FAMILY PICTURES

Last Thursday we finally got our family picture taken after a couple of failed attempts.

We took a few more traditionally posed pictures inside the house in front of the Christmas tree. Then Steve had an idea to take a few with us up in the willow tree in the backyard. So we all went out, barefoot, into the cold backyard and climbed up into the tree. I was not too sure if I would like these. But I ended up loving them. I actually love them so much that I blew one up to 11x14 to mat and frame and hang over the fireplace. So, I guess Steve does have some good ideas.

FAMILY OUTING

Thursday and Friday the kids were out of school this week.

Friday turned out to be such a beautiful day, we decided to load up the bikes and rollerblades after lunch and go down to the Jordan River Trail.
Steve, Belle and I donned our roller blades while Zack, Katie and Becky lead our way with their bikes. It was fun to roller blade with Steve. It made me think of rollerblading in San Diego together...memories.

The girls were so cute on their bikes. I still sometimes struggle with how much my babies have grown. Zack and Belle ended up trading vehicles. Zack began roller blading with Steve and I and Belle manned the bike.

After about 2 miles we stopped at a little playground and let the kids play and run. Steve and I pulled out our reading material and found a comfortable piece of grass to sit on and soak up the sun.

My children may be a getting older, but they still seemed to enjoy their time on the playground...going down slides, hanging on the monkey bars and playing tag with each other.

A few of us took a walk to the river to find the great blue heron that had flown by us and landed in the water. Unfortunately we could not get close enough to get a picture, but it was fun to sit on the shore and toss rocks and talk.

It was a fabulous way to spend the day together. I love my family and these simple moments that we spend together.

FATHER'S DAY 2007

Just thought I would fill you in on what we did for Father's Day.
Steve was off for Father's Day weekend. We spent Saturday going to Soccer games, running errands and watching the kids swim in the pool. Then Sunday morning the children presented Steve with the school made cards. I had gave him a camping stove and had made a cute scrapbook project (of course). We had breakfast and began to get ready for church. While everyone ran around doing hair, finding church shoes...I packed up a picnic lunch. And left it in the fridge. We then left for church. At church the kids made daddy another card and got to sing in sacrament meeting. Once we got home we changed clothes and drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon. We took a little walk through the woods to a little stream where we proceeded to eat the picnic lunch I had made.

We hung out at the stream for a while. I read my book and took the occasional picture. The kids explored the stream and made their own dams. Steve set up a log that kids could walk on to cross over a deeper part of the stream. Then the children began to throw rocks in the water to watch the splash. Then Steve got a little splashed, then again, and again and before I knew there was a full fledged splash war going on Daddy vs. all the kids. It was fun to sit there and watch them. Once we got home, I surprised Steve with his Father's Day dinner....

CEREAL!!!!

I lined up 8 boxes of different cereals and a gallon of milk and we ALL had cereal for dinner. I think Steve was happy with my attempt to make his Fathers Day a special Day that is about him and things that he loves. This is the "TRADING CARDS" I made for Steve. I found this project in Paper Crafts magazine and thought it would be perfect for Steve. I made 1 card for each person in the family with their picture and statistics. Like I am listen as Team Manager the kids are listed as 1st born, 2nd born instead of 1st base and 2nd base. Then there was their birth dates, weights and heights. I even included Daisy in the group. Then they are all stored in the little metal band aid like box.

Steve Yellowstone Trip

Steve took his brother, who had not been backpacking since they were children and their way of transporting their gear at that time was tying their gear together and would haul it into the woods.

They shortened their original plan from 3 nights in the back country of Yellowstone to 2 and then spent 1 night in a campground of Teton National Park so that they could see more of each park.

THINGS SEEN AT YELLOWSTONE/TETON:
31 elk antlers
5 black bears
3 grizzlies
Many elk
Lots of bison
A few deer
Marmots
2 eagles
A pair of wolves at a den with pups

They even came upon a grizzly cub off-trail on Buffalo Plateau. I think their main focus at that point was making sure that the mama grizzly, whenever she was, knew that they were no threat; instead of taking photos.

One of the most exciting things that they got to see was a mama black bear grazing and then Steve and Scott got to watch her two tiny cubs run to her and then scamper way up a tall pine tree. I can't even imagine how excited and slightly nerve racking that might have been.

They had a bison run along side the truck as they drove and it made some aggressive gestures, shortly after Scott saw it and called it a buffalo. Scott learned to NEVER call a bison a buffalo again.

They had another bison follow them and proceeded to stare them down as they walked by. There were lots of wildflowers which made for some great shots of the scenery. It was a great trip that the Brothers Weber will always remember!