Idaho -- Friday

Friday we drove down to the Union Pacific 150th anniversary celebration.  The very first thing we did was wait in line.  Until we found the freebie table. So instead the kids raided that table while Dustin waited in line.  They had conductor hats, pennants, coloring books, 3D books and glasses. . . I can't even remember what all else.  And since we had 7 children with us, they gave us 7 of everything.  But no one wanted to hold anything so they all ended up in my purse and I looked like the world's greediest hoarder with everything sticking out of there.

The line was for a train car turned into a museum and I'm not going to lie, my kids were really bored in there.  But we escaped and then it was time to wait in line again.  This time for a ride on a kiddie-sized train.  While my parents and Uncle waited in line, we tried to console the children (Luke) who wanted to be on the train RIGHT.NOW!  Did he want cupcakes?  No!  Did he want a doughnut? No, but Sadie did.  Did he want his face painted? Ellie and Hannah took us up on that one. 

Would he like ice cream?  Only if it came in a cone -- which it didn't.  Finally the shaved ice stand opened and all was saved.  In fact he probably wouldn't have cared if we ever got on that train.

But we did! 

 That afternoon my parents and Kristine took all of the grandkids into the beach at Jensen's Grove and I did something really glorious -- I napped.  Sharing a queen size bed with your giant of the husband when you are a poor sleeper makes for a very restless sleep.

And while I napped, what was the giant doing?  Making dinner for everyone.  Because Dustin is the hardest worker ever.  He worked full time on vacation, still helped cook dinner and tried to hang out with the kids as much as he could.

He made my Grandma's secret recipe -- Square Steak.  I would describe it to you, but it will sound bizarre and unappetizing.  In reality it is delicious (not "delish" because I abhor that word).   It's a meal we always always had every single summer.  And if we were lucky we'd have it 2 or 3 times a summer. So next time you come over to our house for dinner, request Square Steak!!

Once the square steak and cookies were consumed my sister decided  that there was nothing else Idaho had to offer, so she packed up her darling little girls and left.  Or maybe we all knew they were leaving Friday night because her husband had to take a test in Provo on Saturday morning.  You decide. 

It was very sad to say goodbye to Olivia and Nora.  We had to console ourselves with another Midnight Run.