Our North Dakota Trip!

At the beginning of August I took Jaxson and Bryce to see their first cousin in North Dakota. My sister had her first baby at the end of June and they blessed her in church that first Sunday. The trip was long and quick at the same time. We drove with my parents, (Joe had to stay home and work, which I was not happy about but what do you do) and it took us 20 hours just to get there, that was the long part of the trip. The boys did as good as I could expect them to being that they are 3 and 1. When we got there, the boys could not wait to see baby Maggie. She has got to be the cutest little girl I had ever seen ( I am not biased am I, she is my first niece). We spent two days with them loving her, kissing her and holding her. On that Sunday, the day of the blessing my brother in law David cooked this amazing dinner for us. My dad told him he needs to take this on the road (which is saying something if my dad said that). David cooked a 10lb rib eye roast and shrimp with pasta salad and other really good sides. David you are AWESOME!!! You are making Christmas dinner this year!!!

We are having girl time!! Something I do not get at home!! Love you boys!!

Isn't she the cutest!

Grandma, Papa, Laurie, Jaxson, and Bryce with Maggie!

Jaxson with Papa and Maggie. He loves her so much!

David and Jaxson watching America's Funniest Home Video's (Jaxson favorite show)

Maggie is a Papa's girl already!

We were only able to spend two days with them. I then realized how much love and miss my sister, she truly is my best friend and I am lucky to have her for eternity. I am so proud of her for going what she went through to bring this special person to us. I never knew how much I could love little Maggie until she arrived, I love her almost as much as I love my own boys.

Then it was time to head home. That was the other long part. But this time my dad decided to take a little detour. If you know my dad, this does not surprise you, while growing up we always took detours when ever we took a road trip, we never know where we were going to end up when dad is at the wheel. But this time it was a needed detour, we went and spent a day at Yellowstone National Park! My boys were in heaven. We saw so many animals and were just amazed what our Heavenly Father created. It was such a beautiful park and I was so sorry that Joe had missed it, I see a family vacation there next year. Hmmm to be announced!!

This was at the very top of the mountains before we got into the park. (This made me a little nervous looking down the cliffs into the canyon.) It was so beautiful to see everything!

The boys with Mom!

Jaxson, Bryce, Grandma and Papa!

We saw a water fall after the canyon and still before we entered the park. It was so relaxing and refreshing to hear. ( I love the outdoors, isn't Heavenly Father wonderful to us.)

The boys throwing rocks into the waterfall. They had a blast.

Then once we got into Yellowstone Park, we saw so many buffalo's, and they were CLOSE!!! I had no idea how BIG they acutall are.

This buffalo was on the road and we had to wait for it to cross so in this picture it was 20 feet from us if that, makes you a little nervous being that close. Luckily it was a female and not as large.

Now this buffalo was on the other side of us as we were sitting waiting for that other buffalo to cross, and this is a male. Look how huge he is.


We saw other animals like bears and elk but I could not get a picture of them quick enough, I wish I had, but we had such a great time in Yellowstone Park. Thanks Dad for the detour once again. After Yellowstone we headed home. We had a good trip with some not so good times but we enjoyed it all the same. David, LeighAnne and Maggie we love you and miss you so much.