Yellowstone day 4

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a big day. Jonah had fallen asleep the day before at about 4:30 in the afternoon and slept straight through until 7:15 the next morning. Both Jonah and Tommy woke up just in time to get ready for our big hike to Timpanogos Cave.

Tommy and Jonah and Grandma hiked all the way up to the cave and got there just in time to go in with our tour. One great thing about the tour was the ranger. It was Ranger Nancy! She is the ranger that some of us got to know so well when we were training for our hike through the Grand Canyon a few years ago. So Grandma introduced her to the next generation.

On the hike up and back down they saw little animals and had lots of rest stops to eat snacks and lunch. There was a tree that was growing in the shape of a "J" and Tommy decided we should name it the Jonah tree. Everyone decided to they should stop on the way back down to take Jonah's picture by the tree. Jonah fell right before he got to the tree and skinned his knee, so he couldn't smile for his picture, but wanted a picture anyway. Right before they finished the hike, after looking and looking, Tommy finally found a tree that was growing in the shape of a "T" and we took a picture of him in front of the Tommy tree. It was a good hike and both boys did great. They spent the rest of the day playing with their friends.

This morning Tommy and Jonah and Grandma finished the last 3 chapters of The Boxcar Children before they packed up all the boys clothes and things so that they could just play all day without having to stop and get ready to go home. Then they built a fort in the living room.

Yellowstone day 2

Today is the second day of T and J's visit with Grandpa and Grandma while Mom and Dad are in Yellowstone. Yesterday the boys spent most of the day playing with their backyard neighbor friends-swinging, climbing, picking berries and tomatoes, and playing indoors when it got hot. They also went with Grandma to run errands and choose a new book for reading time. For this Camp Grand Nana visit Grandpa is reading us the first book of the Boxcar Children series. We also got a copy of Farmer Boy for another time.

Today we went to Thanksgiving Point. It was $2 Tuesday, more aptly named 10,000 people Tuesday. It was very crowded. Grandma had never seen so many strollers in one place before!

We went to Farm Country and then to the Dinosaur Museum. Lots of fun. Aunt Jenn and JJ went with us and took all three boys around to see the farm animals while Grandma stood in line for their turn on the pony ride. The pony ride was their favorite part. Then we walked over to the museum and Jenn and the boys ate lunch in the shade while Grandma waited in line to get into the museum. We all loved the dark tunnel in the museum where it feels like you are in outer space. Just lots and lots of stars all the way around you no matter which direction you look. We also had fun in the giant sandy play area burying dinosaurs and making rivers.

Next time, we're going on a regular price day. After school starts again.

We are going to bed early tonight because we have big plans for the morning. We are going to pack a little lunch and go "spelunking." We want to get up to the cave before it gets hot so we are leaving early. If you are familiar with the trail, you will know what we mean when we say that we are going to stop on our way back down to eat our lunch in the little grove of trees near the top. Maybe we will see some little animals on our way up. We'll give everyone a report and hopefully have a fun picture or two tomorrow.

Aloha day eleven

Friday May 9

Today was another busy day for Tommy and Jonah. Tommy went to school and Jonah and Grandma baked rolls and then went to the greenhouse to get things for Grandma’s yard. Jonah took a ride on the big greenhouse cart while he was there. Jonah and Grandma went straight from the greenhouse to Ian’s house so that Jonah and Ian could play together. When Tommy was done at school, he and Grandma went to get Jonah. Then everyone went to the greenhouse again to help Uncle David get flowers for his yard. Jonah slept in the van by the greenhouse door. Tommy helped ladies load their flowers into their cars while Grandma helped David. Someone gave Tommy a quarter for helping and someone else’s grandma gave him a package of cheese crackers to say “thanks.”





Tommy and Jonah and Grandpa finished Bunnicula last night, so tonight, they read picture books instead. Tomorrow Tommy will go to his soccer game and then they will go home with Mommy and Daddy. Grandpa and Grandma will miss them. We all had a lot of fun together.

Aloha day ten

Thursday May 8

Today Jonah went to a funeral with Grandma, where he took a big nap. Then they went to pick up Tommy at school. After that, Tommy and Jonah spent the afternoon playing with their back fence friends until time for dinner and soccer practice.












After bath time, Grandpa read the last chapter of Bunnicula.

Aloha day nine

Wednesday May 7

Today Jonah and Grandma worked in the yard planting strawberries and herbs. Then we pulled weeds. Jonah is very good pulling the weeds and putting them into piles. We packed a lunch and went to the greenhouse for a few minutes because we wanted to plant some things, but the greenhouse was out of potting soil. Jonah decided he wanted to stay and eat his lunch there instead of taking it back home to eat. When he was done eating he and Grandma gathered up a big load of extra plants and brought them home. Uncle Steven was there and he helped Grandma by putting another bag of soil in the van for her. On Friday, maybe we will go back to the greenhouse and plant our baskets.

When we got home, we played in the yard again and three of our back neighbor friends came over. Everyone played together for hours. When Tommy came home from school, he told us all about the tumble he took on the playground. Ouch! two big bandaids! That deserved an early call to Dad to share the pain and get a little consolation.

Grandpa came home early today so that he could take Tommy and Jonah to play with their friend Aaron when it was time for Grandma to go to her Planning Commission meeting. They had a good time. Grandma's meeting took longer than she thought it would so when she got home, everyone went to Wendy's. Chocolate Frosties, yum!

Tomorrow everyone at school is bringing an appreciation note for their teacher, so Thomas sat down and wrote a really nice note for his teacher. Grandma is sure Mrs. Nielsen will love it and he did the whole note by himself!



Jonah almost had a bad hair day today, but Grandma managed to get it under control.

Aloha day eight

Tuesday May 6

Finally! Jonah got to go spend some time with his friend Ian. He spent the morning with Grandma and JJ and then at noon he got to go play with Ian until Grandma picked Tommy up from school. After school and homework there was time to play with Grandma’s back fence friends until dinner. Then there was another rollicking play session in the backyard (maximum count: 7 kids) until bath time.



Grandma made a little miscalculation with the bubble bath tonight. By the time she got Thomas and Jonah into the house and into tub the bubbles had crept above the rim of the tub. By the time the boys were done with their bath, the bubbles had crept out of the tub and onto the floor. Oops!

Aloha day seven

Monday May 5

Today Baby Jeremiah spent the morning with Grandma and Jonah. We played with bubbles and shovels and had a great time.


At first we thought Tommy would stay home from school with us, but then when Grandma heard the boys playing soccer in the living room, she and Tommy decided he would probably be OK to go to school.

Things got busy after JJ left. Jonah and Grandma picked Tommy up from school and went to the greenhouse until time for Tommy’s piano lesson. Then they dropped Tommy off at the lesson, took shirts to the cleaners, picked up some groceries and then picked up Tommy. Whew! There was lots of time for outdoor play before homework.

After dinner everyone sang Family Home Evening songs, including Daddy’s favorite- “Here Comes the Ox-cart.” Jonah helped us sing the Sunbeam song and "Give Said the Little Stream."

We baked cookies for our treat before Bunnicula.