Art Wall

Rylee is always asking someone to draw her a picture or print a picture for her to color. (Mostly dogs or other animals.) Then she wants to put it on her wall. She still a few empty spaces, so she told me, "It's almost complete!" I guess we'll have to do a few more so it can be complete. She is very good at coloring- and artist when she feels like it! Most of the time she would rather have someone else draw though.

80th Birthday

Happy 80th Birthday, Myrt!
You are the best grandma and great-grandma we could ask for.
We love you so much.
We are so glad we live close so we can come visit you often.
(You're probably getting sick of us though!)
We hope you had a great day- we had fun celebrating with you!

Matt made Myrt's Famous Chocolate Cake for her birthday.
He's been practicing and this one was his best yet.

Yellowstone

We went to Yellowstone on Saturday for their free day. We went last year and I said I never wanted to go again. But somehow Matt and Rylee talked me into it. Last year was freezing in August- we seriously needed our winter coats. So this year I was prepared for cold weather even though it was supposed to be nice. But it was beautiful and warm. I had such a better time this time. We went to the Grand Canyon or whatever it's called and saw some other waterfalls. We saw lots of animals- even a grizzly bear!! We didn't make it to Old Faithful because Rylee was taking a nap, but we really enjoyed everything else! I think I might go again next year!

Playing at the park in West Yellowstone where we had a picnic.

The higher the better for Rylee . . .

. . . and Ashlyn too!

A family of elk

We had to wait for road construction for a little while, so the girls ate lunch.
(They played at our picnic while Matt and I ate!)

I don't remember what this waterfall is called, but Rylee and I just went to it because Ashlyn was sleeping.

This is the grizzly bear- or what everybody was telling me was a grizzly bear. A guy let us look through his binoculars, but I couldn't find it even with those. Matt could, so I told him to take a picture. But I think I see it now! Matt says he's laying down eating something.

Rylee was so excited to see the buffalo, but when we finally saw one close up she was asleep. We tried to wake her up, but she was out!

I found this deer all by myself. I'm not usually good at finding animals so I was excited! Matt whistled and got him to look up.

Aarrr!

Yo-ho!
Ayyyy, Matey!
Avast, me hearties!
Shiver me timbers!
Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
We just learned this today from my dad when we went to visit.
So he put on his skull and crossbones bowtie and Rylee got out the hook and we were set for a picture.
(My family will make up any excuse to take pictures- now you know where I get it!)
It was a fun little celebration-
and to top it off, we even had a fireworks display!
Rylee found some fireworks in the garage,
so my dad lit them off!
Fun times!

Apples and Jumping

Ashlyn loves apples. Rylee does too,
but Ashlyn has especially been enjoying them lately.
Our neighbors have an apple tree
so they always want to go get some.

And you know Rylee-
she loves to jump and do tricks on the tramp.

The Fair

We went to the fair Saturday morning. It wasn't busy or hot until we were leaving, so it was kind of nice. Rylee and Ashlyn liked seeing the animals up close- but not too close. Rylee really loved the puppies in the petting zoo. I don't think she tried to pet them last year. She has really grown to love dogs lately.

We were just walking through the cow place and I saw this display of Matt's great-uncle, Harmon Tobler, who passed away recently. Matt was up ahead of me and he missed it of course. So I told him to come back and I just had to take pictures.