Summer Road Trip - July 2015

Last summer, we went on a road trip. As we drove into Twin Falls, Idaho, there was a place to stop with a scenic view of the Snake River. We were entertained for a while watching skydivers jumping off the bridge.

We headed up to spend a couple nights with Randall and Gina and their kids. We were there for the fourth of July and they set off fireworks in the backyard. Pretty thrilling for the California cousins who live in a city where they are illegal.

Heather took Kelly for a ride while...

...Keaton explained things to the city cousins.

We had a wonderful time visiting with loved ones and were sad to say goodbye.

After we left, we took a half hour detour just so the kids could say they had been in Oregon. And, we bought gas where someone else pumped it and washed the very dirty windshield of the van.

Next, we headed to Nevada to see the bristlecone pines, because that is what botanists and their families do for vacation - see famous trees. We've already gone on trips to see the redwoods and sequoias. Any suggestions for our next vacation?

There was awe...

...kissing...

...life lessons...

...and five adorable siblings.

Beyond the bristlecone pine grove, there was a trail heading up to Nevada's only glacier.

There it is! See it before it's gone!

Naomi practicing her photography skills.

We started to hear thunder and decided it was time to go back. On the trail down, we first got hit with hail, which was a novelty, then rain, which was wet.

We went back to the cabin we were renting and asked the very nice owners if we could throw our wet clothing in their dryer. We had an afternoon appointment for a tour of Lehman Caves and knew we'd be too cold, underground, in damp clothes.

The caves were very cool. They used to have parties down there and all the dancers, musicians and food had to go down a rope ladder one by one.

In the little town near the caves, we saw a swallow feeding its babies.

After Great Basin National Park, we drove on to see Jeff and Teresa. I'm sad I don't have any pictures of our time with them, but I think I was afraid to take my camera on the boat. Sheena came over with her kids and Jeff took us out on Lake Mead. We had a wonderful time!

On the way to Teresa and Jeff's place, we saw a nondescript sign on the side of the road, passed it because we were too slow reacting, flipped a u-ey and stopped at the Oak Springs Trilobite Site.

We got sweaty, dusty and, yes, bloody, but we found trilobites! Smashing rocks and finding fossils were definitely favorite activities on the trip.

Well, it is good to be back!

This is me looking relaxed. Heather took some pictures of me last Sunday because I went to the community college cosmetology school and had my hair bleached - just for fun :) The girl who did it was so nice. We ran out of time for her to style my hair, so she asked for pictures for her portfolio and I complied.

Coincidentally, the Sunday after I had my hair done, and the day I had a chance to take pictures, I was released as RS president, after four years, so that is why I looked so relaxed. It has been a tremendous blessing for our family and for me personally. I have learned so much and am really grateful for the chance I had to serve, and am also relieved to not have the responsibility. I always felt like I should have been doing more, because there is always so much I could have been doing! I am sure I will miss things about the calling, but am also excited for a new calling - coming soon!

So, I thought I'd start catch up on some things that we have been up to. Last month, I drove to Arizona for the wedding of my best friends' daughter, Magan. Here she is - isn't she lovely? She is a delightful person and a wonderful mother, just like her mother :)

It was a really beautiful wedding and I loved seeing so many people I love! It was also great meeting Magan's husband Nick. He's a great guy. Being the introvert that I am, I had to take a couple breaks and hide in the bathroom - so silly. I just needed quiet for 10 minutes or so and I was good to go. One of the times, I resorted to taking selfies and sending them to Stan, who I missed so much while I was gone.

On the way home, I stopped in Quartzite and saw this stuffed bear wearing an impressive squash blossom necklace. I bought stuff for the kids and Stan. It is always fun to bring tchotchkes back from trips.

This picture is out of order chronologically (we dyed eggs the Monday before Easter for an FHE activity), but it is a good reminder that I made it home in time to spend Easter with the family I love so much. These are my two favorites that I decorated. I might have pictures of everyone else's somewhere else, but this is what I had on my phone. The one egg was cracked, so I did faux kintsugi on it and wrote haiku with (mostly) walnut ink on another.

fine porcelain shell

white elliptical beauty

waiting for chroma

Some other things that happened in March, were, Stan going to Tehachapi for work and taking this picture...

...and me seeing this amazing sun pillar on the way home from dropping the kids off at BYD.

In April, Stan and I went to Catalina for an early anniversary trip, or maybe it will a pre-anniversary trip and we'll take another one in July when our 24th anniversary rolls around. It will depend on time and money, like so many other things do. We had a wonderful time, anyway, whether it was our official anniversary trip this year, or whether it was just a trip because we like each other. It was a "free" trip we got for listening to a time share thingamabob, but we did pay for the pain of dealing with the time share people in blood, sweat and almost tears. My they are persistent! We also shelled out for taxes, parking, food and a kayak rental, but all in all, it was totally worth it! We had a great time. One of the things we did was buy some fish food to feed the fish from the kayak, which didn't work too well, but we had great luck feeding the fish from the pier. I love these Garibaldis - they are so pretty!

We also saw a sheephead! I've never seen one before. Stan and I are like a couple of kids when we feed the fish :)

While we were there, I kept up on one of my New Year's resolutions. I am trying to make something everyday. It usually ends up being a drawing because I can be quick, but I've also included some baking, sewing, my favorite - bookbinding, and various other creative endeavors. One even included jelly beans. I haven't missed a day yet, but the quality varies wildly from day to day. I have been having fun! Here are the two I did on Catalina. If you want to see more, I have a blog for my daily makes, which I have been updating every month or so, or if you prefer instant gratification, I post my daily creation on Instagram every day under the name @budgiemakes

Finally, a couple pictures from today -

I found cookies in the back of our second freezer from Summer and Rachel's wedding shower (almost a year ago!) and so we ate them. Gwen made icing and they were delicious.

I snapped this darling picture of my five kids who are still at home hanging out together in the backyard after church. It makes my heart sing when I see my children being friends :)

I really miss this blog.

So, while Kelly and her sisters made dinner, I emptied the camera and curated, just for you, an exhibit of our lives from the last few weeks. 

Naomi had a birthday.

Michael raced in the pinewood derby. He came in 2nd for his age group and 3rd overall.

After all these years of taking kids on their turn for the homeschooling whale watching trip, I took my last two kids. It is hard to believe how everyone is growing up. This past week was Michael and Naomi's turn. It was a great trip. 

We saw a great blue heron looking for lunch...

...and lots of cormorants with a few pelicans mixed in...

...California sea lions lounging around...

...and from my view on the upper deck, a couple of cute kids.

Of course, what we were all most excited about was the opportunity to see some cetaceans!

The captain was able to find a bottlenose dolphin willing to surf the waves in front of the boat and we got a close up view. I learned something new on this trip. Bottlenose dolphin mothers name their offspring with a unique whistle that the dolphins then introduce themselves to other dolphins with for the rest of their lives.

We also saw more whales (all gray whales) on this trip than any other - seven in all! It was amazing :)

Here are two swimming together...

...and the tail of one diving.

The kids had some ocean science instruction on the trip back.

On to other exciting news - Naomi let her Dad pull a tooth.

Finally, some pretty pictures. I took the plunge and, in spite of my black thumb, bought some new house plants. I plan on hanging them in the window when I get around to it, but until then, they have a home on the kitchen counter. They are tillandsias, or air plants and they don't need dirt. I just soak them in a bowl of water every few days. Fun, huh?

I think they are really nifty...

...and was especially thrilled when one bloomed!