Our 4th, Bruneau Sand Dunes

On the Fourth this year we went to Ihop for some pancakes for breakfast. After we headed out to Raft River. Peter and Daddy went out with Grandpa to move a swather. We set up our kiddie pool in the backyard, however the kids only had mild interest in getting wet. We flew kites later. The kids flew them for a bit, but it ended up being Casey and I who finished flying the kites. Nicole, Jordan, and their trio joined us and we joined Grandma at the community dinner and fun activities. The kids got to ride swings, get temperary tattoes, have snow cones, and run in races. Kendal and Peter did a three leg race, some sack races, and a couple of general races. We headed back towards Casey's parents home for fireworks. Kendal watched the fireworks with Grandma and Grandpa from their yard, while the rest of us viewed them from the sod field.

Our week held our typical summer days. Playing outside, going to school lunch a couple of times, library time, and beating the heat with popsicles.

Friday we made our way out to the Bruneau Sand Dunes and joined up with our friends the Spears to camp for the night and have some fun. We made tin foil dinners (shocker the kids didn't love them ; ). After dinner we headed over to the dunes. The kids all scampered up the steep dune. Casey and Rhett followed. The kids were having a blast rolling around, sliding down, and playing in the sand. The wind started to pick up so we headed over to the observatory. The mosquitoes were out full force so we took refuge inside till the presentation started. We listened to a slide show on stars, constellations, planets, and other fun facts about space. The kids were enthralled with it all. Afterwards they had telescopes set up to view different planets, constellations, and the moon outside. It was neat to see all that we got to see and the kids enjoyed it.

After breakfast and clean up Saturday morning we headed back out to the sand dunes before the temperatures got to hot. Rhett and Casey went to find some fishing spots. One side of the dune was fine. I puffed my way behind the kids and Aria to reach the top. It was cool to see all of the lizard, scorpion, and other animal tracks along the dunes. As we were descending the other side though our feet were scorched by the hot sands that the morning sun had heated. Luckily the kids had the slide and didn't seem to mind. We made our way around the dune because Aria and I weren't climbing it again. Most of the kids made their way up again to slide and play some more. After the dunes we went over to a small lake where Rhett and Casey ended up. We fished there for the rest of the morning. Casey caught quite a few fish, however both Kendal and Peter were to impatient to let their lines stay put to catch a fish. After lunch we headed out.
On our way home we made our way to Hagerman to the Fossil Beds museum and the fish hatchery. We'd had enough fishing in the morning so we just observed and fed the fish at the hatchery. We ended our trip with a stop at a cremery in Bhul for some delicious ice cream. We've been counting our numerous mosquito bites since and will be finding sand for weeks to come, but it was a great little camping trip with good friends!