Yellowstone

We visited Yellowstone this summer and were impressed with the variety of nature's beauty and wonders. It was busy too, we checked off seeing 43 of the 50 state's license plates while in the different parking lots at Yellowstone.

The timing was perfect for seeing Old Faithful, it went off 5 minutes after we arrived.

We saw all the usual animals...Bison and Elk. Alia really wanted to see a bear and on our second day of visiting we got to see one right off the road.

The wrap up

The end of May and beginning of June were lots of finishes - Alia's last competition as a junior rower, piano recital for Madelyn and Ashlie, a horse show, seminary graduation and Alia's graduation from the community college. We're proud of our children and all they are accomplishing.

Horse day

Madelyn and Ashlie took the younger three for some rides on the horses. They also got to meet the month old colt and ride the mini horses.

A little bit of sunshine

These pictures were from last summer, and I just had to post them. I could almost feel the sunshine and carefree days of summertime soak into me. It was welcome on another gray, wet winter day like today.

Two knights and a princess

Our castle is well defended...even by the princess.

Missing teeth

Matt has a big gap in his smile. His "th" sound is pretty cute. Although when I told him that he said that it was "not cute", I have to say cool or funny. Cute just isn't tough sounding enough.

Nate had a hard time with Matt getting $1 per tooth from the tooth fairy and since we didn't want him to try to pull his own teeth out, I gave him a job of folding 40 pieces of clothing to earn his own dollar. He was pretty proud of himself afterwards.

Happy Birthday Nate! You turned 5. You got to have a sports birthday party

We played games like "basketball drop"

and football throw

We did some all team exercises

And finished with a baseball pinata

You love firetrucks, football, nerf guns and all your pretend weapons. You love building with your train tracks with Matt. You are great about getting your morning job of putting away the silverware from the dishwasher after breakfast. You started your first grade math book and love doing it.  You have started reading short vowel sound words. You are sweet and kind but also have a firey temper when you get mad.

You have determination.

You have a good sense of humor and a contagious laugh.

You are a good helper. You regularly play nicely with your younger sister but balance it well with teasing her to get a reaction. She is quite good at the "multiple sibling survival scream" a lot of the credit goes to you.

We love you so much and are so glad you are in our family!