August's Birthday

Our first grandchild just turned two.  Wow, such a little man.  He has grown so much this year.  He is such a smart little boy, and I am not just saying that because I am his grandma :), but he is definitely smart and trying to catch up with his Uncle Aidric.  He is doing great on potty training, which will be nice for when the new baby comes and he just got his own big boy bed.

Latisha is very good at organizing events.  Birthdays are something she really enjoys doing.  August's birthday was simply adorable.  "Cars" was the theme. August is quite captivated with all cars.  We had melon balls on sticks, red (watermelon), yellow (cantaloupe)  and green (honey dew), which represented stop lights; drinks labled gas (lemonade) and diesel (tea) with cozy cones for the kids cups, and there was a leaning tower of tires (donuts) as themed food items.  When we got there the kids painted cars and Brent had made a race track and brackets for the kids (and big kids)  to race their cars and compete.  Alexander and Cassandra made it to the final race, with Cassandra pulling it out in the end.  There were signs and posters.  One of the posters was of Mater missing his teeth, so the kids got to tape on teeth blind folded (like pin the tail on the donkey).  It was a great party.

This was the weekend that Alex, Ivy, and Weston had actually planned on coming down.  It was wonderful to see them again especially so close to their last trip.  We got to spend time with them going out to dinner with the adults,  bbq with our friends, August's birthday party, and Alex took my mom and me to a fun coffee shop.  My biggest regret from the weekend was we did not get a family picture.  Here we were all together, it was a perfect opportunity to get a new updated family picture with Weston.  I don't know when they will be back so I am quite bummed.  I just didn't even think of it until they left.  We did get other fun pictures, so please enjoy.  Have a blessed day.
Alicia

the ladies and their boys

the men and their boys

dinner with our friends

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This is such an adorable picture

Yellowstone and Island Park

It had been a while since we made the trek to visit Old Faithful.  Some of the younger kids have no memory of the last time we were there.  We really enjoy the area, so it was time for a trip to the mountains and amazing scenery.  This trip we got to make with our friends. They brought eight of their ten kids and we brought our five that are still at home, and were blessed to have Brent, Latisha, and August come along, too.  We had a great time.  The kids and adults got to go back and forth between vehicles as we explored the park and had a great time.

We learned a couple things on this trip.  First book early!  Most of the hotels, lodges and even camping spots were already reserved.  We ended up staying at Macks Inn, which worked out nicely and was about half an hour from Yellowstone Park.  Second, we planned two days in the park, one for the bottom loop and one for the top.  In order to see a majority of the stops in the two days you must keep moving.  We stopped several times but there was much more you can explore.  It costs $30 to get into Yellowstone Park and that is for seven days.  So if you have the time to spend more days there is more to do.  I was happy with all we saw as you will see in the pictures, but if you want to spend more time in each area plan for more than two days.  Next, there is no cell service in 99 percent of the park.  We got separated from one of our cars and couldn't find them till we got to Old Faithful where there was cell service, so bring two way radios.

We had an amazing time and I recommend it.  It is such a blessing to live in the northwest US,  where we can explore some of God's most beautiful creations.  Yellowstone Park is full of amazing natural wonders.  I felt like God created all this diverse sightseeing in one area just for our pleasure and His glory.  I highly recommend the trip to Yellowstone and surrounding area.  Here are some picures of the highlights.  Enjoy and God Bless.

Alicia

David took a couple kids in the canoe just outside our room.  Our
room had a full kitchen and two bedrooms.  We were able to have
breakfast and make lunch to take with us in the park. 

The road into Yellowstone park

I enjoy getting out at Firehole Falls

Firehole Falls

A not so smart car, backing up to get a better look at the Bison.
They are all over the park

Fountain Paint Pots

Old Faithful

The kiddos watch Old Faithful erupt

Our families on the bridge

another geyser at Old Faithful that is taller but not as faithful
so they have a hard time predicting when it will errupt
we were blessed to see it.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Ready for day two

Isabella was having a great time

Gibbon Falls

Artists Paint pots

We made the hike to a beautiful viewing point of the
Yellowstone Grand Canyon Lower Falls

Made it

but then we needed to hike back up

another picture of the canyon

such beautiful scenery 

Our family at Tower Falls

Tower Falls

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

August and Brent at the Terrace

so amazing

yep that is snow on our windshield, kind of cool, but maybe not so much
for the motorcycle driver we saw

Day three we spent exploring Island Park, our first stop was upper
Mesa Falls.  They had a neat visitor center and activities for the kids

Lovely Upper Mesa Falls

love my family

The visitor center

At John Sacks Cabin in Island Park

Canoe launch at big springs.  One of our rafts had a big whole so we were unable
to use it.  We had seven of us in the canoe that my grandpa gave us.  It is an
amazing canoe.  The ride was two beautiful hours and we saw a moose and a flock
of over 4 dozen large pelicans take off in flight.  Absolutely amazing.  Such a
bummer none of us brought our cameras for a picture.