Yellowstone & Camping

The last weekend in June we talked my sister Lacie and her cute little family into coming up and visiting us.  We made the most out of our time and took the kids to the Rexburg Splash Park while the boys went fishing Friday night.  

 Sat morning we were up bright and early ready to take on Yellowstone National Park.  It was a beautifully HOT day, with a few occasional rain storms but we had a blast!  The kids were more than a little sick of being stuck in the backseat for most of the day but that just meant they enjoyed the times we got out to walk around that much more :)  They were super awesome sports and we were able to enjoy seeing a lot of the park. 

And we're off!  So grateful to Dillon's parents for letting us borrow their Suburban so we could all be in one car.

Ignore the 'Leaving.'  We really were entering the Park, there was just too big of a line to get a picture taken on the other, 'Entering' side :)

Elk off in the distance

Buffalo!

Out of the carseat!!! :)

Using Uncle Dillon's binoculars to get a better look at the Buffalo

Sofia wanted to try

Such a cute girl!

Our boys

Luke did NOT like the smell and literally plugged his nose the entire time we were walking around here

Trying not to die of heat stroke waiting for Old Faithful

TOO hot!

Picnic time!

Hmmm... I think he's spent a little too much time around his Uncle Dillon.  He may or may not be addicted :)

Beautiful Yellowstone Lake

Half way through the day and all tuckered out

Luke LOVED the water falls and kept asking to see more

I seriously can't get enough of these kids! {love} them!

Being silly while getting a 'horsey ride'

 

Yes we did get to see a little bear cub.  And yes, the kids were scared to death from the back seat of the car.  Yes I hurried and took this picture from the car window while the kids were screaming to get away from the bear.  And yes, as we drove away we saw this little guys mama hiding in the trees.

Just hanging out in town

This was the coldest part of the day.  I stayed long enough to get my picture taken and hurried back to the car while the boys went exploring in the wind and rain while Lacie and I sat in the warm car eating cookies with the kiddos :)

So close we could have touched him!

And they were done :)

Once we had had enough and sufficiently wore the kids out, we grabbed some dinner in West Yellowstone and started the drive back South to find a little place to camp for the night.  We were able to find us a nice little spot and get everything set up before dark.  The kids LOVED being out of the car and LOVED that we were camping.  They had been asking since Friday night when we were going to be camping and we had finally made it!  

Roasting s'mores and starbursts... the best part of camping

Early morning camping glory!  At least Luke is cute :)

Who needs sand?  Dirt works great!

Mmmm... dutch oven breakfast!

She kinda likes her Uncle Dillon.  Kinda.

Bubbles!

Haha, fake sleeping!

Acorn baseball.  Never heard of it?  It's pretty great!

After some breakfast and campsite play time, he went with the boys to try their luck fishing in Henry's Lake.

After cooling off in the water and only catching a leech (on Jake's leg) it was time for another adventure.  We headed back to camp where we packed everything up and headed back toward home.  We couldn't be done yet tho and took a slight detour to Big Springs to see the big fish and have another little picnic.

Checking out the big fish under the bridge

Having a blast chasing birds

Luke is such a good brother to push his sissy around :)

Next on the list.....a nap for the Bastows on the way home.

Well everyone but Luke :)

Once we made it home safe and sound we had Dillon cook us up some dinner of dutch oven chicken, potatoes and cobbler that we didn't get to while camping.  Then it was time to say goodbye to the Bastow family :(

We had SO much fun and were SO sad to see them go!  

But thank you for the amazing time Lacie and Jake and kiddos.  We loved every minute of it!!

And, we're ready for another camping trip whenever you guys are :)

Infertility

Infertility.  

Sometimes I feel like it is a bad word.  Scratch that, not a bad word, just a word that people don't use very often because there is a fear and awkwardness behind it.  Fear that people will reject a couple because they are experiencing infertility.  Fear that you'll say or do the wrong thing when around said couple, which makes it awkward to converse with this couple.  Fear that people will judge you, or look at you differently because you are dealing with this disease.  Fear about putting yourself out there and making yourself vulnerable by proclaiming, "Yes. I am dealing with infertility."  

I don't like it, but that's just how it is.

I have been trying to make myself become more open about our situation.  Not as a way to flaunt our trials and experiences, but as a way to promote awareness and as a way for me to personally deal with what we are going through.

So here goes nothing.... 

*deep breath*

Dillon and I are dealing with infertility.  

(Ok, I know most of you already know that, but remember, this is me achieving my goal of putting myself out there.  And it is a LOT harder than it may seem.)

Our story in a nutshell...

We have been trying to become pregnant since May of 2009.  I have been unofficially diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and officially diagnosed with Endometriosis.  We have undergone countless rounds of Clomid (an ovulation induction medication),  have become pregnant once only to be diagnosed with a Blighted Ovum Miscarriage and had to have a D&C.  We have since undergone 3 unsuccessful IUI's (Intrauterine Insemination) and I have had surgery to remove a Uterine Septum as well as Endometriosis.

That is the last 4 years of our life in a teeny tiny basic nutshell.

 

Infertility is a real thing and I am amazed everyday at just how many people it affects.  People that you would never guess, have experienced infertility in some degree.  Obviously there are varying degrees to which people experience this disease, but it is just that, a disease that some couples are forced to experience.  And just like any other disease, it takes a toll on you not only physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well.

A few years back my sister introduced me to a blog written by a woman experiencing infertility.  She was, and still is, such an inspiration and a figure of hope that I have and continue to look up to.  In the last few years she has started a non-profit organization, Pound the Pavement for Parenthood. 

"Pound the Pavement for Parenthood is a non-profit organization established in 2010.  We are a group of dedicated men and women committed to helping the cause of infertility.  We bring awareness to the struggle and help raise precious funds for those ready to start expensive processes including adoption and In-Vitro Fertilization."

I am amazed at how much she, and the rest of the organization, do for the world of infertility.  I have been wanting to participate in one of their races for some time now but it never seems to work out.  This time, I am doing it.  And I am so excited to go and run and help out not just one, but two couples who are fighting this disease.  I don't personally know either of these couples but I don't feel like I need to.  I know (to a degree, all experiences are different) what they are going through and I want to help.  I can only hope that if/when we are put in a similar situation, we will have strangers that want to help us achieve our dream of becoming parents just because they know what we are going through. 

So one month from today I will be in Orem Utah, running 3.1 miles to help in the smallest way, 4 individuals dream come true.

So, again, I am not writing this post for sympathy or to say "Look, see how hard our life is?"  No.  That is not what I am going for.  Just know that infertility is a real thing.  If you could see into the lives of your neighbors, ward members, coworkers, etc. I promise you would be amazed at how many of them have experienced infertility.  Infertility doesn't have to be a word full of fear, but it does take sensitivity and understanding when using it and talking with those going through it.  

So be just that, sensitive and understanding as I try to continue to open myself up to the world about what we are going through.  Like I said, it is a LOT harder than it may seem.

The move!

Am I on a blogging roll or what???  I gotta say, I am pretty dang proud of myself :)

But anyways....

WE MOVED!!!

On June 1st, bright and early, my family showed up to help us make the move from Blackfoot to Parker, ID.  We went from the Rez to the Sand Dunes and so far we love it!  Dillon is starting to get the hang of the whole "working full time" thing and seems to be liking it so far.  Tuesday he took his licensing exam and now we just wait.  Wait, wait, wait to see if he passed.  I know he passed, he's such a smarty pants, but it is still kinda nerve racking having to wait for the official results.

We are getting all settled into our little farm house we are renting and I have just a little bit more organizing to do.  We really like our little house but sure miss all the extra space we had in our trailer in Blackfoot.  But, we now have a garage that has been SO nice to use as storage.  We have quite a bit bigger yard and are loving the extra space outside.  Up until just a few days before we moved we didn't think we were going to be able to have Skeeter and had fostered him out to stay at my sister's in Wyoming for the time being.  But, last minute, we were able to find out that the landlord was going to let us keep him here.  The first night for the poor guy was rough, he was SO confused.  He cried, literally, all night long.  When we woke up the next morning he had pulled his pillow out of his doghouse to sleep outside and pout.  He has since realized that this is now his home and he will have to come to love it whether he wants to or not :)  We did discover that he is very particular about where his doghouse is placed in his kennel. 

Last week he worked everyday, little by little, digging himself a little bed in the dirt.  I had noticed that every time I looked out the window before I would let him out in the mornings he would never be in his doghouse.  Instead, he'd be curled up in a ball in his dirt bed.  His makeshift bed just so happens to be right where his doghouse was in Blackfoot.  So, we moved his doghouse to the other side, over top of his dirt bed, and just like that he now will go in his doghouse.  Picky, picky, picky!

Our landlord has been awesome!  Not only did he agree to let us bring Skeeter with us, but he also agreed to letting us plant ourselves a little garden.  He initially said that he would have his son come over and use the tractor to dig us a plot.  We were in Shelley the weekend it was supposed to get done and were so excited to plant our garden for Family Home Evening when he got home.  Well, we got home and Monday night came and the plot was still not dug for us.  So...we pulled out the shovel, found a hoe/rake/thingy lying around, rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

Before

Hard at work.  Don't worry, after a few pictures I did start helping :)

After

It's not the most beautiful garden you will ever see but we are pretty dang proud of it!  AND, within just the last few days our corn, beans, cucumbers, and some pumpkins have all sprouted! :) 
Now hopefully these cold nights we've been having don't kill it all off, like they did my flowers :( 

(aren't those rose bushes SO pretty????)

 Yup, I got all these beautiful flowers (and our sad little cactus we brought with us, haha) planted just in time for us to be gone the one night we got hit by a hard frost.  I was so sad when we got home and they were all dead.  The hanging basket was a gift from the school district I just left and it was SO much prettier when I got it.  It has now partially frozen twice.  Since then I've been bringing it in every night and trying to love it back to its full and beautiful life.  Luckily my potted flowers have bounced right back but my little flowers in the ground have not been so lucky.  Hopefully with the warming temperatures they will come back, maybe?  If not I guess I'll be getting some more and replanting them. 
If you can't tell, my flower beds are a little messy with the wind blowing the rose petals and tree seed things all over.  Forget the weeds, it's a full time job keeping those little buggers cleaned out!  Oh well, I'm just excited to have some space of our own to attempt to beautify :)

The other thing we are in love with about our yard?

 Yup, a fire pit! 

Like I said, we really are loving living here at our little house here in Parker and are excited to finally stay in town this weekend and meet our new ward. 

Seattle

Over Memorial Day weekend we made the last minute decision to go with Dillon's parents to Washington.  We were hoping that Dillon would have been able to start working by that time but, since ISU messed up on his paperwork that he needed to get his temporary license in order to start work, not once but TWICE, he was still not able to start work yet.  So, the decision was made, bags were packed and the L.O.N.G drive began!  I took off work on Thurs and we spent all day in the car.  We finally made it to Seattle that night around 9:00.  Friday we spent the day seeing the sights with our tour guide Landon (Dillon's brother) who is going to grad school up there.  

He showed us the University of Washington campus...

And took us to Pike Place Market...

The famous gum wall!

While at Pike Place Market we snagged us some lunch at the Crab Pot and couldn't resist taking our pictures :)

Dillon's mom and dad

The happy crabbers :)

After walking around the market for a few hours the sun was starting to come out and we were in need of some relaxing.  So, off to the beach it was :)  Landon took us to Alki beach where we had an amazing view of the city. 

We ended up just sitting at the beach, people watching and enjoying the sunshine.  It was so nice to just sit and talk and enjoy the beautiful view.  After a few hours, we piled back into the car, found some dinner and headed to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners take on the Texas Rangers.  

It was a really fun game.  Cold,  but fun!  Unfortunately the Mariners couldn't quite pull out a win, but they sure made the last inning an exciting one!  

The next morning we were up and headed out to go and see Dillon's grandparents that live about 3 hours from Seattle in Tri-Cities.  Dillon's grandpa has Parkinson's and has not been doing well as of late.  It was so good to go and see him and spend some time with him and Dillon's grandma.  We were also able to see Dillon's great-grandma who is just down the hall and around the corner from her son in the nursing home :) and spend time with Dillon's aunt and uncle and cousins.  I don't know why, but I didn't get any pictures while we were there :(  

But it was a great (quick) trip and so fun to spend time with Dillon's parents and see some of his family that we don't get to see as often!