field days

Along with the changes coming up this next month, I have been able to re-arrange my schedule to 3 ten hour days. Boy is that hard to get used at first when you're used to being there for six hours a day, but it's been fun. The days off I've taken the kids to attractions around the valley and a bit beyond. We've gone to Kennecott Copper Mine, Hill AFB museum, and Timpanogos Cave.

I have to say I was nervous for the cave. It's a difficult hike for adults - 1056' vertical rise in a mile and a half. I told them we could stop as often as they wanted, but they couldn't whine. They were amazing. We were nearly 3/4 the way up when Andrew in his nicest voice asked if there was much more to go. By that time I could see the roof on the entrance and pointed it out and they were good to go the rest of the way. We even lucked out and no one else was booked for our time slot so we ended up with a private tour!

We finished the day with a picnic by the creek in Tibble Fork. It was a nice way to cool off and water is always fun for kids.

Changes

This was the picture I took the morning we woke at 4:00 am to get to the other side of YNP to wolf watch. I not only made Paul stop the truck, I had to make him back up....he doesn't like stopping, let alone going backwards, it was impeding his progress. Everyone else was so busy looking forward I didn't think any of them caught this. There was so much steam/fog rising off the lake since it was warmer than the air. It created nice visual effects the whole drive. Everyone else was glad I made him stop (I think he's still wondering). It might be my favorite picture I've taken there. I love how everything is constantly changing if we just stop and notice. The sun rises, it sets the wind blows, it's never the same. Big changes are coming for our family next month (no, I'm not pregnant). I'm a little nervous, but more excited.... and I think the changes will be beautiful.

YNP 2010

I didn't down load my pictures yet so you'll have to settle for this one from google of Grand Prismatic Springs (thanks to the photographer). We hit Washington again for the forth and it was wonderful seeing friends we only see once a year. A few of them from Canada followed us part of the way home hitting Phillipsburg and Bozeman Montana before stopping in Yellowstone. Amazing trip this time. Thursday we woke up early and headed to Lamar Valley hoping to see wolves. We saw eight bears (one was a momma and three cubs, a grizzly, two black bears and a cinnamon brown), a wolf with three pups, a coyote, herds of buffalo of course, and pronghorns, which we missed in Oct. It was awesome. I saw more bears in one morning than the rest of my life put together. We didn't see any moose this trip, but I'm more than satisfied.

garden bounty

We had our first RED tomato this Sunday. Nice fathers day present for the guy who does all the work in the garden.... had a few other things such as lettuce and basil, roses for the table and strawberries. These things melt in your mouth. We only picked about two thirds of the garden...I ran out of room in the collander. YUM!

cornflake cookies

I'm starting a list of all the things I want to do with the kids this summer. I love making cookies with them but I hate getting my kitchen hot. These are super simple no bake "cookies" that the kids can do for the most part - I let them measure the ingredients, I melt them on the stove and then let them stir in the cereal and drop them on the trays. You could probably substitute any favorite cereal or a different flavor 'chip', my husband has a similar recipe from when he was a kid that uses Frito's...


Corn Flake Krispies

1/3 C. creamy peanut butter
1 C. Butterscotch chips
3 C cornflakes

Melt peanut butter and chips in heavy sauce pan. Mix in cornflakes and stir well to coat. Drop onto wax paper. (Ice cream scoop is helpful) Chill until set. Makes about 2 dozen.

The weekend review

Extended family were in town this weekend from neighboring states...a mini family reunion. I love visiting with my aunts and my grandmother came out this time as well. I don't get to see her often. We had four generations all at once. Pretty cool. Paul was so excited during our pregnancy when he found out we were having boys, he was anticipating the day he could hand off this task. He figured when the boys were 10. I thought that was too young. This weekend he convinced the six year old to give it a try. Poor little guy, he is always so willing to help out, he could barley reach, but he gave it a good try and did quite a few paths before he wore out.

All of that was in prep for having friends over for a BBQ and water party. The kids had their pool filled, squirt guns, and water balloons. Weather was perfect and company was great as always!

Summer happenings

The kids are going to have a busy summer. I've never put them in 'organized' events, classes, etc, but they are going to be taking skateboarding, swimming (thanks Dad) and soccer. All S's...
They were super excited about skateboarding. We didn't even have boards. They picked them out last week the day before the first class that was cancelled due to our three inches of snow. BTW the garden looks like it will survive - the trees lost lots of limbs however. Here they are posing, about all they could do that day :) First lesson they learned to fall - good lesson. I think they'll actually benefit a lot from the class and it's fun to watch the more advanced guys out there. Their teacher (never saw him skate) is amazing with kids.


Believe it or not, neither had been on the bike yet. Paul took both of them for their first ride Friday, just around the block. Andrew looks so small, he reminded me of a squashed bug for some reason. Hard to believe he'll be done with kindergarten in two days.


And they both got to go to their first concert this weekend. The World Superbike races were in town and there was a huge out door concert with Kansas, Styx, and Foreigner. They both enjoyed it. They also liked the attention from Pauls friends. No shorty himself, he has two friends that tower at 6'7"... and they both got to view the concert from Adams shoulders. They thought that was pretty cool.

Yesterday we ended the weekend by heading back out to the track to view the races. Pauls friend Ryan (the other 6'7" guy) was in the races and signed photos slicks and the kids got pictures next to his race bike. Nathan also got to experience "drifting" where the sports cars basically burn off as much rubber as possible doing broadies in the parking lot with professional drivers (how do you get a job like that)? Little Andrew was a couple inches too short but we promised him next year he gets to be in the front of the line.