Flaming Gorge

We had so much fun! I'll have to add more boating pictures another time.

Here's Natalie sitting on a rock while the boys went fishing.

Carson in John's canoe. He loved that boat!


Abbey in and Carson in the canoes.

Carson, Abbey, Brady, and Preston in Grandpa's boat with bird hats on.

Natalie trying on a new outfit for fall. This is the face she makes that we all love, where she scrunches up her nose.

Tigers

We took a zoo trip with Daddy this time, though he seems to have taken all the pictures lately. I'll have to be sure to get some of him sometime. The monkeys loved Carson. They kept coming right up to him at the windows. But Carson's favorite was the tigers. That's what he really wanted to see, and we spent the most time there.

Choir Update

Well, for those of you who don't know, I am the new director of the Iona Children's Chorale. Last spring I was the co-director, but the other director moved, leaving me with this sweet little group of singing children. It has been a nightmare at times, but things are looking great right now. I have 13 or 14 singers, and we are getting ready to start our rehearsals in a couple of weeks. It is a lot of work, and basically no pay, but it is so much fun! I am hoping that in years to come the money is a little better as well. I'll have to keep you posted on the choir's progress. I also now have 10 cello and piano students, so I'm definitely not bored. As for me recipe page, the link for that is at the top of my Friends list on the right side of my blog.

Reminiscing

Today Natalie turned 9 months old, and I've been thinking about how much she's changed over those months. She has started army crawling after me when I leave the room now, and she is pulling herself onto her knees on the couch, chairs, my legs, and whatever else she can find. It's amazing to see such rapid growth in both of my children! I can't believe how big they are. Carson's potty trained now (finally!) and I'm loving that. He told Mike this morning that he had to go to work at the tractor store, where he buys and sells tractors, and he is paid $2. He thinks Mike works at a tractor store, because there are a bunch of tractors next to his office building. It's cute the way he wants to be just like his dad. I'm up to 11 little singers in my choir, and I'm really hoping for about 5 more. It's taken a huge amount of faith, prayer, and work, but I think it is going to work out for me. I'll try to add pictures to my page soon, I hope. I've been busy with the choir, and now I've just set up my recipe blog, so check that out. Until next time...

Family Comes to Visit

This is Carson and Layla on the "airplane" that Carson got from some friends here recently. They had a great time. Mike and my dad are in the back with Roscoe.
This is Carson and Layla getting off on accident!
Natalie at the temple next to some plants.
Carson and Natalie at the temple. Natalie was more interested in the dirt and flowers.
Natalie, Layla, Lylli, Seryn, and Carson in the back, still in the same spot on the temple grounds.
We had a great time with everyone, so thanks to all for coming!

Yellowstone Family Reunion

Mike and Carson

Michelle and Natalie

Dad taking a picture with Mom and Dean behind him

Rachel carrying Seryn, Shane carrying Layla, and Lylli in front

My family decided to go to Yellowstone this summer in celebration of Dean coming home from his mission. I can't speak for everyone else, but we had a great time! Our favorite part was probably the animals, but that's just because Mike and Carson love them. The sights are always fun to see as well, and we enjoy camping. I was surprised at how easy it was to camp with a 2 year old and a baby. I can't wait to do it again soon on our trip to Flaming Gorge!

Animals in Yellowstone

Bull elk ( it has a huge rack, although it is hard to see through the trees)

Bison (buffalo)

Cow elk

Bull moose

Doe and Buck deer

Okay. So we saw a bunch of animals: elk, deer, bison, moose, grizzly bear, etc. Here are just a few of the pictures. Unfortunately we didn't get a good picture of the grizzly, although it was running down the road just ahead of us and then crossed the street and ran up a hill and out of sight. We were too preoccupied racing back inside our car to take any pictures that time. But we saw severl elk, which made Mike and Carson happy. And the moose was cool too. Carson was a bit disappointed because he was looking forward to seeing elephants and zebras, but no luck there. We ended up taking him to the zoo a few days after we got back home, so he could see those kinds of animals.

Belated 4th of July Pictures

So much for my plan to blog more often. I am not sure how everyone else does it. I'm still so busy. So here are a few late pictures of us on the Fourth of July.

Grandpa Gibbs after Roscoe attacked him on the grass

Natalie with red ribbon in her hair

Now Mike & I are equal as far as sleeping pictures go!

Grandma Gibbs blowing out her birthday candles

Mike & Carson fishing

More fishing

Grandpa Gibbs fishing

Mike's Grandpa

My Reason for Not Blogging Much this Summer

I have heard a lot of comments on my lack of dedication to my blog page. Let me assure you that it was a temporary thing and now I am hoping to be able to blog on a more regular basis, instead of once every 5 or 6 weeks. In my defense, I am posting these pictures as proof that we have been very busy lately with our yard. We have done all the work, and we are so pleased with the way it is turning out. We have been raking rocks, digging trenches, burying pipe, laying sod, laying brick borders, and planting things! These first two pictures were taken on the day we signed for the house.

And here are the pictures of our new yard!

As you can see, we still have a lot more to do, but maybe we'll call it good for this summer...I'm getting tired of raking rocks. :)

They're Getting So Big!

Playing at Carson's table

Carson changing Natalie's diaper

The Kids in Wyoming

Since there aren't many pictures of Natalie in the slideshow, I decided to add a few here. She is absolutely adorable, and we love having her around!

As you can see in the slideshow below, Carson had a great time with his Wyoming cousins! He saw me loading these pictures onto the computer, and he said, "My Friends!" It was really cute. I have the best kids!

Playing in Grandma's Park

RC Monster Trucks

A year ago my dad got involved in these RC monster trucks, and we've all subsequently been hooked on this fun hobby. These trucks might be a little temperamental, but the guys say that's half the fun. Me, I just like to drive them. They have lots of power, and they can go 35mph! As of today, we have 6 trucks in the family, and they are the most fun when you get a bunch going at the same time. We held the first Lorimer RC Monster Truck Rally at my parents' house when we were there to see Dean a week or two ago.

The guys built an obstacle course, and Shane made a jump. We also did drag racing.

It was a blast! We should have had five trucks running at the time. Of course, one was broken. And by the end of our truck rally, three others needed a little TLC. Since my dad's was the only one still running at the end, I guess technically he won. But by the end of the day all the trucks were running again. It was a blast, and we are hoping to do it again sometime soon!

Even when we're back at home, Mike and I love to take our trucks out together. These trucks are awesome!