127 views of Yellowstone National Park

Yes, I took 127 pictures the day we went to Yellowstone. We started out at Mesa Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls ever. Then we headed to Yellowstone. We had a great time, but I have not been able to decide which pictures to post. So when I learned from Jennifer that I could turn my pictures on Picasa into a slide show, I was excited to learn how! Luckily, she explained it! So, without further ado, our day in 127 pictures:

READ MORE...

{moving on}

Before I talk more about our trip, here is a little about what is going on here:

It is very hot.

I got my hair cut and colored! YAY!

Both of the boys got haircuts! Double yay!!

Maris took ALL of Tuesday off and was able to spend the whole day with the kids.

The boys are LOVING football camp.

We have made it to the pool two times this week so far. I love having a neighborhood pool.

Liza used her own money to buy her baby doll 4 preemie outfits on clearance at Wal*Mart. It is cheaper to buy real baby clothes than doll clothes!! All 4 outfits were only $12.00.

Maris took really good care of the hanging plants on the porch while I was gone:

NOT.

I was really happy to get to go to the temple in Rexburg twice while I was in Idaho. The first time was with my SIL Becky, who lives in Turkey and the closest temple is in Germany, and with Noelle, and the second time I got to go with my mom.

We loved going over to the Bar J with G'ma and Papa, Rick, Becky and PJ, and the McFarland's.

Tyler really got quite attached to his little cousin. He loved to hold her and had such a great time playing with her. I think she kinda liked him too.

Before the show, we ate biscuits and honey, played around a little outside,

goofed around, a little,

and played card games.


The decor was awesome. The food was yummy. Mmmmm. Steak.

And the entertainment was hilarious...

Even PJ loved it!

Rick and Becky had to leave the next morning. Tyler spent the morning playing with and cuddling PJ. He loved that she fell asleep in his arms.

And yet another goodbye.

It is hard to believe that next time we see her, she will be 2 1/2. She won't even remember us! I am so glad that we were able to be there while Rick and Becky were here.

READ MORE...

{on to more pleasant things...} Snow King and Jackson

On the Monday after the 4th, (yes, we are going way back here) Noelle and I took the kids "over the hill" to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for an entire day of fun and excitement!

We started at Snow King Resort, where we got an all day deal that included the Alpine Slide...

...a round of miniature golf (which with 6 kids is kindof a fiasco...no one wanted to keep score and everyone forgot how to count, because they all managed to finish all 18 holes in under 30 strokes. Noelle and I both ended up giving our balls to the kids who over hit theirs. It was fun, but probably my least favorite activity of the day!)

There was the Lift Ride to the top of Snow King (up to something like 8500 feet, straight up, and not just a little scary for this scared-of-heights person), the top of which offered picnic areas, hiking trails, bathrooms and INCREDIBLE views!


The ride down was a lot better.

In downtown Jackson, we couldn't pass up a photo op by the antler arches on the square. The kids were THRILLED to pose for yet another picture.

And then, like any good mother would, we took the kids to get candy...

...and ice cream.

And I don't know why, but suddenly our camera shy children wanted to pose for us:

We succeeded in wearing them out, at least for the day.

READ MORE...

{the good, the bad and the downright ugly}

I'm posting everything a little backwards....I am starting at the end and then going back. So, last Thursday, the kids and I packed up and then followed my mom to Idaho Falls, where we celebrated Tyler's birthday (which is not until next month) by eating at Johnny Carrino's, his FAVORITE restaurant...the closest to us is in Sherman, 45 minutes away! After we said goodbye to Grandma and as we were driving away, Parker said, "Mom, why are you crying??"

Four hours later we arrived in Farmington. Conner and Logan started calling and texting Tyler at 8 am..."Have you left yet? Where are you? Are you almost here? Where are you now? Call me when you are in Ogden. Call me when you are in Kaysville." The boys were very happy as I dropped T off at Con's house and took Parker over to Judd's. Aliza ran across the street to say hi to Josie. We had a bunch of happy kiddos. That night the boys went mini golfing and ate at Pace's with John, while Aliza and I went with Steph and Camille. They were so kind to not complain (too much) that I stopped at a wedding reception of one of my Laurels...and was in there for more than 1/2 hour, or so. (They could have come in with me, and I didn't eat any refreshments...just said hi and bye!) Then we headed to El Matador for dinner, which had closed 8 minutes prior to our arrival. Robintino's was a great 2nd choice so I had a combination with ham and some garlic bread and bread sticks and a Mindy Mint for dessert and we all walked away happy. We stayed at Dan and Laurie's house both nights we were there.

Friday was spent lounging with Laurie and Kennedy...I sure miss that cute little girl. T had stayed at Con's for the night and Park stayed at Judd's. Liza and I met Rene and Sharma at Pepperbellie's for lunch...a 3 1/2 hour lunch, and I enjoyed every little minute of it. Then I picked up T, Con and Park...said a (very disciplined and almost non-teary) goodbye to the Barber fam...

...and went to Tim and Claudia's to spend a few minutes. Where once again, we had some fun and had to say goodbye. Goodbyes are the hardest part of living in Texas.

Then we went to Scott and Maria's to visit with Maris' side of the family for a while. We had a fabulous barbeque and visited and watched the kids play together. Another hard thing about living in Texas is not getting to see cousins...

(Con and T)

There were lots of big boys...

...some little boys...

...and some girls...

...and again, hard goodbyes.

Saturday morning, T said one of his hardest goodbyes...

...and we met Noelle in Salt Lake and got on the road. We decided that in order to make as few stops as possible, we would make lunch in the car, so somewhere after Price, in the middle of nowhere, we got to it...

After looking at the map, we decided that the joy is in the journey and pulled off at Arches National Park for an unscheduled drive through one of the most beautiful and miraculous places on earth...
I have lived all my life in Utah, and had yet to see Arches. The kids had fun "balancing" the Balanced Rock...



We drove past the Organ... ...and the Three Gossips.

But I was most excited to see the Delicate Arch. We drove to the point where you can see it, but did not hike in, because we had 6 tired and HOT kids and we were very unprepared for a 2 mile hike...I was happy with this:

In Moab, it was very warm. Starting to feel closer to home.
Couldn't drive past the Monticello Temple without getting yet another picture...

Then finally made it into Colorado, where you should either watch out for old men on tractors or not park your tractor on the freeway...
...and then to New Mexico. We would have shot up the sign some more, but we left our 22's at home.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn, and then got up for an eventful Sunday. I took no pictures because I want to erase the day from memory. I don't know that I will ever be able to return to Albuquerque anytime soon.

This is how it went down, for those of you who have actually stuck with this post this long. 3 coughing boys, 2 moms who think cough medicine is a good idea. Hotel breakfast, chocolate muffin, hot chocolate, french toast sticks, pineapple. Upset stomachs. First makes it out of car before the vomiting begins. Whew!! Get in line to get on freeway. 2nd does not make it out of car, as there is no way really to do so. Drive to first place we can pull over...a car dealership. Start stripping kids and pillows, cleaning. 3rd child (one who didn't have medicine) gets sick from vomit smell...must be hereditary (it was my child) and vomits. In car. 4th child (also mine) gets upset stomach and spends next few moments gagging on the side of the road. Two kids who are not puking everywhere are tormenting those who are. 2 guesses who is NOT sick...I'll give you a hint...Parker and Harrison. After finding a Smith's and using Lemon scented disinfectant wipes, Lysol, Air Spray and Purell, we are on the road. Thank goodness for leather seats. The rest of the day is a blur. Sometime around 9:30, we arrived home. I woke up this morning and felt like I had been hit by a train. I am so tired. My bed is not even made yet and it is almost 7:30 pm. I have only done 2 loads of laundry, and one of them was the throw up bag. Maybe tomorrow will be better. Glad to be home...

Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the traveling on Sunday...we met some bikers at some gas station in New Mexico (is not what that sounds like) who were funny. One of them passed us a couple of times and was at the next gas station we were at. He asked us how many kids we had in the car...when we said 6 he said, "Wow! God love ya!!"

READ MORE...