Island Park 2012

This last Christmas my parents told us that we were heading to Island Park for 8 days! I so love looking forward to a trip and all the planning and prep that goes into it. I honestly think that is half the fun. We stay in a 3 story cabin chuck full of a lot of personality. We had done this trip before, three years ago, so we knew what to expect and knew how to make the most of it. This time my parents invited some friends to come on down from Washington State and spend the week in the next door cabin. It was so fun to catch up with the Kretzer's. They are our old neighbors and moved out of state when I was like 4 years old. Since then my parents have kept in good touch and they take turns visiting back and forth with them. Last time I saw them was 13 years ago. We went up for their oldest daughter Jenny's Wedding.  I did not get my camera out enough and only got pics of her two kids.  I totally forgot to get pics of their whole family. Jenny is my brothers age and has two kids with Lincoln. Jacob is my age and he is a butt and did not come. Then their is Christopher who is my sisters age and he came with his cute new wife Alicia. They are seriously a super funny family to hang with and we had a great time hanging with them.

So first thing Monday we were so excited to get back into Yellowstone. We spent two days in the park caravanning with my parents and Bryan and his kids. I think the hi-lite was swimming in Fire Hole with Bryan and hos kids. Bryan had been several times and knew of the spot to cliff jump. Well Bryan, Rich, Zoe and Kaleb cliff jumped and got all the onlookers cliff jumping. It was so fun! Then some "fun hater" came and said it was illegal and he was gonna tattletale on us to a Park Ranger. Just as we were leaving sure enough the Park Ranger showed up. Again, no pics. I need to steal my parents camera they got all the good shots.

Tuesday picnicking inYellowstone look what Logan found across the street:

 Then you give a kid a camera and what does he do??? Yep, takes a picture of the pooping buffalo!

Nicole and Rob joined forces with us after lunch and we explored and tried to solve a still unsolved mystery of Rich's. He swears that when we visited Yellowstone in 2007 that he went to some lodge that had a baby grande piano playing with big picture windows of the sunset. For the life of us could not figure out where the crap this lodge that he is talking about is.  He even had Park Rangers helping him solve the mystery. So after striking out at another lodge and dragging the caravan a little further than I believe they wanted to go we headed back to Island Park to get back for dinner at the cabin. We then got caught in a traffic accident for 3.5 hours.

Two girls stuck in traffic:

Boo hoo what better place to be "stuck" than in Yellowstone. Rather than go with stop and go traffic for that long we pulled off and Rich and Logan took off down to the river to fish. They were so excited. I was left with Demi, Zoe and Nellie. We started watching a movie, which then killed the battery. So then we walked down to some water falls just right up the road and saw the sights. We got lucky and found a bathroom too. Luckily I had an emergency water stash in  the car and left over granola bars which held us over since it was dinner time. I don't think we got back to the cabin until after 10 pm. But before we knew it traffic was moving and it was all a good memory.

Movie time in the car:

Wednesday we did an all day fishing trip. It started at a "kid fishing pond" and ended up being horrible with no results. So after 2- 3 hours we threw in the towel and headed for a good picnic spot.

On the fish day I myself enjoyed my book and played with Nellie. I am not much of a fisher and just enjoyed hanging with Rich and the kids!























Rich stopped to get some ideas on renting a boat and where to fish. The kids and I took advantage of this photo opp























The picnic spot was Mesa Falls. This was the moment that Nellie had had it. I think with all the driving in the car she was done. We were wearing her out.  After much coaxing we got her out of the car and carried her on a short walk to the falls and an old Lodge. I love visiting these old sights with the old lodges and reading up on the history.

I love this picture of Logan taking in the waterfalls, what is he thinking?
















 Rileigh and Rich
















Logan and Rich
















Thursday was a down day and we spent some time at the cabin. Some of us went four wheeling, mtn. biking, played bocce ball and took in a run. While the rest of us just enjoyed a good porch sittin' time. The kids played badminton and horsehoes. Friday we swam at the Island Park Village pool with the kids while the men played frisbee golf.(Again no pics)

Saturday we went into West Yellowstone and took a visit to the local Museum. Again, I so loved reading up on the history and watching some video clips. The fire of 1988 was unreal to watch the video as it took over the forest right near Old Faithful Lodge.The footage on tape was taken by the firefighters and you can hear the panic in their voices.

 That night we celebrated Logan and Rileigh's 9th Birthday.

I started making this blasted pinata' on Tuesday and it was all worth it. The kids helped too of course. I love watching them get so excited to break the stupid thing. Rich had them blind folded and was standing on the deck moving it up above their heads so they barely could get a good crack at it!

Nellie at a chance to smack the pinata'

 Logan the Birthday Boy!

 Rileigh the Birthday Girl:

 This was Nellie AFTER we started singing Happy Birthday to Logan and Rileigh. She had a major melt in the middle of the song and wanted it to be her Birthday too! She does not understand why Logan and Rileigh get a Birthday together and not her too!!! So we abruptly stopped singing to give her a candle too. Ooh what a happy girl!

 Happy Birthday to You and You!

 Rileigh asked for an easel, pictured below and Logan got a remote controlled helicopter (no Picture).

 Phew it was a whirlwind of a week and I am sad it has come and gone. Thanks Mom and Dad! Can we go to Costa Rica and sit on the Beach next time?  wink wink!

My Nellie Mae is gonna be F-O-U-R

I cannot wrap my head around the fact that my baby is turning four. I just want to cry. I do however make her snuggle with me like she is still my little baby. She did have a talk with me just yesterday that she is not my baby and she is a BIG girl. What the crap?! I think she knew that it just needed to be said plain and clear.

Nellie is so fun to have in our little family, she literally cracks us up each and every day. When she is a grown teenager in the far off future I never want to forget her sweet little voice and how it sounds today.  I don't ever want to forget her chubby cheeks and curly blonde hair. Her hair to this day is just baby fine and is so fun to make curly and cute!

A year from now I remember thinking when she was 2 how great of a two year old she was, such a treat. Then like a week before her third birthday she turned into a turd. Well here we are right before her 4th birthday and once again she is turning into a bigger turd. She has escaped and ran away from home twice just this week. I am gonna have to duct tape my doors shut so she cannot run away.

Nellie has absolutely no fears in this life and honestly thinks she is 9 just like Logan and Rileigh. She jumps into a pool like she knows how to swim and will climb a rock wall like she can fly. Her best friends have been Tanner and Taegan Polad, although just recently she has been a bit mean to them and they may never want to play with her again. She took off on Tanner's bike yesterday and had him in a ball of tears.

Nellie definitely rules the roost in our household that is for sure. If she says "sippie" we all jump to get her one just to calm her. She still wakes at night and either wants in bed with Rich and I or just has to pee. Just recently, like in that last week, she has been picky about her clothes.

A wee bit about Nellie and her life as a 3 year old. She was involved in a pre-school co-op this last year with Jenna Torman, Sam Gertch and Jonas Clark. It was a fun group and we did a lot of fun field trips. She can count to 15 and knows most of her colors. Whenever she remembers something she will say, "Ya we did that yesterday." Everything is "Yesterday." Nellie loved skiing this past winter and was such a good sport about it. She insisted on going on a the big ski lift. The bunny hill was not cutting it for her.

She is now a Sunbeam in Primary. Well that is just a hoot. I think half the girls in Sunbeams sit with their feet above their heads. One Sunday she told her teacher that Tanner is her boyfriend and she has to sit by him. She took swim lessons early this summer and tried to drown herself several times. The swim teacher was super laid back about it and I was a freak. I finally quit going to watch because I was the poolside screaming Mom. She almost knows how to ride her bike with no training wheels and has just asked to have her training wheels put back on. I think too many crashes has her a little freaked out.Nellie will start Pre-School this year with Miss Lopez in Enterprise, it is twice a week. She is so excited to start school and wear her new dress. Today was the first day of her "Let's Play Music" class. She had to wear her new dress today! Music is once a week and I believe she will take to it like a fish in water. I made the choice not to start her in soccer, she is gonna die when Tanner and Taegan are playing and she is not.

Now if I could just reverse time and stop her from growing up so fast. I cannot believe she is gonna be 4 and yes I can wait to watch you grow up because I want you to stay little and cuddly forever.



Love you Nellie Mae and hope you have the best Birthday ever!!!

Rileigh is turning 9!

 Where do I start with Rileigh?!

Honestly she is the glue that holds this family together in so many ways. She is always pushing us to do things as a family. If it were up to her we would Roast Marshmallows every single night. If ever any of us need a favor Rileigh is the go-to girl. If you ever lose anything just ask Rileigh. She definitely keeps us on our toes that is for sure. She is my number one helper and data planner. She reminds me all the time of stuff I have forgotten or need to do or buy. Let's just sum it up that she has saved the day more than once!

I truly enjoy hanging with her. Rileigh likes to spend her time cooking, drawing, crafting, sewing, skiing, soccer, taking pictures and swimming. A lot of her time is spent right at my side, literally. If she is not at home she is dialing the phone for a friend to play with. Rileigh likes to be going and doing anything and everything all at the same time. The girl does not sit well.

 She is a great sister and is so good with Nellie. Her and Logan are still working on their differences. She loves to tease both Logan and Nellie all the time. I do think she is the pot stirrer in the Logan-Rileigh-Nellie trio. The mystery is yet to be solved!

 I honestly think she would make a great teacher someday. She loves to play school and have all the neighbor kids over as her students.We found out this past year how strong she truly is. With breaking her arm she has had the best attitude and has been so strong through it all. I have so much confidence in her and what she is going to accomplish in her life. She is definitely a go-getter.

When it comes to her room she hoards and holds onto every little thing. Her room is jam packed with momentous "things." It has been so fun watching her grow and mature.

She did excellent at school in 2nd grade also getting all A's. She is excited to start 3rd grade and meet her new "unnamed"  teacher.

 Pictured below is the arm that was broke and that thumb is the one we are working on. She has been going to a hand therapist all summer to straighten the elbow and do a 90 degree thumbs up! With all her hard work she is almost there.

 I love you so much Rileigh and am so proud of you and all that you do for our family. Always know that you can do anything that you want in this life. Set your goals high and you will get what you want out of life. You are a great example to us all. I know Nellie totally looks up to you too - no pressure! I am excited to go school shopping with you and have a girl outing.

Love you Ri, Mom