If this summer is a roller coaster then we just did the part where it plunges you into a free-fall, looping around twice and doing a triple corkscrew- all at the same time!

It has been a while since we crammed so much activity into so few days. Those who follow this blog know that for us, that means something crazy happened. And it did. It was crazy good.

Rachel's whole family was able to come up and spend the week at our place. Sixteen people under one roof. The preparations had all been laid ahead of time, we had tons of ideas lined up because of where we live, and as a result the reunion went off without a hitch. It was even better than I expected.

The activities we did provided a picturesque backdrop to the conversations we had and the memories we made. Old relationships were strengthened, and new ones were formed. We went to bed each night completely worn out from the day's activities, and woke each morning ready for new ones. There was time for both adventure and for relaxation, with lots of good food in between.

What a week!

Get ready for pictures!
(Note: I think that if you click on any of the pictures then a larger, higher resolution version of that same picture will come up.)

We eased into the reunion with some simple activities. Huckleberries are in full season right now and we thought it would be nice to collect some for easy snacks. Unfortunately, other people had the same idea in the spot where we decided to go and there were none left. What we did find though, were lots and lots of wild raspberries- in my opinion, even better!

There are tons of beautiful trails that wind along the lake and into the forest. This particular one ends at a park with a huge splash pad and playground. All together, these are perfect activities for working up an appetite for Gooeys!

On Thursday night we got a babysitter for the kids so all of the adults could get out together. We went to the marina and ate good food while listening to live music and taking turns on the dance floor. As the night wore on we moved to the beach area where we sat and talked while watching the dwindling light of sunset dance across the water. It was a beautiful evening.

Since our cellphone pictures turned out so good during the adult night, we thought we'd try again the next evening with all the kids. It turned out pretty good (mostly).

On Saturday we were feeling nice and rested so we packed up our mountain bikes and set out for the hills. "The Route of the Hiawatha" is an extremely scenic path built over what used to be an old railroad. As such, the grade is gentle, the features (tunnels and bridges) are interesting, and the landscapes are striking.

One thing about the bike ride- it was a beautiful day, which meant that we all got a little bit warm. The next three days would be spent pretty much entirely in the water.

First of all, a little swimming. We had to get used to the water.

Fish!

On your marks.....get set....

...GO!

I kinda have a hot wife :)

Then we went out onto the lake for some boating. Not much to say here- lots of hours on the water. Lots of good times.

I have never met anybody as passionate about boating as Brandon. He looks like a sailor.

Addy just chillin' on the deck

Lunch time!

After our first day on the lake we all decided to go to Paul Bunyan for dinner. As far as I am concerned, this place should be famous. Best burgers and shakes ever.

More lake time. I'd say that on this day more time was spent in the water than on the boat.

Kaylee had her birthday a little while ago, but we decided to celebrate it as a family...because why not have two birthdays? Any excuse for a cupcake.

In short, we had a fantastic week that was full of good things. I feel like I got to know people better than I did before, and that I have new memories with them to keep these relationships fresh. It's good to be a direct part of each other's lives, if only for a week, to remind us how important our family is. These are our people- our tribe.

"The Originals"

Have a good week!

Well, our little roller coaster of  a schedule has continued to careen through the turns of summer and has pulled us in many different directions this week. At times we felt upside-down. Others, we could't tell which way we were facing. But time races on, and we are still here.

Rachel's family arrives in two days for the Almond reunion. I went shopping this week for food and ended up buying a second refrigerator/freezer just to have a place to put it all. Both our boat and Brandon's have had issues recently, but they are both looking like they'll be in shape. (Someone said something about boats being a money pit...they were right. But it's a worthwhile pit). Plans are all laid, and I think we'll come away with some good memories.

We needed to make some space in our garage for the new fridge, so Jackson and I built these bike racks. I'd say they turned out pretty good.

Besides getting ready for the reunion, Rachel has been gone pretty much all week in Vancouver for an interpreting conference. Her friends and her all went in together on an AirBNB and I think they had a fun time.

Meanwhile, I went to work while the kids were at a week-long summer camp.

This is the only picture I have from the camp with one of our kids in it. Way to represent, Maren!

On Friday we had one of my favorite days of the year as far as my job is concerned. Free Dental Day! I have written about this event in the past so I won't go on about it too much here. Let's just say that it was a rewarding day.

Me with my Post Falls team. Seriously, I couldn't ask for better people to work with. I love this team and they make it easy to go to work each day...even when other things make it not so easy sometimes.

Over the weekend, the city of Post Falls did their big annual celebration of...well...themselves. We live in a cool place, and that is worth celebrating, right? So, three full days of parades, vendors, beaches, food, and community. Good times.

Lindsey took part in the annual big-wheel race. She didn't win, but she still got a ribbon and a free Happy Meal. That was good enough for her.

Swimming

It's all about the free stuff. Just ask Jackson. What on earth is he going to do with all these lanyards? "Oh, you know...tie things up." Great. I can't wait.

Have a good week!

The most awkward picture of Lindsey ever

Note: While I have been pretty consistent posting on here once per week, the pace of our activities has recently taken an upswing. Consequentially, I will be doing several posts in a pretty short period of time. So...if you are one of our many adoring fans that likes to keep updated on every aspect of our public lives (including our family reunion), then go back and make sure you didn't miss anything.

*****

What does summer mean to you? It sounds like a cheap back-to-school writing assignment. But really, think about it.

Is it a drink in your hand, back up against the burning sand, probably getting gorgeously tanned? Is it bowling in the arcade? Is it strolling, while you drink lemonade? Is it fishing in a stream while you lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Or a perfect song on the radio? A smile? A kiss? Strawberry wine? No shirt, no shoes?  Or just standing on your mama's porch, thinking it'll last forever.

Is it listing song lyrics because you have some downtime at work and it makes you feel clever? (bonus to whoever knows all the above references)

But really, summertime has a certain feel to it that has inspired art and music for a reason. It's sentimental and lazy and full of life all at the same time. I found that feeling last week in Post Falls. I'll describe it to you.

*****

Picture a nice marina, with a dock leading up to a patio and a sandy beach off to the side. It is the time of day that photographers call "the golden hour," with the sun starting to touch down on the water casting everything in a soft, warm glow. At the beach are families playing- swimming, sand castles, Frisbee, volleyball. Further out are people on paddle-boards or kayaks. Boats are slowly coming and going from their slips, people happy just to be out on this beautiful evening.

On the patio there is a band with a great guitarist. Music fills the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and smells of food. People are up dancing, completely taken up by the relaxed atmosphere. Others are sitting at tables taking it all in, some with drinks, some with fresh grilled meals or appetizers, and all talking with friends and enjoying each other's company.

All of this, the sights, the sounds, the activity, the smells...this is Summer to me. I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times again- I love where we live.

The only thing that would have made the scenario better would be if Rachel was there to dance with me.

*****

Remember in the last post how I had to go back home to work while everyone else went down to Utah? Yeah. Well, I worked. But I played too. And relaxing in the Summer haze was only a part of that.

On Friday night after work I drove up to the trail-head for a climb I have been wanting to do for a long time. Chimney rock loomed up in the twilight as if it were a giant finger, beckoning me onward to discover its hidden secrets.

The next morning I started bright and early, working up a light sweat on the six mile hike up to the base. It was a pretty hike in the North Idaho wilderness, and once again I was thankful that I had this place as my backyard.

Once there, I switched out my trail-runners for technical climbing shoes, and three short pitches later (easy fifth class) I was standing on top of the world. It was an exhilarating morning in a beautiful location. I was back in Sandpoint in time for a big lunch, followed by a much-needed nap under a shade tree by the lake.

Summit!

Have a good week!

*Deep breath*

I don't even know where to start this post. Summer is in full swing and we have so much going on and I don't feel like it's even possible to get everything out there right now. Since I last wrote, we have visited my sister's farm in Southern Idaho, had a family reunion in Rexburg, and gone to another family reunion in Utah. I did an awesome hike/climb that I want to talk about, our kids started summer camp today, our annual free dentistry event is in just a few days, and Rachel leaves tomorrow for a week-long interpreting conference. Two days after she gets back, we will have a packed house for another family reunion which we are hosting here.

Summers are fun.

But there is no way I am going to cover all of this stuff in one post.

*****

Alright then. Let's go back to Friday, June 29th. On that day, Rachel got all the kids in the car and headed out for Rexburg in the middle of the afternoon. I stayed to finish my work day, and then followed her in my car just a few hours later. The vacation had started.

After a leisurely morning at my parent's house the next day, we all got back into our cars and made the short trip to Courtney and Rick's farm home on the outskirts of Twin Falls. Upon arrival we were hit with the smells of the farm (not altogether unpleasant), the sounds of children playing, and the smiling faces of family who were involved in a game of volleyball. There was a bounce-house setup in the back, and food cooking in the kitchen.

Courtney lives in the house her husband grew up in, and on land that was in the family long before that. The entire property is permeated with an engaging sense of "story" - like it fits into a greater narrative, each doorway glimpsing into the past while simultaneously anticipating the future.

Just down the road from their land is a historic homestead that was a landmark on the old Oregon Trail. We went and visited it, entering into the lives of the early settlers and imagining how things must have been.

I have to admit, the world of trucks, guns, quads, animals, and crops is one that I don't step into very often. It's a novelty to me, and as such, retains a certain charm that adds that much more to the experience. On Sunday afternoon as we sat around with extended family, children running wild, meat on the grill, wide open spaces all around us, it all hit me. The food, the laughter, the friends- I suddenly felt satiated of a certain thirst that I didn't even recognize I had- one that yearned for a slower, simpler lifestyle, steeped in the history and experience of those who had gone before.

It was nice and we had a wonderful time. Thank you Courtney and Rick, for being such great hosts.

The bounce house was a hit with the kids

Guns. So, I would officially starve to death if grocery stores were to go extinct.

Evelyn and I escaped for a quick ride around the fields.

My grandma and grandpa with sweet little Hazel Joy- Courtney's new baby that was blessed that day in church.

*****

After visiting the farm we all drove back to my parent's place in Rexburg to continue our reunion.

I have to say, these events have become difficult for me to write about because they are always so full of activity that it is easy to get swamped into describing what "happened" rather than what it all "meant." This second question, I think, deserves a lot more time that it is usually given. So let me just say this:

We had fun. We did stuff. Fun stuff. The stuff was fun. Good fun. Good stuff. Good, fun stuff.

But more importantly, we did it together. There's a bunch of us now, with brothers and sisters and kids and aunts and uncles, and cousins, and regardless of what we were doing, we had a chance to reconnect with each other. Don't get me wrong- I think the good, fun stuff was an important backdrop and catalyst to these ongoing relationships. But, as always, the real story is in the people. In the small conversations that last into the night- in the hugs- in the fights and reconciliations- in the games- in the children- in becoming, if only briefly, a more tangible part of each other's lives than we do on a regular basis. I think that good relationships are one of the most worthwhile investments into long-term satisfaction and fulfillment in life, and because of this, I love that we do these reunions.

My family is awesome. On to the pictures.

This first set is from a swimming pool and hot springs area that we went to. The kids loved the big water slide. My favorite memory here was watching all the little kids attack uncle Clayson in the pool and thinking "Gee- I'm glad that's not me." He was a good sport.

I had to include this next one. One staple of family reunions is an endless supply of snack foods. So much, that sometimes it gets out of hand and kids forget that nutrition is a thing. I think that Haley was onto something when she put this sign around Callahan's neck.

"The Gravity Zone" is a business in Rexburg that is part bounce-house, part ninja warrior training course, and part gymnastics gym. Everyone had a good time. And by the way- Addy could be a gladiator. She dominated among the kids.

A new way to solve marital disputes?

Playing dress-up never gets old. This next one comes from a fashion show the kids put on for us. Jackson was a "rock star."

On July 3rd, Lindsey became a 4-year-old! As our only kid with a summer birthday, she is going to have to learn to celebrate while on the road. Ask me how I know. Also, I am so glad that she had finally outgrown the "threes," as she is easily the most mischievous child we have had. She is also a spunky little firecracker who still runs to give me hugs when I walk in the door and asks to read stories while cuddling. I love this little Linzy-Binz.

So, the town of Rexburg treats independence day the same as Times Square treats New Year's. They go all out. For such a small town, the parade is one of the best I've been to. The only reason anybody isn't watching it is because they are in it. That night we did the best homespun firework show in history, thanks to Matt who brought a whole truck-bed full of flashy explosives. Good times.

It got loud. Jackson was a sweet brother.

Photo credits on the last two to Matt and Haley- I took them from Facebook so the quality isn't there, but I thought they were great pictures. 

Unfortunately for me, I had to head back home on the 4th to work the next day. Almost everyone else continued the vacation by driving to Utah for a different reunion. Rachel will write about that at a later time. As for now, I just have to say thanks to my family for being the best ever.

Have a good week!

We did family pictures too. Here are preliminary results. Stay tuned.