Idaho

We usually go to Yellowstone with my Aunt and Uncle once a year.  This year we did another camping trip.  We stayed just outside of Yellowstone at Cave Falls.  We did hike in Yellowstone but didn't camp there so we didn't see as much wildlife as we usually do.  Although, the kids were perfectly happy with seeing all the chipmunks.  The older boys left on a Monday to stay with Lloyd and Colleen and then the rest of us met up with them Thurs evening at camp.

On Friday we went on a hike and as we hiked Lloyd, my cousin Kirk, Diego and Alessandro would stop to fish every now and then.  It wasn't a very difficult hike, but it took time and it definitely wore the little ones out.  (which isn't really a bad thing)  :)  The biggest highlight of the hike was finding huckleberries and eating them.  They were so good and the kids became experts at finding them.  So we took lots of "breaks" to eat the huckleberries whenever they were spotted.  I think they will always remember that.  It was fun to see. 

 Finding huckleberries  mmm

 

 As the boys took a break to fish, in order to keep the younger ones content I let Luca have the camera and he had a blast taking pictures of Mia and me.  He'd tell us what kind of faces to make and snap away  Here are just a few he took.  I won't bore you with them all.  ;) 

 Lloyd loves to take pictures of insects, butterflies, flowers, etc and Diego has learned that he enjoys it also.  On his camera you will often find these kind of pictures.  Some are really quite good for the cheap old camera he uses. 

On Saturday we played in the river that we camped by and some of us went tubing down it a ways. (Colleen bar far being the most daring.  hahaha)  The water felt like ice so I had no desire to go in and neither did Mia once she touched it.  But all the boys did and they had a blast.  After playing for most of the day we packed up and went to Lloyd and Colleens for the evening. 

 Mia refusing to stand in the water with me

She even cried when we forced her to go in the boat 

 But then she realized it wasn't so bad.  :)

 Kirk and Colleen trying to boat down...didn't work too well.  hahaha

It is always a good time and we are so grateful to have family close that is willing to put up with us non-campers who try to be.  :) 

We love Wisconsin

In July we were lucky enough to make the trip back to the Midwest for our Nettesheim family reunion that happens every three years.  It was so much fun.  It always feels good to get back to Wisconsin.  Although, I have to say, I usually love all the green there, but this year because of a drought I was shocked to see how brown the grass was.  Still, though, it's a beautiful state. 

We started our long drive on July 3rd and it was relatively uneventful (thank goodness!!)  No carsickness this time which is great!!  But our AC did stop working which was absolutely unbearable at times.  We were driving through 100 degree humid weather with no AC.  I was dying in the front, I can't imagine how bad it got in the back for the kids.  Luckily though, after suffering for a long time, we realized every time we filled up with gas it would start working again.  But then stop about 2 hours later.  So we ended up stopping and filling the car more than we would have liked, but it was worth it to keep the temperature comfortable in the car.  It was the strangest thing.

We arrived at my brother Rick's house on the 4th and went to see some fireworks.  But a little fire started and they cancelled them right in the middle.  So it wasn't the longest fire show we've been to, but the kids still had a good time. 

Look at how red Mia's face was!!  She wasn't even running around, that is just how hot it was.  haha

The next day we went to a Brewers game!!  Woohoo!  I haven't been to one of those since I was a kid, so it was a lot of fun.  Besides the heat, it was great.  I don't think my kids have ever sweated so much in their lives.  Mia was beside herself that her back and bum and pretty much everything on her was wet from sweat.  It was soo hot and humid those few days we were at Ricks house!!  Anyway, my older boys made it on the mega tron two times and thought that was the coolest thing ever!!  The first time it was a close up of Alessandro and Diego sitting back in their chairs with wet towels on their heads while watching the game.  The second time was of them and some cousins cheering.  It was pretty cool to see. 

 After the boys were on the big screen the first time, Udine grabbed the camera and was ready to take a picture in case they got on again.  He captured it.  :)

And of course we just had to go to Kopps Custard.  Mmm mmm good!!  And I am not ashamed at all to say we went there three days in a row.  It was soooo good.  It is honestly the best custard I have ever had.  Loved it.  I wish I didn't have to wait three more years to get some more!!!

 Mia, Luca, Cali Rose

Packer, Benji, Phoenix, Diego, Alessandro, Marek

After spending time at Rick's house and hanging with the fam,we headed to Door County WI to stay at the Rushes.  I will post pictures about that in my next post though because I'm sure I'll have lots of pics to add.  :)