Blueberry Buckle Day

Happy birthday sweetheart!  It's going to be a great year!  I love you!

Temporary Fix

It's tough to be without a hoop, especially when your parents have recently spent money on lessons, and you desperately desire to be working on your game.  

Check out this creative solution!  

Bill, Zach and Les rigged this up the other night. It's been a great way to 

fine tune the shot!  Grandpa told Zach he should shoot until it hurts.  

Now, get to it, boy!!

Desert Riders

It wouldn't be home without a first ride in the desert.  The boys made the long awaited trip this week, after dreaming about it since our visit in the spring.  When I asked about the details, I was told that the dirt is like silt and "it was awesome!". 

 

When I arrived for "the photo shoot" all three of the guys were 

riding toward me with the sun to their back and a dirt trail flying.   

Very Cool!

My motto is always "NO injuries"......... happily, none to report!

The Secret Garden

There are so many fun things to figure out in a new place.  One of our many wonderful finds since moving in has been to learn of a garden we didn't know we had!!  Tucked away on the west side of our house is a sweet little garden, complete with a variety of tomatoes, sugar snap peas, squash, pumpkins, several herbs and strawberries!  How fun!!  Those of you who know me well can imagine how delighted I am to have my own organically grown produce - hopefully from my own hand!!  I think I may need a few pointers from my nephew Sam who happens to be quite the gardener!!

Look what else inhabits the garden.  Lizards galore!

Another shot of the yard - indoor pics coming soon (I promise Aunt Kathy!)

Something we are not sorry we packed is our ping pong table, 

which now has a new home on our outdoor patio - year round!!

 

Updates

I made a good dent in the remaining boxes today.  I am happy to report (Mom & Mary) that nothing was broken, thanks to your excellent packing skills.  These two angels pretty much packed up my entire kitchen just days before we left.  I didn't have the mental energy, so I left the job to them.  I was so grateful that I didn't have to think about one more thing!  Thanks for the help ladies!!  Funny thing is, I went to use one of my favorite things today, a carafe, and I broke it after dinner!!  I guess it is as it should be!  

Thanks again, Dad for taking care of the grass cutting!  We appreciate you!

The boys are waiting patiently for their new beds to arrive on wednesday (we hope!).  They are camped out together on an air mattress in the t.v. room - minus a t.v.  We have been without one since we left home, and I think it's the greatest blessing!  Zach has informed me that he's ready to have a new one.  The list is long - not sure the t.v. takes priority just yet!!

The kids are cooking up quite a sun tan (sunburn for Halle).  We had to load on the vitamin E tonight, as she is terribly dry from the air and sun combo.  I think I should consider stock in sunscreen!  We've been loading it on, but with the extreme temps over the weekend, we had to take a break from being outside.  The weather was perfect today!!  

Waiting for our phone hook up and permanent internet connection.  That coupled with a little more time, and I should have some photos to upload in a few days.  

Time to sleep, again!  Love you all!!

Tired

Things are going well - I'm feeling more at home with each item I unpack. I still have lots to do, but I have all the time in the world, at least it feels that way at the moment.  There are currently no commitments except to settle in. Well, there is a long list of things to do. Tomorrow I have several phone calls to make, and there are boxes in the hall way, the kids rooms, and the dining/living room still to be unpacked.  There are clothes to put away in every occupied bedroom, etc, etc, etc.  

Something that took me away from the unpacking today - we visited a wonderful new church. Quite small and so very welcoming.  That felt good! We were sent on our way with a wonderful sense of community and a box of donuts!  We will try it again next week (I know what you're thinking - it's NOT about the donuts!).

Today I realized that I am just now living the "first week of summer vacation" acclamation. You know, it's the week after school lets out - the first days of summer.  I have a theory.  It takes that first week to adjust to being together 24/7  (I know I'm off a little, since this is actually the beginning of our 3rd week of summer, but it is actually the first week in our (new) home.  The funny thing is, by the time the end of summer rolls around (I say that as if it's never going to end - which is always so far from the truth and brings me to my point) by the end, while I am once again ready for the routine, I am also equally sad that the lazy days are over.  I'm sure the start to the new school year will bring a whole gamut of emotions.  

All that said, ........ well, let's just say I'm tired.  Dog tired.  I'm sure a good part of it has to do with the record temperatures we are having; that and the late hours I'm keeping.  

It's time to sleep!

Transformed

  

The extreme heat inspired Ethan to follow in his brother's foot steps.  

Today he went for his first haircut in a long time!  It was a radical change!  

Despite the fact that it took a couple of hours to figure out he wasn't an 

imposter, non of us can stop rubbing his fuzzy head.

Before

After

110 Degrees

O.K.  So you know it's hot when the bunny is perspiring. 

 

Going Home

We've arrived!  After a wonderful family adventure, 

we pulled into our new home yesterday around 12:30.  

Thanks to all who prayed for our safe travels!  

So, who's available to unpack?

The kids waisted no time jumping into their new pool! 

 It was a great thing to become aquainted with, at 104 degrees!!

We have plenty of room,  so start making your travel plans!  

I wonder who our first house guest will be?

Complaint

"I'd rather voluntarily subject myself to torture 

than use this natural toothpaste."  

Can you guess who this quote is from?

Hoover Dam 6/18

Leaving Grand Canyon area early on the 18th.  Beautiful country!!

Headed into Nevada.  

The Hoover Dam - one of the 7 wonders of the United States!  

We loved seeing this amazing creation, even though it was 110 degrees!

Did I mention IT WAS HOT?!!  

A monument to honor the men who lost their lives in the building of the dam.

Back at the RV - working hard to keep in touch with all of you!!

While some of us, attempted to keep cool!

We made a quick overnight stop in Las Vegas.  

Tomorrow we are homeward bound!!

Grand Canyon 6/17

  

We made a stop on the way into The Grand Canyon for the use 

of (dare I say) technology.  This was a lovely little cabin (with WiFi) 

in the middle of a pasture, surrounded by a forest.  A great spot for pics.  

But then, there isn't much hard on the eyes out here!

Hmmm......this was tempting!  

We were fortunate to get a view of this wolf just talking a leisure walk in the pasture.

Grand Canyon......That "WOW!" word was in order once again.  I had seen it as a child, and coming here with our kids was a reminder that it's not likely a place you'll forget.  We were all filled with awe and magnificent wonder as we stood and stared.

Check out my clan on this ledge.  

You'll remember my issue with heights...... it pays to be the photographer!!

Here's a closer look!

WOW!!!!

I mentioned burnt forests in an earlier post......

Back at the campground.

These are the tall pines that sang to us as we hiked.

Random Thoughts 6/18

The grumpy bug showed up yesterday.  I suppose that's inevitable when five people share 300 square feet for ten days.  

As of today, we have logged over 3,0oo miles.  And we did it with a rabbit and a frog!

The further west we travel, the more acclimated we become to California time.  No jet lag this trip.  

I love the sound of the wind as it finds its way through the tips of the tallest pines.  The sound comes out of nowhere and fills quiet space with amazing urgency.  

In the Kaibab Indian Reservation/Forest, a camp fire (in a fire ring, of course!) starts with the light of just one match.  All you need is a small pile of pine needles, and voilah, enough energy to burn down a forest.  We marveled at the fact that fire wood is even sold here, considering we drove through many burnt forests. I guess the reassurance was to be found in the jug of water that accompanied the purchased wood.  Remember to drown the fire ring!  Bill assured our kids that if they wanted a college education, no one from our family would be responsible for wild fire. 

Happy 73rd Birthday Dad!  We love you and are awaiting your travel itinerary!!

Happy Birthday Les!  Treat yourself to a bag of Sour Cherry Gummy Life Savors on the road today.  Dinner on us at Claim Jumper's.  We appreciate you!!

More pics soon!!

Girl Talk

Halle:  "Daddy, do you like the smell of mama's hair?"

Bill:      "I love it!"

Halle:  "Then you'll love the way mine smells, too!  I used her shampoo."

(As if he needed something more to love about her!)  

Animal Friends

I thought I would update you on our traveling companions.

Seems Fortune and Buttercup are quite the adventure seekers!

And we are grateful for their company!

Yellowstone National Park

Father's Day 2008

Yellowstone here we come!

And look at what we spotted just into the park!!!  This is a moose!!

Bill had one wish for Father's Day.  

"It would make my day if I could see a bear."  

It was lofty, but he got lucky!!  

I cannot believe this was not staged, we were not at the zoo, 

and I took these shots!!  A grizzly bear in it's own habitat!  

This guy was digging away at some treat he'd discovered.  

We were about 500 feet from him with many other sight 

seekers, and he didn't even seem to care.  

We heard later that seeing bear is a rare experience!  

I'm so glad Bill's wish came true!

Yellowstone Lake, on top of the park.

Can you tell the girl has brothers?  This was her "imaginary bazooka"!

Yellowstone had fresh snow just a few days ago!

Old Faithful!!

The brothers wait patiently for Old Faithful to erupt.

And I dabbled with my camera.  

It was well worth the wait!  

The geyser erupts about every 90 - 110 minutes.  

Fortunately we arrived about a half an hour before she showed her stuff.

Notice the buffalo in the background.  

We were not sure if this was a moose or an elk.  

Any gamers out there that can set us straight?

If you haven't ever been, make visiting Yellowstone a dream of yours.  

With ever changing scenery, the view just gets 

better with each bend of the road.  WOW!