8 states, 2 national parks, and 5 hotels...

...and we are still sane, but barely. Rhone and I flew into Mississippi on last Monday, the packers/movers came Tuesday and Wednesday we were on our way to Delaware. The trip was so quick, so I wasn't able to see very many people in MS, so sorry if we missed you. The road trip went well and we were able to do a little sight seeing along the way.

The first stop (well fun stop) was the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. It is the most visited National Park (over 9 million people visit each year). The Park was pretty, but the surrounding towns were so touristy, it was absolutely crazy.

At the top of Newfound Gap (too bad we have a new relative next to Ben and the Smokey Mountains is cut out of the picture)

Taking a break on the Appalachian Trail

Hiking the Appalachian Trail ( not all 2,175 miles ;)

I also requested that we see the Shenandoah National Park. So we detoured out of the way and spent the night at a little quaint and cheap motel right out side the park. I'm glad we did because the drive through the park was beautiful. The park was established right as the mainstream public was using the automobile, so the park is designed with around 75 overlooks as the road travels through the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was quiet, slow paced, and beautiful so hopefully we'll make it back there for some camping.

The Elkton Motel

One of the parks overlooks. The rock wall was built by CCC boys during the depression.

Big Meadow in the Shenandoah Park

I was shocked to see how many cars came to Shenandoah the first year it was open.

One of the deer we saw in the park.

We were also able to see Ben's sister and her family that is living in the Washington DC area. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures, but it will be fun to be closer to some family.

last one

This is our last post from Idaho and probably our last one for a while since we'll be on the move to Delaware. Rhone and I are flying to Mississippi tomorrow to meet up with Ben and get ready for the move. Here are a few other fun things we've done while we've been home.

Manual Labor and Shooting
A trip home would not be complete for me without putting in or tearing out some barbed wire fence and a some clay target practice with our shotguns. Here my dad and I are tying off one of the wires. I am done with my google job and I found it so refreshing to be tired and sweaty after a day of work. Nothing beats being able to look at what you have accomplished that day.


Rhone's First Camping Trip
Most little boys probably have their first camping trip with their dads, but not Rhone. Brock (my brother) and I went camping up North Canyon. We loaded up our gear and drove the 1975 International Scout- it couldn't have been better. My parent's came up for dinner with us and then they headed home. We didn't see another person the whole time we were there. It was beautiful and Rhone was perfect the whole time, he even slept in until 8:30 the next morning.

Brock and Rhone (notice Rhone is actually wearing shoes)

My family around the campfire.

We aren't sure if Rhone is admiring the fire or the huge hot dog.

Showing off my monster hot dog- that is a hoagie bun not a little hot dog bun and it's still hanging over the edges.

Rhone spent the whole night in his own sleeping bag.

Rhone's First Fishing Trip (fly fishing, of course)
My parents have a wood drift boat that we can launch at Daniels Reservoir. Friday morning we went fishing before it got too hot. We could see a few huge trout cruising around beneath us and we had a few bites, but we never landed anything. It was still fun to be out on the water and brush up on casting. When we were getting the boat back on the trailer the fish and game officers stopped and talked to my mom and checked to see if we had licenses. Before they left one of them asked my mom if Rhone had done any rowing because he sure has the guns for it. It is so funny how many people comment about my little Rhone's weight.

Rhone and my mom in the boat.

My dad fishing while I'm rowing.

Swimming
Rhone has gone swimming almost everyday since we have been here. (It's always more fun to swim when Grandma and Grandpa Rose let Rhone fill up his pool with warm water from the hot water heater ;) He is quite the little performer as you can see in the video below. As soon as everyone claps he starts kicking again. He is floating on his back, I'm just making sure he doesn't fall in.

It has been so fun to be home. We are so blessed to have such a great family especially my parents who have taken excellent care of us for the last month and a half. Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to visit with us and make our time here great. It still does feel like home!

a little get-together

Rhone and I were finally able to meet up with Ben's family for a little visit. Ben's parents, sister, and his brother and his family were able to meet us. It always fun to see family especially since Rhone is at an age where he is changing so much and his cousin Jacob is only a few months older than him.

Our first adventure was a trip to Antelope Island. It's funny that I have lived so close to it, but have never really been there. There was some great scenery that evening, but we were able to see only 1 of the estimated 500-700 bison that are on the island (and no antelope- go figure). I also learned that the salinity of the Great Salt Lake varies between 4-27% compared the the oceans 3%. No wonder nothing lives in that water but brine shrimp.

Grandmommy showing off her muscles holding Jacob and Rhone

Our up close encounter with a buffalo

Grandad and Rhone

Rhone and I at sunset over the Great Salt Lake

We also spent a little time at Hill Air Force Base. I remember a time when I hated going to base- it just felt to weird and I felt so uncomfortable, but now it's funny how a commissary has a familiar feeling. We spent most of our time at the Aerospace museum on base. It was pretty big and I learned some new things about aviation history. Most of the planes were fighters (probably because you can get a lot more of them in a building than cargo and re-fuelers) however there was one tribute to the C-5, it's landing gear. We ate some yummy food and spent some time in the pool, but I forgot my camera, so hopefully Ben's mom got some good pictures of swimming.

Rhone loved riding with Aunt Gabi and I loved not carrying Rhone.

Rhone with the C5 landing gear behind him to the left

Can you believe that Ben flies such an expensive machine? When I told him about this sign he just replied that, "it is a pretty complicated set up". Speaking of Ben tomorrow is his last day of survival school (I know he's happy its almost done)! Saturday he'll be flying back to Mississippi.

out with the girls

Every year my mom's family has a girls trip- this includes my granny all my aunts and cousins (well plus Rhone this year). We usually go somewhere fun like Jackson, Yellowstone, Park City, ect. This year we were only able to have a girls day because everyone's schedules were busy and my gramps just had his hip replaced. We meet up for breakfast then we had a fun fashion show. We dressed up in clothes and jewelry that were my granny's. She told us where she had worn them and funny stories about the outfits. It was really a lot of fun. We did a little shopping and watched "The Proposal". Rhone was a pretty good sport for sitting through a chick flick (of course he had plenty of cereal, books, and toys to keep him entertained). For dinner we ate Indian. I haven't had Indian food in a while and it was spicy but delicious . A few of the pictures are below, for all of the outfits you can click here.

The whole gang dressed up.

My mom in Granny's 1975 mint green pant suit, she had these huge earring that matched perfect. I am wearing Granny's engagement dress from the late 1950's.

half a year already

I cannot believe that Rhone is 6 months old. It went by so fast, but it has been so much fun. Every week he learns some new sound to make. Right now he makes the sound of a "d" all the time. You might find this hard to believe but Rhone is slimming down, he's lost a few tummy rolls and I can feel his ribs when I pick him up. He has a new found love of fresh peaches and anything that everyone else is eating. He ate a whole one at one setting. He isn't crawling yet, but that doesn't mean he isn't mobile. He loves being outside, attention, and splashing in water.

Rhone has learned that if he leans he can get a better view and now his balance is good enough he doesn't tip over. My uncle was nice enough to take a few 6 month pictures of Rhone. If you're interested you can see the rest of them here

Rhone at Antelope Island

This is one of Rhone's toe push-ups, nothing is on the ground but hands and toes.

The joys of Rhone feeding himself. He loves it and so do I except the messes. He thinks cheetos are delish.

Notice he even managed to get some on his forehead and it is smeared all over the tray.

Being 6 months is hard work, luckily we (my mom is the best) convince him to sneak in a few cat naps.