A Week at Yellowstone

This is some pictures of the highlights of our week in Yellowstone. We stayed constantly busy from sun up to sun down. We always had something planned for the day. We did this trip to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We chose this trip because we have kids right now and they are a part of our lives. There will be a time when they are gone and we can do some trips alone but right now this is our time to do things as a family,kid-friendly things. I know they loved this trip and I'm so glad that we included them on it. I wouldn't have changed a thing about this trip except for possibly staying longer.

 We started with visiting the Buffalo Bills Historic Center. It was filled with Buffalo Bill nostalgia, Yellowstone facts and western history and artifacts. It was a huge museum, interesting to visit but not as great as all the reviews made it out to be.

We sight saw in Yellowstone the next day. This started out to be a cool, rainy day but eventually it warmed up and was beautiful weather. We barely made it to Old Faithful, it was going off as we walked up to it. That was a long day of many, many miles driven.

So, the next day we decided to take it easy and slowly get ready for the day. Danny, Jason, Pop, Nate, Josh and Colton decided to take a drive up the mountains to see if the Ghost Town in Kirwin was going to be accessible to visit. Well it was but that's not what my boys remember. They remember their grandpa having to get out of the suburban and throw up next to their window. So, I guess one of the boys was watching and giving the rest of them a play by play of what he was throwing up. Gross, but really kind of funny. And I guess Jason got a little queasy too. In their defense, Danny is a pretty fast driver when it comes to dirt roads and windy mountain roads, so anyone could have gotten sick on him. And he freely admits he was booking it pretty fast all the way up and back. Meanwhile the rest of us decided to go shopping instead. I found Audrey and I cute bracelets, the boys got some sling shots and arrowheads. Then Danny bought me a gorgeous necklace, bracelet and earring set for our 10 year anniversary. It really is stunning!

The following day was spent exploring the ghost town. It was rather neat to see all the old buildings. Some were more creepy and dirty than others but it was interesting. We were planning on doing some geocaching up there but we ran out of time. There were 2 there and one of near Amelia Earhart's cabin; it was disappointing not to do it. However Danny decided to run up there and find it and get the kids something while we cleaned and buckled the kids in the car. Well, he came back a little skittish. He said there was a bear claw print in the dirt as big as his hand to his elbow. He didn't have the camera or his phone on him to take a picture. But it was the biggest one he's ever seen and still talks about the size of it still. Pretty stupid of us not to have had someone go with him. We then head to a BBQ buffet and show. The food was good but the show wasn't all that great to me. They didn't talk loud enough into the microphone to hear them. After dinner we went to the Cody Rodeo. That was probably one of my favorite things. It was a blast watching all the different kind of shows. It was kind of fun to just have a few entries into each category so you got the whole variety of events in a compact show.

The next day we needed a much more mellow of  a day. We went to the Hot Springs in Thermopolis. This is one of my kids' favorite things of the trip. They were all enjoying themselves a lot. Sadly, I made a fatal mistake with Colton and Sophie and ruined their fun. Nate and Josh kept going down a small slide and these 2 kept wanting to do it. I took them both up there and I know someone us down there to catch them. I'm just not sure who it was. Well, I pushed one of and then the other. They were not quite prepared for this experience and went under the water. Well, that just kept them scared and skittish of the water the entire time. They would just cling to you and not let you go unless we were in the kiddie pool touching the ground. Oh, and let us not forget the best part of all was with Jason. You see, they only take cash, (this is a really small Wyoming town), no checks, no debit cards, nothing. Well, we forgot all about this until we got in there and he went to pay. They told him they only take cash and he was fit to be tied. He didn't have cash and never carries cash. Well, he was angry and mouthed of that "they were some kind of small- back- woods-little hick town." It made me crack up. You see, back up about 6 years ago we came up here with Danny's family. We rarely have cash on us either. We got there and were told the exact same thing-cash only. Danny was well, furious! And the ironic thing is, he said the exact same things to them that Jason said 6 years later. It still cracks me up. But don't fret too much because they are kind enough to put an ATM machine right near the register.

The next day was our day to pack up and leave. I really didn't want to leave because it was such an awesome vacation! It was a lot of fun to just hang out with the whole family and enjoy nature together. The cabin was really nice. All of us really would have loved to own a cabin just like this one because it had some breath taking views. I loved just watching TV together, or hanging out and chatting, eating outside, doing smores, having dinner together-it was just fun all around. I'll never forget the whole mouse incident. We kept having a mouse run out so we set the trap one night but didn't get anything. So, the next night Holli saw it run into the kitchen, Pop and Jason decided to move the trap to the kitchen. Well, not long there after it went off. Yes- Success!! For some reason they set if again or left it out and well, minutes later-snap. They got another one. Yuck, 2 mice, not just one. Well, yet minutes later another snap. We caught 3 mice back to back. We thinking one the first-Daddy mouse was killed, Mommy came to see what was taking so long and was distraught over loosing daddy and offed herself. Well, then little baby came looking for both and couldn't live without mommy and daddy so he joined them. OK, not so funny but at midnight with your family it had us in tears. That was a really fun night for those that missed it in bed. Oh, and what trip wouldn't be complete with Mom bringing her entire kitchen. I'm still in awe as load after load was brought from the truck to the kitchen of all the food and goodies she brought with her. It still amazes me that she was able to bring that much stuff and still lose weight up there while the rest of us probably gained it. Grandma you're forever indebted to Colton for warning you about the bat. We, Danny and I, and probably some of my other family enjoy playing jokes on my mom. Well, we bought a fake bat at the dollar store with some sewing thread.  So Danny fixed it all up to hand over some wood beams in the family room and we were going to place her in a specific spot in the room and Danny would slowly lower the bat down near her head. It was going to be awesome! He worked hard at this! Well, Colton noticed it and tried pointing it out to her, luckily she was distracted. I got to him in time and took him aside and tried to distract him and tell him not to say anything. I thought I was successful but I was wrong. A little bit later Colton and Grandma enter together and he keeps pointing up and saying bug, bug, bug so she's searching and finds it. Our plan was foiled. We were so disappointed- it would have been a fantastic joke-oh well another time. I could go on and on but this is already way longer than I planned on. Basically, to sum it all up:

YELLOWSTONE + FAMILY= FUN

This is of the boys seeing their cousins for the 1st time in months. I love their little circles and dances.

I had to have a picture by the big sign

It was a very cold morning. Yellowstone lake is behind the kids.

This is how we had lunch almost everyday. We had sandwiches for a week straight, I think we were sandwiched out by the end of the week (I know I was).

Eating our lunch in the suburban

She was kind of hungry so she just crawled right into the cooler to get what she wanted.

The boys hiked down the the waterfall with Danny and some of the family. Audrey and I didn't go-she was sleeping.

My Hottie! He found this hat he loved, but didn't buy it. I decided to surprise him and buy it for him. Truthfully I love this look, I've kind of always been attracted to the cowboy look.

Audrey was being silly with Josh's hat. She is such a little spaaz sometimes.

We stopped to look at the damn that is just up from this spot.

At the end of the day these 2 boys were tuckered out. Minutes after this they were both sound asleep in grandma's arms.

Up at the ghost town we are exploring one of the deserted houses.

On our way back to the cars after exploring the ghost town. It's located in such a pretty area.

We are all watching our little Josh out in the arena at the rodeo.

More shots of Kyle, Erica, Kellen, Holli, Colton and Sofie. Those 2 little ones sat by each other and just clapped and entertained themselves. It was so cute.

Daddy's little girl with her daddy.

Josh is down in the arena getting instructions on what to do. They were to chase the calves that had ribbon on their tails. If you managed to pull one off you received an award.

Josh is keeping up in the crowd but look at how little he is. He has to be the smallest one in there.

Looking at Daddy but still trying to get a ribbon. He didn't get one but he tried his hand at it and that's all that matters. However he was rewarded for his efforts. He received $5 from us. But he did admit that was the only reason he went out there  because we had agreed to give them $5 if they would do it. The money was all he needed for an incentive. Nate and Colton refused to even give it a chance so they missed out.

Who loves smore? Audrey sure does!

Sitting around the fire making smores. Such fun times.

Grandpa enjoying talking to Audrey and Wiatt while Sofie sits on the edge getting more and more tired.

Aunt Jen and her Sofie.

Colton holding Wiatt with Grandpa's help. He kept asking for his picture every time he held Wiatt.

Grandma and Audrey enjoying time together

Josh's face was so dirty from all the smores.

The whole family sitting out by our fire.

Carefree morning. Kyle and Erica browsing the web. Aaron feeding baby Ruby.

Grandma, Grandpa, Nathan, Kellen, Holli and Colton enjoying breakfast outside.

This was a very common sight in our car after long days of driving around.

Everyone at Old Fathful minus Aaron, Janae, Ruby and I.

Notice Colton is trying to get out of my arms because he didn't want his picture taken.

I loved this shot of my kids watching Old Faithful.

Sofie and I looking at the melting pots. Don't have a clue what I'm doing with my lips.

Colton and I at the melting pots

The boys of the family looking at the bubbling mud.

This is an extremely rare sight. I actually got Colton's smile captured on film.

Nate and Josh mesmerized by the bubbling mud after we told the boys that Shrek lived there.

If you look real hard you can actually see Josh, Colton and Grandpa in the background

I thought this was so sweet of Nate and Audrey together.

 Aerial  shot of us on a map of Yellowstone

What a sweet cowgirl

A hungry and tired Colton is hiding behind Audrey and I

Sofie still likes baby Audrey

Mommy sure loves this sweet girl

Nothing like grandparents to put the babies to sleep.

Audrey goes first hitting the pinata.

Josh gives it some good whacks.

Nathan had some good hits on it.

Colton is getting his frustrations out.

Finally broken, Jason pours out the rest.

Look at them scrabbling for it. The pile near Colton, that really was his pile he was collecting. Grandma didn't disappoint in the candy department. It was only 13 bags of chocolate.

If you can look past me, this is the front of the cabin that we stayed at.

Wiatt really is a Grandpa's boy. And look at that sweet face.

I asked one of the boys to take our picture. Well, this is what we ended up with. I asked him to smile for me and not just sit there. I had no clue that Danny had made this face but I kept it because it made me laugh.

Rub-a-dub-dub, this is a full tub

And on our way home we traveled by Grand Teton's. They were beautiful mountains.

So, there you have it: our vacation at Yellowstone. Next up will be highlights from Utah

Scenery of Yellowstone

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of Yellowstone from a month ago. The problem is that I have too many pictures. I have 475 pictures of my month long vacation. With that many pictures it's hard to know where to get started. But considering this is sort of a journal for me of our family life, I figured I'd just get started and do it post by post. So, there will be a lot of posts of our vacation to Yellowstone as well as 3 weeks of Utah. I'm not going to post every picture because obviously some are duplicates or just not good quality but there will be ALOT! Let us begin!!!!!!!

 This first post is dedicated to the sights, scenery and animals of the area. 

This was the sight from our front porch of the cabin.

Driving into Yellowstone, the sky was a really neat color but this shot has distorted the actual beauty of what we saw.

A view of the Lower Falls.

This is a view of the Upper Falls.

We spotted a Doe crossing the river. We stopped at watched it cross the stream and the boys thought it was pretty neat.

A moose we captured on our last day in Yellowstone

Also on the last day there we saw this bear on the side of a room.

Our very first trip inside the park we saw at least 6 big horn sheep grazing on the hill side.

Lots and lost of Buffalo. This one is literally walking along side the car-you can see the bottom of my window.

A young buck with velvet still on his antlers

Old Faithful. Can't miss this on a Yellowstone visit.

We loved the bubbling mud. We told the boys that this is where Shrek lives.

We can't really remember what this was called. I was thinking it was a painting pot but Danny said it wasn't. But nonetheless, it was pretty.

Yellowstone Lake. I loved the mirror of the scenery off the lake but of course pictures nevery capture the beauty of these things.

Anyone looking for a good vacation seriously needs to think about going to Yellowstone. It was simply beautiful. You'll never see so many natural wonders in one spot. It was really amazing all that Yellowstone has to offer.

Yard Before and After

Before

After

Before we left on vacation we decided to put the deck wood on craigslist and see if we could get any takers. Well, we were not prepared for the calls that came. Within minutes of posting we had our first call. That night we answered about 8 calls back to back, we eventually quit answering the phone after that. We had about 12 messages. And I think it was a week later we had the deck all gone and removed. Don't get us wrong, the pool would have been fabulous to have but there were just too many negatives for us. To replace the liner alone it would cost $1000; then add in the expense of chemicals, electricity, water and it wouldn't be worth it. Although it is fenced, it didn't keep our boys out, and we didn't want to risk their lives for it because it's above my head when I was in there. So, with that we removed it from our yard and bought some railroad ties and kept it a sandbox for them. I like having it gone cause I can actually see out to my entire back yard.

MY "HOTTIE"!!!

So I have been a bachelor for almost a week now while my family is still in Utah. Now while it may seem great to be able to get up and go to bed whenever I want, being able to eat whatever I want, and doing whatever I choose like working on my truck or taking a nap, the reality is that bachelor life is really not that enjoyable and it is wonderful being married to such an amazing woman who I am honored to call my eternal companion. This past Monday Jen and I celebrated our 10th anniversary and I was adding up how much time we have been apart. By the next time that we are back together around the middle of this month when I fly back to Utah to drive home with them, Jen and I will have been apart 119 of the 525 weeks that we have been married. That means that we have been apart 1.5 days of each week, 1 week out of every 4.5 weeks, 2.6 months of every year, and 2 and 1/4 years of the last ten years. While all this time apart has proven that we are physically capable of living without each other, it has also confirmed to me that just because I can do it does not mean that I want to. Saying goodbye has become easier as each time has passed, but the one thing that has never diminished is my soul's desire to be reunited with my eternal love and companion. Anyone who knows me that well knows that I am very resilient and headstrong who requires very little human interaction. Had I not met Jen, I would no doubt be doing my own thing up in the wilds of Alaska far away from modern civilization. What makes Jen so amazing is that she has been able to conquer that side of me and make it so that I long and cherish to be with her. This post is for you Jen. I love you so much and am honored to be your husband and I love every minute that I spend with you and our precious little family. So while you may not like it, I have decided to share with everyone some of my favorite pics of my "hottie" over the course of our wonderful marriage and since this is my post I get to use whatever pics  I want. Hope you all enjoy since many of these pics have not been seen before and I am sure I am going to take some heat for using them.  It is just isn't fair to keep these pictures of such a gorgeous woman all to myself.

Just look at this smile. How could anyone not love it? I was right on target with this hot catch.

Some of Jen's wilder and younger days!

You know a woman is beautiful when she can even make glasses and barf look good.

Look at those gorgeous eyes! Hot Momma!!

The belle of the ball!!

Beautiful even with a belly!

Absolutely breathtaking!!! Nothing hotter than a gorgeous woman driving a big truck. Need I say more?

To my best friend Jen. I love you and forever will!!!!!!



Wow! 10 Years

Happy 10 year Anniversary!!!!!

June 27, 2001

What a young, happy, beautiful couple. One of the best decision of our lives to get married.

So, I can hardly believe we've been married now for 10 years. It went by so fast! It really doesn't feel like it's been a decade but at the same time it seems like a life time ago that we were single. I had someone ask me how I met Danny and I gave her our story so I figured I'd write it down here as well. Be prepared for a long post, hope I don't bore you all too badly. So here it goes.

2003 vacationing in Zion's National Park. I was at least 5 months pregnant with Nate at this time. This goes down as the hottest trip we ever took.

I had a neighbor that kind of pestered me to ask the Fritz boy out and I finally relented to just get her off my back. And to be rather honest, I remember him giving his Homecoming talk and thinking that he was rather cute. (I was new to this ward and his mom had moved in from Colorado while he was on his mission so we didn't know each other.) Now, I may have asked him out sooner but, my mom and I were his mom's visiting teachers and well, she mentioned a few times how he was going to be gone for the summer visiting some family friends and see if things would work out with one of the girls there. Well, I'm not one to get in they way of things so I just went on with my life. I had a good job at a salon, great friends and a busy college life. So, I had a full schedule. I wasn't looking for love.

2005 We love our Nater tots.

Well, obviously things didn't work out between him and the girl because he came back-ALONE. Our stake was having a young single adult activity to go snow tubing. I finally got the nerve up to call and ask him out to this activity. We had never talked or even met in person and he had NO idea who I was so for him it was a blind date. He's since told me that he almost didn't come but the only reason he did was to find out who I was. Well, the snow resort was closed because the tube hill was iced over. So, we went to a leader's home and watched a movie, "Mask of Zorro." I remember we sat by each other but didn't talk much. But amazingly enough, it wasn't a weird awkward silence going on, it was comfortable, Crazy enough, however, we both learned that I wanted to put my head on his shoulder and he wanted me to as well. But it didn't happen that night. The night ended and we each got into our own cars and left and honestly, we didn't even end up saying goodnight to each other. I figured I'd never see him again because at the end of the month he was headed to boot camp for the Marines.  At that point I summed it all up as a fun-filled night.

2005 Nate, Dan, and me at the Wild Animal Kingdom in San Diego

But of course the story doesn't end there. About a week later he called me up and wanted to go out on a date.  We couldn't figured out when to go out when during the conversation he mentioned he promised to take his younger brother and friends to a nickel arcade to play. He invited me along, I agreed. It shocked him that I would go along with him and a bunch of teenage boys. He picked me up with all the boys in the back of the car, it should have been weird for a first date but I didn't care, I liked this boy. We took them in, played some games ourselves then decided to leave them for a few hours and go to a comedy club. Once we got the boys home, he dropped me off by himself this time. Well, we got to my porch and just talked and talked and talked. I think it was after 2 or 3 before we said good night. And I was freezing my butt off because it was early March and it was still chilly. But I couldn't stop talking to this boy. There just was never any awkward silence, it was just such a comfortable, familiar feeling. And before I went in for the night, we had our 2nd date already planned for the next day. I think, the day after was Sunday and I don't remember us seeing each other then. But I do recall, on Monday, purposely going to a park by his house and rollerblading right around the time he'd be getting home. And bingo, my plan worked. He happened to see me and stopped. So, once again, we decided to each clean up and get together later that night. We pretty much saw each other every night solid for a week. It was a bonus because during that week it was spring break and we somehow managed to talk our parents into letting us go to Wendover, Nevada with another couple. It is a small gambling town.Well, we ended up only getting 1 room, girls were in one bed and boys in the other. Nothing happened at all, in fact, if you can believe it, he hadn't even kissed up to this point. It wasn't until after we got home from the trip that we kissed. After just 1 week we ended up having "the talk." We agreed to pray and think about marriage over the weekend. He headed to Colorado for a friends homecoming program and I stayed home. We didn't talk all weekend.

vacation

Monday rolled around and I went rollerblading, same time, same place. Only this time, when we got together- it was different. There were some nerves and anxiety knowing what conversation lay ahead and no one wanting to bring it up. We each went home, to clean up to go to dinner. I was so nervous, about what he was going to say. I knew for myself that I loved him and wanted to marry him. My nerves were so high that I had no appetite and couldn't decide where to go for dinner. We ended up somewhere light and fast. Then we took a drive, he headed to Bountiful and I instantly knew he was headed to the temple. Unfortunately the gates were locked so we couldn't walk around. For me it was a bummer because I felt like that was where he was going to propose. Then we headed to Temple Square. We walked and walked and walked some more. I began to doubt myself and wondered if he didn't get the same answers and he was trying to figure out how to end it. Finally we sat down at the reflection pond. We talked and then he finally got down on one knee and proposed. He had bought me "promise" ring because he wanted me to pick out my ring. And that's how I wanted it too, although we had never talked about it beforehand, we just have always been on the same wave length. 10 days after our first official date we were now engaged! When it's right it's just right!!!

2006 This is shortly after we became a family of 4. Josh was only 12 days old

I made him come back to my house to tell my parents the crazy news. They were in bed so I made them get dressed and come out. Needless to say they were shocked at the quickness but they were happy about it. They liked him. In fact they said that they could see us being together.

2006 Fall pictures with Nate and Josh in our matching leather jackets

Why the rush? Well, in a 1 1/2 weeks he had to head off to Marine Corps boot camp in California for 3 months. It was a busy 1 1/2 weeks for us. We managed to arrange a date, schedule the temple for my endowments and the sealing, got engagement pictures taken and bought a diamond and had it created for me. I had to return and pick it up myself at a later date. That time flew by so fast. When the time came for him to leave I had to drop him off at a hotel in Salt Lake. That wasn't easy saying bye for 3 months, but he left me his truck to drive around so it helped me remind me of him.
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2008 I'm way out numbered with all the guys. This was Colton's blessing day when he was 4/5 weeks old

I kept busy with planning the wedding and working and going to school. I had previously arranged a trip to Hawaii with friends so that kept my mind off his absence. It was hard having him gone but we did get to know each other further through letters. He was not allowed to call me or anyone else while in boot camp so letters are what we had. I can not even begin to tell you how I looked forward to getting his weekly letter. When I received one I was beyond thrilled and would read it so slowly. I'm sure he looked forward to my weekly letters as well, at least I hope he did.

2010 Our family is now complete.

The time came that he was ready to graduate boot camp so I flew out with his family to California. I remember feeling so nervous about seeing him again  in person. In my head I kept wondering if he still liked me, or would I gross him out, did he still want to marry me? I know it was dumb but none the less, that's what was going through my mind. And once the marines were able to finally meet up with their families he barely gave me a hug. That didn't help my questioning mind. In fact for the next 3 days he barely touched me and would only have me hold his arm like in the old days. It wasn't until we were in the airplane and in the air that he admitted that the drill instructors had intimidated them so much that they drilled it into their heads that they would get in major trouble if they did anything to disgrace the Marine Corps. It took a few hours but I was finally able to get him to hold my hand before he landed. We for home on a Friday night and were married the next Wednesday. Although I was so nervous and anxious about seeing him at boot camp there was only feelings of peace and calm the day of the wedding. We were married in the Bountiful Temple on June 27th, 2001. It was a beautiful day but it went by in a flash. I was deliriously happy that day. I had just married my best friend. I knew in my heart that I was suppose to marry him and I still know to this day that we were meant to be together. We have had many downs but much more ups in our marriage. Specifically 5 of those up's would include our sweet angel Lidia, Nathan, Joshua, Colton and Audrey. I'm so grateful to know that we were sealed in the temple to have these 5 children with us for eternity. Thank you Danny for all that you do for our family and me. I'm so grateful to be married to you,  my best friend and that I can share anything with you. I want you to know that I chose to be with you 10 years ago and I still choose you today. Thanks for all the memories over the last decade! I love you! Happy 10 year Anniversary!

Most current photo of us today