Wildflowers at Craters of the Moon

June 18, 2011

My mom has a thing for the wildflowers out at Craters of the Moon National Park. She loves them! But they are soooo tiny! Every year we drive out to see them. She had gone the weekend before I came home for Father's Day--but they weren't open yet. So--for Father's Day weekend we drove out to see them. Here's some pictures we got that day:

The Cancer Walk

June 17, 2011

My mom has been cancer free for about 5 years now! Every year since then she has participated in the Blackfoot Relay For Life. We go and walk around the track to support all those in the community that have been through cancer.

I love my mom and am so grateful to have her in my life and for the opportunity I have to support her. I'm glad that she is still doing so well.

My mom with her other cancer surviving friends!

Dinosaurs!

June 16, 2011

I needed to get my car fixed, so I took a day off of work to go and take it up. But--the job was supposed to take a lot of hours. So, Amanda followed me and let me spend the day with her and the kids. We went to watch Owen's swimming lesson and then we went to the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum. We had a great time exploring and they have so many fun hands on things for kids. I wished I was a kid myself!

Cousin Owen was so excited! This was the best smile I got out of him!

The tunnel

Owen with Amanda 

We built this dinosaur out of the dino puzzle pieces

Triceratops

The T-Rex!

They had an area where kids could build their own dinosaur swamp and play. Owen loved this!

Penny found a dinosaur to play with too!

Owen was digging for fossils!

Unfortunately when all was said and done--they hadn't even started to work on my jeep yet because of some difficulties they were having with the dealer. What a pain! But--at least I had a nice day off of work!

Memorial Day

May 30, 2011

Today my cousin Amanda and I decided to visit some family graves and put flowers on them. We ended up going to our 4th great grandpa's grave in Spanish Fork. Zebedee Coltrin was our pioneer ancestor who knew the prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo and also traveled across the country to the Salt Lake Area. When he arrived here--he later was sent to Spanish Fork to settle that area--making it lucky for us because we could go and visit his grave.

Zebedee Coltrin

Amanda had never been--and I've been a few times--but this time I finally found it quicker this time! I just have to remember which street--but I think I already forgot... I know he is on the east side of the block he is in though! And more to the east of the cemetery!

Amanda, Owen, and Penny

Me 

Mesa Verde Trip, 2011

May 19-May 21, 2011

Since I have a National Park Pass--I told my friend Jason that we needed to go to one. We both wanted to see Mesa Verde, down in Colorado. So we got our friend Cory to come along to. The three of us had a great time.

First we drove to Price and checked out nine mile canyon. It really was like 100 mile canyon...I may be exaggerating. But--it was great fun! We saw petroglyphs and some ancient ruins and possibly some ghost towns (my favorite!).

Me at the beginning of the road.

An old house we found--Cory was impressed with the bed in it.

We climbed a ledge to see these petroglyphs.

Sitting on the ledge

The petroglyphs

I was modeling how the ancients might have carved them. I'm such a good model!

Cory kept chasing the cows--and he stepped in a cow pie somehow.

We found this little cave out there...it was really narrow.

This was the site we drove all the way out there for--Jason kept saying it was going to be around every little corner.  It finally was!

That night we stayed with Jason's grandparents. The next morning we woke up early and headed out to Mesa Verde--only 4 hours from where we were (about--maybe 5...).

On the way--we passed the Monticello Temple--it was beautiful!

Cory insisted that we climb up on the sign for the border.

I had realized we crossed the border and I forgot to lift up my feet. Those who know my family know why I am frowning...

We finally made it!

To get into Balcony House--you had to climb this 32 foot ladder. Jason was excited to climb it.

Me inside of Balcony House

Jason was demonstrating how narrow the passageways were between some of the rooms.

I modeled how the women would have ground the corn.

We had to climb back out of this one...the ladder wasn't that long this time!

We were waiting for our tour of Cliff Palace

Jason and me inside of Spruce Tree House

In Spruce Tree House, you can climb down into the kiva to see what it is like inside of one.

Me at Spruce Tree House (with Cory in the background)

We went to Arches on our way home and enjoyed the sunset. I had never been to arches before. I had so many pictures--but here are some of my favorites from there.

I am so grateful I have friends who will road trip with me at the last minute! I have so many more pictures--but these were some of the best. To learn more about Mesa Verde, check out the national parks link here.