Camping in Yellowstone.

We took a quick trip up to Yellowstone National Park to take Pascal camping for his first time and to see the sites! It was kind of rushed though. We did not leave until about 2:00 on Saturday because some of my lovely friends gave Jasmin a baby shower that morning. We did what I am calling luxury camping. Paid for a site, bought the firewood, and had flushing toilets. When we camp it is often, right of the road with no toilets, we bring and cook all of our own food and we have to search for the firewood and ofter we even have to chop the firewood. We did camp in a tent and had foil dinners for dinner Saturday night.

The first thing that we saw were some elk on Saturday. Then we went and set up our camp. We then took off and went to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. When we told Kenya we going to the canyon, Kenya must have her "Kenya" instead of canyon because the whole time she kept asking if we were going to the little "Kenya" or a big "Kenya." When we finally got there she was so excited to be at the "Kenya." (I think after a few times of correcting her she knew the difference, but she knew we thought it was cute and so she kept asking about the "Kenya.")

We saw several different angles of the lower and upper falls of the Yellowstone River. It was so beautiful.
These next pictures of after we got back from site seeing and made our dinners and had s'mores.
Yummy foil dinners. The first time ever for Pascal and hopefully many more to come.
Just chillin watching the camp fire.




Pascal started his first fire and it only took 3 matches. I think it was beginners luck though because the next morning he struggled and could even get the paper to catch fire. (Plus, Robert helped him build the fire and that is the hardest part about getting a fire going.) I took over then and yes I did use a lot of matches, but it lit.



By the time we were putting Kenya to bed it was after 10:00pm and she usually goes down around 8:00pm. So, this was by far the worst night sleep any of us had ever had. She started out by not wanting to say her prayer. Okay, that's fine. We tried to talk her into saying it and explaining why it was important. She was already throwing a fit. So, then her fit continued for the next 30 minutes or so. (Quiet time started at the camp ground at 10:00) So, the entire camp ground was silent and Kenya was screaming about going to bed. If Kenya ever stopped Jasmin was screaming in pain with gas, even after the gas drops. Finally, Robert took Kenya for a drive and just let her fall asleep in the car. Yeah, we were "THAT" family in the camp ground that night. There was more to it then that too. Robert finally brought Kenya back and asleep, but then Jasmin was up. So, Kenya went to sleep about 11 and then I did not get into bed until about midnight. Robert joined shortly after me and Jasmin. Jasmin continued to wake a quite a bit that night, which she usually never does, and cry in the middle of the night until she could get a toot out. Robert also had to get up with heartburn and stay up about an hour with that. Poor, Pascal he was just a by stander to everything going on. I guess he knows what it is like have a young family. Real, American life.

The next day we were lazy about leaving the campsite, as you should be when camping and then headed to see "Old Faithful." Of course this whole time we took different routes to see as much of the park as we could. Pascal kept falling asleep while we were driving, but surprisingly enough Kenya really did not sleep much in the car. We saw tons of buffalo, a few elk, and lots of birds.
This picture is Pascal trying out the water in the river on our way out of the park.




That was our fun, and eventful trip to Yellowstone Park. By the way, camping in a National Park is expensive!! Our camping trip cost us as much as if we would have stayed in a hotel for one night. (That is including gas, fees, firewood and the food to go.) I could not believe it!!!!

Saturday 8-20-2011 and more.

Our friend Pascal from China arrived late Wed the 17th. We had a few days of hanging out around the house and walking around Shelley so that Pascal could see the small town and then on Saturday our ward had a service project to clean up along the highway. We all participated in it including Kenya and Jasmin. Well, Jasmin slept the whole time just like a good baby should.

This Saturday was a busy one! Service project at 8 AM and then grocery shopping, then a birthday BBQ for Hannah in the evening and then a ward block party at night. We were busy going ALL day long.

The next day Robert was able to bless Jasmin at church. It was wonderful! Afterward we had a BBQ with friends. It all turned out great! Robert made yummy teriaki chicken and Jason Messano BBQ it for us. Then we played Wii games and just let Kenya play with friends. Here are some cute photos of the girls that day.



This is what I walked by and saw going on in the bathroom one night. These 2 are so fun!

Saturday at the Green Belt. 8-13-2011

At the Greenbelt in Idaho Falls there were two fun activities going on and so we headed down there for the afternoon. On one side of the Greenbelt it was the Youth Jam. It had TONS of crafts and activities for kids to do. It was to inspire the youth in the arts.

Kenya and Daddy and This sleeping before we headed out for the day. Oh so adorable!
This photo is of Kenya letting the stuffed snow leopard smell the flowers. This was the zoo's snow leopard.
Kenya got her face painted with a rainbow. Not the greatest I saw, but she enjoyed it. There were other people painting faces that look great. I guess we got the armature.



This was a giant xylophone. People were able to paint on it and then make music with it. Kenya LOVED painting. There was several activities that she could do which involved painting and she could not get enough of painting!


They had these drums set up and I think Daddy just might have had more fun
then Kenya on them!


This was just waiting on the couch on day "holding" her hair tie. She thinks that she has not had enough attention since the baby has arrived.
Kenya one day thought that Jasmin was cold. She piled 7 blankets on her, but she kept her face uncovered like I have told her that she ALWAYS needs to do. What a great big sister!
Kenya playing with her pudding. I am not sure if she ate any of it that day.

Here is Jasmin's cute little smile at just about 1 month old.

An all day Rexburg trip! 8-6-2011

We went to the closing ceremonies of the International Folk Dance Festival in Rexburg on Aug 6. We all enjoyed watching the different dancers and learning new dances with them. And of course we now have more video of Kenya dancing. After this we went to lunch and then the splash park for Kenya to play.
Later that evening we had our pictures taken by a friend who does a wonderful job. Vicki Matheson took them in the gardens at BYU-Idaho. Thanks again!



A man there saw Kenya running around and went and got her a balloon. Her good looks get her so many things in life. She is in for trouble and so are we!
This is an ice cream sandwich they handed out towards the end.
While we were driving around Kenya grabbed onto Jasmin's hand just held it. She still does this all the time, but this was the first time that I was aware of it. SOOO CUTE!!



Here are those great photos that Vicki did!













Of course this was Jasmin's crankiest day of her then 4 week life. She did not want to be awake and she would not stay asleep either. We got some good crying photos and surprisingly a few of Jasmin not crying.