Route to the Hia"walk"a

I saw this thing on PBS about railway lines in Idaho that had been turned in to paths for bikers and hikers. The Route to the Hiawatha looked amazing! It's starts at Lookout pass and trail runs through Idaho and Montana. It's 14.4 miles with 10 tunnels and 7 trestles. I told Brad next time we were up in northern Idaho we were going to ride the Hiawatha trail. I got my wish last Thursday. We journey up through northern Idaho every June on our way to visit family in Washington, so this year we planned a few extra days so we could fit in time to do the Hiawatha. Once the family got wind of our plan we had everyone on board to go. Our group consisted of 9 adults on bikes, 2 kids on bikes, and 7 kids in bike trailers.
My niece Kaylee kept calling it the "Hiawalka" instead of Hiawatha, which actually turned out to be a fitting name. Along the trail there were some in our party who opted to walk from time to time to give their bums a rest from the hard bike seats. We did 7.3 miles and then turned around. In total we rode 14.6 miles, so we did the length of the trail we just didn't go all the way to the end. (The shuttle service wasn't running because of snow on some of the mountain roads and we weren't up for riding over 28 miles with 9 kids and no padded seats on the bikes:)

If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it! (I think I can talk Brad into going again next year!)

Millie and Lexi weren't big fans of the helments.

St. Paul Pass Tunnel 1.66 miles long. Cody (almost 7) asked, "So are we riding ALL the way through this mountian?"

Most of the group

Taking off the helmets plus the dark tunnel put them right to sleep.

Yes, we rode on that bridge.

Looking down from a trestle

Brad in one of the shorter tunnels (Go towards the light...)

The four little girls mostly happy after a long ride.

Mmmm Mountain rocks are better than regular rocks.

I'm Blue

My sister-in-law, Audrey, and I thought it would be fun to get prints of the girls' hands and feet for their scrapbooks. The project turn out to be a little more involved then we imagined but we all had a great time. Camille and Alli enjoy being together (for the most part) and had their first shared bath afterwards. A little messy

Blue feet

I'm branded. (one of the best hand prints of the day. Too bad it was on my arm!)

Clean up time.

Future Reality TV Star

Camille could totally handle being on Survivor. She's not afraid to kill her own food before eating it. However, she does like to make sure her food is all the way dead before partaking so she might not be a good candidate for Fear Factor.

Success

suc·cess (sək-sěs') n.
The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.

Today I saw success.

I had to run into Broulim's to pick up a few items. I wasn't looking forward to this as I had not showered or officially gotten (is that a real word?) ready for the day. I made it through the aisles without spotting anyone I knew. (Phew!) Then at the checkout I realized the person in front of me was a former student of mine. (Great!) I took quick note of his ensemble and felt a little better. He was wearing a old t-shirt, basketball shorts, and cowboy boots. (Yes, in Rigby basketball shorts with cowboy boots is not unheard of.) Anyhow, back to the real story. We struck up a conversation during which he said I was his favorite teacher (Oh, flattery I love it. Does he realize I'm no longer grading him?) and tells me how he remembers the Bill of Rights then proceeds to recited our precious amendments to me. I smiled all the way home. I have seen success. (Even if it is just one student remembering one lesson I taught. That's enough for me!)

Viewer Discretion Advised

Disclaimer: This post is not intended for the weak of stomach.

I'll try not to be too descriptive or use great detail. I had purchased some foam stickers when I was babysitting so that the kids would have something to do. Once I found Camille chewing on one and reemphasized the fact that we need to be careful about what was dropped or left on the floor. All the kids were greatly concerned because "Sister Wilding, we don't want Camille to choke or die." (I guess I said that a lot.)

Yesterday, I was changing Mil's poopie diaper after her nap. (Once you have kids conversations about poop increase dramatically!) When what to my surprise there was something mixed in with the poop that I'd never seen before. It was a little green foam sheep (see picture*). There is only one way the sheep could have gotten into Millie's diaper. I guess I'm a really disgusting person because instead of throwing the diaper away immediately I left it on the changing table so I could show Brad. (Hey at least I didn't take a picture of the poop!)

*not the actual sheep but one just like it.

Reflecting back on this experience:

1. Camille could have choke on the sheep but didn't.

2. It could have caused a terrible stomachache/disgestive problems but didn't.

3. It was mostly still intact, so not to much of an unknown substance was digested into her system.

So in the end I guess I'm really glad that I found a green foam sheep in Mildew's diaper.

Finger painting

Averi singing while finger painting today: "Jesus wants me to be messy" (To the tune of Jesus wants me for a sunbeam)

Sleepy Heads

Sunday Morning

6:30- Camille yelling from her crib for us. (You got to be kidding me! She should be asleep for another hour.) I decide to get her, give her a bottle and let her lay with us while she drinks it. (I know she's still tried and hoping for her to fall asleep while eating.)

6:38- the bottle is empty and Camille is ready to play. (Crawling all over us, honking our noses and grabbing our eyes.)

6:40- Okay she's too cute. We give in and play.

6:50- I decide so long as Brad's there to entertain her I just as well hop in the shower and start getting ready for church.

7:05 - I emerge from the bathroom to find this:

I KNEW she was still tried!!

A girl after my own "hart"

Genetics is a funny thing. I like HOT water. I love to take a shower and come out red. My mom can wash dishes in practically boiling water and I have at least one sister who also likes to look like a lobster when she emerges from the shower. So why all these details? We took Camille swimming recently. As you can see she wasn't a fan of the lukewarm pool water but LOVED the hot tub.
She actually ended up really liking swimming. I think the water just took a little getting use too/ it was close to bedtime/ she was being a bit of a mommy's girl that night.

A little kid once told me

I've been watching a few extra kids lately. Which brings the total of little bodies in my house to 6 kids ages 4 and under. (Yes I'm crazy but only one of those is actually mine!) Anyway, amongst all the refereeing, diaper changes, food on the floor, and snotty noses we actually have a pretty good time. Those kids say the darnest things:

"I have a headache, right here on my leg." (Aiden age 3)

"Heavenly Father sticks out his tongue." (Averi age 4, after she said a naughty word that I told her Heavenly Father doesn't want her to say.)

That was just today's conversations. Those kids know how to make me smile. (Heaven help me if the other four learn to talk.)

Tim the Tool Man Taylor?

No, it's Brad the Brilliant Builder.

Because Camille can do this...

We had to build this...

(By we I mean Brad. This is 100% his handy work.)