Yellowstone: Upper and Lower Mesa Falls

Because fish feeding can only last so long, Grandpa and Grandma also suggested we stopped at Upper and Lower Mesa Falls in Island Park. 

 

Lower Mesa Falls

Upper Mesa Falls

It was the only waterfalls that the kids didn't whine "my legs are broken" and "I'm tired" and "carry me!"

Yellowstone: Warm River

Yellowstone is a long drive. Especially when your mom only lets you pack two DVDs. Ahem... learned my lesson now that Cole thinks our entire house and yard is infected with cybugs after watching Wreck It Ralph one too many times.

But Grandpa and Grandma know that everyone - big kids included - need to get the wiggles out. They stopped along the old highway to Yellowstone at Warm River to feed the fish. Big, fat, bread-hungry fish. Rainbow trout to be exact. And as all grandparents know, fish feeding goes best when everyone has their own loaf of bread to feed them.

 

That's a lot of bread.

When the boy wants a lacrosse birthday cake, you get him a lacrosee birthday cake

There's no logic behind a three-year-old's thought process. And when that three-year-old wants nothing but a lacrosse birthday cake, you go to any length to get him a lacrosse birthday cake.

Even when you can't find a lacrosse birthday cake. Or have the time or talent to make one yourself.

Such was the dilemma I faced as Cole's third birthday quickly approached... on the same weekend as out trip to Yellowstone. 

So I went to our local grocery store, hoping and praying I'd find anything that resembled a lacrosse cake. There was plenty of cartoon characters, princesses, super heroes, and soccer players but zippo lacrosse. The only thing lacrosse-like was a photo frame cake (you know those ones that you upload a picture to and then it's printed onto the cake) with a green border and this teeny, tiny lacrosse stick in the corner.

Perfect.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I could only browse the cake books after the bakery was closed and that I had to order the cake from work. I was really hoping I could get there before they closed to beg, plead, and bribe them to do a custom order with a bigger lacrosse stick, but this would have to do. After all, when a stubborn, illogical, towheaded boy wants a lacrosse birthday cake, you get him a lacrosse birthday cake.

A few days later the bakery called. I was running like a crazy person from meeting to meeting, deadline to deadline, and a doctor's visit for this dumb pinched ulnar nerve that was making my entire right hand and forearm go numb. Hours before leaving for Yellowstone for a few days.

The lady at the bakery said I hadn't brought in a picture for the cake and was a little confused because I'd ordered a photo frame cake. After explaining the situation and reminding her several times that three-year-olds make no sense and that all he wanted was a lacrosse birthday cake, she laughed and said she'd see what she could do. 

The rest of the afternoon I kept hoping she'd surprise me with some totally awesome custom design cake that would make even my lacrosse stud brother jealous. I sent Jeff to the bakery. And like all men, when I asked if it looked cool, he said, "sure" in a more than enthusiastic voice {insert sarcasm}. 

Well, when I opened the box to take a peek, SURE indeed! I jumped and squealed and seriously almost cried!!! It was more than perfect. And way, way better than I had hoped for {or picked out originally}. I was so happy that I called the bakery and raved to some poor kid who answered the phone how the cake decorating lady deserved a raise.

 

We packed up, cake and all, and headed to Logan. We had a small cake and ice cream party with the families {thanks to my in-laws for letting me plan a party at their house}. Cole loved all the books, summer clothes, and animals he got.

Jeff cracked me up when he cut each kid the exact piece of cake they wanted.

A lacrosse stick for Fern.

The words "Happy Birthday" for Ruby.

And the blue part for Pearl. 

 That man of mine makes me laugh. Every single day. {Oh, and Kurtis got the entire goal.}

Happy birthday Fern-boy! Your baby blue eyes, towhead, and mischievous smile melt my heart! 

{I can't say thank you enough to Dick's Fresh Market for saving the day! If anyone needs a cake, give them a call! They went above and beyond what they were expected to do.}

Kindergarten Graduation

I can't believe Pearl has graduated from Kindergarten.

It's going to be really weird not having her with me at work everyday. I'm sure I'll freak out the first few days when she goes to "real" school. It will be sad and I feel bad I didn't take more time to go down for breaks with her now that it's really going to end soon. I will miss knowing she is just downstairs from my office. And I'm going to miss knowing she is with teachers and friends who have known her since she was three months old. 

Ahem. 

Before I get all teary-eyed, the real intent of this post was to brag about how smart Pearl is. She finished Kindergarten with a perfect 4.0! Ok, so it's not a GPA but seeing that 4 sure made me smile big! She takes after me, obviously!!!

This year's kindergarten graduation ceremony was filled with fun songs and lots of tidbits on what the kids had been learning. I'll tell you one thing, those kids know more about animals, habitats, planets, numbers, and the way the world works than I do. Pearl had her part memorized weeks ago and was very excited {and a little nervous} about saying it with the microphone. It wasn't as memorable as last year's part {O is for orbit...} but she was very excited that everyone got to yell "Thank you" after she finished.

Each kid got a packet with a report card, their writing book, a certificate showing how many books they had read, and all of their school projects. We were very proud of Pearl. She read 64 books, with most of them chapter books. And her class read the most books of any class before... 1,004 books! She loves school and I sure hope that continues for the next 12+ years!

Pearl was also very excited that the class voted for chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. We were still in Yellowstone on the day they voted but luckily that's what she would have voted for had she been to class that day.

Pearl and Ms. Penny.

I love the self-portraits of all the kids. And their class portraits are hilarious. Pearl told us she wanted to have a colorful hat for her picture. 

Pearl has a sense of style all her own. When all the other girls in her class wore skirts or dresses to celebrate their accomplishments, Pearl chose to wore a tee-shirt, cut-off shorts, and flip flops. What a goober!

Good job Pearl! We are so happy to have you in our family! You are smart, kind, thoughtful, sweet spirited, funny, and just a "gem" {I couldn't resist} to have.

Occupation Day

It was occupation day at school last week. Not job day. Not career day. Occupation day. Or as Pearl called it "occudation" day. But definitely not job day. Sheesh mom, get it right!

Since our dress up supplies are limited and she was supposed to dress up as her dream occupation, Pearl told us she wanted to be either a cheerleader or a sandwich girl. 

We're glad she's aiming high. It makes us feel good as college educated parents knowing Pearl thinks a career - excuse me, occupation - at Subway is the way to go. Since her cheer leading outfit was a little too short to wear to school, that first choice was out. And after some discussion with her dad about her future aspirations, Pearl decided to be a professional baker instead.

She did make a cute baker. Maybe we can combine all three occupations and Pearl can get a cheer scholarship to college and then work at Kneader's to make ends meet.