Pacific Northwest Trip- part 1

July 16 was Ginger Rogers' Birthday. I wore my bow earrings to celebrate at church where I gave a talk and cried a lot because I was running on little sleep trying to get ready for a trip and getting up early every day to support Jeremy and get him to work early. Jet kept me up late the night before which fact I was able to use in my talk. It's life, real life. And it's okay to come to church with how things are in real life. It's right to be there.

After church, we finished packing and the kids and I drove to Idaho to visit our friends. They were so sweet to feed us and let us stay overnight, even though we got there much later than we wanted to. Part of that was we had an issue with our van on the way so it set us back a while. Traveling on the hottest day of the year. Sigh.

I love our friends. The next day, July 17, was Global Hug Your Kids Day so I tried to get pictures of me hugging my kids before we headed out and at most stops. Some of the pictures didn't turn out so well but I got enough pictures it's fine if I don't put every single one on here.

It was also Yellow Pigs Day so I specifically requested Nichole wear her Cook's Racing Pigs hat she won way back on Yellow Pigs Day in 2014.

Since it was also Ocean Day in Japan, we joked that we were headed toward the Pacific Ocean, as we were headed to Oregon.

My parents met us partway there and my dad took most of the boys while my mom rode with Nichole, Jet, and me. That last leg of the trip went so fast because my mom and I were chatting so much. I also made sure to get pictures of my parents hugging their kid- me. My mom tried to get pictures of her hugging her grandkids as well. Lucky escaped too many times, though, so we had to be sneaky and several days later, we got a picture of her hugging him.

It's been 5 years. It was high time I went back home for a visit. It was also Jet's first time in Oregon.

Hello, World

Monday, November 21, was World Hello Day.  I was in charge of Family Home Evening activity, so I thought we'd visit some world travelers who have the opportunity to say Hello to different parts of the world- birds.  We drove up to Farmington Bay in the rain, had a little break (it was sprinkling more than heavy raining) while driving around, got a few pictures before it got too dark, and drove home in the rain and rush hour traffic. 

I think we got mostly pictures of birds who stay year round in Utah, though.  Oh well.
The kids were happy to watch a movie in the van on the way home.  They did get excited about the ring-necked pheasant who was on the road in front of us but didn't want to go off into the bushes.  They were able to get a good look at it that way.

Tuesday morning, I got out and took a drive around the lake and did see some birds who travel to different parts of the world.  I saw a lot of different types of birds, including several bald eagles (who are not permanent residents of Utah).  It was so relaxing.  There was no rain that morning, so I was able to get out a couple times to get a better look at birds.

Later, Jeremy took Lucky out for a drive around the lake because I had also seen some ferruginous hawks which he had never seen before.  Lucky had a nice nap and Jeremy saw a couple new birds including some ferruginous hawks which brought his life list up to 200 different species of birds (most new birds were seen this year- it's a birding year for us).

November 22 was also Start Your Own Country Day, so at dinner the kids kept saying what kind of country they would start and what they would name it.  Apparently, Nichole would start a country of the dinner table and would name it India.  Lucky's country would be "the fridge" and "milk."  That's a 2-year old's mind for you.

Today, November 23 is Doctor Who Day.  We don't have anything major planned for the holiday this year since Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Jeremy and Jr. went out for some bonding time this morning to go birding at Farmington Bay.  If the other children stay asleep, I might be able to watch some Doctor Who in the kitchen while doing dishes and making rolls.  Shhh.  Don't wake them.

Friendship and Adventures

So... less than a week after we got back from the Pacific Northwest, we packed up and headed out again, this time to Montana.  Jeremy was building a big installation for a fair there.  The theme was "Friendship," so he built a 13 foot tall dragon, it's tail holding a swing.  Sitting on the swing was a knight being pushed by a princess. 

While Jeremy did the fair, the kids and I spent time in a motel room again, but we also went to a local park and to the museum attached to the park.

Since he was at the fair, Jeremy picked up a deep fried Snickers for us to split.  Eh, fried ice cream is better.

On the drive to and from the fair, we got in some birding.  We got to see swans at "Swan Lake."  We got to drive through part of Yellowstone National Park.

We also got to stop at a rest area with lava rocks... and cactus.

The adventures didn't stop when we got back to Utah.  The day after we got back, I took the kids to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. 

Later that day, we went back to Thanksgiving Point, to the Gardens this time, for their family night activities.  The theme was, "Rockets, airplanes, and the Wind."  The kids got to launch pop bottle rockets and alka seltzer rockets.  They did alka seltzer rockets before- last Summer for the news.

We got to watch people flying radio controlled aircraft.
The kids also had fun with air- knocking down styrofoam cups, building paper loop airplanes, and making wind socks.

It was a good family evening.

Then the next morning, we got up and went hiking with friends.  We went up to Battle Creek Falls.  That was nice.  I think the last time I went hiking all the way to the falls was when I was pregnant with Jr. Jr.  Yeah.  That was a while ago.

So... yeah, we've been busy.  Jeremy figured out that in the month of July, we were in 6 states- only one of those was just driving through.  All the others we stayed at least 2 nights in.
Busy busy.  Lots of adventures.