The Hazard Chronicles

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!