Johnsons Times 4

This weekend was a quadrouple Johnson weekend as we had Chris' parents in town.  We had a great time with them exploring Boise and Eagle, celebrating with family, and getting some great lawn improvements (thanks Johnson men).  In case you out of towners have not heard, ESPN Game Day was in town this weekend for the Big BSU/Oregon game.  We were not the crazy fans that got up at 3:00 in the morning to step into a line that wrapped around the stadium and then some.  We did, however, make our way down there by bike in about the middle of the show to join the festivities.  It was awesome.  It felt like I was in college again - or what I imagine college would have felt like had I gone to a college with a football team.  The ESPN guys were fun and entertaining and paid great tribute to both Boise and the BSU football program.  It really is so much fun to live here during football season.  I think that the crowd was around 13,000, which is close to ESPN's Game Day record attendance.  To add the the greatness, BSU won last night in a great game.  Go Broncos!

Lee Corso even chose BSU, it was a big day!

After Game Day we played tourist and  took a walk around the nature center.  I think the highlight there was seeing  a 200 pound sturgeon.  It was a pretty cool place to go, much cooler than I remember from my field trip days.

Then we went home to do some relaxing, until the Johnson men decided that the back yard would look great with some lights beneath the trees.  So off to Home Depot they went.  They spent most of Saturday and a good part of today digging in lines and arranging seven awesome lights on the trees in the yard.  I love that I get to benefit from one of Eric's famous projects.  The man really has a hard time sitting still and this time my backyard is proof of that.  Thanks Eric for your great idea and all of your hard work. 

Hills

On Saturday Chris and I decided to go on a bike ride. I suggested the very flat farm road by our house and he said that would be too boring. So we headed for the hills, literally. Other than this summer, I have probably been on a bike a total of five times over the past ten years and all were beach cruisers when we were on vacations. Lets just say that my very short trip up the hill left me very winded. I should also say this out loud so that I am accountable to someone to do something about it - this girl is out of shape! The views were great from the top of the hill, maybe next time I am up there I won't be so concerned about catching my breath so that I will be able to enjoy them a little more :)

Labor Day

We made it up to Priest Lake for a second time this summer for Labor Day weekend. It was wonderful, as usual. We head to bed pretty early in our everyday life, but up there you are on lake time and I swear we were in bed by 9:30 at the latest. We read, mountain biked, fished ,had a picnic on the beach, soaked up the sun and some wine on the dock, and just hung out. I really am convinced that Priest Lake really is one of the best places on earth. My cell phone did not get reception up there and for the first time in about 3 years I was not overcome with anxiety for lack of a working blackberry. I don't know if that was Priest Lake or just my Idaho life in general, but I loved it. Thanks to Kim and Eric for another wonderful weekend at the lake!

We also had a great time watching BSU pull of the big win against Virginia Tech when we got home. We have been big Bronco fans for years, but are now more excited than ever to cheer on our home team.

See Spot Splash

I think that Bella likes Boise just as much as we do. Last week a local pool called that natatorium shut down the pool and opened it up to Boise's four legged friends. The night is a fundraiser that is put on by the humane society and is pretty much the coolest doggie event in town. We were so excited to take Bella to play with her favorite friend Nesta and the rest of the pups. When we got there our little girl was a little afraid of the pool. Chris stood by the poolside semi mortified that he had the uncool dog who was afraid to swim while Nesta and pretty much every other dog fetched, jumped, splashed and dove into the water. Chris tossed Bella in so she could give it the old college try and I swear she nearly drowned. The girl is not a deep water swimmer. She much preferred the grassy area where she found a fun squeaky ball and was quite content to be chased by the other dogs.

(Chris being supportive)

(Bella's boyfriend, Nesta)

(Bella nearly drowning)

(Bella, perfectly happy to play in the grass)

Soon enough Bella found the kiddy pool. It was a place where she and Christopher both found contentment. He no longer had to stand by embarrassed that he was the dad with the uncool kid and she got to play in the water without fear of drowning. It was a great success and we will have to go back next year and see if Bella has acquired real swim legs.

(The kiddy pool - what a great thing!)

(Nesta, obviously too good for the kiddy pool)