The Summer of 2011

It is sad but true...our summer is slowly coming to an end.  I started work on Aug 8 and so the kids have been trying to pack in as much of summer as they can in the last two weeks that we have of it.  Here is the short of what has gone on lately:

Indiana Ean...this is a quick view of the cabins that we stayed at on our quick Giauque reunion trip to Martin's Cove Wy.

All the crew...capture the love!

This would have been a nice idea for our little trip, but who had the time?

We started the Monday with a a quick run up Independence Rock: name for Pioneers that scaled the rock on Independence day.  Great view, easy climb, but one rattle snake, and too many RED flying ANTS at the top.  We didn't stay too long.  11:00am and it was 94 degrees.

Sing it with me now: Pioneer children sang as we..... I swear I'm going for my own one room school house.  Kudos to Kellis for scaling the rock with Baby-girl.

Uncle Marc trying to keep a close on Mr. Indiana Ean.  He wanted to run and "fly off the rock".  Might have been a nice touch to the day.

Garrett going up, up, up the "stupid hot rock."  Scott's words exactly.

You can see the Orange pumpkin...I was hoping for more Halloween weather with the outfit, but it was not to happen.

Giauque's at the bottom.  Smile!  oh wait, yep we are missing Miss Happy.  Virginia decided to throw a fit at the end.  Too bad.  No candy treat for her.

This monument is in rememberance of the Martin Company who had to cross the river and then hike another 5 miles into Martin's Cove to seek shelter. My g-g-g-grandma was carried across by one of the 3 young men from the rescue party.  She was 5 years old.

Devil's Gate:  For some this was a sign that the end was near, for others it was a sign of possible death.  So many lost their lives after cross through this split in the rock and then the river.

Some HOT kids.  Temp: pushin 98.

Some cool kids.

We need to rest!

98...it is still better then -5.  It gave you a perspective of the length of the trip from crossing the river until you could get into the cove.

After the one mile hike, we are now ready to hike up into the cove.  Any happy faces here?  YEp!!  Mine!  opps on the other side of the camera.

"Oh April!!!  It is a Prong horn Mother and it's juvinile!"  WHAAAAhoo!  This is like our own Zoo!"  Needless to say, Garrett was motivated to go the last 3 miles after seeing these two on the trail.  Margaret's comment: "WOW, it is truely a Miracle."  Isaac's comment: "he looks like he is gonna die."  Ahhh I just love all the perspectives of the kids.

First mini cove.  Some of the company had to stay here when the Martin's cove was full. 

Margaret, my miracle walker.  Why was she so happy?  Because she was with her cousin the whole time.  She smiled, laughed, helped, and just was wonderful.  Maybe 98 degrees is her type of happiness.

Virginia Grace.  She was GREAT.  No crying, boo-hooing, or anything.  She followed directions and was just perfect.

Well son, if you turn out to have my type of energy, you will know why.  Mama hiked with you while 7+ months pregnant.  He loved the sweet ride.

Happy Garrett!  Why?  because he got to ride out of the cove on the back of the "life-saving machine."  Nice!

This is a true blue smile.  She had the best time!

Monument to the three boys who helped to carry across so many of the Martin Company.

same monument

The three young men had the strength to do what the company could not do for themselves.  They carried people for over 5 hours back and forth.

Well, what can I say?  This pumpkin was pooped out.  Happy, but pooped. 

This is my, "Isaac, you can stop taking pictures" smile.

And one more, "Isaac, you can really, really stop taking pictures now" smile.

Cousin Cole tearing it up.  We all got together to celebrate Scott and Alissa's birthday days on July 31.  Great night, music, , drumming, pictures, playing, wonderful food, and even a little service project with all the RAIN that came crashing down.

Boys will be boys.

Marianne: she LOVED the pinwheel.  She stayed on the pourch for over an hour with Dallin and the counsins just play, and laughing because of the wind.

She was just eating it up!

Garrett and Dallin.  Buddies till the end.

This picture captures the relationship that Dallin and Garrett have.  It is the sweetest thing in the world.

Moooooooooore pinwheel!

She is screaming right now.

My two pyro-techs going lighting it up!

Stay here baby.  Look can't touch!

WOW!!

Got anymore?

Enjoying our own little show...complete with neighbors.

ahhhhh, smoke.  Fun times.

now, should we do this one?  Or this one? 

My favorite is when Isaac lights the firework and Scott sneaks up behind him and shouts, "BOOM!" Get's him everytime.

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Go pyros go!

Kellis's Scout camp 2011-12

The Scouts.  Hummmm...I wonder where Kellis is??  Oh yeah...Cheetos!

First scout meal...hotdogs...yep it's Scouts!

BRRRRRRR.......swim check in the lake at 8900ft and the snow on the ground at the camp finished meltingon June 29th?  Well you can only imagine how COLD that water is.  Nice work Kellis.  You did it!

Now this is camping.  Have fun son!

You wake up one morning with the idea that we are going to have a baby.  Then that idea begins to grow and swell and soon you are figuring out that this baby is coming!  WOW!  Then he or she arrives, and if you were like me at all, I looked at this new little boy placed in my arms and thought, "Now what do I do?"  It took me a while to "get to know him" and really start to love and adore him.  And then...he is suddenly 3, then 5 then 8 then 12...It is an interesting thing to watch children grow up right before you eyes.

Kellis has always been one who has looked at life as an adventure but something to be cautious and to enjoy as well.  He is just growing up in a way that Scott and I are sooooo proud of that we nearly burst with pride.  He is kind and loving to his sisters, he is playful and rambunctious with his brothers and cousins, yet he can be serious and understanding when he needs to as well.  Ahhh, these are all the thoughts of a mother and I have the right and opportunity to have them.  Anyway, just wanted to share my moments...here are the pictures from the scout camp.  They are wonderful!  It is all boy...go Kellis. 

Best complement from one of his leaders: "Kellis is so great--he is so low maintenance.  He is so prepared for being on his own.  Ya know?  I mean at night when the other boys are 'struggling' with homesickness or 'I want my mommy', he is just like, 'I'm good with it...night guys.'"  AHHHHH now that is just too cool.  Love you Kellis! 

Marianne is Signing more and more

Today was a wonderful ASL morning.  She did so many signs with out prompting and she had complete understanding of what she was doing.  My heart and Jenna's too, was just BURSTING  leaking on the face and everything.  She looked at Anna and signed mom and looked at baby Eli and signed baby over and over...that was before I changed the batteries on the camera (grrrrr).  Anyway, enjoy the video.  Loves!

Yellowstone 2011

Garrett's viewpoint of Old Faithful!

Here is the whole family: Scott, Isaac, Garrett, Margaret, Virginia, Mom, Kellis and Marianne.  Yellowstone Falls is behind us...wonderful!

Terrace Spring.  Our first 15 minutes in the park.  There was a dead Buffalo (American Bison) carcase off the boardwalk.  Cool!

Some of us at the new Visitor Center at Canyon.  Sooooo worth the education here.  They showed all the rocks, formations, maps, how many times Yellowstone has exploded and changed the face of the US and so forth.  Powerful!  Humbling...and it is ready to blow again.  We just don't talk about that in front of Garrett.  He is a little nervous about the SUPER VOLCANO!

Marianne LOVED the buffalo.  She just laughed and smiled at these.  She signed "dog" or bird for nearly every animal.

Ahhhhhhhh, the falls!  Is there anything else to say?

This is the 375 steps of Yellowstone--more like the 1000 steps of Yellowstone.  It is tucked away near the south side of the falls and you descend down these steps and have a view of the falls that is so up close it is amazing.  You can feel the rumble of the water through the metal steps...POWERFUL.

The first picture of the falls and the mist.

THE FALLS!  Look how close you are!  It is soooooo NEAT!  never been here in all my trips to the Park.  Loved it!

Garrett said that this fallen tree looked like Tree-Beard's friend after the Orcs chopped it down.  We were just above the Dragon's cauldron and headed towards sour lake.

The buffalo and the kids...we are signing buffalo...right by Sour lake.

Just us having fun with the Buffalo.  Right after this shot Isaac heard a crashing sound and we turned to look into the trees to see a dear that had 6 points on it just scratching himself against the tree.  Super cool Isaac!

DEEP POOLS...this is by West Thumb Yellowstone...right by the Lake.  Soooooo cool. 

WOW...This was a much needed family vacation.  Honestly there are a few miracles that go alone with it: 1) finding the money to do it--because of a strong budget, 2) finding the time, and 3) finding the deals.
Finding the money: this started in Jan and it has paid off.  We had a lot to accomplish in a small time frame but miracle occurred because of tithing, discipline, and hard work.
Finding the time: we needed to figure out a time to go when a) I wouldn't be too big to go camping, and b) when Scott could take the maximum amount of time with out getting knocked about it with work.
Finding the deals: Hands down the gas prices lowered, the car was tuned up and ready to go, and the KOA in West Yellowstone didn't charge for kids in the Tent campgrounds.  WHAT??  YES...and we found a great spot: roomy, full of trees, and CLEAN!

Okay enough about that...onto the details!  We left Friday and set up camp in the dark and just collapsed for the first night.  Sat morning...fire, food, and off we went into the PARK.  That night we got back in time for swimming, marshmallows, and star seeing.  Oh yeah!  The BEARS!  They were out on Sat night and Sunday night.  They had the bear cannons blasting and the big spotlights shining into the forests...wild, raw, and a bit scary! Sunday morning, up and at them for Church, back to the park, and yep then back to camp, dinner, and more fire, star seeing and so forth. 

I can do the play by play but what I mostly want to convey here is that I saw more of Yellowstone on this trip then I ever had in all the my trips into the park.  We saw hidden places, out of the way places, the water was soooo high, the animals abundant, and the beauty of the park, and the PICTURES! 

We just relaxed, talked, laughed, told stories, and enjoyed so many aspects of the park and each other that it truly was a wonderful trip.  It was what I wanted...to make a memory for our family.  Those family memories last a lifetime and help in times of trials, triumph, and tragedy.  Here are some pictures...enjoy!

Dinosaur Park 2011

The annual trip to the Park...well can you just hear all the squeals of excitement?  Garrett was just wonderful..."Garrett: Everyone say it with me!!! Let's Go Dinosaur PARK!! Say it again...now, say it with a smile...many smiles...April, are you happy? Look! Look!! I see your smile again!! That is three in a row! You are happy!! This is the Best Day Ever!!"
This was said a few hundred times on the drive up to Ogden...by the third time is was getting a little old, but Garrett was just to excited to let that damper his spirits.

We ran around that park for over three hours.  Garrett was beat red from the heat and the running, but he has a ball. 

Saddest moment: Isaac was being a helper and put sunscreen on Marianne, but didn't rub it all the way in...she got it into her eyes...so for the rest of the park she was swollen, teary, and just miserable.  So sad.  He felt so bad he just kept hitting his head..."I'm the worst brother ever!"  Mom:  "it was an accident.  They happen."  Isaac:  "Why do they always happen when I'm always around??"  Mom: no comment.

Funny, but not funny moment: Isaac is still feeling bad about Marianne and so he starts to cry a little bit.  Then he rubs his eyes...with the same hands that had the sunscreen on them...now he looks like Marianne...teary, miserable, and SWOLLEN!  He is shouting, "I can't see!!  I can't see!!"  Of course, Kellis just has to comment: "Now you know how Marianne feels!"  Those two went after each other and ran around trying to catch each other for about ten minutes.  (Remember that Isaac is swollen and can't see very well...it was funny).

The family.

Best moment: The girls!!  No complaining, crying, whining...it was heaven!  They were polite, helpful, and just had a wonderful time.  It was a blessing.

Hot day?  yes, but we had a slight breeze and so it was bearable. 

Most Awkward moment: I had to go to the hospital to get my shot since I was up in Ogden and so I took all the kids into the hospital.  I'm getting looks, comments like "are ALL THOSE your children?", and snickers.  I just proudly hold my head up high and we politely come in and just get our business done.  Well, I'm taken into a room to have the shot in my hip.  Three of the six kids come in with me and well, one of them was Garrett.  Ok, let's just say that some of the plastic "models" of anatomy were very curious to him.  He would say, "What is this?  Why is there a thing here, and a place there, and WOW there is a baby inside that one...and GROSS!!  Why do you need to have those"... and so forth.  The nurse was very humored and just laughed to herself.  It was an educational moment.  Anyway, it was a little awkward.

Overall, great day!