The Miller Family

Well we had the most wonderful time in Idaho. We left on the 18th and came back the 25th. This was Katelyn's first time flying. We left out of out of Ontario. Since Travis had been going to Ph. Az. so much we had racked up 3 free tickets.The girls were so excited to fly they couldn't wait for their plane to get there.We had 2 stops. One was a layover in Sacramento so now I can say that I have been to the capital. Then our next stop was in Portland but at least we didn't have to get off the plane. So we arrive in Spokane and my Dad came to pick us up. The girls were so excited to see their Papa. Then we were on the road to Lenore Id. which was about 2 1/2 hours away. It was just so beautiful, all the open space, and all the wild life. It was just a true picture of God's beautiful country. My parents live along a river that is just amazing. Our first stop was to check out the job site where my parents are building a spec house. it looks like it's going to be a very nice house. So then we were off to go see my mom back at their house. Here are some pictures of their house from across the river. This is the back of their house. So finally we get to their house and we get to see my mom and we met Flash their new dog. We also saw Shelby and Oreo. It had been a long day so we went for pizza and it was a Pizza Factory. We are 1,200 miles away and we are eating at a Pizza factory. It was so weird. The restaurant was in Orifino where we were staying. My parent's Pastor has a guest house, so that's where we stayed. So our first full day we were there we were going to go to this little water park. But the weather turned out to be cold and rainy. Which we were absolutely loving. Travis and I both love weather. So we all went to Elk River and went hiking to some water falls.It was about a mile to the falls and a mile back. It was a very hard hike with a 19 month old who wanted to walk two miles all by her self, but it was very rewarding.Here are some pictures of Evelyn and her walking stick. There of course are a ton more beautiful pictures of our whole trip at the link at the bottom on our smug mug site, so please go look at all the pictures there, to see our wonderful trip to Idaho. So after our hike we were in need of some cool refreshments. So we head to the little town and had some Huckleberry Ice cream. Elk River is known for their Huckleberries. Very yummy! Then after that we head to this giant Cedar tree. My dad wasn't able to hike to the falls because he injured his foot, but the Giant Cedar wasn't far from the parking lot so he was able to walk down to the tree with us.
It was huge! The area was just covered in ferns. It was beautiful, so green, and nice and cool. We had a wonderful day. The next day we were suppose to go out on the lake in the boat, but it was still cold and rainy. So we did more site seeing that day. We saw a ton of wild life.
Some not so wild like the cows. After our drive we stoped at a neighbor's pond. Where Evelyn went fishing for the first time. She caught 7 fish, pretty much all by herself. It was so much fun and very funny! Mostly because of my dad LOL!
But that is another story. So here is some pictures of her fishing and her fish.

Evelyn gave the fish a kiss :) and Katelyn was going to until it started flopping around and then she didn't want to hold it anymore. It was very exciting. Then it started raining again then we headed back to the house. Travis and I took a ride on the atvs together. We rode them pretty much everyday. They were so much fun. We did so much it's hard to remember it all. Thursday we did some more site seeing. We first went over to the fish hatchery.
Then we headed over to the the Dworshak Dam. There was a huge black berry bush right by the parking area. So we stopped to eat some berries first. Katelyn loves black berries. She would eat them all day if we let her. Then we walked to the bottom of the dam.
My parents also have huge black berry patches all over their property and we ate them everyday. Then we went up to the top of the the dam.
They had a really neat visitor center. So we got to learn all about the lake and the dam. Then we drove over to the boat ramp where you can launch the boats out on the lake. There was a little play ground and Evelyn said, "It was the best day ever". Katelyn was the first to go down the big slide and she shot down that thing so fast that she landed on the ground and she was airborne twice! Very funny but scary at the same time. She didn't cry or anything, but she wouldn't go down it again which was fine with me. I went down it and it was even fast for me.


On the way home we saw a bunch of deer and a neat old school house, or it was a church, not really sure. The next day was friday, boy did the week just fly by. We went out on the boat since the weather cleared up. My mom worked only part of the day so she was able to join us which was really nice. Since she had to go to CPR class on Saturday.



Evelyn even got to drive the boat. She sure is a crazy driver.

Katelyn got to drive the boat too. She was a much better driver. :)
Travis and I went for a ride on the atvs again, and we saw the most beautiful sunset. We had to come back because the little old lady that followed us(Shelby) got way to tired.













Then it was Saturday, my mom had to go to class so we went to the little water park with Papa. It was a lot of fun. They had 3 water slides, a lazy river, a really cool kiddy area, and a wave pool. They also had a kiddy pool and a lap pool and spa inside. The girls were in the water for 3 1/2 hours straight. There was no way to get them to come out.












When we got home we had a little birthday party for Evelyn with Grand ma and Papa. Evelyn was very sad that Grandma and Papa were not going to be there for her Strawberry Shortcake birthday party, so we had a little one with them.











She also got a Strawberry Shortcake blanket too. It was very nice. We had to call it a night early because everthing closes at 9 and we had to get the Pastor and his wife a thank you present for letting us stay in their guest house. So the next day was Sunday and we went to church. My mom sings on the worship team. It was a really nice congrigation. Every one was very welcoming and of course everyone loves my parents so they were so excited to meet the last Carroll girl. I was the only one who had not gone up there. We had a really good worship service. Then they open the floor and they share praise reports and prayer request. Which I thought was really nice. Then there was a short service and then we went in to their little fellowship hall. Where we had cake since this was the sunday the kids graduate to their new class level. We then had sunday school. Which I really enjoyed because it felt like I was in a bible school class. I wish I could do the sunday school class via the internet. It was really cool. Then since it was our last day with my parents. I asked them if we could do nothing but be with them. So we stayed home and were just relaxing. It was a good day. We also spent the night there with them that night since we had to leave at 4 in the morning. That was fun (kind of) hahaha. It was very hard to say good bye. I am so glad that we were able to go. Now I know faces with the names and I know some of the places they talk about. It was truly beautiful up there. I am so happy that my parents are so happy up there. We can't wait to go back up there again.