Lava Hot Springs!

I am so grateful to have such good friends! We took a little vacation up to Lava Hot Springs this weekend with our awesome neighbors, the Rindlisbachers and the Chambers, as well as Chris' brother, Brent's family. For all you who wimped out.... we missed you!

I really had a good weekend playing at the pools, sliding down the slides, and floating down the river. We stayed at Grandpa's campground where the air was clean and clear (except for the range cows) and the nights quiet away from all the noise and rush in the world.

Chris and the girls went down the river first, Kaylee was a bit terrified, but eventually got in the tube, however, she was dumped out a little ways later and I don't think she will be going down the river again for a long while. Taylor also got dumped out with Cheryl (who got a bit bruised and scraped). Taylor did decide to go down the slower part of the river with me later that day.

The rest of the kids had a blast going down the river! Most of the adults came back with only minor injuries (although my butt is still a bit tender from the one big rock!)

Elk and Deer and Bears, Oh MY!

We had a blast in Yellowstone and Jackson Hole in June, sorry it has taken so long to get the pictures together and posted! We went to Old Faithful, to the hot pots, the waterfalls, saw some wildlife and played around in Jackson. At least everyone else did, I mostly went to class for my continuing education requirements. I did get to go to Yellowstone with everyone for a couple of days.

We all had our ups and downs. The kids thought that the geysers were cool, the water was stinky, the one and only bear we saw was plenty of wildlife ("we saw a bear, we can go home now"), and the pool at the campground was the best thing about the whole trip!

Earring Party

Taylor said "Mom, You are the BEST MOTHER EVER!" I thought it would be because I finally got her ears pierced, or because I said she was the cutest kid in the world... "Why is that" I asked? "Because you let me pick a big sucker at the store." Hmmm...

We took Taylor into Walmart (I know, I HaTE Walmart, but the girl came well recommended), and had her ears pierced. She has been so excited for months. I promised her she could do it when she turned 6 and just am now getting to it. We went to pick out earrings, she of course picked the biggest pinkest ones in the case. Seriously, they would easily be 2.5 carots each!



BEFORE>>>>



Then, she convinces Jaycie to go first (all of a sudden, she is scared that it will hurt).



You have to watch the priceless expression on her face when they go in!



Then it is Taylor's turn :) I am way excited, but she wants me to hold her arms and hands and then doesn't want her sister or Josh to watch in case they are going to make fun of her or something. I don't have a video, someone was slacking (cough, chris, cough).... She was a little surprised when they said on three and then did them on one and a half.


But a few moments later, she was smiling again.





AFTER>>>



So Cute!



On the way back to the truck, Taylor asks: "Mom, can I wear the stuff you put on your eyes (mascara) and some color and I really want to wear your lipstick now, too. Cause I am big now." Good thing she is so big :) I might have lost her standing beside a flag pole! But now I can just look for the blindingly huge pink earrings!!!! Yeah, Taylor!