Summer Vacation 2012

We just returned from a whirlwind trip (aren't they all?) from Utah to Idaho to Wyoming to Montana and back.  Amy and family and Colett and family all timed their trips to coincide with ours.  We started out going around Bear Lake and on to the Tetons to spend the night.  We stopped off to see the Bar J Wranglers in concert and to eat the chuck wagon dinner.  Even if you don't like Western music, you would love these guys.  They are so funny, extremely talented and in perfect harmony.  Think of the Sons of the Pioneers and you  know how they sound, only even better.

My traveling companions

In front of Bear Lake

Isabelle and  Emerson traveled with us in our car.  They were so fun to listen to and Isabelle was the best big cousin in the world as she entertained E for many hours. Amy did the cutest thing.  She had made goodie bags with their names on them and the name of a town that we would be going through.  As we entered each town they got their bags.  It made it fun for them to anticipate the next stop.  They were full of fruit roll ups, pudding, granola bars, gum, and a toy or two.

We then continued on through Yellowstone Park.  We did see lots and lots and lots of buffalo.  There was a time when I was amazed to even see one but now there are herds of at least several hundred at one time.  We saw the biggest bald eagle I have ever seen sitting on an island in Yellowstone Lake, but we never saw a bear or wolf this trip

except for this one that attacked the kids in the Teton Museum.

Help!!!

 

The boys take a break.....Wes, Emerson and Wayne

Baby Era doesn't even know what's going on but Amy's trip is a littler harder than usual with a new baby

Isabelle getting kicked by a moose sculpture

Clowning with the grand kids

We stopped at a lodge for a rest. The ground hogs were so tame you could sit right next to them. Isabelle had fun snapping lots of photos of them.

The Dragon's Mouth geyser blew out steam and actually had the creepy sounds of a dragon.....aptly named.  Emerson did not like the smell either.  The dragon had bad breath.

                                          Era just went along for the ride

I have been thinking

I have been trying to stop and smell the roses more.  We had a lesson in R.S. about taking time for yourself.  Well, since I don't work outside the home that has not been a problem, but it's still good advise.  These are the things I have contemplated this month.

1.  Chicago has nothing on Lehi, UT this year.  We have had more wind this year than I can ever remember.

2.  Norwick cloths really do work as promised.  I used one for 2 weeks on my face before I had to wash it.  They contain silver and within 24 hours, all the bacteria has been killed.

3.  Ritz crackers with peanut butter and jelly is one of my favorite snacks.

4.  Looking at my computer photo files just make me happy.

5.  Don't wash your garden Crocs in the dishwasher.  Mine shrank 2 sizes.

6.  I have a new app on my computer where you drag one of your photos to the screen and it makes a jigsaw puzzle out of it.  It's fun to put it back together.

7.  I have decided that I love, love, love my  RevereWare pans, my Pyrex dishes,
Ziplock bags and paper cups.


8.  I learned also that your back can go out just loading the dishwasher.  Grrrrr

9.  Flies buzzing around my head when I am in bed almost drives me nuts.

10.  Babies smell so good and when you put them to your ear you can hear their little breaths and grunts.  Oh how I love that.

11.  I have decided I don't like perpetual calendars.  I never remember to change the blocks and the date is always wrong.  It's cute but I am unreliable.  Sorry Kee.

We have 3 Ostler birthdays within a couple of weeks of each other.  Grandson Toby turned 12 (is a new deacon), DIL  Kee turned 39 again, and Joey turned 16  and is now datable.  Happy Birthday to the ones we love so much.  You are all very special to us.

New Family Member

June 11th, 2012 was a glorious day in our world.

Baby Era (pronounced Air-a) was born.  Amy has had some problems carrying her babies.  When she was pregnant with Emerson, she had hyperemesis, I think it was called and then ended up with C-Dif afterwards which almost cost her her life.  Then last year she ended up losing a baby, so tensions were a little high as we waited for this little bundle.  She was very sick at first but I think the female hormones from this baby helped her a little.  She did better.

The end result was this precious bundle weighing in at 7lb. 3 oz. and 21" tall.

It didn't take long to fall in love with her.

She is the first grand baby to have black hair.  You can't see it in the front in the       pictures, but in the back, it is about 1/2" long.

Luckily she has a great disposition and doesn't cry much and when she does it is not a piercing sound, just a sad little cry when she is hungry.

Yes, you really do forget how tiny they are.  She has long fingers and toes which run so commonly in our family.  Her eyes are not black like Emerson's were so we are waiting to see what color they become.

Her middle name is Colett, named after her aunt Colett and if she is as good a person as her aunt was growing up, she will be a very wonderful lady indeed.

Welcome Era to this world.....we love you so much already.

This week....

We have been told to get in touch with our inner feelings, take time to meditate, or

stop and smell the roses.  This is something that I do all the time.  In fact, I have to really concentrate on what I am doing or I find my mind wandering or day dreaming ......a lot.  I also have music running through my mind 24/7 so my thoughts are also accompanied by a soundtrack.  If I look at you sometimes with a blank stare, it's because I am there but the lights and music are on in a different room.  Wait a minute, what was I saying?  Somewhere Over the Rainbow, la la la, la la lalalalala, la la la la la la.