Flashback Friday

In the summer of 2001, my mother, step-dad, Dave and I took a trip from Kansas to Utah/Idaho. There were a couple of events happening so we decided that it would be fun for all four of us to go together.

One event that summer was Dave's family was starting the first ever annual Ella Kent family reunion. I don't have the best memory, but I think his grandma, Ella Kent, was celebrating her 90th birthday so her children thought it would be nice to have a family reunion. Since then they have tried to continue it every year even after her passing a few years back. It was fun to have everyone together! Even all 7 of Dave's siblings and their families made it back for the event.

Also while in Utah/Idaho that summer his brothers talked Dave into going swimming in the flume. This was something they grew up doing and for several years every time we were in his hometown we had to go swimming in the flume. It wasn't something I enjoyed and maybe only did once. The gist of this activity is to jump in one end of the flume and let the water carry you through this tube down to the other end and then walk on the boards on top of the flume back to the beginning. It was really hard for me to walk back because you could see the water rushing below you in the opposite direction you were walking. Not my cup of tea! While in the area we also attended the Preston, ID night rodeo and went to the 24th of July parade (for those who aren't familiar with Mormon history, that is the day when the settlers arrived in Utah so it is a big holiday out here...like the 4th of July).

While we were in Idaho we decided that we would try and find a lake that my mom had visited as a child with her father. Her dad loved to take vacations every summer and they did so until he died when my mom was 12 years old. She remembers visiting Lake Jenny (I hope that is the right name...again, my memory is not very good) and how calm the lake was, like glass, and how beautiful the scenery. We found it, but it wasn't anything like what she remembered. As you can tell from the picture the water wasn't very calm, but the scenery was beautiful!

Also while in Idaho we decided to go visit Yellowstone. I had been there many times while at college in Rexburg, ID and couldn't wait to return. It had been years since my mom had been there. We were only there for a short time so we visited the popular places like Old Faithful.

My mother's 50th birthday was coming up and she had been instructed by her sister that as part of their family tradition she needed to have her picture taken in black and white at the age of 50. My grandma had such a picture along with my aunt. My mom decided that she wanted to have me take this required picture of her on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. We spent the day there along with two of Dave's siblings snapping as many pictures in black and white of mom as possible.

We had a great trip and enjoyed being able to see Dave's family and new sites!