A Real Idaho Potato

We had our first garden this year (thanks to Grandpa!) and did we have a whopper of a crop... green tomatoes (the growing season is a bit short here), delicious corn, pumpkins, zucchini, cantaloupe, and of course potatoes. And did the potatoes do well! Here is a photo of the biggest one of the bunch ... as big as my hand and an easy two and a half pounds. This one will easily provide a whole meal for our family! (Please feel free to send us potato recipes!!) The rest were good sized, too. All in all, not too bad for our first go round.

The monster spud

August Summer Fun

August started off with a bang and we are now well into September and things just haven't slowed down yet. One of my highschool classmates got married on Fri, Aug 1. It was a very beautiful wedding. Dave and Kerry, we wish you the best!

Dave and Kerry get married!

Then it was off to the beaches ... again! This time to Skookumchuck on the Salmon River with Matthew, Magdalene, and Raphael over from Seattle.

Mags and Raphael

The Great White Explorers ... watch out Lewis & Clark!

Are those goosebumps?

Snorkelin' buddies.

Then we had Paul and Kristin and Patrick, Claudia, and Declan come for a couple weeks. Did we have fun!

Back together again!

Declan and Raphael

The ladies of the family ... just missing Mimi!

And yes, there was a birthday in there!

In the midst of it all we had the newlyweds over for dinner

Together at the Idaho County Fair!

A cool treat on a hot August day.

That smile is as contagious as ever!

You mean I can have sand for lunch and dinner?

I don't think I'd want to mess with this bunch.

Starting a campfire in front of the church???!!! Just practicing for the Easter Vigil, I guess.

Dinner on the deck.

The Biggest Cousin and the one of the littlest cousins.

Paul and Kristin

The mentos experiment continues, this time with a 25 foot high jet of diet coke!

The joys of sleeping outside!

Getting cozy before the cousins and aunts and uncles leave.

Grandpa is getting his workout!

Then, after everyone left and I was visting California, some friends from Seattle came and Maura and the kids got to spend some time with the Hatches and Gary.

Sameniego and Johnny Pops

Laura and Johnny

Horse rides for all! (Thanks, Lauren!)

Maura, Colleen, and John

After I got back, Emily, also from Seattle, came for a few days.

Emily and the crew

Now, as the summer winds down and the fall rains begin, we look forward to next summer when we can do it all over again!