Spring Break was much anticipated this year - probably mostly by me. Dustin's mom had agreed back in January to come out this week to help me do something fun with the boys since I wouldn't have gone any further than Idaho Falls otherwise. We took a trip to Boise. We left Monday and came back on Thursday. Everyday we had one field trip and then just shopping/relaxing/playing/walking time until dinner.
Monday:
Spent most of the day getting ready to leave and then traveling. Matthew was so excited to get to Boise that when we stopped in Twin Falls for some lunch he was very upset that it wasn't Boise and didn't want to get out to eat. We did get him out. When we arrived in Boise he shouted Yay, Boise! It was fun and cute and made me happy.
Tuesday:
Discovery Center day. The boys really enjoyed running around trying out the experiments. They even enjoyed playing the the little grocery store at the entrance of the center - they played there at the beginning and the end. The Discovery Center had a special bodies exhibit. We did go, Matthew did not last more that 5 minutes before yelling GROSS! and running out of the exhibit. I stopped to get stamped so that I could return when David and Sharon were done, the men gave Matthew a stamp too and he immediately freaked out. Everyone outside of the exhibit thought it was because of the exhibit but no, it was the just having a stamp on his hand. As soon as I cleaned it off we were okay and ready to play with the toys.
We took time to explore the trail by the hotel (which is about 2 - 2 1/2 miles from Downtown Boise) and see how walking to the zoo would go the next day. We had hoped to find a grocery store in order to just pick up a couple of lunchables and salads to eat on the patio outside our hotel room. Well it turns out that it was a really long walk for the boys and we hadn't even made it to the grocery store. Sharon had to walk back quickly to the hotel, get the car and pick the rest of us up. We did have our relaxing hotel dinner. We had hoped to be able to just walk to the zoo the next day but realized that it would not be a wise thing to do with the boys.
Wednesday:
Zoo Boise. I was pleasantly surprised by the zoo. The space for the zoo is just a little bigger than the zoo in Pueblo, CO if not the same size. However, Boise seems to use their space much more effectively resulting in a more enjoyable zoo. We were able to see many animals and were there for a couple of hours despite my preconceptions of the space. It was lots of fun and the boys really had a great time.
After the zoo we picnicked in the park and let the boys play on the playground for 30 minutes. I went back to the room for a nap and the boys went to the book store with Sharon to get some new books. Dinner was out because I was really wanting a good dessert - Olive Garden was the winner.
Thursday:
After checking out of the hotel we headed south to The Peregrine Fund which is a Birds of Prey center. We were able to see many birds; Condors, Peregrines, other hawks and falcons. It was fun. The live bird presentation was the Harris Hawk. The Harris Hawk is a really interesting bird. They live in the desert and hunt in "packs". Matthew was really insistent on getting a picture of this bird and I did the best I could with the presentation being done at noon outside.
From the birds of prey we headed to lunch and then hit the road home. There was another stop in Twin Falls so that I could walk around a bit and try to keep the swelling down in my feet.
**We got a call from Dustin while we were driving home! It was even a 20 minute call. It was so nice to talk to him. Dustin and I had both expected the call to happen in Sunday and then it didn't come. The whole week we were gone I felt like we were back at the beginning of his departure just waiting anxiously for the phone to ring. Dustin is still doing really well. We are in the final 3 weeks of basic training. The boys will get to go see him and they are excited to see Dustin as is Dustin to see them.
Friday:
This was a relaxation day. We slept in and just hung around the house all morning. The afternoon David was at a birthday party and the rest of us ran errands/did a little shopping. The boys enjoyed spending their last evening with Grandma out in the back yard and playing.
Saturday:
I'm glad that all though the previous weekend had awful weather that it has only gotten nicer as the week has gone on. Today was also a relaxing/get back to normal day. We got the house cleaned up and spent plenty of time outside playing. We even took a walk to Ross park. David rode his bike and Matthew (rode in the stroller there) walked the whole way home. Here's hoping that spring is really here and that winter won't be coming back again until the appropriate time at the end of the year (after we have moved).
