Foto Story Friday #113--- Family Gathering/Trip to Yellowstone, day 1

We had a family gathering this week near Yellowstone National Park. Unfortunately, not all the family could make it.  None of my 4 brothers and families nor my youngest sister and her family were able to attend.  In addition to all of them, we also had to leave behind our oldest, Cody.  He had to attend a defensive driving course as a result of his hitting a parked car and failing to report the accident by quickest means...... as in he pretended it didn't happen until the damage to his car was seen by Grandpa!  Hopefully lesson learned and we won't have to repeat this!

Here he is in all his 6ft1in glory, ready to head to work as we head to the family gathering.

Of course with kids you have to stop often for potty breaks.  While everyone was taking their break, I was taking photos.  This one is looking west, the direction we were headed...... looks like rain,

Looking east we see the sky looks less threatening.  The views of the Yellowstone river are often breath taking and I found this view rather pleasing to the eye.  I was trying to get the sun rays, they are faint, but there.

We saw some very cool cloud formations.

As you may know, I like to snap pictures out the window as we travel .  These billowing clouds over the hills screamed out to be photographed.

We passed many the rafting party on our way to Yellowstone.

We also saw some kids cooling off in a daring manner.  Right after I snapped this one as we passed, he jumped into the Gallatin River, not something I'm brave enough.... or is it stupid... to try.

The much awaited Park.

and this is what happened, Em fell asleep!  She spent the whole time asking: 'are we at Yellowstone yet?'

Her partner in crime and fun also fell asleep.

Then we weren't quite sure which way it was to the campground and finally decided to head towards the national forest service visitors center and hoped we would run into a sign pointing us in the right direction.  My mom called to see where we were and then lost service so we headed into this storm and found a campground to ask for directions and turns out we were close.  We continued on and found the campground, but my parents were not there yet.  We set up camp and eventually we see my parents RV pull up without the vehicle they were towing.  My mom was worried about us and they decided to go looking for us.  She called Troy's parents and they got worried about us and put the highway patrol on the lookout for us!  The cell service is spotty at best in that area.  Next morning when we had service again we both had many messages from them and Troy's co-workers worried about us!  :)  we got a good laugh about it! :D

After the tents were set up and Dad got the RV leveled out some of us went for a walk and found huckleberries!

The last to arrive also had an adventure.  They were not quite sure of the location either, we were all thinking it was closer to the park.  The campground was nice and it was very pretty there, but it did happen to be about 1/2 hour from Yellowstone.  Anyway they drove all the way to West Yellowstone and then came back.   We had a nice dinner of hot dogs and sausages with Bushes grillin' beans, then topped it off with S'mores.

Indian Paintbrush is in abundance and very pretty.

don't eat the red ones!  I don't know what these berries are but they are photogenic.

Lots of pine trees that also asked to be captured.

pretty purple flowers too.
Stay tuned for day 2 next week when we actually go into the park for sight seeing! :)





Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Foto Story Friday #112-

We had to spend a week in Billings after Troy surgery, so this is what we did:

Saturday morning he was released from the hospital.  There was a youth temple trip so I met the kids at the temple and Troy went with his dad to walk around a few stores and just take it easy.

Savanna in front of the Billings Temple on her first temple trip!

After the temple I asked one of the other youth to take our picture.
Saturday night we spent with friends and went to church with them Sunday morning.  Troy's parents got us a motel room for the rest of our stay.

Troy kicking back in the room.
Monday we just lazed around, washed laundry and took in a movie, Toy Story 3.

Tuesday we went to the pictograph caves right near Billings.  We saw some wildlife.  These two birds were just handing out on this rock, waiting for me to capture them.

This bunny thought it was hiding.

The ancient cave drawings are starting to fade which is kinda sad.  Boy is that quite the little hike, very steep, but pretty.

That evening we took in a Billings Mustangs triple A baseball game.  They played the Casper Ghosts.  The mascot hyped up the crowd in his ghostbusting gear while they played the Ghostbusters song.  we had good seats for watching the game but the fence sure got in the way for taking pictures!

Mustangs at bat.  the game was going right along until the 4th inning when the Mustangs put the Ghosts in their place scoring 9 runs.

The clouds started rolling in and threatening our evening.  We felt a few drops, then the whole other side of the stands started running.... hail was coming down.  It wasn't long before our side was hit as well.  We pulled out our umbrella and started making our way to the truck.  We were soaked before we made it half way there!  I threw my camera bag over my shoulder and ran for it!  Dried off my bag and went to rescue Troy from the downpour.

Wednesday we met up with our friends and went out to look at their property.  We spent most of the day with them and then headed back to the motel to pack up.  Thursday after meeting with the drs and getting the OK to head home, that is what we did.  We met up with Troy's parents and some cousins for dinner and a movie before getting back to real life.  We saw Grown Ups and it was pretty funny!

Standing outside the theater just chatting and the clouds were looking pretty cool.  The lightning was flashing and I was sure we would get dumped on again.

We didn't though.  Looks like I got lucky and caught a bit of the lightning though!

Hosted by Cecily and Caitlin

Foto Story Friday #111

Monday morning, as a gift for my friend, I took her baby's photos.  Here's a little peek at here little girl.

Monday evening, Shantel and Savanna wanted to dye their hair.... red!  So we did and they look so cute!

Tuesday bright and early, Troy and I loaded up for a trip to Billings.  Troy had a dr appointment.  We spent the night with friends and Wednesday afternoon he went in for elective surgery.

He had the gastric bypass.  he is doing good and we should get out tomorrow, Sat.




Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

FotoStory Friday # 110 last week

Last week was kinda busy.  Thursday the 8th was the twins 6th birthday.  I made cakes and Savanna helped me decorate them.  We couldn't celebrate on their birthday as Dad was out of town.  They were sure to tell everyone they came in contact with that they had to wait till the 9th to have a birthday party.

Here's Em's cake.  Every year I get her a small doll. I like it to be Strawberry Shortcake, but some years she's hard to find.

Every year Scott gets a new John Deere tractor to top his cake.  When he went to bed I placed the tractor on and guess what?  the little booger got up for a drink and snuck a peek.... said, "Hey, I like my new tractor!"
Friday morning I crashed a wedding.... OK so I went along with my mother-in-law as her guest.  Would have loved to photograph this wedding as it was in our local state park, Makoshika, and it is just a beautiful area.... perfect for a wedding.

Here's a little look at her stunning dress.

The happy couple.
That evening we had a little BBQ in the park with presents for the twins.

There's a great story behind the above photo.  Scott and Em have been asking for bikes for their birthday for months and months.  They have borrowed the neighbor kids bikes and taught themselves to ride.  We told them all sorts of reasons why we didn't think they were ready for bikes and just really gave them a hard time.  I think they hoped but didn't really believe they would get them.  They opened up the other presents and we had them sit on the ground so I could take a photo (the bright sun and the shadows were terrible).  Shantel and her friend went off to retrieve the much anticipated and wished for bikes out of a friend's truck.  Everyone kept the twins occupied while the bikes were wheeled in behind them unseen.  Scott turned and looked right at them and DIDN'T see them, not once or twice but three times!  Em also turned and looked at them twice before she actually saw them!  Then she asked: "Are these for us?" just at the same time Scott said: "Bikes! for us?"  Troy being Troy said: "Nope!"  Oh man! I wish that I could have captured the crestfallen look on his face when his Daddy told him that!  It was priceless!  That statement was quickly followed by: "of course they are!"  after-which his face lit right up.  I like that photo because if you just look you think he is high-fiving his brother in excitement over the new bikes, when in reality, they haven't even seen the bikes sitting there yet!

Riding like a pro on Saturday in the church parking lot.

Oh so happy to be a bike owner!
Saturday afternoon we hit the pool.

Robby the little studmuffin!  He is just getting way to grown up way too fast!  I love how his hair looks when it's wet.  The curls hang down and look like the character from the movie Holes, Zero.




Hosted by Cecily and Momma

Foto Story Friday #109-- maternity and baby shots

Last Thursday I did some maternity photos these are 4 of my favorites of the day:

This was a fun first for me to do belly pics.

I had willing subjects too.  The boys were so cute with their kissy noises.

A beautiful family.

These wild flowers made a perfect backdrop.  It was by chance that we got this photo.... as we were getting back into the vehicles going to head to one last location I saw them and they spoke to me calling out for their photo to be taken!
I also took baby pictures for another friends baby gift.  Here are 4 of my favorites.

He fits so nicely in the cocoon I made!

The hat and diaper cover are pretty cute too.

What a catch!

I just LOVE his expression!!
check out more photos from these two shoots here
and here 





Hosted by Cecily and Serious Krystyn