Daddy and his little girls.

The boys and the girls had plans for today. We're still on furlough (but, unfortunately, that hasn't stopped us from doing some "emergency" Corps work). Anyways....
The boys were to go to the WAAM Museum in Hood River, the girls to the Tea Parlour.
We only had one vehicle between us, so Paul decided to take the truck. The boys were SO EXCITED! They love riding in that thing. For some reason though, Paul wouldn't let me drive it ;). (I'm the girl that runs over curbs in my mini-van.)


They loaded up to head to Hood River and do the museum.


Paul, David, and Elijah are in the cab leaving.
(For some reason they didn't show up in the picture.)



Us girls went to the Tea Parlour.
I am so blessed to have 3 daughters!!
We had a good time. Everyone was "age approppriate" good.
I held Mary most of the time because she seemed to know she was missing out on something when I put her in her car seat.


Ann's favorite thing to do is to add sugar cubes and milk to her tea and stir, stir, stir. She was quite the little lady and even re-applied her "lipstick" (chapstick) after eating.
I swear she did not get that from me! Ann also felt like hot stuff when I let her use the Powder Room all by herself. (Like I was really going to haul everyone in there!)



Hannah had to get up a few times to spin around in her dress. Thankfully, the Parlour wasn't crowded. She liked stirring her tea too and eating spoonfuls of jam that were meant for the scones. And while I was holding Mary, I caught Hannah putting whipped cream on Mary's hands. At least she was sharing...

Mary was content in her car seat for about 5 minutes.

After that she was in my arms the whole time. She stayed happy that way.

I was hoping she'd sleep, but thats the way it goes.

Her favorite part was when Hannah put whip cream on her hands.

We tried on about every hat Bev (the owner/operator) had. Even Mary.

We went to Freddy's afterwards to pick up a few groceries. It was CROWDED!! All of the migrants are in town.

Buster also had some professional teeth cleaning done today.

The vet had to put him under for it so he had to skip breakfast.

I made fish (Tilapia), Brown Rice and Peas for dinner. Icecream cake for dessert.

It's been nice eating outside. We hardly ever eat dinner inside anymore.

Baker City/Twin Falls Trip

Paul went to do some Thrift Store consulting in Baker City and Twin Falls. I went along, taking some furlough days, and then we took some furlough days together so we could stay and camp in Twin Falls. We had a great time, but boy were we on the move! We stayed in 4 different places in 6 days. The kids are great travelers and enjoyed the adventure! Here are some highlights from our trip:

Hannah was terified of this man.

She's not in the picture because she's hanging onto my leg for dear life.

In Baker City, Paul was in meetings so I took the kids to the Baker City Interpretive Center. We spent close to 4 hours there. Paul dropped us off and we went over every inch of that museum. I loved it! It was especially nice to go after David just finished a unit studying the Pioneers.

We all learned so much.

(I am an expert at asking stranges to take our picture!)

My pioneer children. ;)



I'm feeling pretty confident with this horse... it's dead!

Hannah and Ann chatted with this Beaver while I had to sit down and nurse Mary.

The boys looked at exhibits in my sight.

Mary liked the museum too!

There was a great play room at the end. Ann dressed up but I told her that Pioneers never smiled in their pictures so neither could she.

I broke my own rule and smiled because Ann was crackin' me up while she took my picture. I don't look as cute in a bonnet as her.

Elijah and David loaded and uloaded this wagon forever. They had so much fun decided which "cargo" they would bring along on their trip.

Hannah finds her own way to play.

The outside display was incredible!! The view was breathtaking. It was surreal to look around and know that 150 years ago, thing looked the same as the Pioneers headed west.

Thier stories are fascinating.

We played hide-n-seek to kill time while we waited for Paul to pick us up.

The next morning, Paul had more meetings in Baker City, so the kids and I walked all around the Safeway, Rite Aid and Bi-Mart Area. People were staring (as always). I kept teasing different kids... "They're staring at YOU!" We were laughing so hard. Went went into Rite-Aid and Safeway and bought junk food (candy and goldfish crackers) for the drive. I figured it's cheaper than buying treats at the gas stations! They loved getting so much candy! I picked out Black Licorice and Pnt. Butter cups for me. We still have candy left... the novelty wore off.

Okay.... so in Twin Falls the kids and I had more time to kill while Paul was in meetings. Paul dropped us off at Target. I had a plan to do a "triangle". First go to Target (the kids save up thier allowance to spend on vacations), then to KFC for lunch, then to a HUGE Petsmart to look at the animals. We didn't make it far... I'm in Target, had already been there over an hour, and here comes Tania G. from our first appointment in Bullhead City, Arizona! We have stayed in touch off and on, she even came up and visited when we were in Springfield. I was shocked and wrapped my arms around her, so glad to see her! She had heard that Paul would be in town and tracked us down! She has two little girls now and is no longer one of our youth... she's a grown woman. We caught up as best we could while I'm trying to handle my kids. We ended up just going to KFC for lunch after checking out at Target. The kids played outside on a strip of lawn until Paul picked us up. What a SMALL world to run into Tania!!

All our days are ordained...what a divine "coincidence".

This is the cabin we "camped" in at the KOA in Twin Fall.

We got one night free because the AC was broke. It was hot, but worth the $ we saved!

The boys do such a great job reading to their little sisters. They love to do it, even on vacation.

Daddy and Mary.

Daddy bought Ann a new bike at Wal-Mart in Twin Falls. He didn't want her riding a boy bike. She was so excited and rode that thing all over the place

trying to keep up with her brothers on thiers.

Daddy is the fix-it guy.

Hannah on a bike we've had since David was 2. Paul strapped his belt to it so he could pull her since she can't pedal the thing.

I LOOOOOVE Banana Bikes. In fact that's one reason we camp at KOA's... so mommy can rent a Banana Bike. The boys and I go all over the place on them.

It will be nice when Ann can keep up!

The Chouinards SWIM!

That is one of our favorite things to do.

Paul and Hannah.

Ann

Elijah

David

Mary didn't swim yet. She can't sit up to keep her head out of the water. I'm hoping she can by the time we go to the KOA in Astoria for Labor Day.

David, Hannah and Mommy. We had so much fun with our Alligator and Whale. When Paul and I both got on there, I laughed so hard I almost drowned... literally.

Shoshonne Falls in Twin Falls.