Idaho Summer

Dad and Preston knot tying.

 It has been a few years since we had a "real" visit at my Mom's house in the summer time.  My family always has a big reunion in the summer--though never at my parents house-- so our summertime visits to Idaho are mostly spent with the Hill clan so we can see them.  This was a brief visit like always, but it was absolutely perfect.  I love a good Idaho summer evening.   Yummy dutch oven dinner, tree climbing and swinging.  Dad tied knots with Preston as he often does. I enjoyed  the restful sunset.  We played "Run my Sheep-ie Run!" and the kids had "Pony Kid" rides.  The best surprise came early the next morning when Preston came and asked me if he could go help Grandpa on the tractor! Both kids were up, dressed, and out the door in a flash.  I lumbered out of bed to follow and take pictures.  This was the tractor my Daddy gave me rides on as a little girl.  This is the tractor I crashed into a fence when I was 7.  Good memories on this thing.  I remember being dumped out of the bucket onto the trampoline multiple times and the thrill in my heart of riding up and down in the the cool Idaho wind.  Sometimes we used it to pick apples out of Grandma's orchard--quite the man lift huh?  Anyway I loved sharing the experience with my kids on one of Grandpa's famous tractor rides. The old beast has been out of commission or it has been the wrong season each time we have traveled to Idaho for the last several years--so it was a first for Rebekah, and the first one Preston remembers (I took him once when he was about 1).  It was much scarier as a Mom then as a little girl.  I was shaking pretty bad (as the video attests!)

 Favorite part of this-- When Preston offers to hold my hand!

 Helping in Grandma's salad and berry garden

My Dad wanted to take the kids to see the chicks, turkeys and ducks at the Co-op.  We are totally city slickers. I was taking pictures of them in the store.  Burke was totally embarrassed by me I think.  Rebekah was so sad we couldn't take a duck home :(