The Fourth Of July and More

So of course I love the Fourth of July. I love this country and I'll take it with all it's flaws because I know it's a country that God loves and that is enough for me. We had a long weekend and saw three different firework shows. First one in Rigby at the Lake. My Brother and his wife always have a great barbecue and we can watch from their backyard. Thanks again you guys!

The second set we watched up in Island Park while sitting in my uncles boat on the reservoir. That was a lot of fun to see it reflect of the water. and then there were also well over 100 boats around us. Good Times!

And the third was Sunday night up in West Yellowstone. They actually have a great show there. It lasted about 20 minutes and there were a few times we thought it was a grand finale but it just kept going. So anyway Friday,Saturday and Sunday night FIREWORKS!!

So fun for us.

Well here a bunch of pictures from over the last week or two. I'll just try to label each one so you know what exciting things you are looking at.

Hope you don't fall asleep while you are previewing our adventures. =)

It was so cold on the Sat. during and after the parade that the kids didn't want to play on the water slide they wanted to sit in my parents hot tub. Katie is looking very patriotic isn't she?

This is a part of the river we hiked on the Upper Coffee Pot trail.
So pretty!

Craig and Alexys on a ginormous rock

Me and Katie at the end of the trail before we headed back.

This is how Katie hiked pretty much the whole time.

Craig is such a good Dad.

This is the sunset before the fireworks started on I.P. reservoir.

The gang on the boat with our cool decorations!

Me and Craig in the boat.

A firework that lit up the lake enough to see a few of the boats around us.

Every light on this picture is one boat. We stopped counting at 100.

We waited for most of them to leave so we weren't in all the waves.

This was a reflection on the water from a firework.

This is last week up on the Yellowstone Lake. We went up and crashed my parents getaway and camped one night with them.

Alexys is helping Katie make a hand print in the sand.

Sorry it's sideways. Just the girls and a pretty view.

Katie loves to play in the dirt.

Here she is!

Mom, Dad, Alexys and Katie

Mom and Dad coming down to the lakeside.

This is the cool Yellowstone Lake Hotel. Katie is standing by the pillar.

We love that old bus.

Lounging in the Lobby.

Cool Bus!

Well that's it!!

Thanks for stopping in!!

Bear World

So we went to Bear World today. I got a good price on a car load ticket and so I decided to take my Mom and my Niece and two of my Nephews and of course me and the girls.It actually got above 80 degrees today so it was a bit warm but very nice. It's a great place with so many animals. They even have a moose now! Anyway here are a lot of pictures of what we did and saw. Enjoy!!

Tanner, Austin, Katie, Reagan, Alexys

Front Entrance and sun in faces.

Black Bear relaxing in the shade. One of about 40 or more bears.
I had taken a picture of one in the pond but it won't show up on here as a full picture???

Big 5 or 6 point Elk

Of course I was to mesmerized by the Albino Elk to have taken any pictures of them There were 4 baby ones and one adult that we could find. They are amazing.

Peacock showing off.

Alexys finally found the cute little goat.

Katie loved the pigs.

Hugging a dear. You don't get to do that every day.

Reagan, Tanner, and Austin petting some dear.

The yearling cubs playing. They were fun to watch. There are two in this picture wrestling. Sorry the picture isn't better. I only had my phone to take pictures.

They had a few rides that the kids had fun on .

I call this one the blueberry tree.

This one is called the log roller coaster.

Katie loved it. She screamed so loud that the guy running asked if I wanted him to stop it. I had to explain that she was just excited not scared.=)

Another ride on the blueberry tree. They look thrilled don't they?

Two Grizzlies swimming in the canal

The toot-toot as Katie called it. They all four wanted to sit in the engine.

These were fun they jumped up and down while it went around.

Alexys was a good sport about everything. She is such a great girl. This is her waiting for the other kids to finish with the rides. And of course she was texting.

Alone on the Jeeps. She was smiling before I snapped the picture.

A Grizzly eating some meat.

The baby cubs playing. SOOO cute!

This is them getting ready to be bottle fed. They knew exactly what to do.
I want to hug them!!!

So silly!

The sun was in Alexys' face. That is funny!

Playmill!

So Alexys is at Girls Camp this week and tonight Craig went up there to be one of the Priesthood holders. So Katie and I decided to have a Mother-Daughter Date.

We went up to Yellowstone and then ate in West and then went to the Playmill to see the show called The Foreigner.

It is such a fun show! I'm sure Alexys will not be happy that we went without her but what can ya do?? Anyway here are a few pictures I took of Katie with my phone while we were up there.

Old wagon that Katie thought was cool until I made her get close to it. She got a bit scared when she had to stand next to it, but I managed to get a smile from her anyway.

Waiting for our food.

Just passed a large herd of Buffalo and had sat in a line about a mile long forever because of all the people that think they don't have to move over to get a picture. Stinking tourists!!

Her new friend she made at one of the gift shops.

And yes I got her a sweatshirt.


Have a great day!!

Bye Bye Birdie...

O.K. so as some of you may remember a few months ago our yellow bird died. Well now bird number two (Sprite) has flown the coupe. She was outside with us getting some fresh air after a long winter and when I went to clean her cage she was waiting. With only a few seconds to make it she managed to escape. I hope she can survive on her own but I know she is a picky eater so who knows what she will eat. If any of you happen to see her take a picture and tell her hello!

Happy freedom little friend!

???

So sometimes I get to a point when I feel like something inside of me just snaps. I hate when I feel like that and I hate how I act. I cry and just feel so empty inside. I will even admit that I get angry with God sometimes. Does anyone else ever feel like this or am I completely insane? I know that we are never given more than we can handle but I sometimes think he overestimates what I can handle. Today has just been one of those days when I stop and think too much about everything and I get mad. I know I should only concentrate on happy things but that is not always easy. When I see others that seem so happy I wonder how hard they have to try to be that way or if they just naturally are. If anyone has any advice on this I would really appreciate it. Sometimes getting outside perspective can be a good thing.

I really hope you are having a good day.

June??

So it's already June!!

Time really does seem to get away sometimes doesn't it?

Well today Katie went and got her pictures done professionally for her dance class in Rexburg.

I of course am a cheapo so I didn't order any. Of course they were adorable and now I am mad at myself for not getting them.

Anyway... Here is a shot of her outside in the cold trying to smile and not shiver.

Brave girl!!

Posing!!

Really posing!!

Besides dance for Katie we are already gearing up for Pioneer Days celebration.

No I do not have to do the float this year. A bit sad for me but Craig is thrilled. But Alexys is auditioning for the play again. She has call backs on Sat.. From what we are being told that means that she is in the play and has a speaking part. We just don't know what her part will be yet. The play this year is the one called "Once Upon A Mattress" I guess it's a spoof on the story Princess an the Pea. I've heard it's a fun one.

Today Craig called me from work to tell me he knocked out one of his front teeth. He was hammering a nail or something into some concrete and the hammer came up and smacked him in the mouth. It apparently chipped the tooth in half and damaged the nerve. For today the Dentist super glued it together and in place and then he will be getting a root canal done Thursday and new front teeth after that. Could be a blessing in disguise. He has hated his teeth since I've known him.

As for our Memorial Day weekend we spent it up in Island Park. My Aunt and Uncle have a Trabin up there on Bill's Island and they were kind enough to allow us to stay there. It was a lot of fun. Alexys and her friend rode four wheelers when it wasn't raining. But it rained about 90 percent of the time. Still fun though. My nephew Tanner came with us for the first night and Katie was in heaven! I took my camera but I never snapped a single shot in five days...

What have I become?