This will be one of those posts where it's easier to tell stories in pictures and captions than it is with full paragraphs. In short, we spent three days as a family in Boise and we did all the things. It was perfect. I really like our family right now.

On to the photos:

The Boise Zoo. We saw animals and stuff.

That's not a real elephant. You can tell because of the metal tusks. And trunk. And face.

Still looking at animals. It was actually a pretty good afternoon. Also, the three older kids and I walked to the zoo from the hotel on a pathway that follows the river. It was a really nice walk. 

I had to take a photo of this, because what kind of sick person puts a giraffe skull on a stake inside of a giraffe enclosure? Is this supposed to be a warning of consequences if the giraffe doesn't behave? It probably belonged to their mom or something. It just seemed particularly medieval to me. 

Still looking at animals

Hanging out while Rachel and Lindsey ride the carrousel. This is us helping her to hold onto her childhood just a little bit longer.

Hey look- we're prairie dogs! I actually got more enjoyment out of these tunnels than I care to admit. 

The butterfly garden was a favorite for most everybody.

Freak Alley. This was one of my favorite places that we went. Street art at its finest. Seriously.

Lindsey likes goats

I wonder where she gets it from

This one and the next one look similar, but they are actually from two different things. Above, you see a group of us at a "Broadway in the Park" event. A few different local groups basically just did showtunes for two hours. We loved it!.

And this one is from a different festival thing that we came across by the capitol building. I don't really know what it was for. We were just walking around and we heard live music playing so we joined in the fun for a couple hours. Also, I love Rachel's crazy eyes in this photo. 

These two have been spending lots of time together recently. It's funny how kids form little groups. 

Dear Evan Hansen. This play was the original reason that we went to Boise in the first place. Everything else was just accessory. Rachel and I saw this in New York a few years ago and we really wanted to share it with our kids. It definitely did not disappoint. I think everyone shed a few tears, laughed a lot, and came away with the very mixed emotions that one would expect from such a show.

The traditional pre-show meal. Notably, Jackson said that this dinner was his favorite part of the whole weekend.

This may be my favorite photo that we took on the entire trip, and it was completely un-planned. I had crossed the street first, and then I looked behind me and just had to pull out the camera. Just look at our family. "BOSS" is the word that first comes to mind.  Each of them look like they are walking down a runway, full of confidence and poise. I mean, watch out world, here we come. I love it.

But that isn't all. I also notice, behind everyone else, a little seven-year-old who is trying her very hardest to keep up and just isn't quite there yet. Oh, my Lindsey- how true this is on so many levels. Sometimes I have to remind myself that she is still just seven, still acts like she is seven, and that she still likes seven-year-old things, even if the rest of us have grown out of them. What a sweetie. Don't worry Lindz...we'll wait for you :)

After a really busy day in warm weather, most people wanted to chill out at the hotel for a while. Not us though! Rachel, Addy, and I went to the Boise Art Museum, aka BAM!, and had a wonderful time. Everyone else missed out.

At the BAM they are pretty strict on the no-photos thing, so I took this one of Rach and Addy looking at the outside of the building. The inside things were better though.

There was a T-Rex exhibit at the science museum. We didn't even know about it until we drove by and saw a poster and Ev screamed "Dinosaurs! I love dinosaurs!" and I about jumped out of my seat, and then caught my breath and then the next day we were there. It was worth it.

Maybe Evelyn has a little bit of childhood still hiding under the surface.

Besides the dinosaurs, there were other things that you would expect from a science/discovery museum. Sort of a laboratory playground.

They worked way too hard for this picture. You had to be there.

Let it be known that I got the top score for a balance game thing. Here I am in all my glory. This is a master at work.

Everything on the internet said that we needed to visit the old jail. Even Rachel's hairdresser gave us the recommendation. So we went. It was haunting and disturbing. I've never completely understood the cultural fixation on retributive justice.

As part of the jail tour, we also got admission into the Weapons Museum, "One of the nation’s largest collections of historic arms and military memorabilia." It is astounding and sickening to me the number of ways people have of killing each other.

*****

Alright- I think that about covers the main activities of the weekend. As you can see, we packed a lot in. There were also several moments in-between though, that I want to remember. Because trips like this are often about the in-between. Sure, you keep yourself busy along the way- but it's the little things that sometimes make the best memories.

The kids all wanted to walk around the campus at ISU. Here we are at the student union building. Addy is pretty convinced that this is where she wants to go to school. She even knows what dorm she wants to live in.

A lot of us were a little skeptical at first when Rachel brought us to this street-taco stand outside of an "adults only" establishment. As soon as we started eating though, all doubts were cast aside.

Just a little moment I happened to capture as people took a break in their day. I have to say, I feel like my ability to recognize and record candid moments like this has improved over the years. Also, on a personal level, I feel like being able to see it has also helped me to appreciate it. As I took this photo I was just thinking again about how cool it is that we all like hanging out with each other. Hopefully we can hang on to that as long as possible.

Evelyn orchestrated this photo outside of our hotel. I like peek-a-boo Maren.

We stumbled onto a VW convention at the park while eating a picnic lunch. Rachel decided that this will be our home one day after the economy crashes and we lose everything we have. I say, not bad. Bring it on!

Rachel and I snuck out on two occasions after putting kids to bed- both times to this wonderful little restaurant near our hotel called Barbacoa. Amazing atmosphere, thoughtfully prepared and presented food, and top notch service were all combined to make one of the more interesting dining experiences I have had in recent memory.

Ok- I think that does it. It was a wonderful weekend!

Have a good week!

This is one of those difficult weeks where there is more than one event that I want to focus on. Really, the biggest thing is Evelyn's trip to New York and Washington DC. I mean, how does one even compare with that? At the same time, I am excited to recognize Maren and Adalie's hard work in dance class. They were able to take part this week in the production of "Neverland," a ballet based on the Peter Pan story. They did a great job, and they made some great friends along the way. If you are reading this, just take a quick second to appreciate these two awesome girls before scrolling down to Evelyn's photos.

These first two are professionally taken photos from the studio

Here they are on the night of the performance. In case it's not super obvious, they were pirates. And, like all pirates, they do hip-hop dance and have a lot of attitude.

This is one of their good friends who was also a pirate.

And here we are getting ready for the show. It was a good night out.

*****

Ok. Now, it is time for that spotlight to switch back to Ev. She worked super hard all year to earn money for this trip with her friends. We told her that we would pay half, but she had to come up with the rest on her own. Between school fund-raisers, selling her home-made jewelry, and a doing whole lot of babysitting, she was able to come up with her end of things. And according to her, it was more than worth it. "Even better than I thought it would be" is the official report. Here are her photos. I might even convince her to write a few captions. (Follow-up note: She did the italicized portion of the captions)

The core friend group. These are all really cool kids. Seriously. There were others who went, but this is who Ev spends most of her time with. Also, that is Thomas Jefferson lurking in the background. Creeper.

 

Ev and Vix enjoying a sunset in D.C. with a beautiful view of the Washington Monument. 

A large crystal. Ev has a thing for crystals.

Lincoln Memorial with Evelyn 

Art? Ev really wanted me to include this photo of Vix. When I asked what was so special about a white canvas she says "It just really speaks to me you know? It's more then a white canvas. It represents so many different ideas and it just called out to me." 

Some friends of Evelyn's were bored while waiting for a restaurant and so they took a photo of their legs because apparently that's what you do in that situation. Notice that Ev is the only one wearing pants. A girl after my own heart.

Though the days were long and action-packed, hanging out in the hotel room with friends was definitely a big part of the trip.

Ev and Vix with their outfits- they're ready to take on the town!

One of Ev's friends bought this dancing cactus at a souvenir shop and the cactus, later deemed Jimmy, was quickly as close a friend as any. 
As close as any? Well, that relationship escalated quickly!

Many beautiful photos taken from the street as Ev was driving into New York but this was her favorite. New York is such a beautiful place. 

A photo that Ev took from the Top of the Rock at night. She said it was unsettling that she couldn't see stars. (The lights in the sky that you can see are airplanes).

Stunning view of the city from the ferry taking the group to the statue of liberty. 

Ready for Beetlejuice on Broadway!

Ev and one of her closest friends, Vix, ready for Broadway!

I wish she would have taken a photo in front of this display while holding a playbill, because that is my tradition. Apparently many of Ev's friends were very jealous that she got to see this play. 

A couple selfies taken of these two. There were many taken, but these two were easily my favorite of them. 

Gunther the Bus was an important member of the party. He didn't always follow the rules though.

*****

While Ev was gone, we didn't stop doing things at home. Like we mentioned, Addy and Maren had their performance. We also did a few other things.

Rachel and Jackson did a fishing derby. They didn't win, but they had a great time together.

Addy, Jack, and Maren all saved up enough money to buy an X-Box. I have mixed feelings about that, but it's their money I guess. I'm pretty sure that this is what things in the family room will look like for the foreseeable future. Also, they own the gaming console, but I still own and control the TV, so there is that :)

The bunny home got an upgrade. It will be nice for them to have a little bit of extra space.

Rachel and I went to see the play "Murder on the Orient Express." It was a fun mystery and something I haven't seen before. Pretty fun night!

Alright- have a good week!