East Idaho State Fair

This may come as a shock to you, but in Idaho, the state fair is a BIG deal.  Everybody talks about it, it last for 10 days, and pretty much everybody goes.  The credit union was sponsoring the fair this year so we got a sweet hookup on tickets.  We got into the fair AND the rodeo for just 5 dollars.  It was a great deal.  I thought the fair was in Idaho Falls, but it wound up being in Blackfoot so we had to drive another 20 minutes.  We almost didn't go because of that but I'm glad we did!

I haven't been to a true fair in years.  We used to go all the time to fair days in Heber, and when they had the fair in Murray as a kid, we would go to that.  It was so fun.  We went to see all the animals and the various fair booths.

The rodeo was waaaaaaaaaay fun!!  I haven't been to a rode on in a couple years and they are always a blast.  We thought that Idaho would be a big rodeo place but this was actually east Idaho's first PRCA rodeo.  They did pretty good, there were some young guys that were outstanding.  Brock knows a lot about the Rodeo because his dad used to be a part of them so it was way fun!  Overall, it was definitely a small town feeling fair, but it was a lot of fun and a great date night for 10 bucks!

Tetons!

Ok, so I love hiking (duh), and we really hadn't done any hiking all summer.  So Labor Day rolled around and I had the day off (one perk of no longer working retail) and Brock hadn't started school yet, so we decided that we would head out to Teton National Park and explore a little bit.

We invited a couple from our ward, Ross and Hannah Davidson, and hit the road.  It took us about an hour and a half to get there.  A little farther than we were originally thinking, but it was worth it.  We had so much fun just goofing off as we hiked.  Ross and Brock were hilarious!  Hannah and I realized towards the end of the hike that the boys were complaining more than we were.  At that point I told them what we told the campers at Oakcrest, "every time you complain, I put a rock in your backpack."  Neither of them complained for the rest of the hike.

The actual hike was very easy, but super gorgeous!  We hiked around Jenny Lake to get to Hidden Falls.  You can pay to ride a ferry across the lake but then you only walk about .5 miles tops rather than hike 5.1 miles.  Where is the fun in that?!  Brock was pretty skeptical about going hiking, especially when the drive was longer than planned, but once we got going, he really enjoyed it and we all had a great time.

Starting out on the hike

Great shot of the Tetons

Jenny Lake

Look how clear the water is!

Hidden Falls

At the lookout point

It is always a blessing to be in Heavenly Father's beautiful creations.  I am always awestruck at the masterpieces that He has created for us to enjoy and it is something I want to do my whole life!

It's What Fun Is!

 So in August, we usually have a family camp out but this year there was just to much going on everywhere with everybody ending school semesters and starting school, etc.  So, we compromised this year and went to Lagoon.  It was a super fun day to take the kiddos and to hang out with the family all day.  I let each of the kids pick a ride that I could ride with them, it was fun!  They were all so excited to "show" me their favorite ride.  I went on the dragon rollercoaster with Rylee (which was always my favorite as a kid, I actually lost a tooth on that ride when I was little.), I went on the sky ride with Timmy (well, that's the one he picked, we wound up doing airplanes together which was possibly my favorite part of the day.),  I went on The Rocket with Jami and Colossus with Davy.  Brock isn't a huge rollercoaster fan, but he was a good sport and still came and went on some ride and took care of the kids so their parents could go on rides.

Me and Timmy on the airplanes.  I don't

know if I've ever laughed so hard

on a ride.  "Don't go higher,

Don't go higher!!!"

 If you have never met my sister Kristi, this

picture sums her up.  Who else cuts a 

square out of the middle of the brownies?

 Soaking wet after the Rattlesnake Rapids

 Josh and Rylee

 Timmy and Davy

Timmy looked like he was going to puke

toward the end of this ride.

 Danielle and Jami

Group Shot

 Mikey had olives on all his fingers,

this was all that was left by the time

I got my camera out. 

The Barlow Crib

So before we even moved in we had promised a few people pictures of our new place.  We finally have it decorated and organized enough and finally had the time to take pictures and put them together.  I decided to have some fun with my new computer and make a video because it has been a while since I have done one.  It's not perfect, but it will give you a good preview of our rockin' living space.  We love our apartment and hope you do too!

P.S.
Close out of the ads on the screen, they cover up some of the words.

First Camping Trip!!

We have been married and living in Idaho for three and a half months.  Which leads me to my next statement, that it is a shame that we have not done any camping yet!!  Friday night we remedied that.  It was the Olpin Reunion!  We couldn't go down on Thursday due to our work schedules, but we went bright and early Friday morning.  It was fun to introduce Brock to all of my relatives.  We taught him how to play rook and he had a clean sweep and a double nellow in his first game!  I was proud.  The good news, is I don't think he'll put up to much of a fight to go next year. :D

First Father's Day Gift

He's Baaaaaaaaaaack!!!

Well ladies and gents, the brotha is home!!  His flight was scheduled to come in at 8:45 pm.  I got off of work in Idaho Falls at 5:00 and we buzzed off from there.  We got a call about 7:30 saying it had been delayed until 10:55 so that eased some of the pressure of the drive.  When we got to Murray, we were informed that his flight had been delayed yet again and he was scheduled to come in at 12:25 am!  So it was a late night, but totally worth it!!

 Mom, Trav and Dad, reunited

Decorations

Kristi had a funny idea for us to all stick a

box of candy in his suit coat or 

backpack, wherever it would fit.

Random.

All of us at the airport minus Troy's fam, they

had to get home once they said hi to him.

Little Brother and Me

Tradition!

He was so happy to sit on carpet.

And to walk on grass with no shoes.

Troy's family and Vix with their signs

It honestly has been so fun having this little lad home.  We got to spend some some time the day after he got here.  We played games, talked, he met Brock, they get along great!  I have just loved being able to laugh and goof off with him again.  From fall of 2002 to fall of 2007 it was just me and him living at my parents house, all the others had moved out.  Because of this, we are very close and have a special bond. (At least I've always felt that way, he would hopefully say kind of the same thing, maybe that is just a big sister talking.)

Anyways, welcome home Buckwheat, I sure do love ya!!

Yummers

So we went to the festival in Idaho Falls on the 4th of July.  Brock dragged his feet and just wanted to stay home all day and relax, but I love the 4th!  I love parades, carnivals, fairs, rodeos, and especially fireworks!!  Supposedly, Idaho Falls has the best choreographed firework show west of the Mississippi.  Don't buy into that load of crock.  It was a long show, just under 40 minutes.  But I don't call music playing the background choreographed.  Choreographed is Stadium of Fire, or better yet, Disneyland!!  They also said traffic would be so bad it would take us at least 3 hours to get back to Rexburg.  50 minutes later, we were home. And that included the walk to the car.  I have a couple great buds from Idaho Falls and the area, but man, some people here need to get out and see the world.  And I'm only from Salt Lake!!!

Five bucks for this?  Yes please.