Celebrating America's Birthday

For the 4th of July we went motorcycling! My dad arranged to borrow the bikes and gear for Matt and I and all we had to do was show up! Pretty sweet deal, Next time (and there will definitely be a next time) we'll help you get everything together dad! 

This was Matt's first time riding a motorcycle so my brother Bryson is here explaining the basics. Clutch,  throttle, hand brake, foot brake, the kickstart, the gear shift.  I grew up riding on a motorcycle with my dad, but never actually drove one myself. It was a lot to think about and do all at once! So hard in fact that right when started out to go, I ran right into Matt! Oops! I couldn't remember how to brake until it was too late. Luckily no one was hurt, but I did wonder if perhaps we should have put a will in place before we had left! 

Thanks to my cousin Sarah letting me borrow her awesome pink helmet I could still look fashionable while taking some tumbles off the bike! Thankfully the bike my dad got for me was only a 100 which is little and doesn't have as much power as the ones they ride. It was the perfect bike for me to start out on. 

The trail we were going to ride was a dirt road leading up to a lookout tower above Idaho City. The only problem was that a few years ago the beginning of the road got completely washed out so it was pretty rocky to ride through for a few hundred yards. It was way beyond our skill level (trust me we tried) so instead Matt and I walked that part while Bryson and my Dad rode our bikes through. Here's my dad on the 100 after getting it to the easy part for me and after popping a few wheelies of course! 

Once we got to the actual road it was smooth sailing there on out....for the most part. I had some shifting problems in the beginning, but finally got the hang of it. We stopped for a little while off the road for some water and snacks. 

Here we are on top of the tower. The 360 degree view was breathtaking! 

Here's Bryson on top of the tower. The 'scary' parts of riding, which to me is having to dodge anything, is the part he likes the most! When it comes to snowboarding or motorcycling his motto is go big or go home! My motto was to have fun and go home in one piece. Which I did. Mission accomplished! 

My dad said there was only one consequence for going out riding together....that Matt would comeb back wanting to get a motorcycle! I think he was right about that one. 

Our gang hanging out on top of Idaho. 

The way back down I was sad that the ride was coming to an end since I was finally feeling comfortable in knowing what I was doing. Matt must have been thinking the same thing because he was up ahead and took a wrong turn which led him about 3 miles out of the way. I waited under a tree trying to remain calm, while my dad went searching for him. Finally after about 15 minutes I saw them coming back and could breath again. I've heard too many stories of Howell men getting lost and having to spend the night in the mountains! 

We got back to the truck to load up just as it was getting to be really hot which made it the the perfect time to head home. We got back around 4 where Sawyer was having a ball running through this sprinkler. I don't think he even missed Matt or I while we were away. 

After we were all showered and cleaned up, we attempted at getting a 4th of July family photo of us in our festive colors. 

But Sawyer was too distracted eyeing the corn on the grill and wanted to chow down, not take photos. 

We gobbled up a delicious 4th of July dinner consisting of barbecue shredded pork sandwiches, grilled corn on the cob, grilled pineapple. spinach and bacon salad with poppyseed dressing, baked beans and followed by root beer freezes. YUMmmmmmm. Thanks Mom!

We thought about sticking around to watch the fireworks either in my parents neighborhood or downtown Boise, but decided not to. I could blame Sawyer for us calling it a night super early because he was tired, but the truth of the matter was that it was Matt and I who didn't think we could make it 'til 10 to watch the fireworks! Instead we went home, tucked Sawyer into bed and then tucked ourselves in too. What time was that at? 9:45. Yep. We totally went to bed before it was even dark outside and neither one of us had any regrets about it! We do the same thing on New Years Eve, why go all crazy now?

It was a fabulous 4th of July and to top it off right before dinner I found out my one and only sister is going to be a mama!!! Congratulations Megan and Kevin on the news! I figured now that it was 'facebook' official I could blog about it :) Come next March there will be 4 grandkids in our family! (the third one is Ben and Chantal's little girl due this November). So excited for new babies!