Playing with Cousins

We did a lot of playing in Wyoming. I think that both Colleen and I were very grateful that the three oldest played so well together. They hadn't seen each other since Christmas and they did great. There were very few squabbles in two weeks.

The two sweet babies just hung out with us and played with each others toys.

Every morning during the week Colleen does preschool with her girls. Since Ephraim and I have started to do preschool we just joined in with them. I think that typically Sadie pays better attention, but Ephraim was no help.
I like that in this picture you can see Colleen and Elisa working hard on her letters with the two hooligans wrestling over the chair behind them.
I have to show a picture of Ephraim in "his" Cubbies gear. Colleen is the Cubbies director at their church, so she let Ephraim join Elisa and Sadie and twenty other Cubbies both Mondays. Ephraim LOVED it. He wanted a bag just like them, he loved the vest and I think next year we will get him involved.

Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve

From September 24th

On Friday we went to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve in Grand Teton National Park. The preserve was donated to the park in 2007 - it used to be a cattle ranch. Colleen and a bunch of her friends have created a preschool group that does a different activity every Friday.

This picture doesn't show all of the kids. I think we are missing at least 4 or 5.
Checking out the pellets they had to look at.
Sadie talked intently to the park ranger.
We went on a short hike and split into two groups (older and younger). The preserve had a bunch of these cool backpacks that we could borrow. (Free to borrow, but have to leave your credit card in case you lose any). The backpacks had small journals, pencils, glue sticks, magnifying glass and binoculars. The younger kids loved wearing them, and the big kids really got into finding things and putting them in their journals.

Sadie. She is a ponderer and enjoys taking in God's creation. Ephraim loves to run. I was in charge of the two of them and Colleen went with Elisa. At one time Ephraim took off up the trail and Sadie was still behind me and there was a moment of panic - "which child do I go with?"
One of the waterfalls.
On the way home I made Colleen stop so I could take pictures of the bison. You can see Sleeping Indian in the background.

A Tea Party

From September 23rd

From the moment I knew that we were going to Jackson and the boys were going to be gone over Colleen's birthday, I knew I wanted to do something for her 30th. Colleen wasn't quite sure. She doesn't like to be the center of attention. I attempted to find a balance between honoring Colleen's dislike of being the center of attention with my belief that 30 is a big deal and your friends should help you celebrate.

I came up with the idea of a tea party - something that the little girls would enjoy and wouldn't be filled with birthday banners. Since I don't live in Jackson I talked with my friend Jenn and she helped me come up with a date and time. Jenn then handed the coordinating to our friend Dancy, who is amazing. She is seriously had everything coordinated and I didn't have to worry about inviting anyone or figuring out food. She even did the decorations. All I came up with was a craft for the kids (which is a sore subject since I left my craft supplies in Washington)

Dancy came by while we were doing preschool and set up the adult tables. Complete with china tea sets.
Everyone brought food and we had two different food tables.
Our kids testing out the craft picnic table before the party really started.
The kids made little crowns. Here is princess Raina.
And her Royal Highness Selah.
12 mommas and 22 kiddos.
It was a beautiful day and I think everyone had fun. Including Colleen. :)

Colleen's Birthday

From September 22

Today was Colleen's 30th birthday. We started off the morning with cinnamon rolls, opening presents and preschool. Colleen took the big kids for a bike ride down to their neighbor Patti's house while I stayed home with the little ones.
We then packed up the kids and drove to Jackson Lake Lodge. This picture is of Mt. Moran. Forrest proposed to me at the base of it.
We went for a short hike before we saw a thunder storm starting to roll in.
Colleen and her girls.
Me and my goofballs
Since our trip to the Lodge was cut short we went to the Visitor's Center in Moose. The kids are sitting on these screens that change every few minutes. I believe this one is a frozen creek, but there was also a running creek, skiing and leaves. They were fascinated.

After the Visitor's Center we met up with Colleen's mother in law, Becky at McDonalds for "Smiley Boxes" (happy meals). These smiley boxes come with 2 animal cracker type cookies. I think I should complain to the McDonald's by my house.

We then went home and Colleen blew out the candles on her cupcakes with a few helpers.

Library, Lunch and the Park

From September 21

Tuesday morning was filled with preschool and then heading to the library for story time. We met up with Jenn, and some other friends of Colleen's.

Hayden and Elisa listening to the story.
After the library Colleen, Jenn, Becca and I took all of our kids to New York City Sub Shop for lunch. (That is a total of 9 kids). This is seriously the best sub shop ever. When I am pregnant I have cravings for this place. They have one in Hood River and 2 in the Bend area. If you live in Portland, you need to go.
The sub shop is across the street from a park so we headed there after lunch.
Elisa and Trinity. Trinity is the same age as Sadie, but thinks that she and Elisa are the same age.
Sadie.
After naps, look who taught herself how to sit up?
We went for a walk in the afternoon. I think this picture shows the size difference between the cousins. Selah outweighs sweet Raina by 3 pounds.
Pure sweetness.

The Museum

From September 20

On Monday we did preschool in the morning and then headed to the National Wildlife Museum. They typically have an art class for preschoolers on Mondays but today they didn't. We played in the children's section for awhile and then ate lunch outside.
One of the cool statues outside of the museum.
Trinity. Her expression cracks me up.
Looking back towards town and Snow King.
My buddy eating an apple.

Game Creek

From September 19

We started off the morning with a photo shoot before church. Aunt Shell sent this coordinating outfits with me for all of the kids to wear.
Isn't Elisa big holding the two babies?
That afternoon we went for a hike up Game Creek with my best friend Jenn and her two girls Trinity and Zoe. Selah spent most of the time riding in the chariot.

The big kids walking on the trail. Did I mention that it was 75 degrees almost every day we were in Jackson? It was great to get to wear our summer clothes a little bit longer.
Sadie, Trininty, Elisa, Ephraim, and Zoe