SICK, SIck, sick!

This is mainly for me and having a pity party, but I can't remember the last time I got sick. I am blaming Provo. Mainly because there is nothing else to blame it on, and it sounds good for the moment. I don't think I have been sick since my first year of marriage and even then I don't remember ever being sick. We need to move back to Salt Lake and the good air!! Jon is the one who Always gets it, so why me? I feel as though my head is going to explode and I am about 2 seconds away from finding Marcella's nose sucker to try to get everything out of my head. I am hoping to be better for our Halloween party tonight. At least I am planning on being Wendy from Peter Pan so I get to wear Pj's. Well to all you moms out there I feel for you. We really don't get any sick days do we. Well, I have to go and change the laundry, I hope you all are felling better than I am and believe me this picture is so I can hope that one day I will feel better too. (yes, I think a trip back to Europe would definitely do the trick.)

Visiting Greg!

In august we went and saw Greg in Cody,WY. It was so much fun. I was really surprised at how pretty it was. The drive in and out were so gorgeous. I won't mind living there, although I would rather have Jon teach at a better University than the one right by Cody.

Greg has a sweet place. We ate Breakfast in his backyard. Man I wish I had a backyard. It was really pretty.

We went to a museum in Cody. It has the world's largest gun collection. It was pretty sweet looking at them. Marcella enjoyed the "stuffed" animals. We had to go back in that room about 10 times. She kept saying "mama, bear scary Roar!" The only sad thing about this is I didn't get a picture of the animal she is still obessed with today. The stuffed Walrus head. Anytime we talk to Greg or tell Marcella we are talking to him she says "Big Walrus" only she totally can't say walrus. It is pretty funny.

This is in the basement of the gun collection section. It was pretty funny they have this puzzle you can put together a gun. Marcella was having a lot of fun with that.

Pajama Party!

Marcella loves Uncle Greg. Even when she was really little she would go to Greg more than any of my other siblings or Jon's. I have always thought it was sweet. They are great friends.

This is another picture of Greg's backyard, did I mention it was pretty big? I loved it!

We decided to hike up to a dam on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. Although I didn't think it would be so hot, boy was I wrong!

This was pretty sweet. It has to be the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen in my life. I couldn't believe it when we saw it. Then I couldn't believe Marcella started kissing it and saying "nice", and "it tickles". It was pretty funny.

Here is Jon's new home. Visitors are always welcome as long as you can climb to it.

On the way home from Greg's we stopped at Yellowstone Lake. It was so pretty. Pretty and cold I should say. It was a moment like this I will remember forever. It was just so amazing.

Thanks for letting us Come Greg. We had so much fun going to dinner and hanging out with you. We can't wait to come again!

Bike Ride

The night before we had a garage sale Jon took Marcella on a bike ride. They went while I was sitting on the porch pricing all of our stuff. The best was they would go around the block and then stop and say "we are here to pick up baby" or we are here for "pooh bear". Etc. Each time they stopped they picked up a new animal so Marcella wasn't lonely I guess.

This is what they ended up with. Once they had all there passengers they rode over to the railroad tracks to watch a train. The only time you want a train to come by and I don't think they were able to see one.

Kristin's famous toe socks. These were being sold at the garage sale. Only I am sad to say I don't have a better picture of them. They are sweet they have some dude in an army helmet and then a bunch of peace signs on them. Well, this was the one thing that Marcella wanted from the stuff we were trying to get rid of. I told her she could keep them in her crib but she couldn't wear them because.... (well let's face it, she was sleeping in my Dad's office at the time, it was August and it was like a sauna in there.)

Needless to say this is what I found when I went to check on her. What a crazy girl!

Cabin Trip with the Dougals

Welcome Home!

My Dad Came home in August and we were all so excited. We made posters and had some fun Balloons. Then we went down to the airport to see him fly in.

Here we are waiting, we had to wait about an hour before they came in

This was quite funny. Marcella was holding the balloons and then the next thing we know they started flying away. At first she wasn't sure what to think. Should I laugh or cry. After she looked at all of us laughing, she thought it was pretty funny. She would then point up in the sky and say "da baoons up dere."

Here he is, We were really excited to see him. We are so glad that he is home now.

Jon and I agree that he did everything just right to get Marcella to like him. He bought her a Teddy Bear, which she promptly named "Pooh Bear", and he brought her a dress. He sure did win her heart and she is in love with his rocks, "Fish & M&M's". Thanks Dad. It is great to have you home. We love you!

Pre-Thanksgiving

We had a pre-Thanksgiving dinner to welcome my parents back from Wales. It had all the goodies....sweet potatoes, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and I even tried this dish called a Gruyere Galette...sort of a potato pie held together with Gruyere and fresh Parmesan cheese...it was pretty good, but if you're not a strong cheese fan you wouldn't like it. That being.....only my mom, dad, and myself really liked it.

Check out this Fire (or, "Jon is Really Cool")

Sometimes, when I decide to post something on the blog, I can't help but feel I'm just doing it so I can brag about how cute my daughter is, or some other selfish pursuit I want everyone to know about. This isn't always the case, but sometimes it's spot-on. Now on with the show...I'm pretty good at lighting fires.



Other people are good at things like making money or saving money or skiing or running or biking...those are all great things to be good at, and I wouldn't mind being skilled in any of those areas...but making a fire...well I can really make 'em well. Here's how it's done:

First, you need some wood.

Then, you need a match.

Stack your wood in a pile.

Light it with a match.

Owen thought we could use some pine needles, which I thought was an EXCELLENT idea.

Close-up of the flames

There it goes...

Put more wood on it

And now you have a fire.

My fire-building skills are pretty much indisputable. Check out Marcella's relaxing skills. I might know how to make a fire, but she knows how to use one.

First, find a chair. I don't know who she stole this from, but she showed up at the fire with it.

Open it up

Scoot back...

Chill by the fire!

FIRE!!!

Sweeet........

We went to the cabin in August to help Jon's dad with a few things. He bought a smaller cabin right next to the other cabin, mainly so he could own the whole land there and no one else would build on it. Anyways, this is Marcella, she would say "mama, tats loud, pwug ears"

My first chain saw lesson. I had a lot of fun cutting a lot of trees for fire wood. After we were all done, my hands still felt like they were vibrating for an hour or so, but I really had a great time.

Jon got a two man saw and an iltis oxhead ax for his Birthday and he was dying to try them out. So there was this tree that we all agreed needed to come down. I have to say it was really fun watching them ax away and then watching it fall. who knows, maybe if Jon decides he doesn't like school, he can become a lumber jack. ;)

They make a pretty good team I'd say.

Well, that should last us through the winter. Which I am really looking forward to going to the cabin this winter. We haven't been able to go for about 2 years and I can't wait to get out there and ski. If anyone wants to come with us let us know, it is going to be so much fun this winter. I promise you will have a blast!