Can we build it?

Yes we can!! Yesterday we got one more good snowman-snow day. There wasn't much there, but just enough for two little ones to make something special.

They were so proud that they did it all by them selves. I was proud of them too.

For the Beauty of the Earth

While we were on our June camp out I took the time to try some landscape photography. I tried out the filters that my sister Diane gave to me and a few different settings on my camera, here are a few of my favorites. They are mostly un-touched.

Pond Fishing

After the wedding it was time to get ready for me to leave for Texas for the anual Girls Trip. The night before I left we decided that we needed some family time before I left.

There are several ponds around the valley that are stocked with fish so people can fish at them
right in the middle of town with the backdrop of baseball feilds and one of the busiest roads in the state. This particular pond had just been stocked the day before so we decided to head over there. There were lots of other people there too, but we still had fun.

Owen tried casting a couple of times...without much success. He was perfectly happy throwing rocks in the pond and trying to catch things in the butterfly nets.

Bailee was diligent and was gettig pretty good at casting, her aim still needs some work. She crossed lines with a couple of people, but they were nice about it. I think that she enjoyed it.

Didn't seem like many people had much luck catching fish. But this guy and three of his freinds did great! We sure enjoyed watching them circle above and then dive into the water to catch their dinner.

Camping at Celebration Park

Since we knew that our summer was going to be busy we decided that we needed an early start to ensure at least one camping trip. Matt normally takes his Troop to the desert to camp in the fall and spring and so of course for a spring camping trip that is where he took us too.
About and hour south of our house is this great place called Celebration Park right along the Snake River. The rocks there have petroglyphs on them and they have some cool artifacts there as well.

We were a little nervous because on the way there a huge storm hit. I was driving and it was crazy how hard the rain was coming down. But as in most Idaho storms it only lasted about 20 minutes.

Once we were there we set up camp pretty quickly (we took the troop's big canvas tent, it was so roomy!) and built a fire. Matt tried teaching my mom and I how to light a fire with flint and steel...my mom tried for about twenty minutes before she was ever able to get enough spark to light something, but she finally did it! I never did while we were there.
Mom Practicing

The kids had a blast playing in the dirt! They were digging holes and building dirt castles.

We were finally able to peel them away from the dirt and convince them to get cleaned up a bit to have smores. Mmmm!

The next day we got up and Matt cooked us pancakes and bacon before we packed up. WE found out that there was a pair of Golden eagles nested on the Cliff across the river so we spent some time looking for it. Then we went to the visitor center and had a peak through their telescope.

Matt wanted to go check out some camp spots for the troop for the next weekend at a nearby lake so we went on a hike there. Owen had a blast climbing on all of the rocks.Matt caught a lizard and the kids thought that was awesome!

Owen cried when we let it go.

Family Vacation Part III

Friday we headed up to the Upper Loop in Yellowstone. Our first stop was at the Artist Paint Pots, they are so beautiful. The colors are amazing.

The view from the Top

Steph and Bailee

After the Artist pain Pots, we went to Norris Geyser Basin. Matt and I did not go on our honeymoon, but now wish we had. It was very neat. The colors there were very different form those in the lower loop. It was amazing the vastness of space there.

Matt and Bailee taking their first look.

The beautiful Greens

Mom and Dad

Owen and Papa

After lunch we went to Mammoth Hot Springs. Once again, there was something new at every turn.

Bailee and Owen

When Matt and Steph were Bailee and Owen's ages they had a picture taken of them at this same place. Bailee and Owen were not quite as cooperative.

All of us.

We thought that this looked like a river of gold.

On our way out of the Upper Loop, we were caught in a lot of traffic. We were excited to find out that the slowdown was caused by a little black bear. We didn't get any pictures because the Rangers chased it off of the side of the road. A few miles down the road there was another big slow down. we were crawling along for quite some time. We got the message from another tourist that there was a Bear up ahead. We were excited and hoping we would get to to it before it was chased off as well. The moment I caught sight of it, I jumped out of the car and ran down the road to get a better picture. The little grizzly was up the cliff from the road and I was able to get a few decent pictures of him. It was so fun.

At the end of the day we of course had our picture taken in front of the Yellowstone sign. We had a great time in Yellowstone. I always want to go back when we leave. It is so beautiful.