Month: May 2011

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Leave a comment

Memorial Day Weekend was a quiet and relaxing one. After all of the travel and events in April and May, it was nice to finally have a weekend that involved very little. The girls, Shaun and myself ran a few errands, took a few drives and on Sunday headed to the pool for a nice swim. The weather has still been a bit cool, but that doesn’t stop our little fishies from jumping in. Luckily the pools are heated too.


This was the first time we had gone up to the community pool at our house and it was very nice! There is a small wading pool for kids, which allowed Abby and Ellie the chance to splash and walk around. Abby even tried to swim on her own and practice her kicking. She also had fun splashing daddy as best she can.



After a bit of time, Abby convinced Shaun to take her into the big pool. She loved it the first moment she splashed in and Shaun had his hands full. They bounced all over the pool, kicking, splashing, learning to swim. It was hard to pull Abby out of the pool.


Ellie had a great time too. After a long month of being terrified of the water for some unknown reason, I was able to ease Ellie into the pool. Once she was used to it, I couldnt stop her from splashing around. Ellie was now a fishy too!


The Memorial Day weekend wasn’t all that eventful, but we had a great time. Nothing like spending time in the pool and relaxing with my family.

Kenzi’s Bridal Shower… Part Two

Leave a comment

After having a few days to settle in from a our trip, Abby and I were off to Bridal Shower number two for Kenzi! This shower was being thrown by Jeff’s side of the family down in South Orange County. Abby and I braved the freeways, which were surprisingly clear, and headed down to celebrate.

The day was wonderful and I had the chance to meet a lot of Jeff’s family. Based on the people I met I can see why Jeff is such a great person and the perfect match for Kenzi. Everyone was so nice and extremely welcoming to Abby and myself. Any nerves I had about being around a lot of people I didnt know were long gone.

After a wonderful lunch and time spent talking, we played a few games. I did… ok. I was able to guess most of the celebrity brides but trying to remember what cooking tools were on the apron had me stumped. Abby and Ellie stole my memory when they were born which makes it hard to play games like that. Becky, Jeff’s mom, did wear that apron well and looked cute covered in kitchen utensils.

The bouquet toss game was pretty fun as well. We all stood outside in the street and each of us had to throw the bouquet as far as we thought Kenzi would and the place it landed was marked. Then Kenzi would then throw it herself and the person who was closest to Kenzi’s won. It was a fabulous game!

Abby had a blast as well, making new friends and meeting the other flower girl, Sophia and the ring bearer, Grady. Grady and Abby seemed like one another quite a bit because they both stole a kiss from each other. Too cute! Although I am sure Shaun will have something to say about it!

The shower was a great time and I actually didint want to leave, but unfortunatly a very tired little girl who played hard with all of the kids and Jeff too, and the need to get past traffic forced me to go home. It was a success and another showing of love for Kenzi.



*Please note that more pictures will be posted soon. I forgot to bring my camera, therefore I am waiting for people to share theirs with me!*

Traveling Home

Leave a comment

Leaving a favorite place is always hard to do, especially when its my parents and sister. Saying our goodbyes was difficult and of course I pulled away from their house with a heavy heart and many tears in my eyes, but I had to go.

I decided our last route Montana would be through Gallatin canyon. It was a beautiful warm morning and based on the height of the river, you could tell the rising heat had started some major Spring melt off. We then hit Yellowstone Park boundary one last time, eyes peeled to see once last bear, wolf, coyote or fox. Aside from bison we didn’t see much else.



We stayed in Salt Lake City that night and after circling Point of the Mountain a few times, because my phone navigation couldn’t find the hotel, I gave up and used my own instincts. They were correct and once we settled into the hotel we went for dinner and then hit the hay.

The following day we drove from Salt Lake City to St. George. It was a short drive so I wasn’t complaining. What made up for that was the weather. Between Salt Lake City and St. George, which is only about a 4 hour drive, we encountered a multitude if weather. Everything from rain, thunder, lightning and wind, to hail, sleet, snow and sunshine. Pretty impressive for May!

We stopped that night and stayed with Great Grandma Taylor(my grandma). Once again the girls and I had the chance to visit with family and enjoy a relaxing day. It was truly the perfect final visit of our trip. The next morning we woke up early and hit the road, hoping to beat some of the heat across the desert. On our way out of town we stopped to “visit” Great Grandpa Taylor (my grandpa). I had the chance to introduce Abby and Ellie to him and I know he was there watching and listening.




It was hard to explain to Abby what we were doing exactly and of course the concept of someone passing away, but there was definitively a calm about her. She was listening to me and seemed interested. It made my heart sore. Sometimes I feel as though we don’t give children enough credit and we dont realize that they know and understand more then we think they do. No matter what, it was the perfect end to a wonderful trip.

Princess Training!

Leave a comment

Running around, wrapped in her blankie and adorned with a wand and tiara, Abby was put through the rigors of princess training, hosted by her Auntie Jillian. This kept Abby busy for a good hour and was probably one of the funniest things I have seen her do. Auntie Jillian showed her how to walk like a princess, wave like a princess, toss her hair like a princess and of course curtsy like a princess. Abby had a blast and it was a perfect last night with family. Ah the memories we make!



A Lazy Day in Anaconda

Leave a comment

Today we headed over to Anaconda to visit with Great Grandma Prueter, Aunt Diane and Uncle Barry. It was a quick but relaxed visit, giving us time to just talk and enjoy family before heading back home. Great Grandma Prueter (my grandma), was excited to spent a bit more time with us and I know the girls and I felt the same way. Abby and Ellie had the chance to “bond” with Sasha the Cat, but after a bit she took off for a nice cozy spot in the house. Sasha is a bit of a skittish kitty so the fact she hung out as long is did around little kids was impressive.

Abby talks to Sasha and tells her “Dont be scared Sasha, you cant be scared!”







It was nice to once again have four generations of family together at once. I hated to leave but I enjoyed the time we had. The drive there and back was also wonderful, taking back roads as opposed to the highway. It was our last chance to see and enjoy Montana and family… and we did.

A Third and Final Visit to Yellowstone for the Win!

Leave a comment

Yup… today was trip number three for the Wharton girls to Yellowstone since we have been here. One might say I have a problem, but I think its better to say that its a love for such a wonderful place. Its just what I do.

After a disaster of a breakfast at the Pop Stand, something I would have never expected from this wonderful little diner, we headed out to Yellowstone with what looked to be great weather and hopeful to see many animals. After a stop in Mammoth we made our way out to Lamar Valley and what did we find. A cute little black bear! Well he is cute from the car but I respect what this animal can do, especially when just waking up from a winter’s nap and looking for food. We watched him eat and play and scratch himself for quite some time before continuing on our way. But, we were happy to see a bear so early into our trip.



After our black bear sighting, we didnt see much else in the way of animals in Lamar. The drive was beautiful though and between this trip and our last a lot of snow had melted. I could even see the grass and wildflowers starting to grow. On our return trip back to Mammoth, we stopped at Undine Falls for a few pictures. Its a spot we usually pass on our trips and one I haven’t stopped at in quite some time, so I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Abby enjoyed it and had a bit of time to explore with Grandpa Jerry too.




From there we headed down the west side of the park, over to Canyon for a stop to look in the shops and then headed out to Hayden Valley. The road from Canyon, through Hayden Valley over to East Entrance, South Entrance and over Craigs Pass to Old Faithful had opened just yesterday so I was excited to take this route. We had packed sandwiches and snacks for the day and decided that we would stop along the Yellowstone River to eat a late lunch. Once again, Abby had the chance to picnic in the back of Grandma and Grandpa’s car and she had a blast! When lunch was finished Grandpa Jerry walked along the large pull out with Abby, letting her stop to play in the snow that was still piled pretty high. Abby loves the snow and tries to take any chance she can to play in it.



As we were stopped and watching birds along the Yellowstone, two American White Pelicans landed in a small tributary near us. They moved away from us a few times but after following them around we watched them swim along, doing a synchronized water ballet. The two are a mating pair and the horn on their bills only appear during mating season. The Pelicans were so beautiful to watch we probably could have stayed there all afternoon. However, a Blue Heron didnt seem to like having them around and after about 10 minutes they took off to another spot along the Yellowstone, out of the sight of people.



Watching the Pelicans lulled us into a a relaxed state, but Yellowstone has a way of doing that to you. It was time to move on and see some more. We headed through Hayden Valley down to Yellowstone Lake. Despite the warmth and beauty of the day, it was obvious that Yellowstone Lake was still frozen over, but it was a beautiful and impressive sight to see.


As the day started to fade we headed over Craigs Pass, past Old Faithful and back towards Mammoth. On our trip from Madison to Norris we came across a small clearing. Standing in it was a small fox, whose coat was close to finishing its turn from white winter to red. Its hard to spot a fox due to the fact that they are extremely shy animals but we were able to stop and snap a few pictures before he or she disappeared into the tree line. Jillian, who looks to find a fox as hard as I look for wolves, had the chance to see another fox in Yellowstone. Along that same stretch of road, we came across another bison caravan of females with their young. One of the calves still looked to be be very small and probably only a dew days old. It was still wobbly on its legs and had to stop often to lay down, but mom was patient and protective.



After all that had been seen that day, we left Yellowstone for the last time feeling happy. Its no wonder this place in the world is my happy place. Everytime I leave Yellowstone, I know I leave a piece of my heart there but I find it again when I return. Goodbye for now Yellowstone! We will be back again soon!

Adventures at The Museum of the Rockies

Leave a comment

Today the weather finally changed and for the first time since being in Bozeman… I saw the sun! I knew this was a sign to get out of the house, so we did! Jillian, Grandpa, Abby, Ellie and I headed to the Museum of the Rockies for a day of adventure and exploration. Abby loves dinosaurs so I thought this would be a great place for her to go. As a bonus, they also had a frog exhibit! On our way in, we stopped for a quick picture with “Big Mike”, the resident T-Rex. Abby was in a bit of a bad mood at this point, but I think we got a good picture regardless.


Abby loved the frog exhibit and hasn’t stopped talking about it all day. I dont think I have seen so many frogs in one place! There were definitely a few that I didn’t love the look of, but at least they are behind glass. Most looked like what you would expect from a bull frog or a poison dart frog, but a few had me baffled. Several looked like big blobs while another looked a bit like a monkey!



After we pryed Abby away from the frog exhibit we wondered through an area dedicated to the history of Bozeman and Montana. Abby loved the old fashion fire trucks and of course the faux store front that replicated a gas station/home one might have seen in Montana in the 1920’s. After that we made our way over to Abby’s favorite spot, the Dinosaurs! Even though it was mostly fossils, she still loved them. I think Abby honestly thought she was in an episode of Dino Dan. I think her dinosaur face says it all.



As the adults tired of dinosaurs, we once again pulled Abby and Ellie away and headed to another exhibit that was recommended by Jillian. She had been to the Explore Yellowstone exhibit on a field trip with one of her classes for student teaching and had told me it was pretty neat. Well, Jillian was right! The exhibit was basically a place for kids to play and learn about the outdoors as well as the ecosystem of Yellowstone. Abby had the chance to dress up like a fire fighter, do some fishing, make a few geysers erupt, bounce around in an eagles nest and keep watch in a fire lookout.






I thought nothing would be more fun than dinosaurs and frogs, but I think Explore Yellowstone had them all beat. Abby did not want to leave but luckily she was hungry enough to be pulled away with the idea of lunch. She hasnt stopped talking about her trip to the “seum” and I have a feeling she will continue to talk about it months from now. I cant wait to take her back when Shaun is with us.

Yellowstone… A Second Trip

Leave a comment

Yup we did it again! Everyone had the day off, so what do we do? We head to Yellowstone! I know it might seem obsessive to some, but this is my happy place and if the chance to go is given, I take it.

Today was going to be yet another gloomy spring day, but we didnt let that stop us. We were up bright and early, ready to take on the day. We stopped for breakfast at a popular spot in Livingston called the Pop Stand. It was a super yummy breakfast and because it was a Tuesday, quiet too!

Once we arrived in Yellowstone we stopped in Mammoth to change diapers and use the restroom. While it was cloudy, it certainly didn’t look like rain would be falling anytime soon. I think we were hoping for a beautiful sunny day, but the gray of the day made for some great photography.


As usual, we left Mammoth and headed for Lamar. Only a few roads in the park were open at this point, so we are a bit limited in where we can go. Another road is set to open Friday. I am hoping to come back then too but we shall see. Today Lamar wasn’t as active as it usually is. No wolves or bears were within sight of the naked eye. They were out there though, you just had to use a spotting scope to see them.

The Bison were out in force though. The large bulls in their small secluded groups as well as the cows with their babies. One of the males had a little hitchhiker on his back but he didn’t seem to care. As we continued on we came across a group of females with their little ones. Two of the little ones seemed to be happy playing with one another, running, jumping and practicing their fighting. It was a cute sight to see and they had a very captivated audience in us and many other park visitors.





Despite the lack of animals on our trip out through Lamar, it was beautiful. We turned around at our usual spot, Trout Lake, and headed back to Mammoth for some lunch. As we approached Tower Junction and the bridge over the Yellowstone River, we found a lot of people stopped taking pictures. There just along the roadside were a ram and ewe Big Horn Sheep. Both had been eating a lunch of their own and were now just hanging out, posing for pictures.



After our goat encounter we headed back to Mammoth for some lunch. The grill there was finally open and Abby and Ellie were happy to stop for some noodles and hot dogs. It is amazing how lunch can bring cranky kids out of their funk and back to the land of happiness. I think it did the same for mommy too. The girls were adorable and the one thing that put a smile on my face was watching them hold hands. Abby and Ellie sat there holding hands for a good ten minutes as they ate and watched all of the interesting people come in and out of the grill.




After a yummy lunch we headed into the general store to check out some souveniers for the girls as well as a few snacks for the road. You cant leave and not have a t shirt or something to remember your trip by! The clouds began to part a bit but didn’t go away as we continued our travel. The rest of our trip through Yellowstone was enjoyed with very few stops, but we didnt mind. We were in beautiful country and sometimes you just cant take pictures of everything! It was yet another great day in Yellowstone!

Spanish Creek and Spring Snow

Leave a comment

After a busy day yesterday, the girls and I decided to take it easy and just relax. Thanks to the thin, fresh mountain air the girls slept in and so did mommy! The day was expected to be another gloomy and wet one and my parents both had to work, so we didn’t have anything big planned.

By mid-afternoon Jillian, the girls and myself were tired of being in the house so we went for a drive. We stopped for a bit of food and then headed up 19th Avenue close to the mountains and to see if Hyalite Canyon was open. It wasnt so we had to figure something else out. That is when I decided we would drive out to Spanish Creek so that Abby and Ellie could see the Bison on Flying D Ranch. Flying D Ranch is a full time ranch owned by Ted Turner. When it was purchased, Turner agreed to keep the road, which leads to a state park, open to the public as long as visitors stayed on the road. The portion of the ranch on which the road runs through is home to many of the bison that Turner breeds and owns. Abby loves “buffalo” and my dad had been told many of the babies were out.


When we got to the Spanish Creek road, the temperatures dropped and it began to snow! The babies and females were not out, that we could see, but there were several large males hanging out by the road. They looked so pretty as the snow began to fall and appeared to be completely unaffected as well.


The falling snow made a place I had been several times before so picturesque. It was great to see it in a different light. While our drive was just something we decided to do last minute it was a pretty one. Its amazing what you can find so close to home, well… close to my families home!

Mother’s Day 2011

Leave a comment

Happy Mother’s Day! Being a mom is the best in the world and there is no better way to celebrate the day then to head to Yellowstone National Park. My mom and I both decided that this is what we wanted to do. Because it was going to be another gloomy and wet Spring day, we decided not to get up super early and just make the day a more casual one. We took our time getting to the park and even stopped to pick up some lunch in Gardiner.

With our lunch in hand, we headed in to Yellowstone in search of a place to eat our lunch. We were hoping to find a picnic spot, but unfortunately many of the covered picnic areas had a lot of snow around them. After trying several places and failing, we decided just to stop and picnic in the back of our cars. Abby sat in Grandpa and Grandma’s car with them while Jillian and I hung out in the back of my car. While it might seem like an odd place, it was pretty fun! One of the many perks of owning an SUV! Abby had a blast as well and stayed warm and dry as the rain started to pick up.




Once lunch was finished we hopped back into our cars and continued on our way out to Lamar Valley. As we entered the valley it was obvious that people were stopped and looking at something. Down along the river was a bison kill and coyotes had just been on it feeding. While everyone was focused on that, along the hillside across the road we saw three or four wolves running along. It appears as though they were heading to a den way up in the hills. I couldn’t catch a picture of them, but I was so excited to once again see wolves that close in Yellowstone.

As we continued on, we ran into a few visitors who had just come from a spot where two Grizzlies had been. Not being in any hurry, we decided to head out that direction to see what we could find. A lot of people had stopped in one spot, but we could not see what everyone was looking at. We decided to turn the car around and head back to Mammoth Hot Springs, taking another quick look to see if we could spot anything. Just as we came up on the popular spot, two sub adult male Grizzlies came darting across the road and onto the hillside! It was amazing! Once across they stopped and continued to forage for more food. Luckily I was able to snap a few shots.


After our two in one Grizzly bonus sighting, we headed back towards Mammoth with big smiles on our faces. As we headed out of Lamar Valley and close to Tower Junction, we ran into another large furry friend. This time, our Grizzly was walking down a small creek just outside of the Slough Creek area. I was able to snag a few shots but unfortunately the rude wildlife photographers were out and ruining everyone’s photo ops. It was still fun to see this guy and once again we were on our way with smiles on our faces.


The remainder of the day was quiet in regards to wildlife, but still beautiful. We drove down through the west side of Yellowstone to Old Faithful. There we stopped for a break and to look around the inn before taking off and heading home.


Our drive home, after a stop in West Yellowstone, was pretty for what we could see. The sun was setting fast but we took in all that we could see. Once the sun had set, the drive became a little bit nerve wrecking as there were animals everywhere! But, we made it home safely with another day of great memories.

Adding One More to the MSU Alumni… Go Cats!

1 Comment

Today my “little sister” Jillian graduated from Montana State University. It started as a cool and gloomy day with a bit of rain, but turned out to be a gorgeous day. I dont know how much I can say because I truly don’t have words to describe just how happy and proud I am of Jillian. She has worked hard, sacrificed a lot of time to her studies and now all of that will pay off. Hopefully she will soon have a job teaching and molding young minds. My heart soars with pride and I see a very bright future for my little sister. She looked beautiful, happy and excited. After a two hour wait, Jillian was finally a part of the MSU Alumni and no longer a student.






After she was officially graduated, we headed back home for some lunch, cake, ice cream, cards and gifts. This gave us the time to enjoy each others company and celebrate the wonderful day. That night we headed out to Three Forks, Montana to the Sacajawea Inn for a celebration dinner. For those who did not know, my great grandparents were the first proprietors of this Inn so it will always hold a special meaning to us.




The dinner I had was amazing, some of the best ribs I have ever had. The girls enjoyed it too! Abby had a great time coloring and Ellie, well, she loved the bread! It was a wonderfully perfect day!