Summer Adventures

This summer has been quite the Trip! Literally! We have done some serious camping and travel, and wish we could of done more (dang work!). We started the summer off with the trip to "Grandma Muffin" and Papa's (that's what the kids call my parents although we have no clue where the muffin came from). They loved seeing them and Uncle "Mogan," Uncle "Webi" and Aunt "Wachel." We had a great time doing family pictures thanks to Rachel's EXTERMELY talented friend. I'll post them all over SOON, along with the other pictures from this summer - I can't seem to put them together at the same time. :)

Then we all headed to Yellowstone and Island Park. On the way, we stopped in Rexburg (sorry we didn't get to see everyone that we would have liked to but we didn't have that much time unfortunately). We were able to see some friends from Rapid City, which was so great. It was wonderful to see Katy Beu and Lance McLaws playing with the kids again and getting an update on every one there - It's still HOME! Then we visited some from this ward (other HOME) and got to meet the boyfriend of one of them so we could report back to dad :) But the kids had missed them too and enjoying playing with "Snow White" (she looks like it) and Chrissy. Then we finally got to hang out with "The Godfather" and his wonderful wife. It was so great to see adam and kimberly. Adam was to one who set me and Brig up on our first date. We owe him SOOOOO much!!! We played at the waterpark there (great pictures) and the carousel. It was so weird being back after so long. We tryed to show the kids different places we'd lived or gone to, but many were gone. OH well, the place is so different. We came ddown later for an NSO reunion, and got to see everyone that Brig had worked with. What an inspired Organization!!

We enjoyed the cabin and being in Island Park again. The kids loved the plants and animals in Yellowstone and ESPECIALLY the Geysers!!! We did the Jr. Ranger program and their special young Scientist program at Old Faithful. Lliam and Nedra mapped out the geysers and named them (if they didn't have one already) and their temperatures. The Ranger was so empressed with some of their names that he said he'd try and get them offically named - "Suckerplunk" (lliam's) and "Sleeping Beauty" (Nedra). It was really fun. Brig and I got to camp alone for our anniversary and we went to the old faithful inn for breakfast and dinner (I've always wanted to go there) and took a good long walk. I finally got to see Morning Glory Pool, and Some tourist took our picture kissing in front of a geyser that was going off. My mom and dad had the kids and said it was fun to see the park through their eyes.

One the way back home we stopped at Hagerman Fossil Beds. ITs OK. And of course we visited Tess and Ryan and Little Graham. It was so great to see them again, as always.

Trip #2 was to North Cascades NP, the american alps! It was BREATHTAKING! I think its one of my FAVORITE parks now. We had a rough start - mom had a minor brake down, the kids truned into monsters and Brig was powerless to stop it all. But after my good cry and alot of prayer and thinking we decided to plough ahead. This was our first big camping trip with the kids. I'm so glad we did, things got much better and we've been able to start a great tradition. We did some great little hiking trails, and started identifying plants, especially flowers. Nedra is obsessed with wildflowers and has been carrying and reading a wildflower guide for the past two months, along with collecting and pressing samples when we can. It's so fun to see my little botentist. The kids also started getting into bugs and animals. We've also had a pacific Northwest Field guide checkout for 2 months too. Brig Kayaked the lakes up there and so we're planning on trying a kayak, backpacking trip for our 10 year anniversary. We could only see a small portion of the park, pactically everything is wildlife. There's a part I really want to go to that is only accessable by ferry or plane - that's my goal one day.

Trip #3 was to Mt Rainer NP. Another top favorite park! we drove almost all the way around and stopped at all the Centers. It's just amazing views everywhere. We didn't end up doing much hiking because it was a little sprinklie. But we found our new family goal - the WONDERLAND TRAIL!
Our goal is to do this with the kids in the next few years. The ranger that did the evening presentation showed pictures and talked about it, litterally going through from start to finish. Lliam is so excited to do it.

By the way lliam came home and began building a National Park Site Aquarium in the vacent lot down the street where the manager had been replacing a pipe or something. They've weeded, dug and everything. He's done a map (our house is the visitors center) complete with hiking trails and campsites. The best is his Junior Ranger booklet!!!!

Trip 3 was supposed to be to the Redwoods, Lassen Volcano and Glacier Lake, but we'd both been having this thought that we shouldn't go, but trying to ignore it until we discussed it during the meltdown at North cascades. We really wanted to explore down there and visit with Roberts, but finally decided we shouldn't ignore that feeling. I don't know what would have happened but I do know our A/C would have gone out in Lasson.

The beginning of August found us with visitors - Grandma Muffin and Papa and the uncles Levi and Morgan. We had a great visit and together took adventure #4 Olympic NP in Washington. We stayed at our family's favorite Klaloch Beach south of Forks, WA. We hiked around the timber Muesem in Forks, and visited the beach just No. of La Push Rinaldi (? spelling). We did the hall of Moss at the Hoh rainforest - MY FAVORITE HIKE! We did the tide pools at Klaloch and played at the beach where I found my first sand dollar and learned what a sand flea is (just so you their looks are decieving they are not tiny little shrimp looking for water brig thought that was so funny). We had so much fun!!! As usual. It was great to share one of our favorite places in the world with my family. But it's now tied with North Cascades, and 2nd place is Mt. Rainer. sorry Yellowstone I love the mountains and the trees!!!

The rest of August was a blurr of house cleaning, getting ready for school, pickles (our first batch from total scratcch sooooo good!!) and painting the lines at the school playground with the cub scouts from our ward. We would have gone one more place, but I got jury duty and then never had to go in. Oh well. We had a great time. Lots of Junior Ranger stuff, Nature and learning, best of all lots of memories. And End of Summer news if you haven't noticed yet We're expecting baby #5. Etta says its a girl named winky star. Nedra says Sandy, and Lliam says its a boy named Jacob. A poll will go up soon so you can gues what we're having. We are so excited and blessed. Hope you all had as great a summer as we did and can forget the tough times as well as we did :)