A Day in Yellowstone Park

After we finished our chores this weekend, we put ice in the cooler, loaded the picnic food, the box of firewood and stashed the campstoves in the trunk of the car. The weather was "iffy" all day as we headed to Yellowstone Park. We drove the Honda with Heather, Matthew and Megan in the back seat. Driving through Paradise Valley to get to Gardiner, the north entrance of Yellowstone Park,was gorgeous. We drove past cattle, horses, buffalo.....and rustic farms. Very comforting and peaceful. This is the kids at the North Entrance of the park...

Compare it to this picture taken 3 years ago!

We stopped at a picnic ground and Victor fired up the campstove. He made hamburgers and hotdogs. Why does food, out in the wilderness, always taste better?

Meggie looks shocked that we have fire in the woods.

After a yummy lunch, we drove through the Wonders of Yellowstone. We actually made the Grand Loop.

We saw some buffalo VERY CLOSE and .....

and a bear VERY, VERY CLOSE!We also found the gift shops at Canyon Village and the kids bought the traditional shiny rocks, bumper sticker that says "Got Moose" and a mug.We had a rainy trip, but it was so fun. If the rain would stop this summer, it would be nice to go back. We have a pass for the whole year so I am excited to go again.

HOMEWARD BOUND

Remember a few blogs back, about 5 weeks ago, when I wrote about our sweet Golden Retriever, Alli, who had run off and was missing? Click on this link to get to that post. Anyway, we had decided that she must be dead because she always makes it back home.

We always see Goldens here because our town is a big-dog-loving kind of a town. Since she's been missing, I've checked out every Golden Retriever I see. Well, last night about 6:30 p.m., Victor and I were driving into town to pick up Brooke from work and Rachael from her friend's house. There running up the sidewalk on the main road into town, was a Golden trotting along.

Usually Alli runs with head held high and tail high. This particular dog was running with a slight limp, head down and tail down. As we passed her, I looked at her face. Oh, what a precious face! I screamed at Victor, "It IS Alli"! Victor, pulled the car over in a flash and I was fumbling as I opened the door because I was in such a hurry. I screamed, "ALLI!", and she came bounding over and jumped into the car on my lap!

She was wet, skinnier, full of fleas and panting, but it was definitely her! We were in total shock. FIVE WEEKS she has been gone! We took her with us to pick up the girls and they were shocked .......and screaming when they each saw her in the back seat.We took her home; fed her, gave her a long drink......loved her, threw balls to her and wrestled..... then gave her flea & tick medicine. She has been asleep ever since. Meggie cried for a total 10 mintues! She was so overcome. ---Bo is jealous.

Where has she been? I have a few scenarios, since fleas can't live here because of the long and frigid winters. Thus:

1. A tourist from a warmer climate came along and took her. She got fleas from their animals in their vehicle, but she escaped from Florida/California/ Mississippi and did the Homeward-Bound thing.
2. A tourist liked it here and just moved here bringing their fleas with them, stole her and kept her indoors, but she escaped and did the Homeward-Bound thing.
3. Someone hit her with their car, which would explain the crooked tail and limp, and kept her at their house to mend for the past 5 weeks, but when she got well enough, she escaped and did the Homeward-Bound thing.

Well, we'll never really know where she's been or what her life has been like... but we are sure thrilled to have her home again.... homeward bound, her incredible journey.

Mu wa hahahaha!

Today is laundry day. I had mounds to fold and most of it was TOWELS!!! When this picture was taken there was still one load swishing in the washer, one load flipping around in the dryer and a dozen loads still on bedroom floors.
What is a Mother to do?

Ah, the towels are all folded! The basket on the floor is just clothing. I watched an old movie, called "The Devil and Miss Jones" while I folded towels. It's a classic with Jean Arthur, Robert Cummings, Charles Coburn and Sam Wood. Jean Arthur is wonderful. She also stars with Jimmy Stewart in one of my all-time favorite films, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Commercial break over.We had tried to alleviate the multiplying towel problem in our home, so LAST FALL I had each child's name embroidered on their favorite towel. The idea is that they use their own towel all week and then on wash day I will wash just one towel per person. I mean, after all, they do just dry clean little bodies. But, the kids just don't obey.... soooooo... MU WA HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Victor came home from work and devised a fiendishly devilish plan to thwart the lives of our towel-guzzling children.

MU WA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Our GRADUATES of 2009

We attended the 2009 High School Graduation on May 31st. My son, Nathan, and Victor's daughter, Kayleigh, graduated with their class of 105 classmates. It was a wonderful celebration! It was beautiful weather.... OK, that's really NOT what I want to talk about.... the weather.

When we rose for the National Anthem and saluted the flag, I got all choked up. Pomp and Circumstance began to play and a tear started to form. As the graduates marched in and took their seats we all stood and the tear went down my nose. When Nathan, and then Kayleigh, each walked up to receive their diplomas I had to use Victor's sleeve to wipe my flooded eyes.

Nathan lettered in football this year and Kayleigh lettered in volleyball.

GO RANGERS!!

Kayleigh was awarded 4 different scholarships that will amount to her 4-year tuition being totally paid. She will be going on to University of Montana in Missoula. We are so very happy for her and amazed at her abilities. We know she will do very well in college. I personally have seen her talent in food preparation and presentation. She is gifted at art and design. I wonder if she will pursue this avenue on a career basis. It's been nice to have her around and sample all her wonderful concoctions.

Nathan was on the honor roll the first semester, but took the first part of his second semester "off"... and had to work like the dickens to make up a whole semester's worth of work in his last 6 weeks. The school told me, that frankly, they didn't think he could do it. He DID!

Nathan had 2 heart surgeries while in high school. He moved twice and had been home educated up through his freshman year and the public schools wouldn't take his Freshman home school ACCREDITED credits for his core classes so he spent the next three years taking heavy loads and making up his Freshman classes. He wants to "rest" for a year before considering what university to attend. "Resting", he says, "will include a back-packing hobo trip through Europe". He says that Montana State University is his first choice for college. We are very proud of him and believe that he succeeded through a lot of adversity in his life. Nathan holding Megan

He spent much of his studies on automotive repairs and is quite good at it. I also think he would have a great mind for the legal field. I wonder which way he will go..... hmmmm......?

Victor and Nathan.

It looks like the cop in the background is wondering if he has ever seen that young man before!

After the graduation ceremonies, we had a Victor-style barbecue at our home for the graduates and their family and friends. It was so nice. Victor barbecued hotdogs and burgers, I made a green marshmallow salad and veggie tray with dip. Victor's Mom, Carol, made a nice fruit salad of cut-up watermelon, cantalope, grapes, pineapple and strawberries. We had chips and pop and a frosted cake for the Graduates.

Nathan and Kayleigh - Graduates of 2009