Here we have I-daaaaa-hoooo... (state song I learned in 4th grade :))

I love going home. When we pulled in late Thursday night and got out of the car, I felt like I was in a foreign, although familiar, land. It was COOL, and it smelled sooooo good! There is nothing like the smell of Russian Olive blooms in the early summer. My parents have a gorgeous yard and Maddie loved the green grass and flowers. She also enjoyed all the attention from Grandpa and Grandma. She never seems to forget them, no matter how long it's been.



It's kinda hard to tell but we were throwing rose petals.


You can't leave without a visit to the canyon! We kayaked on the river while Grandma watched Maddie on the banks.



Dana & I celebrated our birthday (thanks for the spoilage!) and we gave Dad a belated Father's Day gift, a book from the kids about how much we love him!


Mike was CRAZY on the new wood floors. He got out a towel to give Maddie rides, but after she was in bed he started goofing off on it, dancing and sliding all over the place. He is a real kid at heart! Pretty soon he was turning up the music and reminiscing about the days when he was young and he and his siblings would dance on their wood floors in the dark with flashlights as strobe lights! He was crazy, but it got us all laughing and a hilarious dance party ensued.

Another day we visited Niagra Springs for a picnic.
Maddie explored the old Ford truck with Grandpa.

The babe was much better on the way home than the way up... she has a much harder time sleeping in the car now that her seat is forward. Her books helped a little!

We missed Noelle, Zak, and Emrie... it has been awhile since we were all together! Why can't we just live closer?!?!? Being with family is my favorite place to be.