Home again!

we drove back Tuesday morning so we could all hug Josh before he went off to work.  (Ugh driving with three whiny kids - I was crying when we got home). The next day we picked the pluot tree and did the wash, etc. Mom was still in a crying-mood. Good thing she already had a therapy appointment for the next day. And her riding lessons - and the teacher did not yell at her one time to put her heels down and toes up. (Maybe I figured out the knee thing). Anyway.....

The garden is going great. Look at all the stuff we got this weekend! And I canned! Plouts and pickles! I have never made pickles! After planting like 5 pickle plants and waiting like 8 weeks. I finally had enough cucumbers. So we have to wait a week and see how they are.

We girls went shopping yesterday because Mom and Dad declared Ellie could wear none of her current pants to high school. So we went out and shopped at the three stores in town. We got Ellie FOUR pairs of pants!!! Then Ashley and  I went to the dress store and I got two flowy long skirts and two different tops and Ashley got a gorgeous dress. Also I was having a little "Mom needs time away from Michael (and my friends have been very helpful - just need to ask for help!) so dad and I said Michael could have a sleep over!!! He LOVED it. Nice.

Ice cream time

So we also saw a bigger moose on the way out. Some more landscape. Ellie liked to look out at the stars over the tree-tops at night.

More Yellowstone

Did you know that Yellowstone was the first national park? Yep. Ashley took some more pictures. We thought this one trail would be super cool. We pushed Ryan and his chair about 7 miles straight up on this gravel path and then we met the other group coming down and they said it was stupid with nothing to see. AHAHAHHA. It is now called the Sucky Trail. Anyway. Here is more stuff.

Herron party 2

There was talking and playing then Josh had to leave  (frowny face). The plan was for everyone  else to go to Yellowstone on Monday. Yah! I don't think any of the kids have gone. So it was a long drive (2 hours?) and then you waited in a LONG line. But the MINUTE we got in the park, we saw a buffalo! Other scenic pictures by Ashley.

Herron party 1

You know the Herron ladies always plan such fabulous parties! They have a reunion each year and do all the food and planning and everything. It is marvelous. So this year they found a cabin up in Island Park (never had been there so that was cool). It was surrounded by big trees, had a little stream behing it, a zip line across the stream. Danell asked the girls to make a flag and Ashley made one.

We drove up in separate cars because dad had to go back to work on Sunday night. Michael got his own Dr. Pepper from mom. He loved it! I am not so sure. We had a comfy bed and the kids stayed up in the loft. Pappa Smurf motored down (nice beard - don't you think?) The first day a bunch of people (like a bunch of big cousins and some-how-related cousins) went rafting down some river. Not everyone wore enough sunscreen, We went out one day to a small river and saw a moose! Monty said it was probably just kicked out by its mom.

Ellie gets a phone

Josh and I had though about it and figured that maybe 14 was a good age to get a phone. So he got one for Ellie (it is newer that both of ours!! But Josh says it had better parental controls, so...). So here are Ellie and Ashley (on my phone) enjoying their time at Grandma's (Ashley has been begging for a phone since she was 10). Michael and the puppy being cute. Another of Ashley's drawings.

And something sad. We got chickens this year and everyone got to pick one. Ashley picked one and called her Cheryl (her birth name). It turned out the Cheryl had a physical disability. Her legs were stuck in the splits. We tried to fix it when she was young, but couldn't quite figure it out. So Ashley has diligently feeding her in a special area, carrying her up and down the coop and night. Poor chicken was not picked on much, but most of her breast feathers were gone because she could not move about (well with one wing...). So Ashley made the hard decision to let Cheryl to go chicken heaven. Dad and the ax took care of it (it was pretty cool - SO glad Ashley was not there). We buried her in the trash can.

4H rocks!!

As you know I have become converted to 4H this summer. Last Friday we all went canoeing at Stansbury Lake. Josh and I canoed a bit. Michael went out on the paddle board and everyone canoed and played on the deck. Why don't we go there more often? Ellie is into making cakes (SO much frosting...). And a drawing from Ashley. And our cutie puppy.

Much time

It has definately been mucho time since I have blogged. Good thing I have all the pictures here.
OK, everyone dyed their hair and I finally got my chair! I have LITERALLY thought about this chair EVERY day since I saw it in February. And I finally got it! It is delightful out there (until 12:30 p.m.) in the shade and comfort. Abby and Michael helped me put it together. And Ellie being cute.