Yellowstone Adventures

DOES anyone even blog anymore? I feel like it's becoming a lost art! With all the 

other "social media" out there....blogging seems to have become "old fashioned" and 

out dated. I for one still LOVE reading blogs and for ANYONE (or no one) that still reads my

blog, I am sorry that its been so long since I posted. Life hasn't become more busy,

maybe just less organized, less eventful and less rewarding....as my life is DULL most times. BUT in the case when I DO DO SOMETHING exciting, I really should blog about it (because I take alot of pictures)...so, taking you back MONTHS AGO to August...some of our little family treked off to an exciting weekend at West Yellowstone for a 

family reunion. 

Jack and Max, as we road along wooden walkways looking at all the "hot pots"

waiting the 1.5 hours before we could watch Old Faithful erupt. 

Mike and Landry...Landry was just learning to wave.

Dayna, Jack and Max at one of the beautiful waterfalls that we stopped at!

"The Waterfall"....THIS is why you should always post right after the event....I now don't remember the name of all the cool places that we stopped, all I know is that they were beautiful and VERY COOL! 

Jack and Mike at the bottom of trail at "Lower Falls". Mike was capturing some 

awesome pictures!  

You wouldn't know it, but Halle really did come with us...BUT she hung out 

with her cousins most of the time because we were just old boring people....they

were much more fun and cooler than we were (ha ha ha) 

Mike, Kim and Landry at dinner one night....Yellowstone is usually warmer

during the month of August, but for some reason it was cold, rainy and ugly most

of the time we were there. COATS and HOODIES were a must. 

We had a really fun trip even though it was cold. We saw alot of nature, but very little

wildlife. We visited with family and enjoyed the break from UTAH. We wished we 

could have had the entire family there, but lives are busy and its difficult to get everyone 

together as often as I would like. I'm so blessed that I got to spend the time I did with Jack and Dayna and Max, Mike and Kim and Landry, and Halle. It was fun making memories and 

seeing what we saw and doing what we did!! Here's to many more adventures!!

50 Years of Love and Posterity!

On July 11th we gathered Deron's family together (as many who could come) and 

celebrated these two and their amazing 50 years together! 

Gerald and Chella are my in-laws but I love and adore them as if they were my very 

own parents. They are among some of the kindest, most loving people I know! 

Our lives are blessed because these two special people fell in love. They will probably

never know how many of their kids and grandkids watch, listen, and admire the wonderful 

people that they are!!

Kenron is their 1st Great Grandchild

Kayson is their 2nd Great Grandchild

Landry is their 3rd Great Grandchild

 Max is their 4th Great Grandchild

All of our children weren't able to be there, and we missed them, but Kim, Halle, Todd and Dayna were all there. Grandma and Grandpa love their grandkids and great grandkids with more love and passion than you could imagine. They would do anything for their grandkids!!

Halle adores her nephews and ate up all the time she could spending time with them

doing just about anything!

 This little chocolate cake covered mouth is one of my favorite little people!! He

loves to play and has such a tender heart. He makes me so happy!

Kayson spending time with Great Grandpa....a priceless and precious moment!

Kayson loves with his whole heart and is so kind. He makes my heart smile!

 A 5 generation picture with both Max and Landry...special times for sure!!

Kenron has one of the most happy positive attitudes of any person, old or young, that

I've ever met. He brings a light to a room that always makes me happy!

This little boy has the most sparkling eyes and bright smile. He loves people and radiates happiness wherever he is! He makes me a happy Grandma!!

We had dinner and then played games....and visited...mostly visited!

I love having my kids and grandkids gathered around....for any and every occasion!

Jack and Todd took a few of the cousins for a "paddle boat" ride down the river!

What should have been a 40 minute ride, took well over 2 hours....low water, big rocks and 

a broken boat make for a VERY HOT and LONG ride...BUT they were troopers!! 

Jack and Todd won the "favorite cousin" award for the day!!

Fifty years is a long time, and I am sure mom and dad have had many ups 

and downs that made them wonder if 50 years would ever come...I'm so glad they 

fought through the rough times, the hard times, the sad times and made it to the "Golden Years"!

They have set a wonderful example for me, for my kids, for my grandkids and I hope to 

one day be the kind of person that they have set the example for me to be!

I love you mom and dad! 

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!!!

Daughters Are God's Way of Giving You a Little Piece of Heaven

June was a busy month...a fun month...a special month. 

I got to spend a few days with these 3 special ladies. 

We try and get together every now and again, but as babies are coming into their

lives, jobs, college, husbands, LIFE....its getting a little more difficult to get ALL of us together to do much of anything. We didn't go wild or crazy, we just stayed close to home 

and played it really low key. 

We had a progressive dinner and enjoyed some fun new places to eat, some

good laughs and some CRAZY GOOD FOOD!! 

Max and Landry were our little side kicks. They were good sports and

were the life of every activity....there is something about kiddo's that 

just make the world a cheerful place to be!

 We had plans to go on a picnic "on the beach" at Deer Creek Reservoir, only to get there and find out that there WAS really NO BEACH! The water was still high enough that there wasn't any

sandy, beachy areas to play in the water and picnic, so we ate lunch under a tree with all the ants...such great picnic pals...and then we wandered down to a rocky area and hung out and let the 

babies get their feet wet. Landry wanted to dive in head first and partake of the ENTIRE LAKE experience, but I convinced him that getting wet up to his knees was "much funner"....

 Max and Dayna enjoying our picnic in the shade. 

Kim and Landry down by the water...Landry, I am sure, was contemplating on

how would be the best way to wiggle from his mom's arms and get into the water. 

 I have such sweet and wonderful daughters!!

After our quick lake trip, we took a ride on the Heber Creeper. I've had that on 

my bucket list and was PRETTY excited myself about this little excursion...although, at the time

I didn't know there was NO AC on the train...so HOT and SWEATY is what we were. 

We decided to take an "online" painting course....it was so much fun!

It was crazy how the instructor taught us all how to paint the same picture, but

everyone's turned out soooooooo different! It was super fun and I would 

definitely do it again. It was fun to get our creative juices flowing and 

make something completely out of our comfort zone!  

Life has many ups and down, but these beautiful, fun, silly, sweet, thoughtful

kind and compassionate girls of mine keep me grounded and make life better just by being 

a part of my life. I am grateful that I got to spend this time with them,...there is something about 

mom and daughters that make the world a happy place to be! 

I love these 3 fabulous souls...3 of my very best friends!

Hello Summertime....celebrating in style

With Halle's big graduation from High School, her grandparents gave her a trip 

to Myrtle Beach...so of course, we, her parents, HAD to TAG along. It was somewhere 

I had never thought about going, really didn't know much about the area, and most

likely never would have gone had it not been for this trip.

We packed up and headed out on the RED EYE (12:15am) flight to North Carolina.....

We landed at 5:45am in North Carolina. OUR plan was to rent a car and take

a few days driving to Myrtle beach....looking at the nice countryside as we leisurely drove

through the fields of tobacco...BUT our red eye flight was NOT filled with sleep as we had hoped that it would be, so we ended up driving for 1 1/2 hours before we found a park, parked the car, left the AC running and took a VERY LONG NAP! Afterwards, Halle and I got out and walked around a very small trail, but got a much needed stretch for our legs.  

 Halle had never been to the ocean. No sooner had we checked into our resort and 

unloaded the car we headed straight for the water. It was gorgeous!! I had never been to the Atlantic Ocean. I was surprised how quiet it was. The waves didn't CRASH as loud as they do on the Pacific Ocean. It was also MUCH warmer....BUT it still had that oceany smell and beautiful sand...all the beauties of the ocean. Halle fell in love instantly!! 

 One of the nice things about the ocean is that it offers so many fun places to take 

pictures! I could have sat in a lounge chair and taken pictures all day...although it was AWFULLY hot and HUMID so it wasn't really practical, BUT it was a fun thought!

 Besides spending time on the ocean we lollygagged over to Charleston NC, visited

the city as well as a plantation. The countryside there is GORGEOUS and made every shade of 

green in UTAH look dull and unappealing. The colors there are so rich and the countryside

is amazing!

 

One afternoon we headed out for a drive...we stopped at a church and were just 

looking around when we spotted a toad. I LOVE frogs and toads, I love their long legs, the noises

they make, and their ability to jump SO FAR and SO HIGH....so it only seemed natural

for me to chase the little guy down, catch him and say "Hello". The best part was Halle

CAN'T STAND the likes of these guys....soooooooooooo I thought I would show here how lovable they really were...Up CLOSE and PERSONAL with Mr. Toad!!

I think one of the highlights of the trip for me was the morning Halle and I got up at 4:45 

to watch the sunrise. It was magnificent. NO ONE should EVER sleep through a sunrise over the ocean! We watched as it slowly peeked over the horizon until it came up in all its glory! It was a spectacular sight and one that I am so glad I got to experience!! 

I loved our trip and the time that we got to spend as a little family....one last big "Hoorah" before Halle left for college. We had so much fun!! I worked out on the gorgeous beach every morning, we played in the ocean, we drove and saw things we'd never seen , we saw amazing country, we relaxed and read (which is RARE for me to do), we road a ferry, we experienced the VERY KIND and gracious people of the south, we saw sunsets that gave the sunrises a run for their money....we had 10 days of BLISS! It was a much needed vacation with some great memories made!! I'm so glad we got to go!!

Thirteen Years in The Making....

THE DAY of ALL awaited days, finally came......13 years in the making!

Halle GRADUATED!!!!

SHE said that it still hasn't quite set in that she is actually DONE with high school! 

It was a great day filled with family and loved ones that came out and supported Halle. 

She graduated with honors and WE ARE SO PROUD of her!!

Halle with both Deron and I (we didn't have anyone handy to get one of all of us together) 

She got to walk with one of her dear friends, Shantell Brady. 

Halle gave the tribute to the parents and teachers....all those who have supported them

during their many years of school!

Its official....she has her diploma and she is NOW a graduate of Duchesne High School....

with the new status of "Alumni".....

Shantell, Halle and Brooklyn....wonderful friends who have

made many fun memories together...lifetime pals

Cameron and Halle!

After graduation, the family came over for "ice cream sundaes"...Landry was very impressed with his!

Kayos enjoyed running and playing on the grass...his favorite place to be.

Kim and Mike and Landry, enjoy some R&R and a little sun

These 2 adorable little men are the best of pals!! It won't be to many years and they will 

be graduating....time flies and kids grow up WAY too fast....

Babies don't last forever....I know this because mine just graduated!!

Its very bitter sweet to see the last one prepare to leave the nest and go out on their own. 

I always wonder if I prepared my children for the world, if I taught them enough, if they will be safe, if they are "strong" enough to face what the road blocks, the obstacles and the bumps that life

brings.....It difficult to send them out into the world and trust that the world will treat them well~

Life is changing for us....I've never NOT had children of some age in my home....I've never NOT had little ones/ middle ones/older ones to tell me their struggles as we sit on the edge of their bed....I've never NOT have someone to hug as I send them off to school....I've never NOT had someone who wanted to drive to Walmart with me to get the monthly groceries......I've NEVER thought this lonely, sad day would come.....but its arriving!....the graduation is over and she will leave in just a few short months....LiFe for me will be different and I don't know if I am ready for it, or if I even want to be ready for it!

BUT.....I am so proud of this girl! SHE IS AMAZING and one of my dearest friends. I will miss our long talks, our laughing on the bed, or doing the dishes together, our DVD nights that we both fall asleep in, our long Sunday drives, our selfies that we would never show to anyone, our long walks to the river, our lunches on the deck and our tears that fall sometimes when we least expect them....I don't know what I will do without you Ms. Halle Marie!!!! I love you to the moon and back again and I am SOOOO happy that you are happy. I am so blessed to have you as my daughter!! I am so proud of all of your accomplishments, your successes and experiences that you have had during the last 13 years....I am excited to see where you go in life and all the wonderful things you will do! 

CONGRATULATIONS baby girl!!!