I-DA-HO!

That was the chant for this trip. Noella became very good at it (to which, I rebutted "you da ho?")

I don't even know where to start. How about the riding?

Indian Creek to Quigley Creek

Croy Canyon (see the loopy trail behind Adam? that was sure fun to go down!)

Mahoney Creek to Greenhorn Gulch = Awesomeness

At the top of the Greenhorn Gulch Ride

Bee-you-tea-full!

My only setback was the altitude. Hello 7,500 ft.

Next, the grandparent love. Noella soaked up all of the attention she's missed from them over the past several months. She is now in withdrawl.

Nana Carol

Papa Tracy

Three generations 

Galena Summit

The top of the hill above the valley where we stayed

And then, of course, there was just the typical Noella silliness. She certainly hammed it up for everyone to keep us all thoroughly entertained.

See what I mean?

This looks completely inappropriate, but was really cute and funny at the time.

In as much "pink and purple?" as she can get her hands on. 

Dear Lord! A PINK BIKE!

This was on the car ride home - a last ditch effort by Adam to entertain her. This ended with her breaking his sunglasses....

And so, there it was in a nutshell. I have hundreds more photos and many stories, but I wouldn't want to bore all of you. Let's just say we're trying to figure out a way to go there a couple of times each year :)

"Who da ho? I-da-ho!"

Hailey, Idaho Photo "Teaser"

Nana Carol

Playing in the yard

Mimi and Zeb

Mimi and NoJo

View of the hills behind the guest house

Aspen trees in the side yard of the main cabin

This was the most amazing vacation we've had in a long time.

Sun Valley

We're headed on a family vacation for a week. Both my mom and Adam's parents will be joining us in Sun Valley, Idaho next week. Adam and I will get in some kick a@! mountain biking (together), while the grandparents get in some serious NoJo time. Everybody wins!

The weather will be perfect 70s-low 80s during the day and 40s-50s at night. Gorgeous mountain views surround our nice little rental on an acre in the valley. We're looking forward to quality family time, lots of good food, conversation, fresh mountain air, and pretty sights. Now, if someone would just pack for me.....

My Whole Family Named Chubby

This must be explained first to everyone who is outside my immediate family. Who knows the "My whole family named chubby" story? I remember saying it over and over as a child while squishing my cheeks together (to look chubby, of course). It eventually ends towards the chubby child going on a motorcycle ride with their daddy. And she said "faster daddy", and he went faster, then she said "faster daddy", and he went faster, "not that fast daddy!" (this is when you pulled your cheeks apart to give the effect of the fast wind blowing your fat cheeks back. and of course, I'm talking about the cheeks on your face).

Noella was attempting her own version of it today, in between space out moments.

Chatterbox

Please excuse my extremely annoying voice. If you can't figure it out, it was supposed to be Noella making the funny sound - not me drowning her sweet little voice out. This video is not anything special - I just realized I haven't posted video in a LONG time. This kid is a talking machine. We think that between her daddy in sales and her mom in speech therapy, she really couldn't have gone any other way (but between you and me, we all know she really gets her chattiness from her dear father :)

Almost 19 months old and speaking in 2-4 word phrases. Some favorites include: "mommy up duh stairs", "jumpin' on nuh bed", "bess you daddy" (bless you daddy - b/c Adam sneezes 100012 times a day) and another one of my favorite phrases is "I pittin' nose" (I picking nose - lovely, thanks for telling me).

She loves animals of all kinds, as documented by this video. We saw some wildlife by the river in The Dalles, OR and she was pretty excited about it. Of course we want to show her new things and share these experiences with her b/c she enjoys it so much. But, anytime we show her anything, she acknowledges it, is excited about it and then says "more ___ please". Like, okay I saw that one, now I want to see MORE. Sheesh.

Kisses!

A Few More Firsts

First Pub Burger

First Ice Cream Cone

Hiya Uncle Ay-yah!

Uncle Alex came for a visit. We rode bikes.

Safety First. 

Alex on the Spring Street Trail high above the Gorge.

We went on hikes. 

Starvation Ridge. 

Waterfall on Starvation Ridge Trail.

 We went to Portland.

We went to the zoo. How about you? 

Seeing the bears. "More bears please? Mommy? More please?"

Shuttle bus ride. We could have ended the trip here. 

 And we saw the local sights in Mosier.

Walking along the railroad tracks. 

Windsurfer at Rock Creek. 

Rock Creek

Rock Creek

Lovely sunset on Alex's last day. We miss you already Uncle Ay-yah!

*photos courtesy of Alex Holt, photographer extraordinaire