August 12, 2021

We pulled off a one night backpacking trip. Me and Sadie, Tamara and Becca Bell, and Allison and Libby Owen. We had a fabulous time. We camped at our spot from last year at the Horse Flat meadow. With only having one night, it’s a great quick spot 

We set up camp about 11:30 and the. Hung out for awhile chatting and playing games (psychic was a favorite - “gracious beans”. :)) After dinner we took a quick hike to Primrose Overlook. We spotted a moose on the side of the hill. 

Cold night but not too freezing in my good sleeping bag. 

Morning had me waking up to something coming through the trees. Mr Moose was coming down for breakfast and went through our meadow. After that mama moose and her twins came in the meadow. The babies were so cute frolicking and eating. The three of them kept coming closer and closer and ended up walking right through the back of our camp. It was pretty cool.

Then we packed up and headed out. Sadie and her friends crack me up and I loved having some time with Sadie. We both very much enjoyed it. 

August 10, 2021

Great afternoon. First it was lunch with all the girls at Zupas. Then Kenz, Sadie and I went to Provo. We hit Pioneer Bookstore, Moon Rare Books, and found some murals. Good times. 

August 7, 2021

Had such a fabulous Montana vacation. I love getting away with Darren. And Montana (plus some Wyoming) was a great place to do that. Grandpa’s cabin was a unique and great place to stay. (There was an outside shower, plus an inside one - phew - and no bathroom door but there was a great place to back porch sit.)

Montana:

• Hwy 55 should be called bird of prey hwy. lots of hawks and some bald eagles.
• Pine Creek Falls was a great little hike. Cool double waterfall and tall tall trees.
• Dinner at Katabatic Brew because of course our first choice was closed on Wednesdays and this place was open and fast. Finding dinners was not easy.
  
• Early Lamar Valley morning. Left the cabin at 3am. Wildlife included - bison, bald eagle, wolves (that looked like gray dots), weasel, common raven, ground squirrel, mountain goat, some water fowl, elk (that we almost touched with our front bumper). Still no bear. I’m not convinced they are actually in the wild. The bison that was yelling at us was my favorite.
• Nap in the car at a Yellowstone viewpoint. 
• Chips and salsa at the overlook. 
• Stop at Beartooth Falls. Cool little roadside attraction. 
• Hike to Beauty Lake from Beartooth Lake. TH at the back of the campground. Way pretty hike and especially loved Crane lake along the way. Why are there no people here? It’s so beautiful. No complaints. The solitude was wonderful. Found some mushrooms for Sadie. Found out this hike was actually in Wyoming. Also found out what biting flies are.
• Finished driving the Beartooth Hwy. so cool! Lots of stops along the way. So many lakes and gorgeous views. Like so many. Rocks and lakes for days! Saw some marmots. The drive down the other side was switchback after switchback on the side of a mountain.
• Friday was a Bozeman day. 
• American Computer and Robotics Museum at Montana State was a cool museum. 
• Lunch downtown at Western Cafe felt very Bozeman-like. 
• Server suggested Hyalite Canyon for a hike. That's were we headed and it was a brilliant suggestion. 
• Hiked past Arch Falls (cool falls through a natural bridge). We found huckleberries! Such an awesome serendipitous hike.
• Dinner at a grill with an amazing salad while watching some Olympics.
• When in Montana we listen to Dan Seals, The Judds, and Don Williams.
• Some of the drive home was along the Gallatin river. Pretty stuff with lots of fly fishermen. 

August 5, 2021

 Happy Anniversary - 27.  Celebrating in Montana.

August 2, 2021

It’s been a nibling frenzy the past few days. I love it. Playing soccer with Jack, meeting annaliese, hanging with Gracee and Brynnlee for a minute, sleepovers here from Kendyl and Laynee, plus Blake visiting. 

Laynee mentioned wanting to go to the mountains so we made plans to go to the mountains. I took her, kendyl, Blake, and Sadie to silver lake atop BCC. We had the most fabulous time! We hiked and chatted and discovered. They found me a dozen deer (and Bambis), a moose, and some pikas as we hiked Lake Solitude. Sadie also found lots of mushrooms and moss. Kendyl said it best, “This is way better than sitting at home.”

(Sadie, Blake, Laynee, Kendal)

 

July 30, 2021

Random things:

“Our role as brothers and sisters in the gospel is to recognize that there is always someone who needs a friend. Gestures of friendship and belonging help more than we sometimes realize. You don’t have to be lonely to appreciate friendship.” - Dieter F Uchtdorf. (Social media post 7/21)

Dinner at Asian Star. Fantastic Chinese food shared with Cam and Darren. 

Been a rough month wondering where I fit and where my strengths are.  Is it really just dog walking and house cleaning?

Maybe life doesn't get any better than this, or any worse, and what we get is just what we're willing to find: small wonders, where they grow. -Barbara Kingsolver, Small Wonder

July 29, 2021

What a good wedding day for Mason and Rachael. The temple was fantastic. It was fun to see so many people at the reception - good friends and good neighbors. My parents made it to the temple. Mason is giddy in love and him and Rachael are cute together.

As I was thinking how not one person from my family showed up to the luncheon or reception, I had the thought that the Lord has sent me friends and neighbors who will show up.

Deb, Sariah and Lorien, Tara and Mary Ellen, Pettingills, Wilcox Fam, Tami and Kelly, Brother Wainwright, Brenda and Alyson, John hall from across the country and more.