School Pictures

A good friend of mine here in Kansas City offered her photography skills to take some school pictures of my girls.  It was awesome.  Eden insisted on doing her own hair and dress herself, showing her spunk and colorful nature.  Leila also chose out what she wanted to wear as well telling me she wanted to be "cute". This is her classic "cute outfit...this dress and her hair back in a pony tail.  Can't argue, she's cute.  The others are pretty darn cute as well!

Other Pictures of Our Vacation

We spent two more weeks in Utah after visiting Yellowstone.  I don't have many pictures, but it was so fun to spend so much time with family.  Here are a few pictures I had found showing a few things we did while we were there!

Boy or Girl...Girl or Boy...

Had our 20 week ultrasound and sure enough, IT'S A GIRL!

We are excited!  Four girls...crazy!

Most importantly, the baby is healthy and strong.

Eden was slightly taken back because she KNEW it was going to be a boy...so when the news came it was a little bit of a shock.  I have a video, but I can't get it up here of the girls popping a balloon filled with pink confetti followed by...silence...then "...its a girl..." in a rather unexcited voice.  But now they are plenty excited for a little sister.

Bison Bison Everywhere

We saw HUNDREDS of bison at Yellowstone.  These pictures don't do justice.

Apparently all the bison in Yellowstone meet at this open field once a year.  We weren't informed, but it was quite incredible to see so many bison everywhere.  We also could see the little bison.  They were often right in the road and we could hear them grunting and glaring right at us...these guys are large and in charge!

An Awesome Hike

In the land of Bethany...the words "awesome" and "hike" do not coincide int he same sentence.

I don't like to hike.

But this one was awesome.

The animals right next to the trail.

 Me feeling a great sense of accomplishment as I overlook the beautiful views.

 Selfies with a big horned sheep.

 Beauties of the Earth.

 And on the way down, the kids (and the babysitters...thank you my dear family for all the times you watched and helped watch my children...it meant a lot to me, especially on this hike) met up with us as they did a "mini" version of the hike.  Molly was glad to see me.

Feeding the Bears

At Yellowstone, just outside of our condo, was the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  It was a lot of fun to go and see those animals up close.  Honestly my favorite part was waking up every morning to the wolves howling just out my window.  Seriously, I loved it.

OK, maybe it was my SECOND favorite part.  The first was the experience at the Discovery Center where the kids got to feed the bears.

They took the bears out, let the kids in with a bucket of food, the kids hid the food under rocks, threw an apple in the water for the bears, the kids left, and the bears came in to search out their food.

 I admit, it was quite sad (and hilarious for me not the kids).  It was freezing and raining.  We ran in to buy ponchos in case it rained since it was going on and off.  Eric decided that it wasn't worth it for a poncho....and then of course as soon as the kids had to go out there it didn't rain...it POURED.  Poor, poor Trey.  But it was still fun for them all.

Below: Here's Eden waving "HI!"  She's of course the last of the bunch cause she's just not one to rush.  She enjoyed placing the food strategically under rocks and hidden away

 Here are the bears scavenging for their food after the kids left.

Molly and Leila were a bit sad because kids under five couldn't feed the bears and it was cold and rainy (we at least got to be under a covering outside so we didn't get wet)...but then they were plenty happy when their aunts came to the rescue with treats.  They know how to make my kids happy.

 This is the kids outside trying to be scary bears.

Bring On the HEAT!

And the smell...

Nose plugging, Eden and Leila style.

Yes, they plug their noses by sticking two fingers up their nostrils...stylin'.

 There were awesome hot pots everywhere that were all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

 Some were still, some boiled and bubbled.

 Some were muddy.

 Some let off steam.

 And some...like the dear Old Faithful, BURST.

 Above:  Ramona, Leila, Miriana, and Ting-Ting...LOVE having cousins.

 Above:  Brayden, Leila, McKell, and Eden acting scared while listening to the sounds that came from Dragon's Mouth.