Trip to Mt. Rushmore

I was checking my blog and realized that it has been almost a month since my last post.  I swear living here puts me in a time warp.  I blink and it has been a couple of weeks.  With school almost out I think I will be taking more pictures...lets hope anyways.  I hate that I am so dang flaky about it but sometimes I don't have the luxury to just meander with a camera.  Danni is pretty intense with wanting my time so it is hard to hold her and the camera.

 

So this past Memorial Day weekend we decided to go and see Mt. Rushmore.  Corey keeps telling me what a great opportunity it has been for us to live all over.  We have seen some amazing things this way and so I guess yes that is a up side to moving every couple of years.  We left around 8 and since it is only 3 hours away we got there right around lunch time.  Weather was perfect that day and we had a really good time.  We couldn't check in till 4 so we headed straight to some sites.  There is this place called Cosmos which is located on this small hill side.  The gravity pulls are crazy and you walk on this tour where they demonstrate just how weird it is.  The kids were free so we only had to pay for Corey and I.

 

 Corey is standing up what he thinks is straight.  It was so strange that you felt like you were standing straight up but because of the gravity pull everyone looked like they were standing sideways.  If you notice in all the pictures Hailey was not to fond of it.

 Gabe demonstrating how strong the pull was so he could stand on the wall and lean forward.

 It even made the trees bend all over.

 I was picked for a demo and I was not too thrilled.  I was wondering why Corey was wanting to hold Danni for this tour. 

 Look at those cheeks...I couldn't help but take a picture of that.

 

We made it to Mt. Rushmore as well.  We looked around, but were a little disappointed that there wasn't more.  It only took about 2 hours to see everything.  They only had 1 hiking trail that took you closer to the mountain and it said it was strenuous so I was thinking hardcore hiking.  Man it was just stairs and paved sidewalks the whole way.  I didn't even breath hard and I had Danni strapped to my front.  And if you do notice that Gabe is doing gang signs in all the photos I apologize.  He is going through this homeboy gangster phase right now.  He is too cool for everyone and that includes the camera.  It about drove Corey crazy telling him to knock it off but he always seemed to sneak it in somehow.  I have to laugh at this now because it is just so funny to me.

If you are wondering where the rest of our pictures are that pretty much ended the good, happy streak.  After that it turned into a Chevy Chase vacation as my mom called it.  Got into the hotel and used the toilet only to find the flusher on top of the tank and no towels or soap.  Turns out the room was out of order but they were booked so we had to have that room anyways.  They did comp us 25 bucks but that was all we got.  We went into Rapid City to eat at Wild Buffalo Wings and right when we got into the parking lot Hailey threw up all over herself.  It was everywhere and our clothes were in the hotel room so we had to cancel all our evening plans and go back to the hotel.

Next morning it was pouring rain and was forecast to rain all day.  So we thought we would drive back into Rapid City and find something inside we could do.  As we are driving out of the hotel parking lot the back window just sunk into the door panel.  The regulator went out and our window was stuck in the down position.  The nearest store was 20 miles away so we had to have Gabe hold a towel while we drove on the highway.  And just as a reminder it was pouring.  We got duct tape and plastic and taped the window the best we could.  We had to call it an early day and make the grueling 3 hours drive back with plastic flapping so loud we couldn't even talk to each other.  We made it home safe and didn't get too wet in the process.  At least I can say that it will be a vacation that I will never forget.

And just as an ending and something that I found funny, I found out that my old high school boyfriend has this huge rap sheet in FL for all sorts of stuff.  Drug possession, assault with a weapon, parole violation and the topper attempted strangulation.  I know sounds like a winner right?  Makes me glad that I made better choices after high school and ended up with a true winner.  Love you Corey Scott.

Wyoming and Preschool

Sorry I have no pictures to go with this post.  Of course when I go to the store I don't carry my nice camera and well my cell phone is an old one with a horrible camera and no Internet access.  Since Danni has been born I usually wait to go big grocery shopping till Corey gets home or have a friend watch her.  Today there were no friends available and we really needed groceries.  Plus I have my heart set on a run this afternoon and I don't have time to do both.  So I set out with Danni and Hailey to get some shopping done.  Hailey is amazing at the store.  Stays right by me and doesn't really touch anything.  Makes it so much less stressful.  And I fed Danni right before and she just sat in her seat watching me the whole hour I was in there.  Not a single sound came from her.  In fact while I was checking out someone made a comment on what a great baby she was.  To her credit she does have her good moments....as long as she can see Mom.  That girl always has to have me in her view or she can turn rotten really quick.  The best part was when I was putting Danni in her base and was telling Hailey to get in.  I turn around and there is this older gentleman there asking if he could help me in anyway.  Talk about nice...so I let him load my groceries in for me.  He was so nice.  I thanked him probably way too much but I couldn't help it.  Things like that don't happen that often to me.  I have to say since moving to Wyoming I have had more of them.  I think people here are just more down to earth.

When we first moved here I was hoping beyond hope that they offered pre-school through the school system like they did in Oklahoma.  But they don't and I swore I would never pay for pre-school.  Well Hailey is such a social girl...she likes everyone and honestly she makes friends at the playground in a second.  I hate that she is so couped up here in the winter and with Danni I can't give her as much one on one as I would like.  So my friend Carrie put her daughter in pre-school with a local lady here that she just loves.  Her daughter will be in Kindergarten next year so Hailey won't have her bestest friend with her.  But I decided to bite the bullet and enroll her.  She will go 3 days a week in the afternoons from 12-3:30.  It will be 85 dollars a month which I think will be worth it.  But for now we have so much to look forward to this summer I can hardly wait for school to get out!!

Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day!!  Today has been really great...probably one of the best Mother's Day's that I can recall.  It might have something to do with the fact that my kids are getting older so the gifts have notes that are well written.  I still can't believe I am a mother to 5 beautiful babies.  Time has just flown by for me and sometimes I sit and wish I could hold onto moments just a little while longer.  That happened today while we were out and about with the kids walking the river here in Douglas.  I got the cutest notes from the kids in primary that I will cherish forever.  Apparently all 4 of my kids think I spend most of my day cleaning...so maybe I shouldn't be such a slave driver when it comes to being clean.  Sorry these pictures are just random order.  I got carried away with the camera today.  The weather was so warm and I saw so many cute opportunities for a great shot.  So just enjoy the photo splurge.

 

 

 Oh and yes we got Gabe's hair cut.  He looks so different but I love that you can see his handsome face now.  Apparently two little girls in our neighborhood also think so.

 Forgot the timer was on and Gabe couldn't pass up an opportunity to photo bomb.

 There was an eagle with her baby chicks in the nest.  My lens doesn't zoom in that well, but the nest is on the left of the photo at the top of the middle tree.  It was pretty cool.

 Lexie made this in art for Mother's Day...it is a fish tray.

 Gabe wrote this for me at school...he writes the best notes.

The trees are still brown but we sure enjoyed the trail today.

Danni is 3 Months Old!!

 

Can you believe it has been 3 months since Danni got here?  Time has just flown by and I have to say I am in no hurry to get there.  Danni is just such a cutie and is happy and laughing most of the time.  She is so dang ticklish and will get belly laughing if you even think about touching her little belly or even back.  I do have to admit that I have not lost hardly any baby weight, but for the first time in a long time I am ok with that.  I feel that my priorities are shifting finally and it is a welcome relief.

 

Danni is still not grabbing anything or rolling over.  She does love to talk and will belly laugh and smile all the time.  I get comments all the time what a happy baby she is.  For some reason when the big camera comes out she gets confused by it and will not smile at all.  I have tried so many times and I get nothing.  Last time I weighed her she was almost 12 pounds and she has the fattest little legs and arms.  She was sleeping most of the night with just one feeding but these past couple of night she has been waking up more often.  She is eating all the time and so I think she is going through a growth spurt. 

 

Her siblings just adore her as much as I do.  Everyone wants to hold or talk with her.  And I have to admit right at first Gabe wanted nothing to do with her.  But now that she is older and easier to hold I will find him on the couch just holding her or talking to her.  He even feeds her and burps her for me now.  Lexie has always been interested in her and has her just as much.  It is hard to imagine so much happiness is balled up in that one tiny package.

Danni's Blessing

I have been looking forward to this day from the moment she was born.  I have always felt inspired to have my little Danni and it took us awhile to listen but I am so very grateful we did.  I had told Corey previously that I knew we were supposed to have another baby and that I strongly felt that this baby was supposed to serve a mission.  I still feel it so very strongly.  When we found out I was having a girl I was a little thrown because I just assumed it would be a boy since I had that distinct impression.  Then this past Conference when it was announced that girls could serve at 19 I really didn't think too much about it at the time but I did think, wow that will put many more sisters into the field. 

 

I will admit I really wanted my Dad to give her the blessing because he has this really great gift for giving blessings.  They were not able to make it and so Corey gave her the blessing.  I wish I had it written down.  It was so beautiful.  The first part was the usual baby blessing talking about her health and her making good decisions regarding the Gospel.  Then Corey's voice got all shaky and he had a hard time talking.  I always prayed that at come point Corey would receive the same confirmation that I did about Danni.  He then confirmed to me what I had felt all along.  In the blessing he said that Danni was a special daughter who was put on this earth to serve a special purpose.  He then said she would serve a mission and bring important and many people into the Gospel with her testimony.  It was one of the most spiritual things in my life up to this point.  It is one of those moments when you realize that yes you did hear the Holy Ghost and it wasn't just your imagination or mind making it up.  Ever since she has been born I have had so many spiritual experiences and just for that reason I adore her. 

 

We were rushed for time so all I got were pictures of her in her dress which Alisha made for Lexie when she was blessed.  3 girls now have been blessed in that gown and I will treasure it always.

 

 

Natural Bridge Picnic

After Lexie's Baptism we had planned on going to the Natural Bridge for a picnic.  I have posted pictures before of this place and it is my favorite park close to Douglas for us to go.  Of course on the day of the Baptism it was freezing cold.  It was in the 50's but the wind was gusty and chilly.  I begged Lexie to just have it at the church but she really wanted to go.  So we just bucked up and headed out.  We only lasted about 2 hours and then everyone left because it was just too dang chilly to be hanging out and chatting it up.  Corey cooked hot dogs and hamburgers and there is a great little hiking trail that goes up over the rock bridge.  My good friend Bonnie and her family came and we took our own little hike to the top.  I am terrified of heights and the fact that it wasn't even that high was funny to everyone.  But I refused to get too close to the edge.  At least I fooled the camera because it doesn't look like I am scared at all.

 

 

 I was standing in this little hole and Bonnie was standing on a higher rock piece.  Makes me look super short.

 Lexie and Ashlynn were always together.  Those girls sure love each other.

I don't know.....rock on Thor.