Visit to IF 6/12

 We got the opportunity to take Taryn back to Idaho Falls to the Idaho Falls airport.  Once we got there we realized that there was enough time to go out to lunch and look around IF before she needed to be at the airport.  Lunch was at burger king and then we went down to look at the falls.  Taryn hadn't had the chance to do this when she lived near by.  We all enjoyed spending a little more time together.  We love you Taryn.

 Ok.  So- not the best of pictures but I must document that we got to go to Leo's while we were there.  Like I have told you in the past I can't remember a time that I have gone to IF and not gone to Leo's.  It isn't that the food is good but that the kids have fun there and Grandma feels comfortable there.

 The boys are having fun playing a video game.

 They have a play area that Lauren and Ryker played in.  It was the first time that all the kids didn't get in.

 While we were there we visited the visitor center.  It was the first time my kids have been there and the first time I had been there since it was remodeled.  The kids enjoyed playing on the ipad.

 Since Rena and Steve were spending most of there time in IF at the NICU we decided that we didn't want to be driving back and forth from there house to IF.  We got a hotel in IF.  It was nice not to have to drive everywhere.  The hotel could have been cleaner.

Demi showing us her new swimming suit that we got her for her birthday.

Shane decided that he would try to get Lauren and Ryker to float while we were at the hotel.

 Here are some pictures of my new nephew Zander.  He has been the NICU for about 9 weeks now and is hoping to go home in the very near future.  He has been diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome. More about that to come.  Lets just say that there life has changed drastically.

Rena is doing Physical Therapy on Zander to help him stretch out and to move his feet so they are not pointing inward.

 Overall we had a good weekend in IF.  I wish that we could have been there longer.  I could have used more time with my family.   One thing that we did get to do is visit the Bird's ( the family that introduced me to the church and took me every week)  It was a really good visit.  They are super AWESOME!!!  When I grow up I want to be like them!  :)

Island Park 6/12

 Here is the rest of our trip.  (Well a small portion of it because we had about 800 pictures)  On the first full day there we all just got in our cars to go and discover Island Park.  Our car we decided to go and see if we could find the lake.  We didn't find the lake but we did find the Henny's outlet to the lake.  The kids had a lot of fun throwing rocks into the river.  It was really pretty.

 This cabin that we stayed in was AWESOME!  (as Bri would say.)  In three of the bedrooms there was lofts.  In our bedroom there was enough room for a full size bed.  Ryker loved it up there.  He was able to talk Shane into sleeping up there three of the nights that we were there with him.  Ryker was Loving all that attention from dad.  ( I have a great husband)  On this night Ryker talked Lauren into sleeping up there with him.  Unfortunately, it didn't turn out great for me.  Because Lauren woke up in the middle of the night crying because she didn't know where she was and wanted me to help her get down.  So- besides waking up to feed Reese I got to climb a steep ladder and help her get down and set up a bed on the floor.  I didn't let her sleep up in the loft any more after that.

 One night the kids thought it would be fun to go up in the loft and say family prayer.  I thought it would be a good memory and we should get a picture of it.

 Here are some of Heath's family crashing on their floor.  Both her family and mine let our older kids sleep in the kid room and kept the little ones in our room.   This helped with the ones that needed a little more sleep then the older kids.

 Here is Emily and Bri trying to sleep in the loft.  I don't know if Emily ever did actually sleep in the loft.  She said that it was hot and not very comfortable.  It was a fun space for them to get away from the little ones and play games.

 Laura getting ready to sleep on one of the twin beds.  There was two of these and the first night Lauren was going to sleep on the other one.  Well-  I got woken up in the middle of the night by her again because she had fallen off of the twin bed and hit her head on the night stand.  These beds were up pretty high and it hurt her good enough that she didn't want to sleep there anymore.  SO- I got to make another bed on the floor for her in the middle of the night.  Can you tell that I didn't get much sleep on this trip.

 While we were there we celebrated Heath's Birthday!  I however didn't get a picture of him.  SORRY!

 Cherylyn made this great water bottle holders for the kids to carry their water.  It was a big help for them.  Thank you for doing this.  Besides that she got hats for us all to where that had the letter N on the front and said Yellowstone 2012 on the back.  Thank you, again!

 This is a view from one of the lofts over looking the living room.

 Kyle  hanging out in a loft.

 There was a hot tub there.  The kids all wanted to get in. We decided that we would on the last night.  They LOVED it!

 Ryker was just chilling out!  He did go under a few times.  Emily & Bri had to pull him up out of the water because he would step off the seat.

Paige got into the hot tub.  This surprised me!

 On the first night there the guys got into the hot tub.  They spent a few hours out there.  Us  girls stayed in and talked.  We stayed up until 2am that night.  It was fun but I got a head ache because of the lack of sleep.

 On the last day Ryker & Lauren went around and picked some wild flowers,

 Kyle & Bri enjoyed playing the wii together.

 Here are some few last pictures taken right before we left.

Yellowstone with Family 6/12

 

 This picture was taken at Norris Basin.  Yellowstone is pretty incredible.  If you haven't ever gone you should and if it has been a few years it is always fun to revisit. 
 My kids thought it would be fun to get on this log.  Well most of my kids.  Ryker and Reese were not sure  of the idea.  We took this picture at the top of the Canyon.  Right after this picture was taken we  went and got some bug spray.  The mosquitos were crazy right there.  I really didn't see them anywhere else.  Thank goodness!

 This picture was taken at one of the kids favorite spots.  It was taken at the artist paint pots where mud was bubbling like crazy.  The kids giggled for quite some time.

 Here is Heath and Stephanie's family at Norris Basin.  It was a lot of fun to spend time with them.  The kids grow up so fast.  The older kids really helped out with the little ones.  It was nice to watch.

 

Aunt Taryn was able to come.  Lauren really enjoyed holding her had and having someone to be with.  Thanks Taryn!

Here is a picture of all the kids except Reese and Audrey.  What a good looking group of kids!

Nap time.  I think I could have had a nap at this time of day too.

 Here is one of many pictures we took of animals.  It was one of the most exciting thing for all of us to see (that is all the animals!)

Shane and his siblings at Old Faithful!

 My kids in the lodge at Old Faithful.  I really enjoy Rykers crazy eyes.

What a cutie!

Some amazing views.  This was taken as we were driving past Yellowstone Lake.  I think it turned out pretty good for not stopping.

 This was taken by the rapids that the fish were possible jumping.  Unfortunately when we got there there were no fish.  The kids still had fun throwing rocks and being together.  Emily's foot slipped in the water and got all wet.  Thanks for taking one for the team for this picture Em.

Reese loved being carried around.  She didn't get a whole lot of sleep the days we were in Yellowstone but was a trooper.  I however forgot to put sunblock on us the first day and she got a really bad burn on her cheeks.  Reese never complained about it though.  Thanks for not making me feel worse about it.

 The older kids really enjoyed spending some time together.  It is fun to make memories while they are growing up.

 Andrew and Ryker watching the water boil.  They both wanted to climb up the fence and get a little closer.  Thankfully there were plenty of eyes to watch the little ones.

 This was the first bison that we saw.  There was a ranger there and he taught us that they travel in groups.  The oldest female will lead them.  The way that you tell boys from girls are the girls horns are curly and boys are straight.  It was fun to get this bit of information in the beginning so we could watch them the rest of our trip.  The babies we just a few months old.

 Melanie loved the wind in her hair.  She kept swishing her head back and forth.  It was funny to watch.

 Here is another group shot of my family.

 Again the views were amazing.

 The picture above is a group of bison were on the move  They walked right down the road.  Thankfully blocking the other side of the road.  We could have easily touched them out our window if we dared to.

 Here is a picture of a baby bear cub.  It climbed this dead tree.  The limb broke and it fell.  It was cool to see.

Tanner and Cherylyn watching Old Faithful.