Yellowstone National Park

Every year we go to Yellowstone National Park at least three times. Well this summer has flown by so quickly we only got to go once this past weekend. We totally got rained out! I havn't seen that much rain in a really long time! But before it rained, we had a lot of fun. Here are some

pictures. We left about 6:30 so we could stop in St. Anthony and pick up Nik. We got into the Park about 9ish. We headed straight for Old Faithful because Nik had never seen it. Here is a picture of the two guys. Don't they look excited to be there? It didn't let us down! How crazy is it that ever hour or so, water erupts out of the earth and sprays 300 feet into the air? I think thats amazing! Then we headed up the road around Yellowstone Lake, which in itself is breathtaking and sooo beautiful! We saw Goldeneys bobbing all along the shores. Then we stopped at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. So pretty. Here's Jake and I and another picture of the waterfall. We had cold fried chicken from Albertson's for lunch. I don't know why but its so good. But our big adventure from our trip was the encounter with a buffalo! We were driving and as most of you know, the bison are constantly on the road and you always have to wait for them to move. Well, when it was our turn to go, some started to cross, so we waited for them to go by. But a huge bull and a teenagish cow stopped right in front of the car. The bull was NOT happy! He was bellowing and swinging his head around. We wern't sure what to do. So we waited. Well, at one point he put his head down and took a step toward our car. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well enough to get the point across, but he wasn't happy and he was going to let somebody know it. All three of us in the car were sure that we were them. I think the thing that saved us was this cow that was standing between us. Because he wasn't moving. He stood his ground when that big bull wanted to move. Thanks to you little cow! Needless to say that it was scary. The rest of the day went well though, although we did get pounded with rain. We stopped at Big Jud's on the way home, and it was also so wonderful! This is a picture of a happy buffalo. We like them.

Piano Lessons

I have decided to start teaching piano lessons. If anyone knows anybody who wants to learn, let them know. I think beginner to intermediate, I'm not good enough to do advanced. It'll be $10/half hour, or whatever we can work out together. And not just for little tykes, but if any adults want to also. On Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday days or afternoons. So if you could let people know if you hear them inquiring, that would be great! Thank you!

"I have a big head, and little arms"

Okay, for those of you who havn't seen this movie, you should. This is a wonderful, innocent story of an orphan boy, Lewis, who invents things and wants to be part of a family. During a science fair, he gets a visit from an older boy, Wilbur, from the future. He takes Lewis back to the future and they get into some trouble then get out of trouble, and its a happy story. The part that I love about this story is that Lewis is an orphan. And at first he wants a family, then he decides that he dosn't. Well, while he's in the future Wilburs family wants to adopt him. Anyway, its a great story. And I have to say that every time I watch it, I cry. Not just a tear or two, but I sob into my tissues. It just touches my heart! I recommend it to everyone who wants a feel good movie.

Yard Sale!!!

So Jake's family decided that they wanted to have a yard sale. So we're going to combine and have a giant family yard sale this Saturday! I know its a little late in the season, but hopefully we'll still get lots of people. Jake's sister has a whole bunch of boys and she said she's got lots of clothes, so if you need boy clothes, I'm sure she's got tons! We also have three bikes, they just need a little love, but they'll be great for somebody. So everybody tell people and come buy our stuff!!

Bird Watching

Yesterday, we celebrated Jake having a day off for Labor Day and went birding. We saw three new species that we hadn't seen before. This is a Virginia's Warbler. We didn't take this picture, but we took the other two. Isn't he cute?

We also saw a Red-Necked Phalarope. I know, he dosn't have a red neck, but ya know winter feathers. We were actually looking for his close cousin, Wilson Phalarope, but alas.

This is a Least Sandpiper. Don't ask me why he's least to his cousins, because I think he's pretty cool. He's only about four inches tall. And he has orange legs. Sexy.
I love to bird watch. It makes me appreciate God's earth and wonderful creations more and more each time we go. Heavenly Father has a good spirit about Him. In one of President Bednar's talks a while ago, he said that often Heavenly Father will bring things to us that bring us joy. Well this summer, with gas being so dang expensive we havn't been able to go birding as much as we would really like. So this summer He has sent the birds to us. This summer we have seen soooo many little birdies at our bird feeder and bath than we ever have before! And I am so thankful to Him because it has kept our spirits high this summer! Birds make me happy!