Lava Hot Springs

On Saturday Bryan and I went to Lava Hot springs in Idaho to the Nielsen family reunion. We spent just about the whole day tubing the river. It was too hot for the hot tubs and the swimming pool was too crowded to be able to swim. At the beginning of the run you get in right after a waterfall where the current isn't too strong. Above that waterfall is another one just past a real good swim area. Bryan and Kimberlee decided to try both waterfalls. We went down enough times to figure out exactly where and where not to to go to not flip over, at least on a 4 person tube. I think you would almost always flip over on anything smaller. The top waterfall throws you back and forth so it felt like we were in a pipe where you run up the sides of the pipe, though it wasn't too bad, I didn't feel like we were really going to fall off. Usually right after that someone has to get off and push us to the next waterfall because there is no undercurrent between the two, which is what make it a good swim area. The second waterfall has rapids right before it and is one you are more likely to flip on. One time we ended up down it on the wrong side of the rock while on a 4 person tube. We got folded in half and then flipped over. Kimberlee ended up stuck under the tube for a bit, luckily Chaselyn (who is 8) had her life jacket on. We all ended up scraped up though I think I was the luckiest with mostly just bruises. That was the only time I flipped. There are some other rapids that feel like they are going to sink your tube but we always popped out on top. The water wasn't too high but the current was really swift after the two waterfalls. On the first run most of us were on our own tubes and Bryan fell off at the first rapids and couldn't get on for a long ways and got fairly scraped up, though nothing serious. It was funny how as we went again and again the rapids seemed less scary. We did get a little bit burned but it was so much fun!

Disneyland Pictures

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Disneyland.

It is so fun to get dizzy!
After day two we were all exhausted and crashed on the cement.
Daphne and Sophie are being held up by their fathers.

Camping

We went camping the weekend before we left for Disneyland. It was raining a little bit, and Rebekah was way too excited to be camping in the rain.

We had just found a campsite when Rebekah decided to pull out the camera. So naturally I pulled my classic pose.

We set up the tent but needed to fix the tarp underneath so we didn't collect water under the tent while we slept. So naturally we stored it on the only semi-dry surface available.

It probably wasn't a good idea to set the tent up so close to the fire, but we didn't want to walk far in the dark after we doused it.

We built a cozy little fire. Not sure why I'm holding the hatchet like that...

We tried making marshmallow roasting sticks out of coat hangers, but we brought the flimsy painted ones. After trying to burn the paint off only to find that the fire turned green...

We decided to search for a wet stick to use instead.

So we enjoyed the fire for a little while, roasting caramels and marshmallows until we were kinda cold and wet. We slept on a slight incline with our heads downward (silly us) and every time one of us would move to get more comfortable we would both wake up.

Bekah woke up before I did.

And it was a beautiful morning. Yay for camping!!! We didn't have any firewood left though, so we packed up and left. Hopefully next time it will be sunny and warm the whole time.

Disneyland!

We just got back last night at 1:30 from our family trip to Disneyland! It was a fun week even though my feet hurt every afternoon. The funny thing was that Rebekah just got new sandals a few days before and her feet never really hurt. Go figure. Anyway, we will post some pictures as soon as we can get them all organized!

My Job

Here is one of the experiments I do at work. A laser passes through the fat sample and as the sample crystalizes less laser can go through to be picked up by the analyser. With this information I calculate the time it takes to crystalize after it reaches a certain temperature.

Best Buy

So, we're getting the news around that Bryan passed his personality test in order to work at Best Buy. It has taken 5 tries and 2 1/2 months to get it but now he has also taken the drug test and will start training and then working!

Rebekah's First Post

I am excited for this new blog!