Heading Home

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Our final day in Bozeman was very low key. Most of the time was spent doing laundry and packing up all of the goodies we collected from our trip and Christmas. We ran a few errands and packed up the car. That night we enjoyed dinner from Santa Fe Reds (yummy) and some last moments with the family. As always it was hard to say goodbye and our hearts were heavy when we left that night. Leaving Montana is never easy for me, but I know we will be back soon and I am pretty certain that everyone will be down to visit soon!
In the morning we left early and grabbed breakfast. There was a storm front moving in across the mountain areas of Idaho and Utah so we wanted to get ahead of it as best we could, and we did. We actually made such amazing time that we continued past our original stop in Pocatello and stayed in Salt Lake City that first night.  From there we stopped in Vegas and then home! 
While I hate to come home from any vacation, once you have started the process of doing so you almost feel like you are in a hurry to get back. We couldn’t get home soon enough! So when we finally arrived and walked through the door it felt so great to finally be home. I actually looked forward to unpacking and sleeping in my own bed sounded like heaven to me. I am sure Shaun felt the same way!
In the car, stopping for gas and heading our on our way!
This is the “dont bother me I am busy in the car” look.

Lunch with Everyone!

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After a low key day yesterday, we had one final hoorah with all of the family. Auntie Diane, Uncle Barry and Great Grandma Prueter came over from Anaconda to have lunch with all of us at Ted’s. To top the whole afternoon off, my cousin Mike and his beautiful fiance’ Sue came with them! They were up from Arizona to visit for the New Year and we were lucky enough for our trips to overlap. The only thing that would have made the day even better is if my cousin David had been there too. He couldn’t be there physically but as always he was there in thought.
Lunch was delicious as it always is at Ted’s but the best part was all of the conversation and catching up that we were able to do. Growing up Mike, David and myself were very close. As life moved us in different directions the time together became less, so when we have the chance to see each other we enjoy every second of it. I was also very excited to meet Sue and welcome her into this nutty family. Let me just say that she fits right in and I can see why Mike loves her so much. She is beautiful inside and out and has one of the sweetest and warmest personalities. Abby really took a liking to her and I think was a little sad when we had to go. It was such a wonderful lunch and as it always seems to happen, our time together moved too fast.
Before everyone parted ways, we took a moment to get pictures together. Its not often that we get the chance to take a picture with most of the family. Love having the memories like this and to see so many generations of family in one place. 
Ellie is a little unsure about the high fives from Mike.
Hanging with Great Grandma Prueter and Auntie Jillian
The Wharton Gang with Great Grandma Prueter
The Whole Gang minus Grandpa Jerry (the man behind the camera) and David!
Cousins! So wish you could have been there with us David!

After lunch and saying goodbye, we did a little shopping down Main Street. The big girls (me, Jillian and Grandma Denise) took some time looking in the cute boutique shops while Shaun and Grandpa Jerry took the girls to the toy store to play a bit. This made them happy and kept them occupied for quite some time. When all the shopping was done, we headed to the Chocolate Moose which is an old fashion candy shop and soda fountain. We indulged in a little bit of ice cream and candy, some of which were favorites that I have not seen since childhood. Such an awesome place, especially for families. Before long the temperature outside was falling fast so it was time to get back to Grandma and Grandpas house. What a great final adventure before heading back home.

Its Not Montana Without Yellowstone!

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Visiting with my parents in Montana always means being tempted with a trip to Yellowstone. Each time, Yellowstone wins. How could it not? Its such a beautiful place and even though the winter keeps all but one road through the park closed, it still holds something magical to all of us.

This trip found us taking a day trip to Yellowstone. Once again we couldn’t resist. Luckily my dad was able to rent a car large enough for all us. This meant that we didn’t have to travel separately and we could enjoy the time together. The one perk for Abby and Ellie is that the rental had DVD players and screens in the backs of the seats. They could enjoy movies when boredom struck and as much as they love Yellowstone, boredom strikes fast with them. So, with DVD’s playing and the car all packed up, we took off early in the morning for Yellowstone. Luckily for us the weather was gorgeous and perfect for a drive through the park.

On the road and almost there. As you can tell the DVD player  is keeping Ellie so happy.
Overlook from Upper Mammoth Terrace looking down at the Gardner River
Steam and frost along Mammoth Terrace. Picture courtesy of Jerry Taylor
Its amazing what the steam from the nearby geysers and hot springs can create when its so cold out.
When we arrived we headed up to Mammoth and the upper terraces. From there we had a beautiful view over Mammoth Hot Springs and out towards the Gardner River. We couldn’t go to far so we turned around and headed out the only way we could go, to Lamar Valley. We kept our eyes peeled for animals. People were stopped along the way looking with spotting scopes. The wolves were out but off in the distance and too far for us to see. We did see bison along the way, mostly the big males who were out sunning alone. We did see a lone coyote hunting mice and voles in the snow. We watched as he patiently listened but kept a sharp eye on us. Eventually he jumped into the air, pounced and pulled a tasty snack out of the snow. Once he had it, he continued on his way trying to find a place to stop and eat.
Relaxing and sunning in the snow.
Carefully watching us as he or she hunts for a snack.
Afternoon Sun on the Snow
A long day in the fresh mountain air means sleepy children.

We continued through Lamar Valley, enjoying the snowy landscape and taking in as much as possible. We stopped for a bit of a lunch break and then made our way back to Mammoth. In Mammoth we did a bit of shopping at the General Store (a few snacks and little souvenirs for the girls) and then said goodbye to Yellowstone.

That night on the way home, Grandma and Grandpa treated us to dinner at the Rib and Chop House. I was in heaven. I love the food there, especially the stuffing! We each enjoyed a yummy dinner after a gorgeous day in Yellowstone. That night we all slept well and maybe even had a few dreams about our next visit to Yellowstone, whenever that might be.

Museum Time!

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After a relaxing New Year celebration, we thought it would be nice to get out of the house and do something for Abby and Ellie. While playing in the snow would keep them happy for hours, they have also continuously  asked to go to the Museum of the Rockies. Since Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Jillian all had the afternoon off we headed for one of their favorite spots.
On the way there we did stop for lunch at Rosie’s pizza. I just had to mention that because it was our first time eating there and boy was it yummy! It was there that Abby discovered the yummy goodness of Parmesan cheese on her Pizza.
Time at the museum was pretty simple. We headed up to the play area first so that the girls had the chance to run out some of their craziness and we wanted to make sure that we didn’t miss it. We might not hear the end of it if we did.
Doing a little bit of fishing…
I caught one! Grandpa Jerry and Grandpa Pat would be proud!
Taking a break from cooking and other fun things.
I’m an Eagle!
I am Abby the Eagle!

After the play area we headed out to see some of the new exhibits. The first was all about building and engineering. At the front of the exhibit was a low table covered in wood building pieces. Museum patrons were invited to add on to the structures already created by others or start one of their own. Abby, Ellie, Daddy and Auntie Jillian did just that and had a blast doing so. Shaun’s structure looked pretty cool by the time he was finished with it.

A Family that builds together… well… has fun together!

After construction was completed we moved on to the next exhibit. This one showcased Montana artists and their furniture and woodworking. What beautiful and amazing pieces of work. I found myself saying that if I had a big beautiful cabin in Montana somewhere, I would want everything on display. From dining room tables and clocks to drafting tables and wet bars that looked like a train caboose, I wanted them all. I also wished that I had a skill like that that I was good at, but that’s another story.

Beautiful wood carved clock. Love the wolf on it!
Beautiful carved table top with the Teton range. Love this one!
When we were done wishing we had everything in the exhibit, we moved on to Abby’s favorite place… The Dinosaurs! Abby sat with daddy and watched a video about how birds are related to dinosaurs, which had Abby completely fascinated. We saw the “living” Triceratops as well as all the fossils of triceratops at different stages in life. This time around, Ellie seemed even more excited and interested in the dinosaurs. I love the enthusiasm she shows now!
Abby and Daddy watching a video about birds and their connections to dinosaurs.
Sunset at Museum of the Rockies

After our walk through the dinosaurs it was time to go. We really didn’t want to leave, but it was getting late and the museum was closing. As always we had a blast and the girls learned a lot. All Abby could talk about the rest of the day were the building blocks and of course, the dinosaurs. You know you have had a good day when all your kiddos can talk about are the things they did!

Celebrating the New Year

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New Years Eve
New Years Eve was another quiet and relaxing day. Shaun and I slept in as best we could, although the girls pretty much keep to a schedule which means being up by 7 (even in another time zone). We did some more shopping and outings around town. In the evening we picked up our traditional Chinese food dinner and enjoyed every bite of it. After dinner we played games with the girls, had long conversations and passed the time until we rang in the New Year. Almost all of us made it to midnight, except Ellie. She was the smart one and passed out cold on cozy blankets in front of the fire.
We hope that everyone had a safe and fun New Year. We hope that 2013 brings happiness, prosperity and wonderful things for you and your family. Enjoy the year and don’t let it slip by too fast! I know we plan to try and make it last for as long as we can.
Happy New Year from dream land!
Happy New Year from Abby! Dont worry, its only Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider in her cup
Auntie Jillian enjoys a bit of the bubbly to ring in the New Year.

New Years Day

New Years Day was once again full of tradition. We slept in a bit and then headed back over to Grandpa and Grandma’s house for our traditional Eggs Benedict brunch. We were lucky the weather was beautiful too. This allowed for Aunt Diane, Uncle Barry and Grandma Prueter to come over and join us for brunch. As always, brunch was wonderful and I was amazed to watch Ellie, my picky eater, shovel down nearly two helpings of poached eggs, ham, olives and English muffin. Kudos to you Grandpa Jerry!

After brunch we sat down for another belated Christmas and opened presents from Grandpa Prueter and the gang. The girls loved their presents! They each received a tie-dyed stuffed moose and new pillow cases and a doll that keeps the monsters out from under the bed. However, in true child fashion, the hit of the day were their cards from Diane and Barry. Nothing beats a card that sings and dances! I think those will be hidden in a box on the way home.

A little snuggle time before having some yummy food.
Opening presents with Great Grandma Laura. Sorry about the game on TV Shaun.  Just pretend the score isn’t visible.
Great Grandma Laura opening up her present from the girls.
Ellie really loves her moose!
Their Christmas cards were the hit of the day… As you can tell.
Opening presents with Auntie Diane.
When all was said and done, Abby was back to her “Reader Book”

The remainder of the day was occupied with family and football. We enjoyed one anothers company and spent time catching up. Once again it was a simple day but it was nice to do simple things with family. I know we were sad to see Barry, Diane and Grandma leave but the good news is that we will be having dinner with them in just a few days! Better yet, my awesome cousin Mike and his fiance’ will be there too! So much to look forward to.

A Day of Simple Things

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Today was an easy day. We didn’t plan or do too much other then spend time with Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Jillian. All of the girls in the family went out and did a bit of shopping. I was hoping to find some of the same bargains that I did last Christmas when we were up but alas… nothing.
Abby and Ellie were content with shopping, playing with their new tablets and playing in the snow again with Grandpa Jerry. It was a day that went by too fast but we enjoyed it so much. We didn’t do anything in particular, but that’s just what we needed!
Enjoying her “reader book” in the window seat of the hotel.
Sitting at Grandma and Grandpa’s kitchen table, doing a bit of coloring. She was playing coy with Grandpa.
Abby the snow bunny
Two little snow bunnies and an almost full moon. 🙂
Trying to make snowballs with snow that was so perfectly cold, it slipped through their hands like sugar.
Taking a walk with Grandpa in the snow.
Giving the sled a try.

A Belated Christmas and Snow!

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After a few days of travel and being stuck in the car, it was time to relax and enjoy our time in Montana. When we woke up the next morning it was time to celebrate a belated Christmas with Grandpa Jerry, Grandma Denise, and Auntie Jillian. The girls had such a fun time opening presents, eating our traditional German Pancakes and laughing a lot with each other. 
Cutest Little Elf in the North Pole!
A special t shirt from Auntie Jillian.
The biggest hit out of everything… A Minnie Mouse hair styling kit.
Unwrapping presents can be serious business.
A little bit of attitude goes a long way.
Don’t worry those aren’t real scissors. I wouldn’t be this calm if they were.
Someone really loved her Christmas present from the Wharton Crew.

After all was said and done and the mess of the day was cleaned up, the girls played with their toys and watched movies with “Auntie JJ”. It was a nice quiet afternoon of relaxation. By early evening the girls were itching to get out into the snow to play. Once they were bundled up and ready we sent them out with Grandpa.

This was Ellie’s first time actually playing in the snow. Last year when we came to visit she was too little and completely uninterested in all of that cold white stuff. She had a good time playing even though it was so cold out that the snow was more like dust. Snow balls and snowmen were impossible to make but Abby and Ellie still managed to throw plenty of it around. 
Finally getting their hands into the snow.
Trying to make snowballs.
Cheesy smiles and a refusal to put her hood on.
Ellie’s Snow Angel
Abby’s Snow Angel

The last bit of fun for the evening were snow angels. Luckily the snow was perfect for this! Abby and Ellie came in cold and wet but with huge smiles on their faces. Nothing like playtime in the snow to make a kid happy. A perfect first day in Montana!

Montana Here We Come!

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Travel Day #1 
The day after Christmas we packed our bags, packed up the car and hit the road. Our destination, Montana of course! This time around we decided to make two stops on the way up to keep the days short and give us from burning out quickly. This meant that our first day would only mean travel from home to Cedar City, Utah. Knowing that this was only about 7 hours with stops we took the morning to finish packing and make sure that we attempted to get a decent amount of sleep.
When all was said and done, we hit the road around 1 pm ready for an adventure. Boy did we get an adventure. After a quick stop in Victorville, we hopped onto I-15 ready to drive at 70+ miles per hour and continue on to Cedar City. About ten miles outside of Barstow traffic came to a grinding halt. It was slow going from there to Baker and then we hit traffic again from the top of the hill down to state line. The trip from home to Primm, Nevada (state line) took us nearly nine hours. For those of you who have never taken this trip, it should only take about four hours to get from our house. We were not happy campers.
Luckily the traffic from Primm to Cedar City was light and we made it to our destination without any other issues. We pulled into the hotel in Cedar City around 12:45am mountain time and quickly headed to bed. The trip, with the time difference, took just under eleven hours. We were hoping this wasn’t a sign of the trip to come.
Packed into the car and ready for an adventure.

All smiles with a new “reader book” to keep her busy in the car.

Both Ellie and the sun became a nuisance to Abby, so she solved the problem by creating a little fort with her blanket and the back of my seat.
Travel Day #2
The following morning we woke up a little late but we were rested and ready to start a new day. Our biggest hope was that we left the travel issues from the previous day behind us. With a more positive attitude we grabbed some breakfast, hit the road, and started the journey to Pocatello, Idaho. For the most part the day was beautiful. We had sunshine a good portion of the morning. In the afternoon the clouds started to roll in and a bit of snow fell, but for the most part the roads were clear and dry. Music to my ears. We made excellent time even with stops in the Salt Lake area for food and a few extra items. I wish I had more to tell for this travel day, but honestly I am glad that I don’t. It means our trip to Pocatello was easy and uneventful.
The snow started to fall during our stop in Filmore. So pretty.

“Mommy please let me out of the car!!”

“Please mommy, when will we get there!”

Travel Day #3

Today its Bozeman or Bust! Thank goodness for early arrivals because it allows for a good nights sleep and sleep we did. When we woke up it was off to breakfast and then we packed up the car. Before leaving Pocatello, we stopped in to visit Grandma Pat. We had a fun time and I could tell she really enjoyed our visit. We sat and talked and Grandma Pat opened a few presents from the family. We also flipped through photo albums and looked at old pictures. Boy did we find some good ones! To protect the innocent, I promise I wont post them here. You’re welcome Grandpa Pat!

As always visits like this are too short and I know Grandma Pat was sad to see us leave, but we had to push on. We would finally arrive in Bozeman today and we wanted to have enough time in the evening to visit with  the family. We had another wonderful travel day with some snow but clear roads. Our stop in Dubois, Idaho proved to be a fun one. The temperature outside was cold but perfect. So much so that when it began to snow the flakes that were falling were perfectly shaped. The perfect snowflake if you will. I had a nice moment sitting outside of the car, watching the snow fall.

Ellie gets a snuggle and a smile with Grandma Pat

Snuggles and smiles with Grandma Pat and Abby

Shaun and Grandma Pat

The snow was falling and it was cold, so cold that the snowflakes falling from the sky were perfectly shaped.

The sun came out but there was a bit of blowing snow over Monida Pass. Finally made it to Montana!

We continued on and made great time. After traveling over Monida Pass, which had the most snow we had seen this whole trip, we crossed over into Montana. We were all very excited. Grandma and Grandpas house was now about an hour and a half away!

In a flash we were in Bozeman.  After checking into our hotel we headed over to Grandma and Grandpas house for some much needed visiting time and of course, some dinner. It sure feels great to finally be in Bozeman. I know we cant wait to have some fun!

Merry Christmas! Christmas Day 2012

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Merry Christmas everyone! Abby and Ellie took their job of falling asleep very serious last night. They slept hard and when they woke up this morning both of them discovered that Santa had come to visit and he left a lot of fun things for them.  I think Abby and Ellie were pretty surprised with what they saw when they came down the stairs this morning.

In true Abby fashion the presents were noticed first but then she quickly discovered that Santa had enjoyed a snack of milk and cookies. He even left a messy little trail of crumbs from the plate to the door. For those who don’t know, we do not have a fireplace in our house so we hang a magical key on our door for Santa so that he can find his way in. When he came to visit, he used the key to enter the house but must have forgotten about it because he left it sitting on the cookie plate. It also looked as though the reindeer had enjoyed a few tasty treats as well.

Soon after this discovery Abby and Ellie were back to presents and could barely wait to open them. They were very lucky girls this year. On top of the giant stuffed animals they received a few new outfits, movies, a few games and some new toys. Ellie discovered that Santa brought her a princess castle of her very own and Abby had a new Cinderella doll complete with carriage that changes back and forth to a pumpkin. From mommy and daddy, the girls were each given a tablet made just for kids. Now we can have our Kindles back!

After presents, we had some breakfast and cleaned up the mess of paper and boxes. In the afternoon, Grandma Zoe joined the fun. After a full morning of presents, you would have thought that maybe the girls were burnt out but they certainly proved us wrong. The girls ripped through more presents with the same excitement they had in the morning. Abby and Ellie received quite a few new outfits that were adorable but like most children moved on the minute they saw what they were. They also received new bedding which has been personalized for each of them and some adorable toys by Melissa and Doug (a fire truck set and a school bus set). Abby and Ellie also had fun with stockings full of fun treats and toys. Grandma Zoe certainly gave them lots to enjoy.

After presents with Grandma we enjoyed a lovely dinner from the Pizza Cookery, one of our favorites. By that point I had to move on from Christmas and get back into packing mode. Packing mode, you say? Yes, tomorrow we leave for Montana and there was plenty left to pack. I hated to move on so quickly from what was a wonderful day but in order to leave at a decent time tomorrow I needed to move forward.
So with that I must say goodnight and continue on with my packing. Merry Christmas one and all! I hope you had a wonderful day filled with family, friends and plenty of special memories. All the best from the Wharton Family!

Christmas Eve 2012

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Christmas Eve certainly snuck up on us this year. One minute it’s Thanksgiving and the next thing you know, it’s Christmas already! Christmas Eve was fun this year. Our morning was pretty simple, with pancakes for breakfast and Christmas cartoons to enjoy as we gobbled them up. After eating I pulled out the mixer, my recipes and every decorating item I own to prep for cookie making. We had to make sure that Santa had a yummy treat when he came to visit the house!

Once the dough was chilled, the cookies were cut and baked and they had time to cool, cooking decorating commenced. Abby and Ellie had many colors of frosting to choose from as well as different types of sprinkles, confetti and more. They used anything and everything that they could get their little hands on. Once every single cookie had been used as a painter’s canvas, we cleaned up and headed over to Grandpa and Nana’s house to visit and have a lovely Christmas Eve dinner. 

Dinner was wonderful. As always Nana cooked some yummy food which included ham, green bean casserole, cauliflower and cheese and her yummy potatoes. I tried not to eat like a pig but it was hard. Ellie dug in and cleared most of her plate, which isn’t her typical way of handling dinner time. I don’t think either Shaun or I were complaining. After dinner we watched some TV and a few of the holiday classics. Then it was on to presents!  Abby and Ellie received Barbies galore as well as games and some fun stocking stuffers too. Grandpa even gave each of them a huge tub of cotton candy!

Pretty soon it was time to go home, set out the cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer and head to bed so that Santa could come and visit. Abby left a note for Santa too, asking him a few questions. It was very cute. I think that she was hoping that if she left a nice note that Santa would stop by and leave lots of goodies! As you can see below, “Santa” was pretty nice this year. I think she will be very happy with what she sees tomorrow morning. Until then, an early Merry Christmas!

Decorating the Tree

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Due to my surgery and recovery, decorating the house and the tree for Christmas came a bit late this year. I had done some of the house beforehand but quickly ran out of time. So, we completed some of these things a bit late. The last thing on our list to do was the tree. Because we intend to travel up to Montana to see my family after Christmas, we were once again stuck to using our artificial tree. I completely understand why we use our artificial tree when we travel after the holiday, but I can’t say I am a fan. I grew up enjoying a beautiful, fresh tree that fills the house with the lovely scent of pine so not having one can be a tough pill to swallow. I know there are things in life that are far worse than not having a real tree but I had to complain for just a moment. But I digress…

This was the first time that Abby and Ellie really had the chance to join in and do some decorating on their own (under the supervision of Shaun and myself of course). Both of the girls caught on pretty fast and were decorating pros in no time. I am very proud to report that not a single ornament was broken this year during the decorating process. Although based on the curiosity I saw this evening, there might be a few broken ones in our very near future. Oh well, that’s why the special ones are out of reach. Despite all of the chaos at times we had a blast and enjoyed some family time together.

Abby’s Preschool Christmas Party

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Just a few days ago Shaun, Ellie and I went to Abby’s preschool for a small party to celebrate Christmas and the last day of school before the break.  We all had the chance to enjoy some treats, take a peek at all of the work Abby has done in school this year and talk with the teachers and parents. It was a short party, only lasted through the remaining half hour of class but we had a lot of fun. As a special treat and surprise, the kids did a small performance for us. They sang six different holiday songs that Miss Betsie and Miss Sheryl have been working on for the last month or so. It was so cute to see Abby perform. Her first ever school performance (aside from dance)! Thank goodness I remembered to bring my camera to the party so that I could capture the whole show! Such a fun day for all of us and it was nice to see all of the progress that Abby has made.