Yellowstone Weekend

Last weekend Mike and Melissa invited us to go to Island Park with them and stay in Mike's sisters cabin. It was great to get away! We drove up together in Reid's truck and Mike drove most of the time 'cause he wanted Reid to totally relax and see the sights. We went to Yellowstone the first day we were there. We saw antelope - didn't get a picture 'cause we didn't stop. I couldn't believe how close people were getting to the WILD animals. They were out of their cars and walking right up to them. We saw Old Faithful - I must say it didn't go as high in the air as I thought it would - still, lots of people there and it was fun to see. The Old Faithful Inn was interesting. Lots of logs...

At the fishing bridge, there was a buffalo that wanted to cross the river. He went in and started across then when it got too deep he went back. He stood at the edge of the water the whole time we were there and would step into the water and then out. He just couldn't decide what to do.We also went to see the mud pots. Kind of a stinky place! Black Dragon Cauldron Sizzling Basin was next. Kind of creepy. As we were driving to the Yellowstone Grand Canyon and falls, we got stopped by a traffic jam. We couldn't figure out what was going on. At first we thought it was an accident, but then we saw lots of buffalo on the hillside. The traffic jam was due to buffalo crossing the road. When we got closer we saw a couple of them fighting. Then they came speedily down a hill right next to the road and us, crossed and began fighting again on the other side of our car. Reid stood up in the sunroof and took pictures of them. After a little tussle they stopped and looked at us. It was exciting. Then we went to Yellowstone's Grand Canyon. The next day the guys went fishing -- no luck.
That night we went to a play that was a spoof of Robin Hood. It was kinda cute.

The next day we went to Big Spring and saw John Sack's cabin.He was an immigrant from Germany that was 4'11" and built a cabin and water wheel for electricity. His cabin was interesting in the way that he treated the logs. All of them had some bark left on. He used a special treatment that preserved the bark. It was a pretty place. It was a great weekend. We relaxed, saw lots of sights, played games and it seemed like we were eating all the time.

July 4th Parade

The real reason the kids wanted to come up was the Centerville 4th of July parade...also known as the CANDY parade 'cause just about everyone in the parade throws candy. (Anyone wonder why they wanted to come up!?!)Cameron with hands full of candy. You really do have to bring a bag to put all the candy in.Kaylee's favorite float...Tys couldn't eat the candy fast enough...Some of the candy got thrown under the chairs...Cameron didn't want to miss out on any of it.Kaylee found that if she waved her flag enough they would thrown more candy...It was fun and the parade is just the right length... not too long. Mike and Melissa came too for a while, but by the time they got there the battery in my camera was out.

The kids stayed with us after the parade. Aimee and Trent had some stuff to do at home. We played games out in the yard, went to get haircuts for the boys, and played games on the Wii. It was a fun afternoon. We took the kids back after dinner. All three fell asleep on the way home.

Ward Breakfast

Every 4th of July our ward has a breakfast. This year Aimee and Trent and the kids came down for it. Tyson loves glazed donuts...They liked the fire hydrant.Cam is great at balancing. He can count to 20 and balance on one foot...

San Francisco

Reid went to San Francisco on business last Tuesday and I was supposed to fly out and meet him on Thursday. I got to the airport and through the long line at security (although I didn't realize that the liquid also meant lotions and I just bought new ones for the trip... all confiscated) and to the gate...gate change at the other end of the airport...went to the new gate. Flight delayed due to fog in San Francisco...then after 3 hours of waiting...flight cancelled. The good news, I got the last first class seat for the next morning. Jennifer was at the temple with friends so I called Mike and Melissa and they were great to come and get me. Jen was surprised when she got home and there I was. The next morning we got up early and out to the airport again. I must say first class is nice, but how many times in a one and 1/2 hour flight can they ask you if you want something to drink? Took the BART from the airport...quite an experience and met up with Reid. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency. It was very nice.

We started right off and went to Market Street. Reid had forgotten that we went there a couple of years ago on a Choir trip. There was a great bakery there. Loved the cream layer cake.

Next it was off to Fishermans Wharf and we hopped on a boat around the Bay. We were kind of disappointed that we had gotten the wrong tickets and didn't get to get off and explore the Alcatraz island. (I know, Mike thought that they might keep us if we got to the actual cells). We spent the rest of the evening walking around the wharf. Then, there were so many people...so many people that all the buses and trolleys going back to the hotel were full so we walked.

The next morning we decided to go to Sears for breakfast ... great breakfast place kind of by Union Square. We started walking and about 1/2 a block up there was a trolley stopped. Reid talked to the driver and we bought day passes for trolley's and buses but they weren't leaving for a while so we walked. Reid had the map and a small electronic GPS. There is a reason that San Franciscans don't walk...it's all up hill and even with both map and GPS we got lost and of course on the steepest streets. When we finally found Sears there was a long line. Reid wanted to go somewhere else...after that climb, I didn't care...we waited and went to Sears...great swedish pancakes. We went to Union Square and then hopped an open air bus for a tour of the city and then a transfer to another bus to go on the Golden Gate Bridge (which we couldn't really see even though we were on it...too much fog and it was really cold) and across to Sausilito. Somewhere along the way, Reid lost his hat. So when we went back across the bridge...still cold and foggy...

and we walked back to the Wharf and tried to get on a bus, but they were all full again. (buying that all day ride pass seemed to be everyone elses idea too). We finally got on a trolley and made it back to the hotel. There was a note under our door about the "Gay Pride Parade" which was to be right outside our hotel the next morning...we were thrilled...ha ha!

The next morning we heard and then watched the start of the parade from our 10th story window...then we braced for the adventure and headed out.... It was quite a sight...we have led a sheltered life which I am grateful for...we took the trolley to Chinatown. We had a great lunch and went in and out of a lot of shops.

Then we headed back to the airport on the BART... another adventure since the parade had finished and it was full...there are a lot of people who have led very different lives...I am glad for mine. We got to the airport in record time and amazingly... no lines. We were a couple of hours early, but the earlier flight was full so we walked around and read our books...I must say, the San Francisco airport is not as nice as the SLC airport and there is not much to do there.

It was fun to get away. It was fun to see new places. It is great to be home.

Poor Reid!

Well, Reid has now faced the awful kidney stones... Two weeks ago he was feeling pretty lousy and called the Doctor on Monday thinking it was something else and asked for a prescription which the Doctor gave him. Antibiotic and pain killer didn't help... by Wednesday morning he was in serious pain. He called the Doctor again and they made an appointment for the afternoon. By 10 a.m. he was in such agony that I took him to the emergency room. By about 10:30 they had given him his first relief with a bit of moriphine...but it didn't last long and about 20 minutes later he was in agony again...more moriphine and and CAT scan...guess what...kidney stones. And not just kidney stones, but MONSTER kidney stones about 1/4 inch in diameter. So, they called the Dr. (same one that Reid had been calling) and at about 3:30 they took him in to have the things blasted with a lazer. They also had to put a stent in because of all the swelling. He stayed home the rest of the week, but the next Tuesday he was supposed to go to San Francisco for a business trip. So on Monday we went back to the Dr. and he took the stent out. Finally some relief. Off Reid went on Tuesday to San Francisco for his meetings. It was quite an ordeal, but we have decided one thing...moriphine is okay, but delaudin is great!