Home from Yellowstone

We had a really great trip to Yellowstone. The cabins were nice and the weather was GREAT. We probably could have camped, but it was nice to shower each morning. We didn't get to picnic as most of the picnic areas were still covered in several feet of snow, so we splurged and ate most of our meals in the restaurants.

It was opening weekend for most of the park. There's only one road (the road to Cooke City) that is open year round. This weekend, the roads to Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake opened. It was also the first weekend the hotel and cabins were open and we were the very first to check in. We were asked if it was a tradition for us to come on opening weekend. It is now!

As with most trips to Yellowstone, we did a lot of driving. Maggie (and we) got a little tired of it, so Saturday afternoon, we just hung out in Mammoth (plus gas is a lot more expensive in the park!)

I posted most of the pictures on Facebook, so rather than duplicate my efforts, just click here and see the photos and comments. Rocky hasn't downloaded his photos yet, so I'll add those later. He got some great shots of elk and bison and even some bison calves -- which are adorable, but I wouldn't want to piss off Momma Bison!

It was a wonderful trip and we can't wait to go back. Rocky and I have started talking about working there after retirement (or winning the lottery, which ever comes first).

Preschool Homework

Yes, there is even homework in preschool. Maggie needed to make a "habitat" for preschool. We threw away the original instructions, so we winged it. Maggie decided she wanted to make a bird habitat, so we went to Hobby Lobby last weekend and Maggie picked out some birds, feathers and some brown streamers to make her nest. We put down some newspaper and got out the glue. She was very conservative with the glue (I was a bit surprised), so we'll see if her nest survives preschool. She carried it into daycare very carefully, and reluctantly handed it over to the janitor who offered to put it into the preschool room for her. She had wanted to keep it in daycare for all to see, but I have a feeling the little birds wouldn't have made it to preschool.

Maggie did a great job! She was very very proud.

Kicked out of Yellowstone, Again

So, it's been between 40-50 degrees most of the week and the forecast is not looking much like it will improve. We have heard teens/twenties as overnight lows in Yellowstone this weekend, so we have postponed the camping trip. Camping in Yellowstone is going to be cold regardless of when you go, so it's just a matter of how cold you are willing to bear. Sub-zero is more than we WANT to bear, even with a camping heater, 20 degree sleeping bags and our personal heater, who we lovingly call Maggie -- seriously, snuggle with that girl for a few minutes and you may break a sweat.

But, when I called to cancel our reservation, I was informed that the snow is beautiful. Rocky and I had already decided to get a room and so I booked a room a Mammoth Hot Springs for 2 nights (instead of the 3 we originally planned on). We can still bring our own food and picnic in the park, so Maggie can have her hot dogs and marshmallows. We can still bring her princess sleeping bag (and maybe she'll even sleep in it!). But we will have real beds, solid walls and doors, a toilet and shower and still enjoy all the park has to offer. It will be a nice mini-vacation.

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Rocky told Maggie that we are going to Yellowstone Park and we are going to a cabin. She asked if we can go to a pink park. She told me that we are going to see a "baby buffalo, a mommy buffalo and a daddy buffalo."

Bad Day.

So, I'm having a bad day. And this song came over my MP3 player and it made me feel better.

"Bad Day" Barenaked Ladies
I'm having a bad day
There's nothing you can do or say
To help me through this bad day
I think I'll just stay in my room
They didn't need to say
That they didn't want to play
I could have guessed it anyway
And that's why I'm here in my room
Seems like I'm the only one
Who's not outside and having fun
I wish this day had never begun
I think I'll just stay in my room
Sometimes I wanna run and hide
Today I wanna stay inside
Tell my bike to take itself for a ride
I'm staying in today
See the toys lying on the floor
I don't want them anymore
I think I'll sell them back to the store
Or give them all away
It feels like I'm the only one
Who's not outside and having fun
I wish this day had never begun
I think I'll just stay in my room
I don't need hugs and I don't want food
I wanna stay here in this lonely mood
I don't care if people think I'm rude
I wish they would all go away
Dad comes in and tells me with a kiss
Everyone has days like this
Brought my dinner said that I was missed
I think I'll be okay
I know I'm not the only one
To stay inside and watch the fun
Thanks a lot that helped a ton
Tomorrow's gonna be a better day

Easter Pictures

2 posts in one day is seems like a lot for me, but I wanted to finally post pictures from Easter:

The fruits of our labor:

Easter Sunday:

Just another Saturday

Today, we ran some errands. Included were a trip to the "hair cut store" and the "shoe shopping store" for Maggie. She was really good during the hair cut. We went to Payless for the BOGO sale as Maggie really needed/s new tennis shoes and summer sandles. We left, only $17.00 later, with a pair of tennis shoes and Dora flip flops. Maggie fell instantly in love with the flip flops and how can you say no to such a small request? At 3 1/2 she can get away with wearing flip flops to church.

After shopping we had lunch at Old Chicago's. I missed Old Chicago's when I moved out of Colorado. Back in the day, I completed the World Beer Tour and participated in several group tours. Today, however, there was no beer tour. We had lunch and Maggie ate really well. Then she decided she needed to "exercise" so she started doing push-ups in the booth. She can even do one-handed push-ups. Who knew?!?

She got a blue balloon when we left. She "needed" to bring it in with us to Hobby Lobby. We attached it to her mitten clip and as we walked in she said "Watch out Blue Balloon, don't forget to duck!"

She threw a little fit asking for Starburst when we checked out, so we went home instead of grocery shopping. Rocky distracted her while I went back out. I'm rather glad I got to go alone. It was screaming child day. It's amazing how your thought process changes after you have a child of your own. I felt sorry for those parents and happy I had left my child at home -- because I know she would have fit right in with the other screaming children.

After successfully using the potty to go poopy, Maggie declared: "I'm a big girl! No, I'm a big Spider-Man!"

Currently, she is trying to get Otis to chase her and Rocky is mowing the lawn. It's much nicer than it was the past few days, though not yet as nice as it was Wednesday. Wednesday it hit 80 and we sat outside on the front porch after dinner. I think I have convinced Rocky that we should get some outdoor furniture. Maggie enjoyed talking in her loudest voice so she could hear her voice echo.

But it is just another Saturday. And I wouldn't have it any other way.