How I Spent My Summer Vacation......

For the long 24th of July weekend we took off and headed north out of the 100* heat! It was a little cooler at our cabin, thank goodness!!




Here she is, our purrrty cabin! My Grandpa, Dad and uncles all built this cabin themselves in the summer of 1981. I never really appreciated it until I had kids of my own. They have so much fun when we are there.

I probably should tell you where this cabin is, for those who don't know! It's in Island Park, Idaho by Henry's Lake on your way to West Yellowstone.

This is the view from the front deck looking northwest.



and these are the rangers...

one of our favorite places to visit is Big Springs. You can't fish there, but the trout are huge! They were all hiding under the bridge when we got there, so I couldn't get any fishy pictures.

this is what I get when I ask them to pose for a nice picture! Show us your grrr face Haylee!

my Brian...

this is what $2 will by you if you are a 7 year old boy...

great.....it poops......

best.souvenier.evah!

we went into Yellowstone Park on Saturday...

when the Blackett's and the Ware's go to Old Faithful, it is for certain that ice cream will be bought @ the inn....

and devoured b4

this happens

I love these old tour buses. The tops come off too. We have never rode in one, but it looks like a lot of fun!

the boys got my camera and this is what happened. Don't worry, I deleted all the pictures they took of the dogs bum and all!

we ate lunch by the river and watched an osprey(sp?) swoop down and grab a fish out of the river with its talons!

Caden worked really hard on this model he bought in West Yellowstone. He did it all by himself!

the kids went fishing at Macks Inn off of the bridge.

I think when we go up next time we will take some tubes and float down the river. There were so many people doing that at Macks Inn! It looked like fun, and its something we have never done before...

I think McCoy had fun! What do you think??

Off to the cabin! Have a good weekend everyone!!!

overheard @ the warehouse...

mom: caden, what are you doing?


caden: moooommm, there is no time to waste! i must collect my gear!

mom: what are those for?

caden: duh mom! a water fight! everyone knows that!

A Quick Trip

Saturday, July 11 we left early to drive to Cedar City for my cousins wedding. Man I feel old! She was 5 years old when I got married!!

The cute couple Congrats Caitin and Jed!! Your wedding was beautiful!

The kids enjoyed the worldwind trip by relaxing in the hotel pool before AND after the wedding



This is Haylee jumping in....sorry...I'm not good at action shots!

Grandpa and Madi trying to coax McCoy off the stairs. He just wanted to sit there and watch everyone!

HUH? Who is this frog monster?!

Summer

So, I figured out what was wrong with my dig. camera and why it wouldn't upload my pictures.

Turns out new batteries every now and then help.

I'm serious.

So here's a few pictures of what we have been up to this summer.
Madison Gift Shop

need I say more?

We take a new picture by this sign in West Yellowstone every year we are up there!

She thinks everything in Yellowstone is named after her!

And I don't have the heart to tell her it's the other way around!!

The up*a*lows @ Old Faithful!! That's what my nephew kept calling them!

They couldn't give a rats aaaa bum that people were around them. One year my Grandpa Bud about got run over by one at Canyon! Do you remember that mom and dad?!

I have been to Yellowstone almost every year since I was a new born and this is the first time I've ever stopped to get a picture by this sign!

My family has a cabin on Henry's Lake in Island Park. It is so beautiful there. Do you think I took a picture for my bloggy friends to see?

Thought I did.

Sorry.

We went to the drive inn to see Night At The Museum 2.

The kids had a ball.

My butt fell asleep. And I was wedged in the corner of the Tundra bed and the air mattress.

Did my hubby help me out?

ummm no

Did he laugh his butt off?

ummmm ya

Cherry Days parade. We sit in the same spot every year. With the same people. It wouldn't be the 4th without them! AHEM STACI.....I'll forgive you just this year!

This picture cracks me up. Madi put her pack on backwards so it was easy access to get more candy!

Our neighbors Ramon and Jasmyn and their cute sheriff mom were in the parade.

We went over to the volleyball tournament. My brother and SIL put together 4 teams to compete. Needless to say, they were there all.day.long.

My kids had fun playing in between games

and by the end of the day..... like 7 pm this little guy couldn't resist.....

{sad}

Today I'm a little blue.

Madi left for girls camp at noon today. She was so excited to go!

This is her first year of camp, she could've gone last year but that's a whole other story.

Even tho she tries my patience on a daily bases, I miss her already.

I'm worried that she will be ok. She will. Grandma is her beehive advisor AND camp director!

Still, that didn't help me from crying as they pulled out of the driveway.

Now, the house is quiet.

Too quiet.

So what do I do? I turn on tv. and watch the MJ memorial.

Haven't I already cried enough today? Did I turn it off? Ummm no. Did I cry some more? Ummm ya.

Say what you will about MJ, I for one really like him.

In the 80's and now.


This poster is one of my favs. I had it in my room. And still have it in a case in storage. Along with my Thriller record- that's right people I said record. I am that old.

I remember going down to my sister's best friends house (HOLLA STACI!) and spend all day in front of the tv just hoping that MTV would show the music video of Thriller. Staci's parents were so cool...they had cable! (oh and I have the origional release of it on VHS ) again, I am that old. Then we would call up KCPX and request his music over and OVER!

Good times. Just a sad day.