My sickness and the kids back in school

So this summer really flew by! We got out the 2nd week in June and went back the last week in July. Usually we are all ready to go back, we've partied hard and want the routine again (at least I do!) This summer we had our Yellowstone trip but didn't do much else. I was really sick all summer and by the time we found out what was wrong, the kids were back in school. Thank goodness for off track time I guess :) So I had severe stomach pains all summer. I went to the Dr in June and they gave me Prilosec. Didn't really help. I called after our Yellowstone trip to see a specialist. They wanted me to wait until the end of August. I said no! :) They got me in the first week of August. I had to have a CAT scan and they found out I had a perforated small intestine. Yep, it was as painful as it sounds. I got on 2 hefty anti-biotics and finally started feeling better. Now the pain is all gone but I am fighting fatigue. They found that I was anemic so I'm trying to up my iron intake. They gave me pills but every time I've taken them I'd have stomach pains again. I don't think it's worth it to re-injure myself for iron, so I'm just trying to eat as much iron rich food as I can find! I'm really starting to feel like myself again! Crossing my fingers that I don't have any relapses!

My three oldest all went back to school on July 26th. They were so excited and they all love school so far! Tiaree started 5th grade (gasp), Jarik started 3rd grade and Bree started 1st grade. It's different having them all gone all day. Keighlee enjoys the "us" time in the morning but by lunch time she is asking when the kids are coming home! It's nice to be back in the routine and have the kids learning so much. They are all doing so well already. Bree is taking off on reading. Jarik is a whiz at pretty much anything he does. Tiaree is a little read-a-holic. Seriously the girl could read all day if she had the time! She takes after me that way :)

Keighlee is such a ham! We start preschool again next week and she is so excited! She loves that she gets to be a big kid now. She says the silliest things. One that I remember really well and that I still laugh at was said on the way to the doctors. I had just found out the results of my CAT scan and had to go get blood work done and get my prescrips. So we are driving and pass a Taco Bell. She goes "Mom, when I was in your tummy did you eat tacos?" "I'm sure I did". "You did. I remember. And when you ate tacos I got tacos in my tummy too cause when I was in your tummy I went like this" and she proceeded to tip her head back and open her mouth as wide as she could! Cute little stinker! She makes me laugh every day!

Well here are some pics of the first day of school:






And here is a pic of Keighlee and her silliness. She was putting stickers on Daddy's bum while he slept!!:

Yellowstone!!

We got to take the best vacation this summer! We went to Island Park and Yellowstone for 5 days. It was so much fun! We were able to go with my mom and dad, Cait and Sam and Erik and Ali. We missed Jared and Ems though :( But man did we have a fun trip. We left on Monday and drove through Idaho Falls and Rexburg. We got to see the temples there.

Tuesday we headed into Yellowstone for the day. We got to see the Upper and Lower Falls, Yellowstone Lake and a bunch of different hot pots and mud pots. We got to Old Faithful about 10 minutes after it had gone off. It was sunset by this time and just beautiful! But there was also a fire and so the air was smoky and there was ash falling on us. It was beautiful to see the sun setting through the smoke though! We finally made it home at like 11. It was such a fun day though!!

Wednesday we relaxed and went on a hike along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. It was gorgeous!! The water was calm and it was so quiet! It was a 3 mile round trip walk and we got to see the calm river turn into rapids. It was amazing the difference in the sound. Quiet and calm to raging and loud! There had been a sighting of a mother moose and her calf on the trail so we were all being extra watchful!

Thursday we went to Quake Lake. We could have skipped that :D It was pretty boring but still pretty. After Quake Lake we went back into Yellowstone and headed to the Mammoth Hot Springs. They were actually kinda disappointing too. There was no water running through them so it wasn't as cool as it usually is. We got to have yummy ice cream though and it was just a nice day.

Friday we packed up and headed back to Yellowstone on our way to Jackson Hole. We stopped at Old Faithful and were just in time to see it go off. Love it! It's pretty amazing!! Then we took the drive down to Jackson. It was beautiful, especially when we got to the Tetons. They are breathtaking! We stopped at Jackson Lake and the boys and Cait and Ali all got in the lake for a few minutes! It was fun to watch them!! That night we got to go to the BarJ Chuckwagon for dinner and a show. It was so fun and the Wranglers were so entertaining. We were laughing pretty hard and the songs they sang and played were fun. The fiddler is awesome and one guy can yodel like no other!!



Saturday we got up and went swimming before hitting the 7.5 hour drive home. That was the worst part!! It was so annoying! But we made it home and we had a wonderful vacation!!! I wish I could go back :D