Dan vs. JaNae

Last spring Dan and I went on a Day Date together. It was his turn for date night and he planned some things for us to do during the day since our evening was busy with other obligations.

Well, a few weeks ago we both had Friday off so it was time for another Day Date. However, this time our rotation made it my turn to plan our date. We've seen Big Springs, in Idaho, which is one of the starts of the Snake River. The end of the river is only a few miles from us and Dan had mentioned that he really wanted to see the point where the Snake ends and joins the Columbia River, so that is how we started our date.

Looking upstream at the Snake River.

The Snake joins the Columbia at the bend.

The point of confluence.

More about confluence.

Where the rivers actually join.

Lewis and Clark made their first camp along the Columbia River here where the rivers join.

It is also they met up with Sacajawea near this area. The state has developed the area into a nice park. They have plaques up with information about the area:

Learning circles with more information:

And an interpretative center where visitors can get a better understanding of Lewis and Clark's excursion through the area and Sacajawea's role in assisting the explorers:

We paid a small donation then wandered through the exhibit learning much about the history of life in the Tri-Cities in the 1800s.

After strolling through the park and interpretative center, we continued east to Walla Walla. Of course after leaving 'civilization' we were hungry so we kept our eyes open for a place to stop for lunch. We turned off the highway in Wallula, WA and quickly discovered, there was nothing there but houses, a few vineyards, and a Post Office. We purchased some stamps and then were back on the road trying to ignore our growling stomachs.

We arrived in Walla Walla and stopped for a nice lunch at Sterling's (which has two locations in the Tri-Citites, whoops). Then we drove through the streets of Walla Walla looking at their sites and trying to decide on what to do next. By this time we were both pretty tired so finished driving through various neighborhoods and made the return trip home.

So, I ask you...who does a better job at executing Day Dates; Dan or JaNae? Yeah, I'd say it's pretty obvious too.

Belated "Valentine's Day" Trip

So picking up where we left off...A few days after the Valentine's Dance I flew off to Utah. Our niece Rebecca had returned from her mission (Missouri St. Louis) and was reporting so Dan and I made plans to be there to help welcome her home.

Well, with other recent events I knew I needed some time with siblings. Dan was supportive of me heading out a few days before the weekend so I was off to spend time with the family in Utah.

Since Deb's hubby was at basic training I decided to stay with her and help her out with her three kiddos. We has a blast playing together, building forts, playing games, dressing up in costumes, drawing pictures, and just being together.

Spiderman & a Pirate-you never know your enemies in this group.

Oh, now Bennet's Peter Pan & Tate's the Pirate/Caped Crusader



Costumes were tried on sometimes backwards and even if they were WWWWAAAAYYYY too small.



Baby Reagan just kept wondering what her crazy brothers were up to.

Super Heros out, Animals in. (Note: Another from years past.)

Even Aunt Nae got into the action with a little pre-St. Patty's Day garb.



See, Aunt Nae started a doo rag trend.



Now we have one of the ultimate combinations: Kanga & Roo, penguin feet, and a doo rag.



The skeletal train engineer???



Of course ALL the costumes and accessories were taken out, no reason to try to keep it organized or cleaned up until they were done.



Now T's a caped, Spiderman, Ninja guy.



Towards the end of our costume fun Tate turned to his mom and said, "This the the funnest night ever!"

Part of my trip was also to meet my newest niece. After two boys, Deb & Nic welcomed a little girl into their family in December. With the distance between us, this was the first she and I met and we had lots of time together so Mommy could take care of her brothers and do a few other things. What a special treat it was when she would fall asleep in my arms.



The slightest hint of a smile.

The boys love their forts! Here they are with one of their creations...I think this is the one that I crawled out of earlier that day. Yes, I was made into a fort for awhile one morning, aka, the boys pile the blankets and pillows on top of anyone lying down on the couch or floor then try to climb into a small space under the blankets.

We had a day with Lynette and her girls but dummy me, I didn't bring my camera at all. I forgot it at Deb's house as we headed out the door. Guess getting three under 5, and the two adults into the car pushed it right out of my mind, even though I had it with all my other things...

Before I left we did meet up with Kevin & his family for dinner at Fudrucker's. Lynette joined us too, but Brian stayed home with their three girls who were feeling sickly. :(

The silly faces picture (Bennet, Cameron, & Tate)



Nathan, you're way too grown up wwwwaaaaayyyyy to FAST!

One of the nights I was there Deb had an appointment so I watched her three for her. I decided to try and get some pictures of the three of them together. This is the best one of all three! After trying to get two very independent boys to cooperate, I truly admire those who can get good family pictures.

See what I mean?

You'll notice all the first person comments, to save on Dan's PTO, we met in Pocatello over the weekend. We don't intend to take vacations without each other but my schedule is much more flexible than his so I have the free time to go heal and help. Therefore, Dan drove alone to Boise on Thursday night and stayed at his brother, Andy's, and then finished the drive to Pocatello on Friday.  We met up on Saturday night in Pocatello.

On Saturday afternoon Amanda was teaching at a conference at Thanksgiving Point so I tagged along to see her in action. (Deb found a sitter for a few minutes and drove me from her house to Amanda's conference.) She's great at what she does and her passion for her field of study shows through as she presents. It was very interesting to learn more about my Money Habitudes and guess at Dan's after learning mine. Though I think we are somewhat opposite on the spectrum, we can learn from each other and strengthen each other.

When Amanda was finished with her two classes we headed up north to Pocatello. Thankfully it wasn't too nasty of a drive for February in Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho. Some snow but we know how to handle it.

We met up with Dan at his brother Mark's house and visited before all turning in for the night.

Sunday was the event that started the whole preparation for our trip in the first place, Rebecca's mission report! Her brother Matt's Eagle Court of Honor was Saturday in the late afternoon, but because of Amanda's teaching schedule, we were both unable to attend that part of the weekend. Thankfully Dan was there and able to help with part of the ceremony.

After our church meetings were finished we descended upon the Loveland's Home for a very yummy dinner!

Emily & Dan waiting patiently to eat.



Matt waiting not so patiently to eat so pestering his sisters, Emily & Liz.

The food was put out and blessed, dinner eaten, and more food arrived! I was planning on more than one plateful of the delicious fixin's but was too full after my first helpings.


See, finger-lickin' good!



Just one of the delicious dessert options:

The women cleaned up:

And visited:

While the boys made themselves scarce:

And then there was Dan's contribution...




We also learned..."If you play it...they will come..."

It's a family thing J

Some pictures were taken:

The big girls played dress-up in Grandma Horrocks' wedding dress:

Amanda said that Liz, Emily, & Rebecca forced the dress on her!



Well maybe it doesn't fit so well after all...Amanda couldn't get it buttoned.



Some Father/Daughter visits occurred:

Neal and I played with Emily's Apple:

Then I realized, I had almost NO pictures of Rebecca, the woman of the day! So that was quickly rectified:

A few more parting photos were taken: (Notice how some embrace the camera better than others.)

Then it was off to Mark & Amy's to rest for the night before Dan & I started our drive home the next day.

Monday morning I made sure to sneak a picture of Mark & Amy's boys. Here they are while Dad's at work, and as they wait for their mom to come home from her sister's weekend:



Enjoy the games while you can, Boys. You know Mom has a long list of things for you to do on your day off from school.

A trip full of good memories with both of our families! Can't wait to see everyone again, hope it's soon!!!!

(Blogger's been kind enough to add extra spaces between the text and pictures and I can't get them removed. So I post as is rather than delay to try to fix the unfixable.)