Yellowstone

Last week we took a few days and enjoyed a family trip up to Yellowstone.  Really, we were trying to figure out why this was our fist time, we've been Eastern Idaho folk for over three years now...

But, none the less, we went and we had a blast!  Everyone says that this time of year is the time to go; all the animals are out and the crowds are down.  I don't really know what Yellowstone looks like in the summer, but the animals sure were out, and we felt like we were the only people in the park.  It was awesome.

The one downside though: it was chilly (read: super cold!).  The name of the game became bundle up and the objective was to stay warm.  Brinlee was the team captain... poor baby.  You know in the movie A Christmas Story when he says that "preparing for school in the winter was like preparing for extended deep sea diving"?  Yup... I at first was afraid I had overpacked, but she wore every layer, every day.  And she was stylish.

Tim won the style contest though for sure.  Rockin' the front pack... very smooth.

We got caught in the rain a time or two, and thus perfected the art of taking turns.  That is, Tim goes and sees the thing we stopped for while I wait in the car with the baby, and then we switch.  Luckily we didn't have to do it too many times, but it was fun to watch Brin watch the rain.

Overall we had a wonderful time.  Brinlee did awesome, the weather was generally awesome, and the time with my sweetheart was awesome!  Consensus: October is indeed a great time to go to Yellowstone.  Goal for next time: see a moose... still sad about that...

Corn Maze

Yesterday for family home evening we went out to the corn maze and had a blast!  We successfully completed all three of the mazes (one without using the map, thank you very much), and even splurged for a few corn-inspired treats.

Flat Stanley came along and loved it of course.  And Brinlee did awesome!  She was first confused, then content, and finally asleep.  It did get a little chilly for her, but she never did whine!  Sweet angel.

We had our first taste of Mexican corn and surprisingly really liked it!  It's corn on the cob with mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, and a bit of pico de gio... I know it sounds like it should be gross, but tis not so.  I would have it again.

Yay for family outings!

Early Riser

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up at some horribly awful hour of the early morning and in a deluged and half-awake state get up and get dressed before you realize your day isn't actually starting for another 3 hours?....

... yeah I never have either.

But the other morning I woke up around 3:00 to my side of the bed being totally invaded and nudged Tim to give me some more room.  But instead of just switching sides, he jumped out of bed, flipped on the closet light, and was almost dressed when he looked at the clock, mumbled something I didn't quite catch, and climbed back in bed.

Ironically enough, 3 hours later when the alarm actually did go off, he wasn't phased at all and needed a little help (read: several fairly forceful shoves) to get motivated.  Such a weird morning.

World Travelers

Though our time in Indiana was AMAZING, it was a lot of hard work... plus living the "temporary life-style" does start to wear on you a bit.  Needless to say, toward the end of internshiping, Tim was a little burned out, I was ready for something different, and in general, it was time for a new adventure.  So we jumped online and excitedly discovered that we could find some cheap plane tickets to some really fun places.  And that was it!  Decision made!

Destination East Coast

Stop #1: Sunshiny Florida!

My wonderful grandparents live in Florida and we don't get to see them nearly often enough.  So, we jumped on a flight and went for a visit!  Unfortunately Baby Bean didn't much care for flying, and for the first time in my life I got pretty sick on a flight.  But once safely on the ground in Florida, it was nothing but smiles and good fun!

We took an afternoon and went over to the ocean!  If I had asked myself "Self, where do you see yourself on the last day of November?", "Why, on the beach of course!" surely would not have been my answer.  And yet... there we are!

Two of my favorite people in the world!  Thanks for a wonderful trip Maw Maw and Paw Paw, sure love you!

Tim played in the sand... and built a toilet... such a creative mind

And here is Baby Bean on the beach!  Can't tell?  Neither could we.  This is 15 weeks along and still not much to show... late bloomer I guess.  But he/she loved it there!

Maw Maw and Paw Paw kept us well fed, always a highlight!

Stop #2: Washington DC

Tim had never been to Washington DC, and it just so happens that I have a best friend living there right now... perfect combination!  Plus, we got bumped up to first class flying in.  Destiny?  I think so!

At the capital

Out to the see the monuments

Unfortunately the reflection pool was under construction...

We were very sad about that

Space and Air museum and a very wet Arlington cemetery

All in all, a fabulous trip!  And the perfect capper to a five-month-cross-country adventure!

Now for the drive home...

yuck

Indiana Chronicles Chapter 4: More Culture and Some Birthday

It's birthday time at our house!  Baby B is now officially 12 weeks along, and Tim is now officially 24 years along!  This calls for a celebration!  I don't know why, but 24 seems like kind of a big deal.... and it makes sense I guess, this should be a big year.  Lots of exciting to look forward to!  And I know 12 weeks is a big deal.  So to celebrate we decided to bundle up the family (that is me, Tim, Baby B, and Flat Stanley) and go see a few new things for a day out on the town.

First stop, the Indianapolis Museum of Art

I wore the scarf on purpose, I thought it made for a more artsy savvy look. 

Yes, this is an original van Gogh, aren't you all impressed?

And this is some kind of modern depiction of... well that's up to you to decide.  If you stand with your head tilted I think it makes more sense.  I thought the balloons were appropriate for the occasion though. That is, until I got in trouble for using flash photography.  Oops

Second stop, downtown Indianapolis

And this is about where my camera battery died, so typical.  I did manage to snap a few shots of the war monument though.  It was such a nice day, perfect for a downtown walk.

Stop number 3 was a nice leisurely and romantic stroll along the canal and by the capital building. 

 

Of course, by that point Baby B was ready to eat again and was past due for a nap (or maybe that was just me... hard to say), so we may need to take that walk again another time.

We really had a good time though.  The fall weather was so nice and the fall leaves were SO pretty (not a highlighted feature in the above picture given that my camera was dead and it was pulled from the internet instead)!  And it was nice to get out for the day and spend some fun time together.  Not a bad birthday I would say. 

The Fair is a Veritable Smorgasbord!

Yesterday Tim and I celebrated the year of the soy bean at the Indiana state fair! It was a lot of fun. I fell in love with almost every baby animal and Tim decided we really need some goats...

And Flat Stanley had his first outing! He is so cute and had such a good day! What a fun little companion.

We stopped to see a lumberjack show, which I was skeptical of at first, but it was actually really kind of cool. And it renewed Tim's motivation to be more of a manly man...

Doesn't he look good? Tim on the tractor I mean

And the best part of the day: Introducing Reggie, the world's largest bore. This sucker was massive, 1,305 pounds... so gross!!