Summer Trips part 8: Camping in Yellowstone

Camping in Yellowstone is something I had on my "bucket list," so I was excited to hear Rob's family was planning a trip there. Rob and I packed up and headed up early to get 2 campsites for the family. The sites were going fast! As soon as people would leave, someone would be there to claim it. We got 2 sites, fairly close, and started setting up camp. Everyone else arrived a few hours later.
I had never driven into the park that early in the morning and we saw some beautiful scenery and animals.
We stayed for 2 nights and 3 days. We had fun just sitting around the fire, talking and eating at night, and touring Yellowstone during the day.

I didn't know, until Rob started laughing, that I had rubbed soot all over my face.

Heidi's (German FES) first S'MOREThe only traumatic events were when Felipe (Brazilian foreign exchange student) almost chopped off his thumb with the hatchet and flung blood everywhere, and when this mutant bug kept landing on my plate during dinner! Oh yeah, and the frisbee went on top of someone's RV.

The first night I had the hardest time sleeping. 1. because the temperature was getting down to the low 30's (in August!), and 2. because I kept thinking every noise was a bear! The second night I slept much better because we used a propane heater which kept me warm and kept me from hearing all the twigs snapping outside. What's funny is that was the night a coyote came into our camp.

This was my awesome idea. We didn't have to hold the flashlight while in our tent.

The second night, I had to get up and use the bathroom in the middle of the night, which never happens except when you're liable to get attacked by a wild animal as you walk through the woods to the bathroom. I made Rob get up with me. He was nice about it even though he would gladly have sent me on my own...to die! So we walk to the bathroom, everything's fine, of course.

Apparently the bathroom is Grand Central Station at 2 A.M. It was busy. Rob comes out and tells me he thought his brother Tony was in the stall so he (Rob) started coughing and grunting to see if Tony would recognize his voice. Rob didn't want to just say, "Hey Tony," and it not be him. You do weird things when you're half asleep and on a camp out. The other guy didn't respond so we went back to bed, or should I say "cot".

The next morning, Tony was talking about some guy in the bathroom last night making all kinds of noises. So it turns out it was Tony, and he was wondering what was wrong with the poor guy at the urinal.

These are some of the sights. It's beautiful there.
On our hike.

Old Faithful (Pres. Obama came the next day)See the Bald Eagle?See the coyote?It was so chilly the last day that we didn't stay for long. I want to go camp there again, but in July this time so maybe it will stay a little warmer at night. Anyone want to go?

Summer Trips part 7: Utah

In July we were wondering how we should celebrate our 5 year anniversary since we didn't have much money. We always like to do something memorable for it. One thing we enjoy is visiting the temple. We decided to visit 7 temples in Utah in one week. So far, we had only been to Logan and Salt Lake. We also wanted to see several friends from Hawaii.

We stayed at my Aunt Anne's house first and hiked to the Y again.
While in that area, we went to the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos (my favorite) temples.
We got to see Rose and Jess and their baby Annaliese who was 2 months old.
We also saw Sarah and Dave and baby Jack who was 3 days old.
Then we stayed with Katelyn and Brandon. We went to the Oquirrh Mtn Temple open house. We also went to the Jordan River and Draper Temples.
We got to see Hillary and Derek and baby Jocelyn and ride in their new car.
Then we went and stayed with Brooke and Adam and girls Brielle and Teja. While there we went to the Bountiful Temple.
On our way back home we went to the Ogden Temple.
I'm so glad to have a husband who wants to take me to the temple. It was great spending our anniversary there.

Palisade's Reservoir

This August, the family took a trip to Palisade's Reservoir to kayak and swim. It was so fun and I hope we go again next summer.

The lake was beautiful and not too cold. When we got there, it was us and one other family. Then everyone and their dog showed up. I think there were 7 dogs running around and it's not that big of a beach. The sad thing is, 5 dogs were from Rob's family. It would have been OK if they weren't bothering the other families. Oh well.

Our nephews "posing"

Nicole trying out the kayak

Nephews

Tamera, Rob, and me (it was so pretty!)

Look what the kayak ropes did to Jimmy's van!

Just kidding! It was already like that.

On the way home, we stopped and got some "Square Ice Cream." They have a square scooper. It was a perfect summer day with the Potts family.

Summer Trips part 6: Menan Butte and Rigby Lake

This wasn't really a trip, but in July, our friends from Hawaii, Katie and Ian, were visiting family in Idaho. We got to spend a few days with them and our friends Katelyn and Brandon, who came up from UT. It was so good seeing friends from Hawaii for the first time.

We hiked the butte, aka "R" mountain, an old volcano. It was a short hike but pretty and fun.
We saw a dead, headless rattlesnake in the parking lot.
We ate at Big Jud's which is famous for their 1 lb hamburgers. I seriously could barely eat 1/8 of it. I am starting to really hate beef. It makes me feel sick. Lunch ended with Ian opening the window in the restaurant and yelling out, "I'm so full!" The guy getting in his truck looked a little confused.
We next went to a nearby lake and took out the kayak and blow up raft. The raft would not go anywhere because of the wind. It took us forever to get back to shore. We tried to fit 4 people in it. Yeah, it didn't work.
I'm glad we're able to make Idaho a little more fun than it was when we lived here before.

Fourth of July

Yeah, this is way late, but if I don't do my old posts, I won't want to do my new ones. I've been slacking at blogging. My job has become my life! Well, here we go.

Willie boy came up from Utah to celebrate with us. We started with patriotic pancakes. I made homemade whipped cream and butter.
Next, we found ourselves at the parade which was fun but took way too long. They had huge breaks in between the floats. Rob was a good sport to let me stay the whole time; probably because he was doing this for most of it.
Then we went down to Rob's brother Tony's house for a barbecue.
We had great seats by the Snake River, after we walked a mile with all our stuff!
We were so close that ashes and cardboard were falling on us. It was a fun fourth except when the guy in the house behind us started dancing on his balcony in his boxers.

Waiting and eating cotton candy

Jonathan got burned by a sparkler.

Poor kid was traumatized,

but he soon gave in and tried again

Life Got Crazy Fast!

Jana was doing so good with catching up on her blog. That was until she was hired to teach 7th Grade at the local school here in Rexburg.
While she was in Tennessee, with her brother Will, helping their Mom with some home improvements she received a phone call from a school principal Thursday night, then was hired on a Friday via phone interview, and had to be back in Idaho by Monday for her meetings. This cut time with her family short by 3 days. Ever since the day she flew in, life has not slowed down.
She is a Language Arts teacher and teaches three writing classes and two reading classes. She is at work everyday from 8am-5pm, comes home for dinner, then heads back to the classroom till about 11 or midnight. She even works on Saturdays and holidays. Now, you guys are all aware of why she is unable to update the blog.
I would do it, but I am not as creative as her, and she said that I write too much and give too many details.
I am working as an insurance examiner here in Rexburg. We have a nice two bedroom apartment, an awesome ward, and don't get out much to meet new friends due to our crazy schedules.
Since I am posting this blog, I wanted to let our friends see what kind of a teacher Jana really is. You all know her as the kind, happy, friendly person who would not hurt a fly, but wait till you enter her classroom where who she really is comes out. :)In case you were wondering, those flowers were not from me. They were a congratulations from her sister Louisa, who beat me to the punch. I love Jana and appreciate all of the time and effort she is putting into being a teacher. I am there with her in the evenings, grading papers, entering the grades into the grade book, and doing whatever else I can, to lighten the stress. She is extremely dedicated and works herself to exhaustion because she wants to make sure her students are getting the best education she can provide.