Montana Take 2

We had a chance to go to Cooke City one last time this year. This time we were accompanied by my family: 28 children under the age of 15 and 11 adults. Aside from the chaos, it was a really wonderful experience and great to be with my family.

We shot another movie with all the kids- about cowboys, indians, and
miners of course. My mom provided the amazing costumes.

3 cute indians

The "older" indian crowd

Ben getting a shot of the Indians running to battle

We took a 4-wheeler ride and visited the old mining towns

After our "hike" to Leckie Falls

It doesn't matter where we go; Ben and I have a great time together.

Sweet Summer Saturdays

We had an especially fun Saturday a few weeks ago and although I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, I still wanted to document what a great day it was.

We spent the morning with Jane helping to do jobs around the house. I organized the tool bench while Ben de-caulked the shower. After a few hours of working and lunch, we inflated Jane's rafts and went down the Weber River. We did it last year too and it was just as fun. Since the water was a little cold and Ben would be paddling, I had to give my ceremonial lecture that "it is not funny to tip the raft". Poor Ben :) But whether or not my lecture was effective, we did not tip and had a great time on the way down.

Later that night we met up with Ben's grandparents in Sandy for dinner and the Real Salt Lake game. It was our first time in Rio Tinto Stadium and we were very impressed. We cheered loudly and even though Real lost, we enjoyed getting together with Kent and Nyla.

The stadium and players

Kent, Nyla, Me, Ben and some guys in the back who wanted to get in on the action :)

Ben and I after I pulled him from "soccer mode" so we could get a picture

What we've all been waiting for...

Tomorrow Ben comes home. I can hardly contain my excitement. Last night I watched "Roman Holiday" and made him this banner. I guess that's what married, childless people (whose spouses are out of town) do on Friday night.

And the good news is... I get to pick him up from the airport! His plane gets in at 11pm and although I work from 5pm to 5am a coworker is covering me for a few hours so I can drive up there. Actually it'll be more like: speed to the airport, pick Ben up, drive him home, and drive back to work by 1am. It'll be crazy, but so worth it.

Redecorating

Soon after getting back from DC I did a little redecorating in the house, and now I'm finally getting around to blogging about it.

The winter bedding was this:


But the down-comforter was way too hot so I got something a little more light and springy:



I also finally hung up the tin squares that I got in the Eastern Market in DC:


My mom came over and helped me put them over the entertainment center, although one day I'd like to hang them in a row on a long wall. I think they'd look better that way.

WARNING: I AM ABOUT TO BE ULTRA-DRAMATIC FOR EFFECT

Allow me to wallow in self-pity for a moment. It's 1:30 am on Sunday night and I still haven't fallen asleep. Mainly because Ben isn't here to encourage me to brush my teeth and get ready for bed. On Wednesday of last week Ben left for New Orleans and Honduras with one of his professors to film more of his documentary. Thus Wednesday started the longest 12 days of my life.

I'll admit that for the first few days I relished in my independance. I baked a quiche that Ben doesn't like, rented a movie he didn't want to see, and went to lunch with my friends. But now it's just depressing. Like losing my right arm, or liver, or some vital body part.

The benefits: I'm working 8 of the 12 days that he's gone. Talk about getting lost in the work. But the downside (besides being apart) is that he can barely contact me in Honduras. He got there yesterday and I still haven't heard from him. I'm not worried, but I've already checked my email every hour tonight and emailed him twice. I'm pathetic aren't I? If my single self could only see me now, I think she'd be disappointed.

But that's because my single self didn't know what it's like to love someone like I love Ben. He's wonderful and sweet and I'm happy to call him my second half. How's that for dramatic? I guess that qualifies more under the "mushy" category. Sorry there wasn't a warning about that.

Montana in July

Last week we went to Yellowstone and my family cabin in Montana with Ben's mom Jane and his little sister Chelsea. It was so much fun and so great to spend time together. Here were some of the highlights:

We checked out the hot springs






and waited for Old Faithful to explode.






We went canoeing in high water and paddled so furiously
Jane lost her camera :( (R.I.P. Canon Powershoot)

all while wearing ridiculously large cowboy hats


We shot BB guns








Enjoyed s'mores by the fire









and cooked delicious dinners


The next day we visited raging waterfalls. My favorite part: Ben and Jane debating
how they would go over the waterfall in a kayak and if they would survive.

Crazy Creek Falls


Jane, Ben and Chelsea all decided to take the plunge on the rope swing into near-freezing water. Me? I was the official photographer. Been there, done that.

































Horseback riding. To the left is my favorite picture of Jane- ever.


Chelsea and I bonded (the Camelbak way) on our 2.5 mile bush-whacking hike

The trip was a blast and we loved all the adventures we had. Thanks Jane and Chelsea!

If you can help it, don't work in the ER on July 4th

uJuly 4th is a heinous day to work in the ER (I know from last year), and the second and third most heinous are the Saturday and Sunday before the 4th (I know from this year). And since I've got your attention, let me mention some Fourth of July safety pointers and tell you what is and is NOT an emergency:

- Do NOT grab sparklers. They look harmless but please remember- they are on fire. That's why they are sparkling.
- Being drunk while driving an ATV without a helmet is a good way to end up in the ICU.
- NOT being drunk and driving an ATV without a helmet is a good way to end up in the ICU.
- Fireworks are not designed to explode in your hand.
- Firework ash in your eye is NOT an emergency unless it was flaming when it fell in.
- Having spots in your eyes from looking at too many fireworks is NOT an emergency.
-If you do not want to be taken directly to a room from the waiting room because you are watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks, it is likely a sign that your complaint is not an emergency.

Thanks for allowing me a little rant. Now like I said, I had to work the weekend before the 4th this year. Thankfully I got the actual holiday off to enjoy with my family. We had a barbecue at Laura's house. Here are a few photos. It was really nice to relax there after a crazy weekend of work.

We made Italian creme sodas (L to R: my mom, Laura,
Jacob, James, Matthew and Eleanor)

And enjoyed them on the patio (my dad with my niece Bridie)

Ben edited videos of my nieces and nephews with an iPhone app (with Adaline)

My favorite part was all the great firework shows as people lit off the newly legalized aerial fireworks. All I have to say is, if you take the wild fire risk out of the equation, they should have legalized them years ago.