July: We finally got to spend the 4th in Idaho Falls for the first time in 5 years. We saw the parade, had "Pinks" hot dogs, went golfing (well...Nic did. I rode around in the cart with Mason), and went to the firework show. 4th of July is kind of a big deal in good ol' IF.
The middle of July my sister came up from Arizona to visit. We went up to my dad's cabin in Island Park. We played around the cabin, relaxed, went out on the boat and went into West Yellowstone. Then Shay and my mom came down to SLC to help me decorate my house. Good times.
The rest of July and most of August we hung out at home and got use to our new surroundings.
Then over labor day weekend we decided to go the Hall Family cabin (also in Island park). We jet skiied, went into West Yellowstone (again), rode motorcyles, and relaxed. I have such fond childhood memories of that place.
(Nic decided he wanted to try his hand at fishing. In the middle of the night. With marshmellows for bait. He failed.)
(S'mores)
(I love this picture below. It is so quintessentially Mason.)
Later in September my dad came to visit for a few days. We went to Hogle Zoo to see the new baby elephant. I that I am always awed by baby animals. I don't know. There is just something awesome about them. Very cute.



September was kind of a busy month I guess. After my dad left we headed down to the south rim of the Grand Canyon to meet up with my dear friend Deb and her husband Dave. Nic and I decided that we wanted to camp while we were there so we squeezed 2 adults, 1 toddler and a puppy into our 3 man tent. It wasn't as bad as you might think. Despite the lunatic ravens and the coyotes the nights were pretty quiet. Oh- except Nic ended up sleeping on the ground with Nell in his armpit and I spent the whole night either trying to keep Mason from rolling off the blow up matress or keep him from climbing on top of me all night. It was fun though. Really.

This was Mason's outfit in the early morning. Very stripe-ed.

Group shot on our hike.




Mason also got a little sleepy.


Ranger Mason
September was kind of a busy month I guess. After my dad left we headed down to the south rim of the Grand Canyon to meet up with my dear friend Deb and her husband Dave. Nic and I decided that we wanted to camp while we were there so we squeezed 2 adults, 1 toddler and a puppy into our 3 man tent. It wasn't as bad as you might think. Despite the lunatic ravens and the coyotes the nights were pretty quiet. Oh- except Nic ended up sleeping on the ground with Nell in his armpit and I spent the whole night either trying to keep Mason from rolling off the blow up matress or keep him from climbing on top of me all night. It was fun though. Really.
This was Mason's outfit in the early morning. Very stripe-ed.
Group shot on our hike.
Nell kind of wimped out of our hike. She was still kind of young. She would kill that hike now.
Mason also got a little sleepy.
Ranger Mason
We roasted marshmellows at our camp site. Deb had a good thing going. Then she burned them.
Mason thoroughly enjoyed getting filthy dirty all weekend.
Nic would only eat a s'more if we could find a way to melt the chocolate. We did and it was messy.