Our trip to Yellowstone

After 3 years of promising our kids they would get to see Yellowstone Ntnl. Park, we finally just had to do it! Not that I don't just LOVE it up there, it's absolutely GORGEOUS country...it just never seemed to work out. This place has lots of wonderful memories for me as a child. I remember visits up there with the family, and my cousins & Grandparents. I'll never forget the time a moose stuck his head in the bathroom window one time & my Aunt Julie squealed very loud! Despite all the rain (we've had SO much lately, it's been crazy!), we still got to enjoy all that area had to see, like some amazing waterfalls all throughout!

You certainly see plenty of incredible mountains & lakes! And of course, lots of wildlife! It is the home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and antelope play! :} But, I am going to disagree with the lyrics in the song that say "And the skies are not cloudy all day!"
Yep, we even enjoyed all the cute little chipmunks too! :}New nickname for Kaley: "Lil' Ms. Hollywood". She just thinks she's "all that" lately! OK, she is ALL THAT! :} Where is my baby going though?!
Could she be any more of a Daddy's Girl? I think not! (But isn't it just darn cute?! :})
Having some time at our campsite at Flagg Ranch We enjoyed hanging out at the Campsite Lodge some nights so we didn't have to do too much cooking! (since there were bears sited in the campsite area that week even, best to not have too much food around!)
Dylan & Kaley playing a bit of see-saw while we were waiting for Old Faithful to blow.
It's always cool to see, though not as dramatic with all the clouds around. My kids didn't quite get the excitement of it all, as much as I tried to get them to read the brochures & understand how they occur, and how this area has the most geysers than anywhere in the world! :} Hopefully someday they'll get it, and know they were there!
Chillin' on the patio for a bit We started to get a downpour; but, this area, The Upper Geyser Basin, was neat to see. The steam was hitting us, it felt like being in a sauna! It felt good!
The turquoise pools
The Mud Volcano. Oh, would hate to be around when that decided to go off!
"Don't mess with me!"
Yes, we even saw bears!! Fortunately from a distance, as it should be! Here is a black bear just to the right of the pine tree.
And a Grizzly up on the hill. Again, great to see...from a far distance! Apparently we missed a Grizzly chasing a Mama Moose & it's baby across the road & through the river (which would have been sad to see too) by just a minute or so. The kids blame me for that since I made them stop for a picture before that! :} What are the chances you happen to run into your old teacher on the side of the road in another state? Here is Mrs. Pehrson (Dylan's 2nd grade teacher, prev. Ms. Johnson), up by Tower Fall. Dylan has a good eye, he noticed her with her back to us as we were driving by. We thought that was pretty neat! :}
Doug & I at Tower Falls So, of course, Kaley met some new friends. She's just lovable like that. She was thrilled to meet her 1st set of Triplets: Chesney, McKala, & Kaya (I hope I got that right! And I have no clue in what order they actually are either! I tried! :}). And Kaley just "couldn't believe that she had the exact same pair of Levi's too, with the same cute flower design! So they're like 4 sisters!" :}
They were a fun family, The Shanks, from Houston, TX. They made for great camping neighbors. Their son, Chris, was Bradon's age who is also a football fanatic & knows his stats like Bradon. The girls giving us a performance (I know, surprise surprise! :})The girls having some kind of bonding moment of "Friends Forever" (oh for cute! :}) Having a few silly moments in the camper. Here's Dylan shaking his head like a mad dog.
Seeing the "Grand Canyons" of Yellowstone, in the the Upper Falls area. Kaley was NOT in the mood that day (seriously had a dramatic meltdown girl moment in the parking lot! Girls! :}) So this picture is a trip. Besides another amazing waterfall, is anyone else thinking Mickey Mouse fell in & is reaching his arm out of the water to get out?! I'm just sayin'! :}

OK, pretend with us...check out the kids amongst the birds in the mountains! :}

Having a little more time with her new friends before we had to leave.

Catching what I could of the Grand Tetons on the way out. Should have gotten that picture on the way in without all the clouds; but, we were anxious to get to camp then! Still amazing to see!
Kaley insisting I take the picure where it tells us about John Coture, who discovered the Tetons
I'm so glad we finally got to visit this part of the country. It's really not that far, we need to do that more often!

Let the reunions continue...

You know, I think it's fair to say I may be one of the luckiest girls in the world! Not only do I have an amazing husband & kids, and extended family; but, I have had the pleasure of having the most amazing girlfriends over my lifetime, as I'm sure you all ready know! This is something I have never taken for granted. You can't, they are your lifeline! Meet good friends since Jr. High: Sherri (aka: "Hellig", I know...everyone has a nickname :} Personally, I'm "Peachy" to these girls), Sonya (aka: "Beast"), and Kathryn (I'm sure I had a nickname for her, why don't I remember anymore?). Sherri, Sonya & I were a threesome who, let's be honest, have been through A LOT, together! Seriously, they pretty know any of my deep dark secrets (and don't you dare try to bribe them w/ info, because they will not tell! :}). Their poor parents put up with us on a regular basis! (and managed to survive too...AND they still like us! :}). I'll just sit here & smile, have a few giggles, as I think of how much fun we've had together! :} Probably most memories that come to mind would be many weekends of hanging out at Lark Sand Dunes, camping trips & Lake Powell excursions. I believe they are the ones who helped me to truly appreciate the nature & our surroundings. Really, sounds silly; but, it's true! Kathryn came into play through mutual friends & drove us punks around all the time (not sure how she put up with us either! :}). She had a little truck that managed to get through many 4-wheeling experiences! All of us will also always share a hilarious memory of getting stuck out by Wendover together. Let me just say....make sure one has enough gas, and don't EVER try to cross the salt flats! :}

Though I fortunately got to see Sonya lately (but, not nearly as much as I should!); Sherri lives in Arizona, so I don't get to see her that often. I'm so glad we have email at least...today's technology makes it easier to keep those connections alive. It's funny though...with these girls, it doesn't matter how much time or how many years go by, whenever we do see each other we just pick up where we left off! There's something to say about that kind of friendship!

Speaking of their parents..I always felt so loved & welcome by Pat & Clancy Hellige. They always treated us like their own. Their other daughter, Suzy, let me move in to her home & and was my very first roommate after moving away from home. As well as their son, Chuck. We lived in Suzy's house (and later, Doug as well, becoming a roommate...long story :}) & just had a blast there. I was growing up (OK, that may still be up for debate! :}); but, still lived close enough to home & in the neighborhood, so it worked out perfect...I loved it! So it was like I was just an extension of their family & I appreciate them always making me feel that way!

Pat got to make the visit as well (she also lives in Arizona now). Here is Sherrie's daughter, Charlesie, and Pat. I also hadn't seen Heidi forever! They just moved back from Texas (Heidi & Chuck were Jr. High/High School Sweethearts...it really can happen to be in love with someone from the beginning! :}) Really, I love this family & it was SO good to see them, even if it was just a few hours...I'll take what I can get! Of course Kaley instantly bonded with Brianna (Sonya's daughter). It's amazing, and crazy, to see your friend's kids grow too. How can that happen when we're still 29?! :} Thank God for Girlfriends who help get you through the roller coaster of life!

Friends Forever

Meet longtime friends from WAY back to our Ponderosa Days. (which was a long time ago!), Dawnelle & Liz. Or, as I've always called them, Dawnellie & Lizard. We certainly all put in our time there (myself 10 years...crazy, I know; but, I just loved the regulars!) & shared many good times together! Though life gets crazy, like it does, we always try to get together at least every October to celebrate our birthdays (we always thought that was pretty cool we had the same birthday month! :}). So this time was to celebrate the wedding of Dawnelle's oldest daughter, Brittany. Really...how did we get old enough for our kids to start getting married?! :}
The Newlyweds, Brittany & Brian. They actually got married in Mexico, which seemed like such a pretty ceremony from the pics I saw. She sure made a gorgeous bride!

Of course, her daughters have always been gorgeous! Here is Brittany with her sister, Amanda.

Dawnell & Curt...25 plus years later! So good to see them both again!

Amanda instantly became Kaley's dear friend...she was attached all night! (Literally..she was on her hip most of the night!) I was trying to remind her she was 6 & didn't need to be carried; but, she was loving it!

Oh, this little boy next to Kaley was so cute! He had a thing for her apparently because he kept following her around, even asked her to dance! What a little ladies man! :} When we were leaving, he asked me "Does Kaley have to go? Well then I should give her a hug!" Too cute!

The reception was all about the fun...including karaoke! Here's Brittany & Brian singing "Summer Lovin" from the classic, Grease (which I LOVE by the way! :})

And of course Kaley had to get in on that, especially if she was singing with Amanda & it was to a Taylor Swift song! :}

Everyone got to do sparklers together

Sure good to see my girls again! :}

I know there's lots of saying about girlfriends, and the people that come into your life...so, know they are true & appreciate them, never let them be forgotten! :}

Playing in the sun (and the clouds!)

It was time for the annual dance performance day at Raging Waters. Of course Kaley was excited, when isn't she when it comes to dancing?! We were excited to have Dylan to be a part of it this year too (though he wasn't sure about it when he thought he was the only one showing up in his group!) Fortunately Calvin showed up & gave him some encouragement & he was back in the game! The older girls did their thing. Wow, now there's some jumps!
It's always fun to watch Cheyenne too (along w/ her friend, Ashley)...she's practically like our own! Kaley thinks of her like a big sister and loves to follow in her footsteps when it comes to dancing! :}
Kaley's turn for the "April Showers" dance, which was appropriate with all this rain we've been getting lately! Can't really tell it's summer time yet!And then Dyl & Calvin's chance to entertain us...which they did!
Once we were done with the dancing, it was time to have some fun in the water! The boys were enjoying the waves
Kaley...not so much!
She was more at ease in the kiddy land!

And I just HAD to try out the Acapulco Slide! We're just glad I actually went down on the mat since I had a little fall at the top & almost went down head first without it! (I know, I'm a klutz...got the big bruise to show for it too!) Yea, it's pretty intense (But fun of course! :})

So glad summer is finally here! (even if it was a chilly summer day for water fun!)

An afternoon at the ball park...

This weekend we finally got time to hit the ball park & watch our local baseball team, the Bees, in action. I was just anxious to finally have a day to kick back in the sun myself! They had a great game, winning 8-3...way to go Bees!

Kaley always loves to see Bumble, running up & giving him a hug right away. And he autographed her Bees shirt that she won the last time we were there, so she was excited about that too! :} Sadly, this year thier pitcher, Nick Adenhart, had tragically passed a way in a car accident just the night before the season opener. In his honor, they have painted his number on the field in front of thier dugout.