Thomas the Train

We do not own any Thomas the Trains-nada, not a one. She has never even watched the show BUT two of Kate's close friends have all the toys and now Kate is obsessed with trains.
SO it was no surprise when I heard her tell Lauren, "we are going on a train". Having no idea what she was talking about, I went in to ask where they were going. Only then did I discover the "train"

The "train"(great use for an old kitchen)

Here's my stop!

Thank you thank you!

Queenie and Grandad made this the best trip ever! Can't wait to be back next year!

Big Spring and Bear World

Two places we took the girls(besides our BIG visit to Driggs Farmers Market) were Bear World and Big Spring.

Bear World was just perfect. You drive around and see all sorts of "native" animals(especially bears but surprisingly buffalo, moose, and elk as well) and end up at a petting zoo. Last year's trip to Yellowstone taught us that toddlers are not the best day-trip riders. Bear World is a must until they get to be....

The Petting Zoo:

Meeting the goat

Talking to the deer

Trying to pet the chicken

No let's chase them instead

Big Spring is pretty much a bridge where you can see HUGE trout(because you can't fish in that water). We let the girls feed the fish which was a show in itself.

Feeding the fish

Going off the trail

Just following her sister(as usual)

Stylin' for the ride home

Fun in Idaho

The time flew by like no other year. Maybe it was the girls being older(and totally mobile) or that there was never a dull moment. Pics from the days...

Going Fishing

She's ready

Now a fishing couple

Taking Eagle to see the Eagle's nest

Feeding the birds

Feeding the "backyard" birds(and chipmunks, squirels, rockchucks, blue jays, HUGE crows, et al...)

She loved the cool mornings "outside"(her newest word)

What is an afternoon without making cookies?

OR playing in the tunnel(log cabin, kitchen or with the rest of Toys R Us that now has a new location inside Queenie and Grandad's house-the girls faces when they saw it all was like Christmas morning-so fun!).

Making salad(and every night tradition)

Watching the birds

Swinging with mom

Or reading with mom(mom had a slight back injury which limited her days fishing)

Taking baths

Watching the Astros with her Grandad

Our two silly monkeys

Getting to Idaho

We are home from Idaho. We had a ball and the girls are still asking when they are going on "trip to Idaho".

Aunt Funny flew with us up there(thank goodness) and we had some "interesting" seat mates. Here are some airport shots:

After our journey(seat mates are right in front of us-ask me the story later)

Meeting her first moose

Going for a ride

Legos at the airport? Welcome to Jackson Hole

We soon got to Queenie and Grandad's house after a memorable meal at the VI(probably won't go back there next time...).

Going to see the new chairs

Trying them out

All mine (note pen on face...mom mistakenly gave her one on the plane to distract her)

or I can share my bench with Kate

Mom can share too

Cleaning Crew

My new maids...gotta start 'um young...

Setting up

Chased me all over the house saying "Excuse me mom, excuse me mom"

The sous maid

Thumbs and haircuts

We had a weird week of stuff. Kate slammed her thumb in the car door(I had to open the door to get her thumb out!), Dan ALMOST spoke at a city planning meeting(and probably will in September), I spoke at the St David's NICU Parents meeting and saw a baby girl, born that morning at 26 weeks, that SO reminded me of Kate(using a cotton ball because the diapers are still to big for her), and both Kate and I got haircuts. Pics:

Showing me the injury

Comparing thumbs

Didn't hurt her culinary ability

Went to the park (finally a day with out rain!)

Lauren LOVES this slide

Kate LOVES this one

She also likes to climb

and climb,

and then swing.

In the end, the sisters always seem to end up together.