A visit from Seattle.

Another Spring highlight was a "surprise" visit from Shelly's Dad and Step Mom. They decided to take a trip from Seattle to Zion and the Grand Canyon. While the one day visit was not long enough, it was nice to catch up with them and show them some of our recent home projects.

Winter Wonderland

We decided to celebrate the long President's Day weekend by leaving the snowless Boise valley and driving an hour and a half north to Donnelly, ID. Our neighbors graciously offered to let us enjoy their cabin and what we found was a winter wonderland.

The snow was piled up 8ft high around the cabin and a good 4ft everywhere else. The mirrors of our truck scaped the top of the snow banks on each side of the driveway.


Albert and the kids spent most of the daylight hours outside playing in the snow, while Shelly and I enjoyed the warmth and quiet inside the cabin. We did venture outside to build a sled run and throw a few snowballs.

Bryce and Erica in their snowcave!

Wild Elk (kinda)

The day after arriving at the cabin in Donnelly, we decided to go for a horse drawn sleigh ride. The company we found took us on a short sleigh ride that ended in a clearing that is a wintering home to over 120 wild elk.

The elk cautiously approched the stopped sleigh and began to feed on the bales of hay that we were sitting on. We had been instructed to be very still and quiet and reminded that these were wild animals. Hard to believe that you can barely get within a 100 yards of these animals during hunting season before they bolt.

Even a trophy buck!

Talk about up close and personal. This female adult elk, (cow), choose Erica's seat as her choice for a late lunch.

While another younger cow dined inches away from Shelly and Bryce. Both evidentally had to move as the elk continued to nudge them over to get at the warmer hay.

Hot Tubbing

Before leaving the Donnelly area and heading back to Boise, we decided to visit one of our favorite natural hot springs. While Gold Fork is a little more commerical than others, the water is very clean and just the right temperature.

With a variety of pools to choose from you can always find a perfect spot!

The kids liked the sandy bottom pool.

A great place to relax and just soak it all in!

A Bad Day at Bogus

After a great day of skiing and snowboarding to end 2007, Bryce's first run of 2008 didn't go as planned. After what appeared to be a normal fall in soft snow, it quickly became clear that things were beyond a sprained wrist. Bryce had managed to snap the largest bone in his left forearm. The break was displaced which meant a lot of pain for our brave guy and a trip to the operating room. They were able to reset the arm with out surgery and the Doc says he should be back on the slopes in about 4-5 weeks.

Still a little foggy in post op but back in one piece.

Back at home relaxing with Albert.

A Great Day at Bogus

After returning to a valley filled with snow, we were anxious to get up to our local ski resort, Bogus Basin, and hit the powder. We were not disappointed! What a great way to end a great year!

A family shot at the summit!

Bryce carving it up!

Blue skies overhead and light powder everywhere!

Ski buddies - ready for another great run. You take the left, I'll match your turns on the right.

New Years in Boise

The return trip from Seattle to Boise was just as snowy and icy as the trip out and it was nice to be welcomed back home by my folks, Gary & Judy. They arrived just before we left for Seattle and spent Christmas in Cascade with two of dad's sisters and their famlies. It was also nice to see everything covered in a nice blanket of snow. Our first morning back we went for a morning walk along the river, enjoying the sunshine and the crunch of the fresh snow.

Mom and the kids scraped up enough snow to actually make a snow man.

Bryce enjoying some 1 on 2 time with Papa and Nana. Albert is never one to miss out on attention too.

One morning we had a special quest drop by for breakfast. Marilyn is mom's cousin and was in Boise for our upcoming special meeting.