Since Mandy is busy this week...

I thought I'd hijack her computer and post a few of her trip pictures. ;)

Here is the entrance to Mount Rushmore.

This is the wooden deck that you have to stay on as you hike below Mount Rushmore.

This is as close as you can get!


This is the Crazy Horse Monument. It is especially fitting because there are quite a few tribes in the area. It's not done yet because the creators won't except government help.

What it will look like.

Mandy, I hope I haven't spoiled your blog post or your teaser. I thought it would be fun to compare pictures from my 2008 trip. The Crazy Horse Monument doesn't look any closer to being done. Perhaps they are working on the other side right now.

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I fell the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

After putting concrete in the post holes of our new swing set on Saturday, we set out on a family adventure. We headed west to Fielding and Tremonton, and from there took I-84 to Snowville. From there we took a little state road another 10 miles, and from there a gravel road that led to another gravel road...

until... we reached a little campground which is next to the tallest mountain in Box Elder County. We had been planning a family vacation here during the month of June, but since climbing the mountain will have to wait until the snow is gone, so will our vacation.
Here is the Bull Mountain covered with clouds.
The trailhead starts right in the campground. After a while the clouds lifted and we beheld the monkey face. This is a close-up.
Autumn had a great time for the most part. We have learned that she is very afraid of sticks and pine cones and any other "pokies" she sees on the ground.

Because of the "pokies" we weren't as worried about her around the raging creek. It was surrounded by pokies!

There were other nice faces in the rocks and lots of nice geology. I saw a lot of quartz and mica (fool's gold), so next time I will borrow a gold pan and try my luck. We had a nice picnic dinner and headed home just before it started hailing, excited about our new July vacation.

A Cousin Visit

My twin sister and her daughter came to visit on Tuesday. We all visited the Logan Zoo.

Standing at attention for the pronghorn

Cousin hug!

Caption Contest

A little ABC's practice

For those who are wondering, "the elephant" is feeling much better. She still has allergies but no asthma symptoms. Here is her rendition of the ABC Song.

Elephant and Other Games

Autumn got a nebulizer to help with her recent bout of asthma, brought on by a severe cold and some other unknown triggers. Her dear dad took her to the Insta-Care last night when she was having trouble breathing. It turned out her blood oxygen level was a little low. They gave her a breathing treatment and some antibiotics for an ear infection. On the spot, her dear dad helped her prepare for the nebulizer mask by playing "mask" with her in the doctor's office while they were waiting for the doctor. What a brilliant father! So now the mask is home with us. Autumn visited her pediatrician today. She still has some symptoms and will be treated twice a day through the weekend and some of next week. She gets to take an oral steroid as well. Autumn is taking it all in stride, minus the steroid. "It's icky!"

Playing "Elephant" is fun to do!

Let's do it again!

Happy Mothers' Day

Diana and Troy Wedding

Jon's sister Diana got married to her dear Troy on April 30, 2011 in the Rexburg Idaho Temple. Troy witnessed the weddings of all five of Diana's siblings, and it was so neat to see he and Diana so happy. The wedding day was just how the bride and groom wanted it, relaxed and fun. The day was sunny as well. We give them our heartiest congratulations and best wishes for the future!