Mornings and Smoke

Every morning I get up and go on a walk just as the sun is coming up.

Sometimes I see Barry as he is coming back from his jog, sometimes I walk with my friend Heather, and sometimes I just go alone. 

I love to watch the sunrise over my favorite tree, every morning it is different.

IT's been soo smokey lately. Makes beautiful sunsets and sunrises, but hard on the lungs. 

When James gets upset, he goes outside and holds the kitten. I am glad he has found something to calm him down. Sometimes he forget to come back inside. 

Sitting at our land, watching for birds and enjoying Zucchini Muffins

tried making Ellie a friendship bracelet. I couldn't remember the step for more than 10 seconds. It was an excercise in frustration but I finally conquered. I left the mistakes in to remember, I can do hard things. 

Got my hair cut. 

Toothless! She ate ONE. EEek!

My favorite new laundry method. Grab and take care of your own stuff and one other basket. 

Owen Bear turns 4!

 Our little Owen Bear has turned 4!!!

He is such a joy to our family. 

We all love him so much.

He has an incredible vocabulary and picks up a new phrase to try out every few days.  Lately, it's been Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Best buds forever,  or I'm keeping my eye on you! 

He loves to give hugs and kiss your hand with his cold lips if you walk somewhere with him and tells me he loves me hourly. 

He is as loving as he is rough. He enjoys doing his "strengths", which are push-up. He can do several in a row.  He loves to wrestle James or Barry and gives them a run for their  money.

He loves to snuggle and will fall asleep each night holding my hand. 

We couldn't love you more Owen Bear. I am excited to watch you grow. 

Ellie made Owen's birthday cake all herself and the kids went to the store with him and bought him dozens of presents. He was very spoiled on his birthday. 

We started the day with birthday doughnuts for breakfast.

Noodles for lunch

and Corn on the cob and cake for dinner. We were going to have pizza, but I wan't feeling up to it, we made it the next day instead. He loved it all. 

Ellie gave him dinosaur eggs that hatch in water. He has hatched one out, it was fun to watch his excitement over a couple days as the dinosaur slowly emerged. 

James bought Owent his favorite movie Abominable. 

I must say Owen's favorite present was this crazy stuffed dinosaur James got him that roars and dances??? Owen just LOVES it. 

Card from Grandpa Griffin! 

Owen got an awesome hotwheels race track loop set.  He has already spent many hours playing with it. 

Blowing out the candle and eating cake. 

Love you Owen!

Yellowstone 2020

I was very excited to go to Yellowstone this year.  It is one of my very favorite places and we really haven't been able to go anywhere lately. I convinced Barry, even though it was August and a terrible time to see any animals that we needed to make a quick trip. :D I just took a few photo this time with my phone. I just wanted to focus on enjoying the scenery. :D

Last time we were here, Lauren took a little whiz in this pond. The water is very brown and murky now. I teased her that she polluted it. 

I told the kids to stay out of the water, but James couldn't really resist, before long he noticed quite a few leaches. That got him out quick. He fetched this one out of the water for me to see. 

Beautiful Majestic Yellowstone Lake!

Those rocks are SHarp!

I kept my eyes out for Bears while Barry took a nap on the beach. 

Yellowstone Lake is HUGE, if you have never seen it you need to!

Eleanor Lake! Unfortunately, Ellie tripped getting out of the van and skinned up her knees. So she choose not to go and try and catch a fish. 

Eleanor Lake's waterfall. Can you see it?

We got stuck on a bridge behind some buffalo, and when the buffalo crossed the bridge, the whole bridge just shook. IT was crazy. Barry thought the kids were rocking the van. Owen picked a giant Bull buffalo and named it shaggy. We saw shaggy all over the park after that. IT was fun to see Owen's enjoyment in spotting him. 

Sandwiches in Grand Tetons National Park. 

Jenny Lake

Tetons in the background. So beautiful!

 

We went on a side loop drive that wasn't paved in Yellowstone. It is one of our favorite drives. It is very secluded and peaceful. Ellie spotted a giant buck with a huge rack. 

Of course, Barry wouldn't always pull over for my pictures. 

We got up early and ate breakfast real quick at the cabin and drove into Yellowstone at firstlight. This is my favorite time to be in yellowstone.

Mammoth Hot Springs

James fly fishing with Emma keeping an eye on him. 

Emma running down the hill. I have a pic of each of my girls running down this hill at Baronett Peak. Up on the cliffs upon her are the most adorable mountain goats. You can only see them through binoculars, but they look like this.