BFF High School Memories

You know how we all check our caller ID when the phone rings and if it is a number we don't know we don't answer it. I did that a few weeks back. Carp was home early and picked it up anyway. It was Becky.

Most of you that read my blog have no clue who Becky is. Well, let me introduce you to my best buddy ever from my youth!

Becky and I with friends at youth conference. Brad Wilcox spoke.

Becky and I met in our ward in Mission Viejo. She always dressed nice, was a dancer and loved to sing. I wore jeans and t-shirts, loved hiking and played a little piano. We had not so much in common, yet everything in common.

As a teenager we all needed to have someone to talk to, someone to share your dreams with, someone to gush over your latest crush with you, and someone to just, well, hang with. Becky was all of that for me.

Becky and I at youth conference at BYU.

We attended the same ward but were in different schools. We both had early morning seminary, but went to different buildings. When we were not in school or seminary, work or dance classes, we were together. I was incredibly lucky to have someone to spend so much of my time with having fun and making great teenage memories.

Becky and Scott/Jon and I ready for Prom.

Becky sang and I played the piano for different church functions. We often would spend time together at the piano playing and singing for fun. We also spent a lot of time at the beach together.

My favorite thing we ever did was write in each others journals. When I read about her dreams and desires for the future I remember sitting on her bed writing the same things in her journal.

When Becky and I went to college we didn't room together. I think we knew better than to do that! When a guy named Scott moved into my ward and showed up in my FHE group, I told him I had a girl I wanted to introduce him too. They are now married and live in the south.

When Carp handed me the phone and I heard Becky's voice I was filled with gratitued that she takes the time to call or come see me when she is out my way. She has a beautiful family. She still teaches dance and has 5 kids from senior down to almost 1 years old. I LOVED SEEING THEM! It's so wonderful to see her happy and have so many good things in her life. I love you Becky and hope you have many more happy years ahead!

Becky with Jet and me with Sam.

Becky and Scott Haslam.

Abrielle, Cloe, Becky and Jet.

Tetons

Here are some pictures of the Tetons.

We left Yellowstone and traveled down through the Teton. We camped there for a couple nights at Colter Bay and did some sightseeing.

View from the visitor center at Colter Bay.


All the visitor centers in Yellowstone and the Tetons had tables with different antlers for kids to check out. My big kid liked this moose antler. Of course, it seems as though he doesn't know where on their head it goes.


It was really cold at night in the Tetons. I am so grateful for warm quilts and sleeping bags! We're eating breakfast here before we take off for some sightseeing.



Colter Bay has lots of rocks in it water. People were out boating and stuff, but out kids played in the water and built rock walls.

Nate.

Pretty rocks.


Gabby.

Sam.

This show the rock wall the kids were making.

This is a functioning church. It had some really pretty stained glass inside.

This black tailed deer was near out campsite.


The Tetons are pictured behind everyone.


In Yellowstone you had to be a kid to work on your Junior Ranger patch. In the Tetons anyone can earn a patch. Seth, Nathan, Gabby and Sam all earned their Junior Ranger patches and were sworn in at the Colter Bay visitor center.

My kind of vacation - Relaxing!

We met this really nice family from Oregon a couple campsites down from us. Our kids played together at the campground and we sat down by the showers one night chatting. I'll look for the paper with their name on it to post it later. It was fun talking with them!

On our way home we stopped in Idaho Falls and took a picture of the temple there. It was so beautiful that day.

Yellowstone part II

Here are some pics of the critters we saw on our Yellowstone trip. They're kind of cool.

Coyote on the side of the road.

Old Faithful.


Bison in front of the van.

Elk in the river.


Way cool pictures.

Cute Squirrel.

Yellowstone

I've taken my time posting about our Yellowstone/Teton vacation. I guess I better get to it before the high of a great vacation fades. I think I'll post in sections. Today I'm going to post about camping and exploring in Yellowstone.

When one spends three days in Yellowstone you are able to see a lot of sites. We saw and smelled many a gieser and hot pot, waterfalls and animals. Sammy was more than happy to climb onto Carp or Carson's back to take in all the sites. We did do a lot of walking around. The first day the kids were really tired. It couldn't have been all that bad because when they woke up the next day they were ready to do it again.

Ahhhhhh - the sulfur smell of Yellowstone. It really wasn't all that bad. I do live with 4 guys so I have become somewhat use to, well, stinky smells.

I took over 400 pictures on this vacation. Trying to decide which ones to post was a challenge. Most geisers have a beautiful aqua blue/green cast to them. This was in the Artist Hot Pots area. I just loved the different color it had compared to everything else I saw.

We only ate out a couple times on this trip. Most of the food was stuff we brought with us. Every afternoon we would stop at a picnic area for lunch and let the kids run around. I chased Sammy around A LOT!

At one of the picnic stops Nathan, our resident entomologist, found this crazy looking bug. He didn't have his Audubon Insect Guide with him to identify it and we didn't let him keep. However, we took this picture and showed the creative creature to every ranger we came across. One mentioned he had seen one before. None of them could name what it was. I kind of wish we let him keep it. It's antennas are something to be proud of!

Throughout the 3 days that we stayed in Yellowstone Gabby and Nathan worked on getting their Junior Ranger patches. Whenever we visit a national park we look for opportunities like this. It just makes the trip more memorable if the kids actually look at what is around them. Ranger programs help do this. Carp paid the closest attention to the junior ranger work.

This is what the older boys did while Dad worked on Junior Ranger stuff with Gabby and Nate. Personally, I don't know how Carson could relax without losing his balance and falling overboard.

We stayed at a cabin in Island Park then camped at Norris campgound in Yellowstone. The kids loved both places. However, camping made the biggest impression on Sammy. She asks us all the time if she can go camping.

Norris campground is right along Yellowstone Lake. We walked down one night and skipped rocks and played near the water. It was quit cold in Yellowstone at night. It actually got down to 29 degrees one night - in the middle of August!

This is a random picture. It's a tree that has fallen over and it's roots are exposed like some rabid octopus. (Can an octopus be rabid?) Anyway, I got Seth to climb it for a picture. I love the funky look of it.

Success! Both Nathan and Gabby earned their Junior Ranger Awards. They received patches for their hard work. All our kids collect patches. Nathan and Gabby got a Yellowstone patch and a Junior Ranger patch from this leg of the trip. Way to go!

My next post will be some pictures of things we saw and animals we gawked at.

Just a little fix . . .

I confess - I am a Harry Potter fan. Yes, I will be rereading all the books - again. Yes, I will mostly likely see movie numero 6 (Half Blood Prince) at a midnight showing. It's what I am. It's what I do.

I got curious this morning after reading Wendy's blog just how close they are to releasing my next fix of HP.

So, here is what I found. It's not long enough if you ask me. Enjoy!

Jack Johnson

My friend Erin did a post about attending Jack Johnson's concert and I had to wonder, who is Jack Johnson? My guess is he has some Hawaiian background - explains why Erin would run into him at her local pool. Anyway, I looked him up on YouTube. Believe me, you know who he is- he sings "Upside Down" that I've heard on the radio quite a bit lately. I found this video of his (maybe not as familiar) that was quite entertaining. I couldn't embed it, so you'll have to click on the link to view it. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrZwGGKGkuU

I won! I won!

Many thanks to Amy for awarding me the "Kreativ Blogger" award. I graciously accept an invitation to elucidate 6 things that make me happy.

1. Tammy Merryweather's cooking. When Tammy brings into our discussions a delicacy she has whipped up I can taste in every word she uses the divine morsel she is describing. I crave her cooking. It's so much better than my own.

2. New quilting supplies. I so appreciate that I have a friend that has noticed these are fulfilling for me. A new rotary cutting blade, my favorite pins, a new mat and ruler - "I simply remember my favorite quilt things and then I don't feel . . . . so bad." (Thank you Julie Andrews.)

3. Chocolate covered strawberries - in really good chocolate. They're better than . . . . . .

4. When my kids actually have a conversation with me. Have you ever tried to hold a conversation with a teenager? They seldom last more than a minute or two. I yearn for the closeness I felt with them when they were little. Occasionally one of them will sprall across my bed as I hunker down to start reading at the end of the night. After articulating their thoughts on issues and blessings in their lives, I feel an incredible amount of gratitude for them as my child and to God for letting me be their Mother.

5. Reading Pivotal. There is something satisfying when you see your own name in print - and knowing someone can imagine you kicking some booty. Thanks for the happiness Peggy.

And last but not least . . .

6. The fall. I can't express in words how happy I feel when the growing season is over. I love to garden, but I need the break so that word "love" doesn't turn into "hate." At the end of summer I am rushing to preserve, freeze, can, or give away all the extra produce. I also stop caring about how my yard looks. The fall brings cooler weather, beautiful color, my favorite jeans and a schedule to keep everyone on. I love the fall and feel the best at this time of the year!

There you have it - 6 of the things that make me happy. In accepting this award I must pass it on to 3 other "Kreativ Bloggers" that I know. The lucky recipents are . . .

1. Judy - Welcome to the blog world. There's got to be some "ninja" good things that make you happy.

2. Peggy - I love the way you write - on your blog or on paper you've got the greatest voice. Let's see what you can pull out of a box without a professors scrutiny.

3. Tammy - I know you love me for passing this onto you - well, at least you love me.

Thanks again Amy. It's fun to think about happy things!