So....a year or two after I moved from Utah to Maryland, my little sister, Tara, and her husband moved to small town Idaho. Even with both of our moves, we were able to see each other probably twice a year when we would both be in Utah. We always tried to make sure that our trips would overlap so that we'd be sure to see each other. During my trip to Utah this summer....I was chatting with my mom a couple of days after my sister had gone home, and I said "what if we take a road trip to T's house?". My mom had been thinking the same thing! They have lived there for 6 years, and I had never been to her house! So...a couple days later we drove up.
The porch swing.
The boys had just been playing together the week before, which I actually think made them more excited to see each other again so soon.
When my mom was growing up, she had an aunt and uncle that lived right on Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho. Going there was her summer vacation, EVERY SUMMER. It just so happens to be about an hour and a half from where my sister lives, so we made sure to make it part of our trip. My mom just got to sit in the shade, hold her brand new granddaughter, and watch 4 of her nutty grandsons play in the lake. She said it was one of the best moments of her life. One of these years we will get ALL the grandkids up there. I'm sure that will top this memory!
My mom is standing in her aunt's old backyard. They've since passed away, and a while back they sold the house to a family friend....so thankfully it didn't seem to strange when my mom and I showed up, walked to the backyard and started taking pictures. We spoke to the new owners, my mom talked about her many, many memories in that yard, and on that dock, and on that old houseboat! It was really neat to be there with my mom and hear her stories from when she was 3 years old!
T, mom, and me. (just missing my big bro and sis)
so grateful for subway sandwiches. :)
