Another Catch Up

What is this?????  Time is just moving too fast for these britches.  Blink my eyes and another month has flown by with me standing on the side, holding on tight to the rail so I don't go flying off with it!

So the last few weeks have brought birthdays and vacations and I've posted pictures on Facebook so many of you have seen them already.  But I do have some dear ones who do not do Facebook (imagine that?  hats off to such great courage) so I will post the links to the pix here, if anyone's at all interested, that is.  There are some fun pictures I would love to share with those of you who haven't seen them, though, so come along with us on this whirlwind ride....

Mike got us all tickets to go to the Bees Game for FHE.  They were on a losing streak, but our attendance, I'll have you know,  brought them great luck so they actually won this night. 
Click here for more pictures from the night at the ballgame.

It had been forever and a day since we've last been to a ballgame.  It was with Mike and Makinzee last time, too, I believe.  This kids didn't have a clue what was going on out under the lights, but they loved the snow cones (thanks, Aunt Heather) and the hot dogs and the balloon animals, and being able to get up and move around a little... not quite like having to sit still through a movie or church, right?


Then Bill and Dan turned another year older. (I wish they'd quit doing that - as soon as they're a year older, so am I)  Dan celebrated by not celebrating, as he is wont to do (wont is a very old word, to go along with me getting older with their birthdays....)  Bill got the crown as we all got to celebrate with him.  I think the best part was watching Kamryn and her friend Kora get so excited about each gift he opened  (well, actually they opened the gifts... but don't tell Bill).  I'm sure they thought that with all that wrapping paper and ribbon and bows, there had to be something in there for themselves!
Click here to crash Bill's birthday party (crashers are always welcome!)

Don't you think it's a terrific idea to use gumballs to decorate it?

And so did Maddy.  She's a whopping six year old, officially!  She celebrated her birthday by having an interview with her kindergarten teacher on that same day.  Then she invited all her new friends from the neighborhood to come to her house for a Birthday Carnival complete with Clowns (the kids themselves)!  I had a blast being the 'official' photographer - these kids were each so different and all so cute!!!!  You have to come join this party.  Click here to get there.  (warning:  lots of red noses!)

 YELLOWSTONE!

Last Thursday, Brent and I took off for Yellowstone.  It was a very last minute escape, but we were both so so so ready for it.  We arrived late Thursday so getting up real early wasn't an option on Friday.

By the time we got into the Park, most of the animals had gone under cover for the day.  But we did find this black bear foraging the berry bushes.  Well, we actually didn't find it.  Just stop where there are hoards of people in Yellowstone and you will usually find something worth stopping for.  Our Friday excursion can be found by clicking here.

Mike, Makinzee, Jack, Lexi, and Madison at Tower, 9/4/10

Friday night, Mike's family joined us.  So Saturday and Sunday pictures have a lot more people and not nearly as much scenery in them.  Saturday found us taking the northern loop in the Park:  Mammoth, Tower, and Canyon, specifically.  Some things we take for granted (like the buffalo) the grandchildren had never seen, so it was fun seeing the Park again from a child's perspective.  Saturday photos can be found here and the Sunday ones at Old Faithful can be found here.

Makinzee, Maddy, Jack, Mike, and Lexi at Artist's Point, Yellowstone Grand Canyon;  9/4/10

Can you say C-O-L-D?  Can you believe this was not even 24 hours later?  Waiting for Old Faithful, 9/5/10

We attended the West Yellowstone Ward for Church Sunday morning, and then spent a very short day in the Park, because a person can not go to Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful, even if that person has been to the park year after year after year.  So here we are, waiting for the thing to 'explode.'   The wind was whipping (see Maddy's hair) and the temperatures were plummeting, and the stroller had a flat tire.  We seriously wondered why we were doing this, but as soon as the water burst from it's vent, we remembered again why.

Pictures just can not do it justice!  And children just can not understand, ever!  ("That's it?  After waiting here like forever and ever, that's it?  Three minutes and it's all over?" - Yeah, kind of like Christmas, isn't it?)

Monday, on the way home, all that wind had blown away all the smoke that had been in the Idaho skies on Thursday.  What it left was a breathtaking view of the Tetons.  One we don't get very often on our trips up to Yellowstone. 

How I wish I could have put each of you in my pocket and had you along with us.  On the way home Brent said he just felt rejuvenated.  In spite of the lack of sleep, in spite of the driving and driving and getting out for a minute and then all the driving more, in spite of having to clean the place before we could even leave, in spite of everything, the trip was a true vacation.  Yellowstone always does that to us.  Maybe this is why we yearn to have our own cabin there someday.

A few other events:  Tonya and Brian are expecting a baby boy in January.  This is our ninth grandchild and we are excited for winter now.   Sean and Linzy are settled in Pasadena, Maryland, and their children are enjoying new friends and new schools.  Dan is still working his heart out in Branson.  He promises to come home for a few days in October and we're looking forward to that.  Heather is still nearby, though we don't see her nearly as often as we'd like.  She's busy working in Park City, and living in Highland.  I'm hoping she finds a job closer to home once the snow starts to fly. 

I joined Weight Watchers with Stephanie about six weeks ago.  She has done terrific at it and it's been a big motivation for me to go with her.  I am supposed to be there weighing in right now.  Looking like I'll miss it this morning.  But I'll be sure to get there tonight.  I like that part about the program - there are so many options.  The greatest is that I really am starting to lose weight again.  In fact, I'm just a couple of steps away to be where I was at my best a year ago (that is the sad fact about the way I lose weight - does YO YO come to mind?)

And that is where things are this morning.  I'm between vacations.  Will keep you posted.