Monday, June 30th we officially started our Blakeslee Reunion. We headed to Twin Falls for a full day of fun.
Our first stop was Caldron Linn, which is just a few miles away from Murtaugh, Idaho. It is a waterfall on the Snake River.
I had never heard of this place and did a little research on its history. Caldron Linn was a key site on an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The expedtion tried to canoe down the Snake River and when they reached the waterfall, after already losing a member of their party, they abandoned the river and returned to land to reach the Pacific. In 1972, the waterfall was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the expedition.
I can see why they abandoned the Snake River at this point- the water was very, very rough. We had to watch the kids like hawks and didn't let anyone get too close to the steep edge.
It was a quick stop, but we put Livy in the backpack anyway.
Our next stop was at the farm grounds where my dad used to live as a young boy and the farm that his dad and family ran. The house they lived in is no longer there, but Dad knew right where the land was and he stopped and got a picture.
Our next stop was historic Stricker Farm. It is an old home, farm site and store. The area used to be called Rock Creek Station and once was the largest stage station between Fort Hall and Fort Boise. We were able to tour the Rock Creek Store building and the Sticker home. I love old houses! My dad lived just a few miles down the street from this site as a young boy.
The tour guide let my sis-in-law Charity play the old, historic organ that was in the home's sitting room. Charity is a fantastic piano player and very musically talented.
Chloe took a quick turn too.
The upstairs with all of the bedrooms was my favorite part of the house. There was a room filled with infant clothes and children's clothes. Livy and I next to the baby clothes, which looked similar to blessing gowns.
Paige and Chloe next to the women's clothes.
Leah and Lexi with the little girls' clothes.
I found this little blue tin of Midol in what was the teenager's room. They had Midol all the way back then??
After touring the house, we explored the grounds outside. There was a horseshoe pit set up and the kids all took a turn. There was also old farm equipment scattered over the grounds.
After a lunch break and a quick stop at Costco (because why not, really? we headed over to the Snake River Canyon bridge overlook.
We were lucky enough to get to watch 2 jumpers jump off the bridge and glide to the bottom.
They had some flags set up previously on the ground at the bottom of the canyon. I didn't think there was any way they would make it to their predetermined site, but sure enough they did.
The canyon is also the site of an unsuccessful attempt by Evel Knievel to jump across the canyon ion 1974. The dirt ramp he built for the jump is still standing and is a tourist attraction.
The bridge over Snake River Canyon
On the other side of the bridge we were able to see a beautiful view of the Snake River Canyon
There is a golf course and club house down at the bottom of the canyon. So pretty!
Our next stop led us past the Twin Falls Temple. We didn't stop, but took a picture. We always love seeing the temple.
Our last stop of the day was Shoshone Falls. I have been here many times growing up, but my kids have never been.
Beautiful views once again.
Paige and Chloe and their matching hairdo's, thanks to Aunt Charity.
The next day, my parents got a picture with all 11 grandkids.
Great Grandma Dewsnup got a picture with 11 of her 14 great-grand kids. She is 93 years young! What a lady!
Livy and Devin had to get some naked pictures together. It is tradition in the family. My brother and I have 3 kids who are very close in age and we've taken diaper pictures of all 3 sets of them as babies. (Yes, that is a sunburn on Livy's arms. Mother of the year award!)
Paige (6 months old), Chloe (5 weeks): January 2005
Mitchell (10 weeks old), Tristan (4 weeks old): December 2007
We played a few games of kickball in my parent's yard.
Chloe going in for a kick!
Mitch loved to pitch and it's all he wanted to do.
Trying to get Tristan out at first!
Trying to keep Livy in the shade under the trampoline while we played. This baby will no longer keep her sun hat on.
One night after dinner, the kids played the candy bar game. My mom introduced the game to my kids earlier this summer and they LOVE it. Who doesn't love winning a handful of candy bars by rolling a dice? To start the game, every player chooses a different candy bar (no repeats!) and hides it in their lap so it is out of view. Play starts by setting a timer for a predetermined time (10 minutes or so) and the first player rolls the dice. If they roll a 7, 11 or doubles (except double 1's, and you lose your turn), they get to choose a candy bar from someone. All the candy bars are hidden, so they have to call out a person's name and try and remember which candy bar (or bars, as the game goes on) that person has. If they guess correctly, they get that candy bar. When times is up, whatever candy bars you have in your lap, you get to keep. My mom let anyone who had more than one candy bar keep 2, and anyone who didn't end up with any candy got to choose one from the extra pile.
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