too narrow. We are completely hugging the mountain - Love the mountain side!

While we were waiting for the car to pass, I looked up and saw this over hang. As a ex-climber (I haven't climbed since Scott passed away) I would have loved this! Okay again this part isn't directly on the cliff's edge but it does show how narrow the road was. I don't think I was in the right state of mind to take photo's when my life was on the line so to speak.
Here is another bridge - it needs work don't ya think?Seriously people - this doesn't look right!
One car at a time!
The river below - now you can see we are higher up! Still no fear though on the old worn out scary bridge - why is that?

And another bridge - this one is closed - you can only walk across it now. Gee I wonder why?
Okay so that is my fear of narrow roads up to Polly Bemis story.

The second we got into Riggins on our way back to McCall and we turned onto the main highway (aka -paved roads) I threw my hands up and said "I made it - I made it!!" Mike just laughed at me and told me I did a good job. It takes over an hour to go from Riggins to the the boat launch so I had a knot in my stomach and in my shoulders the entire way and I am in desperate need of a massage - hint - hint!

Oh and for the record and because I know Bob Deely will mention this to me - I also have a fear of ice covered roads with 40 mph winds and it's 4 below zero in the middle of Kansas! I'll recap that story at a later date for those who don't know it! After that experience Bob can't have me in his car at all when the roads are bad- I really stress him out! Sorry about that!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Oops - Rewind - Getting Ready for School...

I just noticed that I forgot to post the pictures of the girls getting ready to start their school year.

I started a tradition that every year I would take the girls to get their hair done, do a little shopping and go to lunch or dinner. This year I took the girls at the same time for their hair and I took them to my hair stylist. Her name is Leslie and she's at Graber Salon downtown. (That's my plug for Leslie) The kids thought it was so cool to get their hair done at "mommy's salon".
Before... (we're growing the bangs out)
After...
Before...
After...
Thanks Leslie - you are Great!!!