Grandpa and the Park ----- Lots of work and hours

For all the water ---- it is now dry ----- lots of mowing and watering.  IT is now open for business.

Happy Birthday to Jordan Firth

Today is Jordan's special day.  She is such an elegant young lady.  I am so very grateful that Ryan found her and that they are enjoying life.  Jordan comes from Malad, Idaho.  I love that.  I too am an Idaho girl and I love my home state.  Jordan is the oldest in her family.  She has one younger brother and a younger sister.  Jordan has completed her education and is now working at Golden Spike Financial in Tremonton. 

Brad and I were invited to share in the Birthday Celebration last evening at Jeff and Lisa's home.  Good company and good cake and ice cream.  Happy Birthday to this new granddaughter and many more happy ones to come.

Kevin and Brittani

Kinley and Grandpa Jeff

Ryan and Kaden

Part of the Group

Shh Baby Gracie

Changes at the Despains

While Jacob was traveling with us for the ten days his mom and dad were very busy.  They decided to surprise him with a NEW ROOM.  They had talked with him earlier about changing bedrooms to the larger one.  He thought that would be great.  However, they had told him that it would have to wait until later when his mom and dad had some time off together.  Little did he know that those plans would change and it would be ready for him when he got home.  Amy had told him tht she had three surprises for him when he got home.  He just knew that it would be 4, 5, and 6 DVD's of Star Wars.  He was just positive that would be the surprise.  They sure fooled him.  He is loving his new room.  Just waiting for Santa to bring a new desk.

DI chair ---- renewed ---- waiting for desk

Changes at Woods

Teresa has wanted to remove the wall between their dining room and family room for a long time.  It is now done.  Not a real easy job and Paul does have a sore shoulder when the upper wall came down and the ladder collapsed.  It is so nice.  The whole are seems so much larger.  They just have to finish the texturing and painting and you will never know a wall was there.  We have very industrious families.

The white strip is where the wall was ---- so nice

Baby Shower

Meagan and Teresa hosted a very nice baby shower for Brittani and baby Gracie  and Amanda and her soon expected little girl.  They received some very lovely gifts.  It is so fun for me as a mother to see the wonderful talents that my daughters have developed.  Natalie has became very good at knitting and made some very cute booties for the little ones.  Tonya has used her talent on the sewing machine to make many lovely things and Mary Anne had crocheted some booties and some very cute flip flops for the little ones.   I am sure they will be the best dressed little girls ever.  A delicious luncheon was served and a great time visiting was had by all.

MacKenzie and Glenda

Amanda and her mom Teresa

Kaden, Carli and Brittani

Kaden --- growing up not a tiny one

Dad's were the baby sitters

Baby Gracie

Gracie and Brittani

Fun, Fun, and more Fun

The Soria Family spent some fun time a Lagoon today. Dad forwarded me these cute pictures. It was Heather's first time on a Roller Coaster and she loved it and went three times. It is always great to know that families are having fun times together.

First time on the Roller Coaster

"Daddy can we get on soon"

A Surprise for Me

While we were away Paul worked in his wood shop.  He made the first of my new drawers for the kitchen.  It is so WONDERFUL.  I will never be able to repay him for his time and devotion to help making our home better.

Out with the old

In with the new

Checking the fit

The old drawer makes a fun toy

Grandpa has a great helper

YEP!  Just like his shirt says ----

Taking off the front from old drawer to put on new drawer

Tyler will help too

Happy Anniversary for Garen and Meagan

Nothing Better

Sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Last Day

Time to get up MacKenzie. She has been so good, not a single grumble. I am afraid she will sleeep for a solid week when home. Jacob is up and he and grandpa are going to breakfast. We then begin our big last day. See you all soon.

Hay Shed Going Down

Paul sent a picture of the beginning of the hay storage shed going down. It is going fto look a bit strange when we get home.

Cody, Wyoming

Arrived at motel about 6:30 tonight. It was a big day and tonight the feet are swollen and tired. One more day on the road and HOME SWEET HOME. Crossed Bighorn Pass today now that was a ride. Up to 10,985 feet and down on a switch back. I have always been very comfortable with Brad driving but I really had some white knuckles on this one. It,s beauty was breath taking and worth the nerves. Tomorrow we will visit the Buffalo Bill center and then head across Yellowstone Park to West and then home via Ucon.

Such fun fellow travelers ----- glad we didn't take the car behind them ------ It was the same make of car that made the first motor vehicle tour through Yellowstone Park ------ Hope no bears were close

Felt very grateful as we studied this beautiful quilt in honor of our service men that have given their lives for our wonderful freedom.  It covered the entire wall and every state and province was represented by an actual photo of a deceased soldier when he was younger.

Brad really thought that these might be some fun ways to travel.   ----- No I will take my nice modern vehicles ----- can you imagine being in the open country and meeting two big buffalo like these----they were huge

A sewing machine for Tonya to create beautiful dresses like these worn by Mrs. Cody and her daughter

Jacob is at the movies ----- He has the poor man version while the other one must be for the richer family.  These are items from the Cody home ---- the chandelier is made from a woven Indian basket

The Cody Ranch House -  The Cody Hunting Lodge
Buffalo Bill Cody

The museum is fill will the most amazing article from the past ----- of Indian culture and the wild west culture

Brad wondered if I would like to go shopping this way and come home and cook in the outdoors like this ---- I am sure that to them it was great ----- to me it looks massive, hot, overwhelming

Wild Bill Cody was assisted by two women during his show period ----- one is the famous Calamity Jane ----- check out the size of the waist on that dress

An Indian Village and their mode of Transportation and Moving ------ no Penske Truck ----
Jacob is reading about a was shelter ---- When the Indians were at war they would build this out of sticks and cover them so that the would blend into the environment.  (I do believe that is called camouflage today)  The Buffalo Hide has beautiful Indian art on it.

When the Indians were becoming more Americanized they would live in a house similar to this

Sacajawea the special Indian who helped the white man -------Buffalo Bill Cody was born in a little town along the Mississippi.  The have moved this home to the museum.  Take a good look at how the walls were made.  Rough hewn lathe and plaster.

They loved this ------ trying their shooting skills.

MacKenzie now has the camera ----- she started to take pictures of all the guns for her dad ------but got tired.  The guide told us that there are 3500 guns on display and they have 4000 in storage.

We are leaving Cody to enter the East Entrance to Yellowstone Park, but first we get to drive through a short tunnel and then a way long tunnel,  It is always good to know that their is a light at the end of the tunnel.  These tunnels are so that you can get past the Bill Cody Dam.  Not a big dam but the reservoir was a long one.

Entering the park and climbing in elevation ------ the lakes were full and lots of water flowing from the mountains ----- these folks stopped to play in the snow ---- they must not live in the Rockies.

Climbing ----- Yellowstone Lake ----- it was so full that it was lapping at the road way when we drove by in some areas.  We came from the other side of the mountains in the background ------ it has been a magnificent drive.  Beautiful wildflowers and water coming down.

On our way out and through West Yellowstone.  I have so many memories of going to the Park with my Mom and Dad and being in West Yellowstone. 

The last few hours Jacob has had a very hard time waiting to get home.  Every so often he would ask if we were in Utah -------This sign was so happy for all of us -------What a wonderful ten days -------What next