Yellowstone 2011

The past three years since Dad passed away, mom has rented a cabin up in Yellowstone for us to spend some time together as a family. This year was the first year that EVERYONE was there. It was so much fun to be able to have my sister Sara there with her family because she hasn't been able to come the past couple of years. Thanks for that amazing effort Sara for coming all that way to be with us and make us complete! Here's our 2011 visit to Yellowstone!

There is always a lot of people and so there is always a lot of food! We would be cooking and there would be piles of food and then in another minute...it would all be gone! There was loads of entertainment with games but for the most part, the kids just hung out and played like crazy. There was always someone to play with!

Just waiting for OLD FAITHFUL....again!

 We went into Yellowstone one day and saw a couple of things. Of coarse we hit Old Faithful. Sara and her family hadn't seen it and so we wanted to let them see it.

 Sara and her kids (with the help of Uncle Jon)

It was very special to be able to have my grandparents there with us. It was nice to be able to share this time with them. Grammy was wheeled around in her wheelchair the whole time and Sara's little boy Jack loved to hitch a ride. We caught him on her lap a lot.

 Quentin and Isaac. I love this picture!!

 This lady was the one that made all of this possible!!! and these are three of her crazy sons!

 Having quite a few musicians in our family made for some fun musical entertainment. Michael and Sara recently taught themselves how to play the guitar and Joe took up the mandolin. Calli joins in and so does Bethany with her Violin. It's sooo much fun!

I love these boys together! Mack had so much fun with Andrew and Sam.

 Emily got rather attached to Jeff on our hike. He had quite the hair-do after it was over because she kept playing with it while she was on his shoulders.

 Jon and his family.

We got a bunch of family pictures taken together. We did the whole group, mom and the kids, grandma and the grand kids, the girls, the boys, etc. It was so fun to be together and to get some precious pictures of that time spent with one another.

 Us crazy girls!

 In town in West Yellowstone. There is a candy store there that the kids think we need to go  to every year! They say that it's a tradition! My Aunt Lynn (my dad's sister) was able to drive down and stay a night with us. It was awesome to have her there with us! So much fun to be able to spend that time with her. She even participated in our Minute-to-win-it games.

 Sugar cookie decorating. A family tradition!!

 Some more entertaining! Michael and Papa sang a really great song together about how the get up and go has got up and gone.

Monument Hike

One Saturday this summer we took off and did a hike that we have been talking about doing for a few years. A couple of years ago, I went on this hike with the girls at girls camp and wanted to take my family back there ever since! Luckily, I have a brother and sister-in-law who love to hike and so I invited them to come because it is smart to take someone that knows a little what they are doing. Let's face it...I am a city girl and unfortunately, I have transformed Jeff a little and so between the two of us, we aren't too outdoorsy...but we love it when we get a chance and it isn't too much Ha ha! So we met Michael and Rachel and their family up there and started our hike. It is a pretty easy hike as long as you don't have anyone too young..oh wait, we took a 4 year old! Jacob was so great though and was a trooper and so was Michael because he carried Jacob for a good portion of the hike.

 The views were beautiful and it was a gorgeous day that day! PERFECT!

 The hike goes up to a monument that was placed after some girls died while on the hike many years ago. They were attending girls camp and got caught on top of the mountain in a lightning storm.

 Underneath some of the water while we ate lunch.

Our little family! Loved being there with them! It was a special day.

Here is the water fall that ends the hike. It actually goes all the way through to a place to repel and come out the other side of the mountain...Maybe another day in a few more years!

 From the Inside!

Going Home...

Family Shots

One day after we walked home from Stake Conference, I made everyone wait to eat lunch until we took a few shots together. It had been a while and so we took a few photos together.

Grandpa Craig and Grandma Sue 2011

  Craig and Sue came to visit and we did the same things that we traditionally do with Grandma and Grandpa. We went to the zoo and enjoyed the warm weather together.

 We always do a lot of swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel!

 This year they were here for the 4th of July and they love the Idaho Falls fireworks as well they should and so we went again this year with them. The fireworks never disappoint!

Our regular Pizza visit to Papa Tom's. Our last night. It is always so bitter sweet to be with them. We enjoy their visit so much, but always know that when they leave it will be another year before we see them again. We always enjoy having them here so much...so grateful for their efforts in coming so far to see us all.