promise
You may remember that my mom and I pinky swore with my nephew to come visit them in Pocatello, Idaho. Last month we were able to keep that promise.
Poky, as my sister affectionately calls their new home city, has that perfect not-too-big, not-too-small coziness to it. Nestled in a valley, Pocatello is surrounded by mountains and is home to Idaho State University. It’s also home to some of the best fried chicken and sushi I’ve ever tasted!
Day 1
We left Portland amid clear, chilly skies and had similar weather once we arrived in Poky - perfect for Deacon to show us his tree climbing skills and to do a little jumping on the trampoline.
After working up quite the appetite, we headed out to dinner. One of the things that Deacon wanted to do during our visit was to eat at their favorite sushi restaurant, Sumisu. He also wanted us to meet his favorite server, Lily :)
We ordered a long list of food thanks to Lily’s wonderful recommendations and then played UNO while we waited for the food to arrive - laughing much because after all of these years, my mom (Mami/MommaBear) still gets confused with how to play. She likes to put down whatever card is in her hand even if it’s the wrong color 😉
It’s hard to believe that this little town has such yummy sushi … every dish that came out was so delectable and quickly devoured by the five of us! If you’re ever in Pokey, do try Sumisu and make sure to ask for Lily!
Once back home, we got into our pjs and snuggled in for a movie. We ended up watching Incredibles 2, and I ended up screaming at least four times 😬 The villain and those goggles she uses are S C A R Y! Luckily for me, I didn’t have to sleep by myself.
Deacon had a cot all ready for him at the foot of the queen sized bed my mom and I would share. But we missed him so much that we invited him to sleep with us. The three of us were squished like sardines … but happy as clams :)
day 2
With my sister and brother-in-law at work, MommaBear, Deacon and I had the day to ourselves. We eased into our morning not really on any time schedule - just happy to be in the same place together.
After a breakfast of bacon and mini pancakes covered in peanut butter and syrup, we bundled up for a little hike. We also brought along Charlie, my nearly 100 lb. fur niece. She’s playful and strong and can easily drag Deacon and me, but she listens surprisingly well for my mom.
I should say that MommaBear is not used to hiking, but she was a very good sport and despite wanting to turn back at every step because we were the only ones on the trail, she walked with us all the way to the snow-covered bridge that Deacon kept saying was not too far off. We took some pictures and then quickly walked back to MommaBear’s relief.
We brought Charlie back home where she would spend most of the day napping (I think she and I inherited the napping gene 😆); Mami and Deacon did a little reading on American bison; and then we were off again.
After a yummy lunch at the Sand Trap, it was time to cross another item off Deacon’s to-do list: roller skating! It’s been over 20 years since I was last on roller skates, but thankfully it’s a bit like riding a bike - somehow your body and muscles remember what to do and suddenly your thrown back to your childhood.
Before going back home, we had to make one last stop … for FRIED CHICKEN! Seems a little crazy, but the crispiest, tastiest fried chicken you’ll ever try is right here in Poky - in a Roswell themed arcade called Outer Limits! 👽
MommaBear ordered chicken to-go while Deacon and I played in the arcade. Coconut won not one, but two bonuses! One for 150 tickets and the other for 500 tickets! We were going to tally all of our tickets, but the chicken was done and MommaBear was anxious to get home and eat 😋
We wanted to eat at home so that we could eat the chicken with rice and a mix of Asian dipping sauces (i.e. fish sauce, Sriracha, soy sauce …) 😉 It was only about 3 in the afternoon - not quite lunch and not quite dinner, but the perfect time for a little snack.
Just a few hours later, we sat down for a bigger meal once everyone was home. I think mealtimes were what I looked forward to most during our trip. The laughing, the storytelling, the looks Charlie would give to beg for food. Plus Stephanie and Chase are AMAZING cooks! And extra plus … there was enough leftover fried chicken to last for DAYS!
Day 3
We spent this day “making Thanksgiving” … Deacon’s words, not mine 💙
Stephanie and Chase cooked and baked while Deacon and I worked on a puzzle and snacked on leftover Halloween candy (mostly gummy bears). We also helped with the chopping - Deacon with the bread crumbs and green beans and me with the vegetables for pancit (a Filipino noodle dish). MommaBear was kind enough to take care of the dishes, and Charlie … well … Charlie pretty much napped most of the day :)
When dinner was finally ready, it was filled with all of the foods from my carb-lover’s dream: dressing, mashed potatoes, pancit noodles, and potato rolls 🤤 We also had green bean casserole and vegetables for the pancit and of course turkey, but I was definitely there for the sides … and the leftover fried chicken!
But before we could eat, I had to get a picture of my sister taking a picture of our wonderful feast :)
The food coma that followed was no joke! I think we were all ready for a nap and it’s possible that MommaBear may have snuck away and taken one 🙈 The rest of us played with CharBear. She is the biggest snuggle-bug and the best lap dog.
We ended the night by going to watch Fantastic Beasts 2 where I was really good and only screamed, at the most, 2 times!
Day 4
From Thanksgiving 🦃 to Christmas 🎄 We decided to do something we’ve never done before and drove all the way to Knox Canyon to cut down our very own Christmas tree.
Once we got out of the car and into the snow, it was hard to tell who was the happiest camper: Deacon, Charlie or Mami ??
Deacon ended up spotting our tree up on the side of the mountain, and out of excitement, also happened to decorate it without anyone knowing once we got home 😂
The holidaying continued after dinner when we joined the town for its annual Christmas parade. My sister noticed all of the children holding bags and correctly guessed that those in the parade would be passing out candy. We came unprepared so she gave us her purse to use. Deacon and I each grabbed a handle and held it out as people would toss candy in - sometimes by the handfuls! It was way better than trick-or-treating and the most fun I’ve ever had at a parade :)
We even made a little cameo when a truck carrying a large mirror covered in fairy lights drove by 🤗
day 5
For our last day together and as an early Christmas gift, my sister surprised us with a family photo session with the sweetest, { feels like you’ve been friends forever even though you’ve just met } Abbey of Abbey Armstrong Photography. Here are a few of my favorite moments 💙
It was definitely bittersweet packing up our bags. MommaBear and I were going home with such happy memories, but we were leaving a piece of our hearts in Pokey.
It was a good thing that the drive to the airport in Salt Lake City was about two hours away. Goodbye could wait.
But first a stop at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. Deacon has been to at least 10 different aquariums in the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver BC to San Francisco and Manila, Philippines … it’s his happy place 🙂 He’s been to this one before and was very excited to show us around.
After saying hello to the fishies and taking a snap with a megalodon, it was time for one final dinner together. Since we had sushi on our first night, it seemed rather fitting to have sushi again on our last. We went to Takashi in downtown Salt Lake City, another Major family favorite.
We savored each bite of our 10 different entrees and 2 desserts. Then we headed to the airport.
MommaBear and I were brave and didn’t cry when we hugged Stephanie, Chase and Deacon goodbye. But as they drove away and we walked into the terminal, I was trying to blink away the tears - I already missed them.
I don’t know when I’ll see them next asides from FaceTime calls. But I do promise to visit Poky, and them, again … and again.
