Yellowstone

There is absolutely too much to write about an awesome, week long vacation to Yellowstone.  So here it is in photo format!

The kids playing at a playground at a rest stop on our way out.

Sheep crossing in the Big Horn Mountains, WY.  There were thousands of them, it seemed. 

Standing in front of Shell Falls in the Big Horn Mountains, WY.

Those three blanket heaps are three sleeping kids.

Snow in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Looking down river of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Looking back towards the Lower Falls.

Lower Falls from Uncle Tom's Trail.

Mammoth

The top of the above photo.

BEAR!!

Buffalo in the middle someones campsite.

Roadside stand near Obsidian Cliff

Enjoying the third row!

Two 6-point elk (for those in WI those would be 12-pointers)

Old Faithful

Dragon's Mouth Spring

Natural Bridge

"J" Date

Our J date ended up being a flop!  Therefore we JUNKED it!

We were going to have a journey or a jaunt to the other side of the state for a concert and a night in a hotel.  Brian ended up going out of town for storm work.  I ended up going to the concert without him and we got a rain check on the hotel.  No fun!  But at least our "L" date is this weekend. (Did you notice I said "L"?  You are right "K" should come next but we are flip flopping "L" and "K".)  See you in a few weeks with some photos from the water.

June Photo of Kids

A Little Summer Time Fun

Angela:

Connor:

Emeric:

Have A Happy Summer

~Cheers~

June Cleaver



There is this dress that I have been wanting to wear for a while now.  It is a little more of a "dressy" dress so I have been waiting to wear it to church.  Since we have been taking the boat out so much we have missed church the past few weeks.  Therefore, yesterday I decided to wear it.  It needed a little something to "make" the outfit so I wore my pearls.  Of course it also needed a pair of heals.  As soon as I was finished I felt like June Cleaver ready to tend house and kids.  See that last part...I still had a house to pick up from the weekend and a total of five extra kids and my three to watch.  I don't know how June did it.  I only wore the heals when I ran my two quick errands.  I was sweeping and breaking a sweat which just seemed wrong in the nice dress.  It doesn't seem to matter if I get dirty and sweaty in a casual dress but it felt all sorts of wrong in this one.  But boy did it feel good when I would walk past a mirror and see how feminine I looked, that was fun!

Later today I was taking the laundry down off the clothes line.  I was barefoot but thinking, how did she do it with her heels.  She either had to stay on her toes the whole time or poke holes in the dirt.  So she either built up her calves or aerated the lawn.  I guess it is a positive either way. 

It was lots of fun when Brian got home!  To see the look on his face!  The Ward really liked coming home to June.  ; )



Boating

We purchased a boat three and a half weeks ago.  It is a 2004 21' Larson open bow boat.  I am sure that Brian would say more about what it is but that suffices for me.  (If it is not enough for you then you can give Brian a call.  He loves to "talk shop")  In that time we have had it out six different times.  We are really having fun!!  The kids were a little nervous at first since it was new for them (funny how Angela doesn't seem to remember the old boat) but they are really starting to like it now.  I can't wait to get them pulling behind it in some manner.

Connor Graduated (Pre-School)

It really does not seem like that long ago that we were living in our little house in Spokane and bringing Connor home from the hospital.  It also doesn't seem like that long ago that we had just moved to WI and were living in the 5th wheel celebrating Connor's 2nd birthday.  But reality strikes when soon enough he will be six and he just graduated from pre-school. 

 (Filing into their seats)

 (Going up to accept his diploma)

 (The proud graduate!)

(His whole class)

Pre-School was four days per week for about three and a half hours per day.  He did really good and had a lot of fun but there were still those days.  You know "those" days that we all seem to have ourselves and that our kids have too.  He would struggle with being over tired when he got home.  Or wanting to play more than work.  I know that is what pre-school is for, helping them transition into school and I think it had a good start for him.  Next year, Kindergarten, will be five days per week for seven hours per day.  It will still have some play but more work.  I know that it will be a big step for him, but I am confident he will be able to do it.  



May Photo's of the Kids

Here are a few photos from May.

Angela

Looking a little apprehensive before the Mother's Day Kid's Run (1 mile).

Now she looks a little more excited to be doing it!

There she is crossing the finish line.

She makes a pretty scary looking bat.

Connor

Playing around in the mud.

Crossing the finish line.

"My Connor, what big bat ears you have...."  "All the better to hear you with..." 

What a stoic bat he makes.

Enjoying the giant tortoise on a school field trip.

Emeric

The three boys being a little silly.

"CHEESE"

That would be Emeric's face in the sleeve of a swim shirt.

 What a silly little bat . . .

. . . and a scary little polar bear!