OUR RECENT TRIP TO.....

Yellowstone National Park and several other stops along the way was packed full of good times and many surprises to say the least. We traveled via motorhome and took eleven days from start to finish. By the end of our vacation, I discovered there were many things I didn't know, for example:

I DIDN'T KNOW I would learn all the words to Rainy Day Woman by Waylon Jennings, so thanks Jason, for introducing us to a new genre of music - LOL.

I DIDN'T KNOW Grace was able to make purchases on her own from the vending machines, whether we wanted her to or not. All she needed was her own supply of quarters and her abundance of free will.

I DIDN'T KNOWso many things could go wrong in a motorhome on one trip. From a blown-out tire to the kitchen sink and other things in between. Good opportunity for the kids to learn about making the best of any situation.

I DIDN'T KNOW our kids would enjoy watching a rodeo as much as they did. Savanah wanted me to pick out a snack for her because she didn't want to miss any of it. I should tell you, much to my surprise, that a three-year old can maneuver a horse around barrels and be good at it!

I DIDN'T KNOW Stella would have her first illness, a fever of 101. There is always one, I learned and brought along Motrin this time.

I DIDN'T KNOW it would be so funny when Preston changed the language on the GPS to Dutch and we didn't know how to change it back to English. So Jason made up his own interpretation:
"Drive fast."
"Drive on the grass."
"Stop and play with Stella."

I DIDN'T KNOW Savanah would enjoy riding shotgun with her dad as much as she did.

I DIDN'T KNOW the kids would be able to throw snowballs at each other near the top of one of the mountains in Yellowstone.

I DIDN'T KNOW it would be so much fun to do laundry at a campground. Three loads at once, using commercial washers and dryers really saves on time!

I DIDN'T KNOW Coke is used to dissolve food lodged in a person's (Preston's) throat. It has the strength to dissolve battery acid and is commonly used in some ER's. It was a short detour - Preston was eating sunflower seeds and acidentally swallowed a shell. He said he is NEVER eating them AGAIN.

I DIDN'T KNOW under the Badlands in South Dakota there is a fossil bed. The Badlands are a result of erosion and weathering.

I DIDN'T KNOW the train we would ride on, partway through, a steam engine, through the Black Hills, would loose a wheel from the engine. We proceeded to wait for half an hour for a diesel engine to pull us back to the train station. It was Preston's dream! And Jason's too because we got our money back. We were actually fortunate we didn't derail.

Savanah has had an increasing interest in photography, the slideshow below is composed of pictures she took on our trip, I think you'll like them.

THIS SUMS UP MY THOUGHTS FOR TODAY....

JURY DUTY QUESTIONNAIRE

I'm sure you've had to fill out a form before and have thought the questions were pretty absurd, right? Well I had to complete the jury duty questionnaire I received in the mail and was laughing to myself the entire time because this is how I felt like answering the questions:

What were your last three occupations?
Well just yesterday I was an accountant, personal chef, referee, manicurist and hair stylist and chauffeur.

Are you, or have you been a law enforcement officer?
Yes, I currently enforce laws and have been for quite some time. Some are more difficult than others, such as limiting the tv time. I have found however, that if you take out the satellite card, it really is the most effective method and then the civilians really appreciate the time they do have to watch tv.

Have you ever been confined in a mental or correctional facility?
Funny you should ask...winter days stuck in the house, the days I have cleaned up to find two more messes in another room. Kids arguing... you get the idea.

Have you ever been a victim, witness, accused or party in a criminal case?

Victim - I've been bitten several times lately, she goes in for the cuddle, then without notice, bites right on the shoulder.

Witness - Practical jokes, pinching, the occasional hitting, sliding the dirty clothes under the bed, I've seen it all.

Accused - I've been told I am the worst mom in the world and I ruined her life, then an hour later, in her innocent five year old voice, I was the BEST mom in the world, but accused nonetheless.

Wouldn't you like to see face of the judge reading this questionnaire? I probably wouldn't have to worry about jury duty. They would mark a big red stamp, CRAZY!