Nature, cont.

More pics from our adventures in Idaho. Luke and Lauren shared a love/hate relationship with each other (I think they both also share that same kind of relationship with most companions in their respective lives). But when it was good, oh it was good. Here they are finding joy in mud slinging. Who doesn't.
Kimball, Owen and Cole. They had a great time in the great outdoors but probably most enjoyed their time spent in the basement working feverishly to unlock characters on Mario Cart Wii.

Owie, contemplating the quiet beauty. We all thoroughly enjoyed taking our shoes and socks off and walking around in the cool, clear water with tiny pebbles tickling our toes.

Big Falls Island Park, ID

As part of our USA (Western half) tour we went to Idaho Falls, ID of course. While there visiting our favorite Idahoans (ex-Texans), the Peterson's we went to Island Park.
Here we are looking ever so glamorous; Jamie and Jamie. We've been friends every since we met in law school in Michigan. We look fondly back on those memories of late night joint shopping trips and evening walks while we were both enormously prego (at least she was, never me). I only gained a svelte sixty pounds. Take that.

Luke couldn't be happier than he is right here in this photo.

Luke's close encounter with animal tongue.

Once upon a time we went to Bear world with our friends the Peterson's. Luke as he always does familiarizes himself with the local animals.
He isn't afraid of them and can't seem to ever get enough, as this lick session lasted over twenty minutes!

He was giggling the whole time too and if you look closely at his eyebrows you will see that they have been licked in the Brooke Shields fashion.

Cecret Lake, aka. day of torture for children.

This is one of my favorite this picture tells a thousands words picture. Here we are at the top of Cecret Lake at Alta in UT. I had just set Lily down after carrying her up this mountain for more than a mile while dragging Luke behind me telling him that he can do it. All the while he is saying that he can't take one more step. It was an adventure and yes I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Because when we got up there it was so beautiful, Luke even came around and said it was worth it.

We went with my super cool friend Tara and some of her brood. We got to catch up while going up and had amazing scenery all around. We lucked out and the wildflowers were blooming.

This is on the trail up while it was still fun for the children and it was a little bit after this point that I stopped taking pictures until we reached the top.

If you look closely you can see Owen in his green t-shirt on top of this big rock and Luke is on his way up. They both got up there and in true Mead style they immediately flexed their muscles for me.

At the trail head on our way up. It was challenging but so much fun and beautiful sights. Fun day with my friend.

Mead family reunion.

Nobody called it a family reunion while we were there but I came up with it all on my own just right now while sitting at my computer. I'm smart like that. First order of business; Luke tracked down any animal within a 1 mile radius. This one happened to belong to my mother in law Victoria's and is the fatest cat I've laid eyes on in awhile.
Lily at park excitedly chasing ducks around and trying not to miss stepping into a single pile of duck poo.

This was taken at the departure of my dear husband. He lovingly drove us up to Utah as he didn't want to let me loose on the freeways alone; (he knows my passion for speeding and often lack of forethought and thought it best to supervise me). He left us up there for two and a half weeks while he went home to pay for it. He's a swell guy.

Lily's discovery of 'ring around the rosy' that once thought to be cute but now is thought of with disgust...you can only play it 456,987 times before you start to hate it.

Mead Family posterity. I set the camera up on the grass across the creek and set it to 10 sec delay and ran my booty down the hill, across the creek and perfectly into place. Viola!

Owen and Olivia picked up right where they left of last summer. We got to Vicky's at about one in the afternoon and from the second he got there he was looking for and asking about Olivia every eight seconds. When the moment finally arrived and she drove up he ran into the house. It was one of those scooby-doo moments when your like wauuah? But within two minutes they were catching up like old buddies.

Week one; lake with adopted cousin Erin (and her tiny companions).

Mead's muscle flex no matter where we go, we encourage all those whom are particularly studly to do the same. And look we found some! Look how Nora does it with the style worthy of a diva. And you have to look hard to see Luke, but his head and hand are there.
And the women focus on being adorable, (even though Lily's face is covered in cookie residue).

Lily is taking a moment and enjoying the beauty of some lake in the Salt Lake mountains. We went on so many different hikes that I can't keep them straight.

Luke and his buddies, David and Will plan their next move. I don't have a pic of Erin and I but we thoroughly enjoyed our chat around the lake while watching our children flitter about enjoying their time together. Even though she's not my biological cousin we share the same extended related through marriage family and enjoy our time together.

Thirty one days later and a new post from me! Hooray a reason for living.

We're back from our Western United states tour and I have to start the posts out with the best photo I think I've ever taken. As you can see Lily is mid dance move and I feel that I really captured the essence of the moment; (if I do say so myself, which I do, so I am...I say that to myself in a Mr. Krabs tone of voice. Man I have really been watching way too much Spongebob, but I just love it).

This was taken yesterday while making dinner together, while we we're cooking/dance jamming I thought of how great life is right now. All my kids like me and think I'm the best at everything, (which will probably never stop but I'm erring on the side of caution and enjoying it now). :) I am funny, Mr. Mead. Ha.

But seriously, it was a great afternoon. Owen was recording our dance session trying to be "cool" and not dance. Then his favorite song comes on (Somebody call 911) and he full on dances and sings the whole song. I'm loving these days.