West Yellowstone

Last weekend we had the awesome opportunity to see Yellowstone. What a beautiful place. It feels very ironic, and almost discomforting, to write about this in the wake of what has happened to our family and friends this last week. The only thing that gives me comfort in writing this is that last weekend in Yellowstone we saw first hand how the horror of the fires that they had there in the late 80's have again turned to beauty. You can still see the burned trees everywhere, but also new growth and trees sprouting in their place.


We had our good friend Susan, and Jan's coworker Will with us. We also had another couple drive up behind us. It was a lot of fun.

It snowed on us on the way up the mountain to Yellowstone.



But it quickly turned into a beautiful sight of snow covered pine trees. We should have played Christmas music!



We loved seeing all of the rivers flowing in and around the park. This is one on the way from Idaho to Montana.



We couldn't resist stopping to take a picture as proof in front of the Montana sign. I have been in Montana!!! (Unfortunately we passed into Wyoming in the park, and the sign was so small we missed it.)




These pictures (below) are after we entered the park. You can't see from this little picture, but there are a herd of elk right at the turn of the river.




Here they are a little closer.



It seemed everywhere we went we ran into wildlife. After seeing several herds of elk, and stopping to take pictures, we spotted this herd of bison. We noticed that there was a small road with picnic tables just to the right of this picture . . .



So we drove right over to the bison. We had read the flyers they give you as you enter the park warning you that people have been gourded (sp?) trying to take close up pictures of the bison, so we stayed in our cars to take these.




Next we headed to Old Faithful. Another herd of bison greeted us there. In fact, after we watched Old Faithful shoot, Kaile and I were walking back to the car. We were watching our steps because we had fallen so many times on the icy walkways. As we turned a corner, I looked up and froze. There was a bison walking right towards us. Kaile asked what we should do and I said "stand still!" He walked within 2 feet of us! He was close enough I could see the snot in his eyes. I wish I could have shot a picture, but I was afraid to move. Susan, who was standing on the other side of me, was all of a sudden gone. I think she RAN away, but she says she only quickly walked away. Regardless, it was Kaile and I who bravely stared down the gnarly creature.
You can see a herd behind this sign.


These pictures are all from the looking platform at Old Faithful. It was beautiful to see the sun shine through and light up different parts of the mountains.





This is Old Faithful getting ready to blow.



And here she goes!





These pictures are from around the park driving back out.


This is a coyote chewing on his catch. We have no idea what it was. It was hard to tell even with binoculars.





Here is another group of Elk we stopped and took pictures of on the way out.






Our final shot of wildlife (in the light) was this bald eagle. It was really hard to get a picture, but the binoculars worked great.


That was our day at Yellowstone. We wish we could have stayed longer in the park. I hear there are many more wonderful things to see. On our way home we saw a fox and deer, and luckily the kids went to sleep.

If anyone wants to come visit, the park is only an hour away, and Jan has a friend that takes people on snowmobile tours of the park during the winter. We have lots of room!

This Weekend

So . . . we had a very interesting weekend. Friday night we got toilet papered by some college kids from our old ward. (Susan, John Dorius, and Nicole Turley) Jan felt so loved he didn't let me take it down for several hours so the neighborhood could see it. :) I was partially done taking it down when I thought to take a picture.

On Saturday we took a ride to Idaho Falls. We drove around the temple. What a beautiful time of year.

We also stopped and took some pictures.

We went to our ward for the first time on Sunday. There are 640 members, 2 Elders Quorums, and 4 nurseries. Talk about getting lost. RS is in the chapel. They read in 16-18 new families that had just moved in (I lost count). . . and that didn't include us. Jan met a bunch of really friendly guys, and really enjoyed the experience. I dropped the kids off at their various classes, and by the time I made it to RS, I was sitting in the back of the cultural hall with a lot of newly married women who looked really . . . sad. I tried talking to the girl next to me, but she didn't really want to talk. Needless to say, my outgoing personality is going to have to kick into high gear. I think my goal will be to sit in the back every week by someone who is looking out of place or lost. Maybe I can help the ward in this way.

After that experience, we tried to go to one of the two Sunday School classes. They were both completely full. I was going to throw my hands up in the air and wait in the halls for my kids, but Jan took the bull by the horns, and pulled me into Gospel Essentials. We had a very small class . . . filled with the spirit. I'm so proud of him for being persistant!!!

Our kids met their first friends this weekend. A family across the street, the Walkers, and a family next door, the Ericksons, had their boys show up to meet Kaile. This is them picking raspberries in the backyard.

Trailing after came the Walkers 4 year old named Daniel.

I am sure you will be hearing a lot about Daniel because he and Garrett are now joined at the hip. (Although Garrett keeps calling him Michael.) He reminds us a lot of Frank - very independent and fearless. We all went to the Walkers house and watched the kids play in their backyard while we talked. After jumping on their trampoline, and playing on their jungle gym, Daniel got out his 3 wheeler (Don't worry Nana's and Papa's, it doesn't go very fast.) and hooked up a sled to the back. His mom said they call it Summer Sledding. I need to get a picture sometime, because it is hilarious. So Daniel drove, then we after we watched how well he drove, we put Garrett in the sled behind him. After awhile of them going around and around the house on the grass, Kaile came around the house driving, with both Garrett and Daniel holding the BACK of the sled, and creating wonderful holes in the knees of their pants and irreversible grass stains. They had the time of their life, and came home very tired.

On Monday, Garrett started preschool . . . 3 doors down. What a wonderful experience to walk him to school. He was SOOOO excited. He especially is excited because Daniel is in his class. The teacher has cows and a dog. Even more exciting.

With my children's new found independence while here in Idaho, I have really started contemplating the pre-existence and how we had the right to choose to follow Jesus Christ and come to this earth. How hurtful it must have been to Heavenly Father to have his children torn between two of his sons. I am struggling with letting my own children have their own agency, with proper rules in place, and letting them choose. It would sure be easier to be a dictator. Sometimes I am. Do you think Heavenly Father gets as frustrated with us as we get with our children? How do you think he handles this?

US Citizenship test

I took this test. I missed Susan B. Anthony. I guess I am not into women's rights, huh? Too long out of school. How did you do? Press the comment button below.

Conference Sunday Drive

On Conference Sunday we went for a drive between sessions. This should give you a little better idea what Idaho looks like and some of the fall colors. (And make Amy jealous. Sorry Amy.)

We found this cool bridge that we stopped at - in the middle of nowhere. There was beautiful fall colors. Jan got the bright idea to get out and take pictures - but I hadn't brought our coats!!! We were freezing - and you can tell by the end how excited my kids were to be in the cold. Needless to say, they all have colds now. :)

Welcome to Idaho!

So . . . we made it to Idaho! It is absolutely beautiful here. Lots of trees and agriculture. Right up my alley. Everything was going great, lots of unpacking and playing. Garrett woke me up on Saturday to get him breakfast. Garrett and Claire couldn't wait for "Conference breakfast", so they both ate a leisurely breakfast of cereal before everyone else woke up. (Our prophet and apostles speak to us on a Saturday and Sunday every six months, and it is usually broadcast on cable, so we stay home have a big breakfast and watch!) Then it happened. Garrett walked into the living room and almost in a trance said "Mom, there's snow!" I couldn't believe my eyes. The kids quickly woke Kaile, and almost as quickly, Dad, and we went outside to play. Our great friend from Fallbrook, Susan, had come over to watch conference with us, so we let her borrow a jacket, and we played in the snow. Unfortunately we missed the first half of the Saturday morning session, but we couldn't resist. We had BIG beautiful flakes, what I hear called "Salt Lake flakes"???? They were about 2"! Anyway, it was great. I wasn't quite ready for the snow yet. None of us had snow boots. Kaile wore ziplock bags under her sandals. It was fun anyway.

Susan taught Claire how to eat snow, and we couldn't keep her face out of it the remainder of the morning!

You can see a little of our backyard in these, although covered in snow. And our perfect snowman, thanks to Jan. Luckily we are back to no snow (except an inch or two of snowman) and fairly beautiful weather with changing fall leaves. I'll try and post more soon.

Love to all!