Friday, July 25, 2008

For the Beauty of the Earth

One of my favorite things to see on this earth are flowers. I love to see, grow, smell and have them. They are so beautiful and bring a simple smile to everyone. Here are some of the flowers in my life. All are found around my yard, including daylily's, daisy's, artichoke, squash flowers, petunia's, and Spencer delivered the bottom right one's to me at work, he's such a sweetheart!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Cold River Rafting!

July 18, 2007. This weekend's adventure was spent river rafting on the Snake River up near Jackson, WY. It was loads of fun. We went with some ward friends who own 2 sweet rafts! Woke up before the "butt crack" of dawn (5:00AM) so that we could get 2 river runs in and be home late that night around 10:00PM. We had a great time. The water was freezing (I'm surprised I didn't lose a toe). Great day long day! Thanks Chris and Brandon! Also thanks to http://www.floatographs.com/ for the picture.
Lunch Counter Rapids (Melina and I are in the back)

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Daddy's little girls...

The Glade family welcomed the 3rd grand-baby to our bunch. Sweet Ella Rochelle Glade came on Father's Day to K.C., Heidi & Landon. Weighing in over 8 lbs was tough on Heidi and made for a few complications in delivery, but she is a gift from God and is a precious, cuddly girl with lots of dark silky hair! (2 weeks old) Other new (and not so new) arrivals are:
Ashlyn Lindsay Maughan, proud parents are Brandon and Lindsay Maughan. She was born May 28. They have 3 wild boys, and finally got their little girly girl, who has a cute bow for every outfit!






Last arrival, which was actually 9 months ago was the 2nd grand-baby to the Glade bunch. Gary and Noelle welcomed their first little girl, sweet Julia Lenore. She is looking a lot like the Glade clan every day! In the end, these ladies are daddy's little girls and we are so happy for these sweet spirits!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Grand Teton National Park

Day 1 (7/3):
Over the 4th of July, we took the opportunity to go and see one of our favorite National Parks, the Grand Tetons (http://www.nps.gov/grte). We weren't able to leave on Thursday until about 4:00 PM which didn't put us into the park until 9:45 PM. We were very nervous that we weren't going to be able to get a camping spot in the park (because of the busy 4th of July weekend). But, we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to the entry gate and saw the sign that said "Colter Bay: Open". YEAH!!
We drove in, found a site, started setting up the tent and we hear a "Yoohoo. Excuse me". Some guy that just pulled up was apparently trying to get our attention. He tells us that we are in his spot. We didn't see any tent, no trailer, no camp chairs, nothing that would say it was his site. But then, if you looked closely, there was a trailer hidden in the trees just off of the main camp site. I guess the camp hosts said it was ok to park where he was because his tent/trailer thing wouldn't fit in the main parking stall for the site.
Anyway, so we throw the tent into the car and head off to find another site. We finally found a site, right off the road, but it seemed to be the last in the entire campground. phew! We got lucky, we're in. After setting up the tent, we go straight to bed. It was a long day!

Day 2 (7/4) Happy 4th!:
We decided to go on a long hike on Friday and then we would go kayaking and a small hike on Saturday. The long hike was a combination of a couple lakes, Two Ocean and Emma Matilda. It was a fairly easy 10 miler. Spectacular views of both lakes and one amazing view on the top of Grand View Point (steep climb to the top but worth it) of the entire Teton Range. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Clear sunny day. When we were about 1.5 miles to the trail head, we caught up to a couple staring off into the distance at a black bear. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see it but from then on we constantly clapped, whistled, and called out "Hey bear!" to try and keep it from coming over and eating us for lunch.

Grand View Point View

After the hike we got back to camp and started our delicious dutch oven dinner. We decided to have Calzones! WAY GOOD! We love our dutch ovens! After dinner we rode our bikes around Colter Bay (area on the north side of Jackson Lake - largest lake in the park) and enjoyed watching the boats come in and out of the marina. We then went back to camp for smores and our version of fireworks - an actual fire! HEHE! Happy 4th!Day 3 (7/5):
We decided to head to Pocetello and see Emily and Jeff and also to get Melina a haircut and color from the best haircutter this side of the mississippi. So, we had a lot to do before leaving the Tetons. We wanted to go on a small hike (around 4-5 miles) and then go kayaking on Jenny Lake. We packed up our camp and headed for the trail head for Taggart and Bradley Lakes. We first went to Bradley Lake then over to Taggart. This was a pretty easy hike but we really enjoyed the veiws of the Tetons as we hiked across the open meadows.



Once done with our hike, we headed over to Jenny Lake for our kayaking adventure. We soon decided kayaking is more fun than canoeing. It's a little easier, you sit lower to the water, and you can go faster (well, at least it seemed faster). We enjoyed sitting and relaxing in the kayak on the beautiful lake.
Around 2:30, we were off for Pocetello. That night we were able to go to dinner with my parents, Emily and Jeff, and Tonya and Bryan. After dinner, I went with Jeff, Bryan and his boys to "Hancock". Pretty good show. Really funny! We saw the movie while Emily cut and colored Melina's hair and WOW, did she (Emily) do a great job.

Day 4 (7/6):
Time for church. We went to church with the Nields. I kept Sarah and Aubrey occupied all the way through Sacrament Meeting, and didn't hear a single word the entire meeting. Then back to Emily and Jeff's for a delicious breakfast. Then back home.
Wow, what a weekend. Great times! We LOVE the beautiful outdoors!

Bike Ride to Work

So today was the second time riding my bike to work. I was so tired after my hill this time, it killed me! My ride is really a pretty simple 8 miles with one long gradual hill. For any avid bikers it'd be easy, but I am just getting into biking, for fun really, and am not used to the leg workout! But that is mainly what I am doing it for, the workout...and to get some awesome fresh air in the morning and to be more eco friendly, I love it, enough to do it again. Here is a little pic I took w/my cell phone. You can't see how beet red my face is very well, but it is! Thanks Carla for the bike haha! (P.S. Thanks Emily for my cute haircut and color)

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Artie Artichoke

See the first fruits of our labor from this years garden! One fun surprise veggie we have given special tender love and care is...Artie the Artichoke. For real, right there in our own backyard! We also have already gotten some red potatoes, beets, garlic...yes garlic, and berries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Mmmmm. The garden is so fun. We also have some onions, tomatoes, peppers, squash and zucchini coming later. It is so amazing how these vegetables can grow from that tiny seed!






Fresh Fruit Delight