Yellowstone Part 2

I had an awesome idea to take my Ipad as our camera in Yellowstone. Most of the pics turned out bad! Thanks to Melody (our friend's 17-yr-old daughter) I am able to post more Yellowstone pics. She took all of these pictures. We had such a great time with the Callisters. They have 4 kids ages 17, 15, 13 and 11. They are all great kids and my kids just love them. Melody put together a family home evening on Monday and that was such a great experience for everyone to sit around our cozy cabin and discuss the gospel. I had Melody and Ashley in YW's and I love to watch them mature. They are great girls! We spent a lot of time just laughing and carrying on. The kids spent a lot of time in the hot tub as well. Ryan and I feel blessed to have Marc and Shauna as our friends in Tooele. 

We were only able to cover the West side of Yellowstone and I hope we can go back and cover the rest! Once we recover financially from the adoption and our house move that might be an option. Might being the key word. 

Rare white elk. About 1 in 6,000. Or was it 60,000? Anyway it's rare.

The first of many many buffalo. 

No we don't take tutus camping, if you can call this camping. The girls found this one in a closet.

The Callister kids were so good to play with our kids. They are awesome teenagers. Love them!

Good Ol' Faithful

Ryan, Ava, Marc, Ashley

JJ after a very long hike in which he was packed on daddy's back the whole time.

Me looking entirely too scary/chubby and my great friend Shauna.

The crew after our horse ride with the guides.

Mel and Gracie at Mammoth Springs.

Aw! Love when they get along!

Ava and Chelby

Breck and Ryan

The "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone".

Marc and Ryan

Ryan in his usual spot.

I'm Blessed

Original post title huh? There's really no other way to put it. I look at these little kids and I feel so grateful to have them in my life. I honestly don't know why God allowed me to have them. I have given Him no reason to trust me with such gifts. I saw an article 2 nights ago about a 2 year old boy who was dying of leukemia. I cried my eyes out! That is just what the Lord wanted me to hear after a long day with Jesse. The Lord was telling me to take a step back and realize all that I have. During the hustle and bustle of motherhood it's hard to do; to just sit and think about all the blessings I have. I love Pres. Monson's talk about enjoying each moment. I don't want to wake up one day and realize that my kids are gone and I have hurried them along so quickly trying to get to "me time", that I never stopped to enjoy them. I love and enjoy them so much. I may need reminders sometimes, but I am SO BLESSED! Oh and of course I love Ryan too! Even though he just got after me on Skype for smacking my gum like a cow, he is my best friend and I'm so grateful we get to raise these kids together!

Ava looks a bit awkward, but I told her at her age her knees have gotta be up!

Yellowstone Part 1

What a handsome husband with little J. The helmet got in the way and didn't stay on for long.

I'm feeling more than a bit overwhelmed thinking about covering our Yellowstone trip on a blog. I thought I'd start with the horse ride....if there never is a "Part 2" you won't be surprised right? I have wanted to go horseback riding since Ryan and I got married and I was SO thrilled to be able to do this in BEAUTIFUL West Yellowstone, Montana. Oh my goodness. I can't even describe how serene and wonderful the scenery was. What a great family adventure that will be remembered forever!

Ava riding Chance in front of Melody. We went with our great friends and this is their 17-yr-old daughter.

Gracie on Linda.

Breck on Bullseye.

Ryan side by side with Ashley (friend's daughter). The guides told them they had to ride together because their horses were best friends and would act up if seperated. Ashley's seemed to be acting up anyway, which gave me a few good laughs.

Woot! Now you're getting the hang of it!

Welcome Summer

Welcome Summer,...as long as you must come please invite my children out often to play...remind them not to come indoors every 5 minutes dripping with water and begging for more popsicles...insist that they play in the pool for more than a half hour, being mindful of all the hot water buckets I have hauled out....and please don't get over 80 degrees...

the fatter I get the more uncomfortable you make me.

Old Fashioned Fun

Don't you love when you see your kids doing what you used to do as a kid? The girls decided to put Ryan's TED Hose (from his back surgery) to good use!!!

Help from daddy.

Gracie's head looks ginormous! Like mother, like daughter.