One Day of Escape

Trent made arrangements for us to take one day and escape. We had so much fun - which always makes it hard to return home. We left the kids home and I knew they were looking forward to our return - haha.

I used our pictures and tried to make a movie using Picasa. I'll get better. I am having so much fun with that program.

Summer hike #1 - Golden Lake in Harriman (and my first attempt at collages)

Rain or not, I was determined to do something with the kids this week. I have been so busy helping my sister paint her "new" house that I haven't been able to spend time with them at all. So, on Thursday we went hiking with the cousins. Thanks for letting us tag along, Sus! It was raining when we left. However, when we got to Harriman it had stopped and the conditions were perfect. The hike was about four miles and we had a blast. I don't think we heard a single complaint along the way.


The first of the hike was along the road used for service vehicles in the park. We had to walk through the horse pasture. The horses must have thought that we had come to "round them up" because they walked right up to us. My kids were nervous at first - being city folk and all. But, they quickly warmed up to them. They pet them and let the horses nibble grass right out of their hands. That was Katy's favorite part of the hike. After that it was just a regular old hike out to the lake.


Once we reached the lake it was time for lunch. What can be better than lunch, lakeside, with the cousins?






The returning part of the hike was through the forest on a little trail. Everything is so green because of the rain. All around us the clouds were gathering so we moved fast. Across the lake we could see the rains moving down the mountain. On the lake we saw a huge flock (what do you call it?) of pelicans getting ready to weather the storm. But toward the end of the hike, right beside us, a moose pulled up out of the grass. He stared at us and we stared at him until we all felt safe to move on. That was another highlight.


Since we had already paid for parking in State parks for the day, we ventured over to Mesa Falls. WOW!!! So much water. So much green. Sure glad we went. And still, no rain! Sure glad we took that little side trip.

The hike was a success. Katy and Adri liked it so much that they went hiking the next day. Glad they enjoy it because we plan to go somewhere new in two weeks. If you want to come along just let me know. We'd love to have you.

June Flowers

Not being able to kayak has left me kind of down in the dumps. The rains keep pouring and pouring. If I didn't know better, I'd think we had moved to Seattle. So, I've had to think of positives that have come from all of this rain - besides the usuals (filling the resevoirs, reducing my water bill, blah, blah, blah). So while thinking I was checking out the flower beds, wondering if they were going to float away. What I found were gorgeous blossoms. My flowers have never looked so good. I found my positive. I'm sure they won't look like this next year so I took pictures.

Vanity

I was thinking today about how vane we can be - especially as girls or women. My kids don't care what they look like when they go out. It doesn't matter if their hair is messy or greasy. They aren't persuaded to stay home if they are wearing purple striped pants and an orange plaid shirt. They aren't interested in it. That will change soon. They have almost reached the age that the vanity switch turns on.
My switch is definitely on. I have been painting at my sister's new house. I have been wearing a most unflattering, mismatched, but perfect painting outfit. I always wipe my fingers off on my clothes which has made it splattered in various shades of paint. After I had finished on Saturday, Trent and I decided to go get a snack at the grocery store. I wouldn't go in because my clothes were "ugly." Later I realized how ridiculous this was. IF anyone had taken notice of what I was wearing they would have thought, "Oh, she must be painting. I bet that's fun." Instead, I sat in the car, alone, waiting.
During this softball season we have watched the vanity of teenaged girls at work. The umpires who work at the games are high school girls and they do a fine job. But, they cannot be persuaded to wear a face mask. Why? It will mess up their hair or ruin their makeup. It is torture for the spectators as we watch balls whiz past their heads or hit them in the chest, arms, or backs. Two weeks ago, the umpire at our Rexburg game took a foul ball to the face and suffered the consequences for her vanity - two broken teeth, black eyes, and an enormously fat lip. In my opinion, she looked better with a mask.
Today, the umpire at a game (who, coincidentally, has been hit a couple of other times) was hit by a foul tip off the bat. She now has eight stitches in her head. Her cute little hairdo is being squashed by a roll of hot pink bandage wrapped around and around and around her head. She would have looked better in a mask, too.
Silly what we do and can lose all because of vanity. I hope I can encourage my girls to keep their vanity switch in the off position as long as possible. It is much less complicated - and less painful.

Sweet 16

Can you say that about a boy? Collin turned 16 today. He is a sweet boy. I can't believe that he has been around that long. The day before he was born I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. We had just moved to a new ward and so I told them I was due to have a baby in a couple weeks. Afterward, several of the older ladies came up and said, "Oh honey, you won't have that baby for at least a month." That statement and the fear of speaking must have caused too much stress because that next morning he arrived.

I remember bringing him home from the hospital, holding him in my arms, and wondering, "What do I do now?" Well, we seemed to have figured it out ok, doing well at some things and not so well at others. But together we are figuring it out. He is a great kid! In his honor I've decided to write "16 Great Things About Collin."

1. Full of energy - zoom, zoom, zoom. He doesn't stayed bored for too long.

2. Has never needed a lot of sleep - not so bad now but at 1 and 3 years old this was difficult.

3. Always wakes up cheery - no matter how little sleep he has had.

4. Champion of the underdog.

5 Smart - but doesn't want too many people to know it.

6. Very dependable - and I love that he has his driver's license and can be counted on to help.

7. Star saxophonist - if you haven't heard him you should. The tongue slap is way cool!

8. Positive influence - high school vice-principal is always assuring me of this. Whew!

9. Funny - I think he's funny. His sisters think he's weird.

10. Adventurous - i.e. scuba diving, kayaking, white-water rafting.

11. Great conversationalist - he always has something to talk about and will with anyone.

12. Hard worker.

13. Loves his grandparents - and so respectful of them.

14. Has a strong testimony of the Gospel.

15. An amazing and broad imagination - remember when I thought he didn't have one at all, Trent?

16. A shoulder of support for anyone who needs it.

So, happy birthday Buddy. We sure love you and are grateful to have you in our lives. Thanks for all you do to make our family happy and fun.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We decided to go to Yellowstone early this year. So, we went on Sunday. Yes, we skipped out on church and I felt guilty the entire time. I worried that there would be way too much traffic but I think it was just perfect. I'm sure the southern loop would have been crazy but we were on a bear hunt and heading to the North.

Our first adventure was a hike around the Norris Geyser Basin. We wanted to wait for Steamboat Geyser (the highest erupting geyser) but considering it hadn't erupted since 2005 we reconsidered and moved on.

Collin is always good for a great conversation. He is either trying to rid the world of zombies (and preparing for the battle) or explaining the origins of philosphy in molecular physics (whatever that is). He is funny. If his ipod isn't in his ears, he is talking. Sure love that boy.

Adri and Katy hate their pictures taken and so I have to take it whenever I get the chance - no matter what the face is. Katy is so funny. She is always making us laugh. Adri is much more serious and quiet. Do you think they look alike? I realized today that many of their friends can't tell them apart and adults rarely can. They are absolutely delightful and beautiful. McKenna, though not pictured, was off doing the "pony dance" down the trail. We love her too.

Right in the center of this picture is a rabbit. He was so cute! It was the first real wildlife that we had seen. We don't count bison because they are everywhere. Still, we were on a bear hunt and this rabbit was definitely not a bear so we kept hunting.

We got delayed by a couple lifeflight helicopters that landed at the intersection. We enjoyed a nice picnic on the road while the accident was cleared. After an hour and a half wait, we were back on the road.

We enjoyed the elk at Mammoth and the FIVE bears that we saw along the way. All of them were black bears and two of them were really close. One was so intent on eating its baby elk that it didn't even notice the 50 people watching him about 50 yards away. That was pretty cool to watch.

Our last stop was near Mount Washburn where there is still 6 feet of snow next to the road. The view was absolutely spectacular. The snow made us appreciate the green grass that needs to be mowed and the garden that will need to be weeded.

We had a great time, a ton of laughs, and lots of fun memories. Can't wait to go again. Maybe we'll go on a moose hunt next.

Tasty Tuesday

Spaghetti Pie

6 oz. spaghetti

2 Tbsp. butter

2 beaten eggs

1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 c. cottage cheese

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 lb. ground beef or pork sausage

2 c. favorite spaghetti sauce (homemade or canned)

Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain, should have about 3 cups. Stir butter into hot spaghetti; stir in beaten eggs and Parmesan cheese. Form spaghetti mixture into a "crust" in a greased 10 inch pie plate. Spread with cottage cheese. Brown meat and onion. Drain off fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce; heat through. Turn meat mixture into spaghetti crust. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese; bake until melted, about 5 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

DELICIOUS!!!!!