Yellowstone Family Vacation 09

Yellowstone Here We Come!

Thanks to Terri & Todd and company for humoring us and stopping to take this pic for us after we had all just gotten in the car! It was fun to have them there with us! Thanks for helping us out that day too!

They loved all of the hot pots and Geysers

Our family at Old Faithful
Mackenzie, Brinley, Micailey, and little cousin Brooklyn


Old Faithful

We did have peace in the afternoon while ALL kids (except Dallas) were sleeping!!! Aahhh!

Some of the beautiful scenery

The kids are standing in front of the Falls that they hiked clear down to a look out post at the top of the falls. The next pic is zoomed in to that look out post. It kind of scares me that I let my little kids do this! (With their dad and Uncle of course!)

Oooh! the stinky hot pots!

Walking on the paths

This hot pot had a beautiful color of water and you could see down in it. It had really cool layers to it.

On our way home we went through Jackson Hole. It's tradition to get our picture by the antler arches. This whole day was rather interesting and funny! While we were at Old Faithful, my niece's baby ended up having an "explosive" diaper and need ALL new clothes (which they didn't have), then their little boy ended up throwing up in the car right before Jackson & needing ALL new clothes (which they also didn't have). Then we got out of the car in Jackson & Macie had also "exploded" and needed a new onesie. We then ate dinner and got back in the car and proceeded to drive through all of the winding roads in the dark, which resulted in Micailey getting car sick! She has never been car sick before and we luckily got her out to fresh air before she lost it. I know my niece was glad to be home, and by the time we got back to my sisters that night, we were too!!!

All in all it was a REALLY FUN trip though! The kids loved seeing all of the beautiful scenery and animals! Jordan now points at clouds in the sky and says "look hot water mom" because of all of the steaming hot pots. :oP

Jordan, Jordan, Jordan!

This is the photo that changed your life forever!

This is you with your future Grandpa

This is you on the day we started the process of making you part of our family!

Visiting ruins in Morocco with Mom

Yay! The day you got your visa! We're almost home!

Your 1st US haircut

Your first Christmas. You were so excited to open presents that were just for you!

Us at Christmas

Your new "official" family!

New experience #1793..... SNOW!!!

Our new puppies! You love our new puppies and tell me almost every day!


Another new experience..... FISHING!


Our cute Jordan! You are such a character! You have such a cute smile and a sparkle in your eye that is so captivating! I can't believe you were still in the orphanage- to me that is another sign that you were meant for our family! You waited for us!!! I am so excited to see where you go in life and what lies ahead! The kids love to play with you and you and Brinley have become such cute buddies. It's fun to watch and experience things with you. Every day you amaze me with the new things you have learned. I hope you are happy here with us.

We love having you in our family!

Jordan turned 3!!!

Happy Birthday Jordan! He was so excited for his birthday! He has seen almost every one in our family have a birthday and finally got to have his! All day long he went around the house singing "Haby birday to jodan" over and over. He also asked me if those presents were his about 15 times! We have been remodeling our kitchen so we decided to go out to eat and then have his party at the park. He was so excited and loved the park! It's amazing how much difference a year can make. He had never seen a park and was scared of the swing and slides and now they are his favorite! I hope you had a Happy Birthday Jordan and we love you!

Such a stinking cute kid!

Mackenzie's Kindergarten Graduation

My kids are so funny, and Mackenzie is no exception. All of them do not like to "perform" in front of people (can't say that I blame them). They don't talk to their teachers, bishop, or friends mom's if I'm there- they just hide and act bashful. Every program we have the same issues. They try to hide the invitations or not tell me about it thinking I won't come. If they find out I know about it they tell me they won't sing if I come. FYI- I have never made fun of them or even critiqued there performances, I don't know if Richie was this way or not, but I could probably count on one hand the # of times I sang in a primary program, and school programs on the other. - just not my cup of tea!!!

Well her graduation was this same way. She sang the songs for 2 weeks straight to me and then a day or two before, she insisted that I was not to come. She said she wouldn't sing if I did. So, cleverly, I dropped her off and "planned" a pick up spot for when it was over & then went and parked and sat in the back. She truly thought that I was not coming and kind of sang the songs but you could tell she was still a little shy.

She still thought we hadn't seen the program until we got in the car and Brinley said something about the program. :) Then she pouted and was mad for a little while till she forgot about it.

I can't believe that next year she will be gone all day! And Brinley and Jordan will both have preschool 2 days a week...... what will I do with myself?!?!

Micailey's playin ball!

Micailey's coach was out of town and asked Richie if he would pitch that game. Micailey was excited to have her dad pitch to her! She is her daddy's girl and loves to play ball!

Rich's dad came to watch the games

(we had Micailey and Mackenzie playing at the same time- luckily on fields close together!)

Baseball has begun!

Mackenzie gets to play T-ball finally!!! She has watched her brother and sister play now for a few years and is so excited to get a turn!