Rice Family

ok, so, you wanna know what happened in Iowa?? We drove to ... hmm, I can't remember the name of the town, in Iowa...three fires lake or something, to meet Erin, Megan (and her family), and my dad for some camping. It was hot and sticky, but nothing we Kansans aren't used to putting up with. I think this trip started with drinking...jack and coke with Erin, Megan joined in later. We decided to go swimming that night cuz we were all hot and so went to the beach, and Erin shared her tanning oil, and we made the lake look like an oil spill, and slipped and slid across the floaties, and slipped and nearly dropped now oily babies. M had her first experience of peeing in the lake "its ok to pee in a lake. everybody does..." so says Megan's family, which M responds dubiously "Are you suure??" Took her a long time to decide we weren't kidding. Every other animal pees in the lake, why shouldn't we? Some more drinking. And some delicious slow cook

We were camping (same camping trip in Idaho) and chillin and eatin some giant brownies, which E is obviously enjoying considering his huge. mmm mmm chocolate goodness. So, M is asking me for something, I don't exactly remember what, but it was something that was not going to happen. She walks by us, E sitting to my left, and I respond to her "but moooom!" with a "Tough Cookies!" which prompts E to gasp excitedly, and turn to me with wide eyes and an expectant smile....uh. no, E, not "cookies" "tough cookies" WE're not eating cookies along with these brownies. What a let down! :)

After our visit with Emily we went camping with J's family in Pocatello, on Scout Mountain. First of all, it was a lot of fun, and we love camping in the mountains (MOUNTAINS, MOUNTAINS, MOUNTAINS!!) ..ok. I love the mountains. Second of all, it was great to see so much of J's family, and finally meet my new nephew Aldon (very adorable - looks like his momma). But - there is always a but - There were skunks. Bold skunks, who, on our first night there, assaulted our camp site, and ate all (almost all, tainted the rest of) our muddy buddies, not to mention other random bits. I heard them in the night, creepy noises and scuffling and screechy-screamy-growling bickering; but there was no way I was getting my tushy out of my warm blankets, out into the freezing cold (seriously, practically, if not literally, freezing) night, to attempt to scare off skunks. NOT HAPPENING. And J didn't even stop snoring, sooo.... then, the next night, they had the audacity to scurry up behi