yellowstone gun show

just a couple of silly pictures to share from our hike today (the one of both of the girls was from a couple of days ago). we're one tough family!

we did another hike in the canyon area today. we were hoping to spot a bear or two, but no dice. we saw a lot of bear evidence along the path.. . but no bear. :( we did see some mud pots up close on a back country hike, beautiful rolling meadows with wildflowers and stellar views, an amazingly turquoise lake, the upper yellowstone river falls up close... and a line of 20 cars at a dead stand still while a bison hung out in the middle of the road. :)

sweet vacation

there is nothing quite like enjoying some sweet family time after a long deployment in one of the most amazing places on God's green earth! we're in the middle of enjoying the first leg of our vacation camping in yellowstone. we've been swimming in firehole canyone, to the mud pots, old faithful, hiked the whole geyser basin, hiked the south rim of the "grand canyon" of yellowstone, hiked 328 steps down uncle tom's trail down to the lower falls of the yellowstone river... oh yah we're having a blast! this picture was taken from artist point and what a view!!!

a yellowstone staffer told us about a cool trail we're going to check out tomorrow! but for now we're off to roast dogs over the fire! :)

thank you!

thank you!

made a few thank you cards today to send out to several friends who helped us a lot on all of our homecoming prep for stan. but thought i'd say one more big thank you to everyone who prayed and sent well wishes to us over the past 7 months. we are so thankful to all of you!

and my awesome church group who went way above and beyond helping me clean, make posters, hang signs... and so much more. thank you so much!!!

(the inspiration for this card came from something i saw on label tulip's site)

the new house

here it is...

things are moving along... and so far they're moving along well. pending a few details we'll be on our way to closing. just thought i'd post a quick update on the progress.

happy father's day!

happy father's day!

and a cool bonus too

to the #1 dad in his super cool handmade shirt... happy father's day!
we camped all fabulous father's day weekend

some of the sweet father's day loot
a handmade shop towel, funny bag, handmade wind chime and cute poem!
how could a dad go wrong?!

my dad taking a walk with emma this weekend while camping.
i love you daddy!

and for our cool added bonus... we made an offer on a house just a few miles away from where we are now! crazy way to start a weekend, but so much fun. we started looking at a few places (including this one) while stan was still deployed... he had emailed it to me about a month ago. isn't the internet a crazy wonderful thing?

...we got the call that our offer was accepted while we were camping on saturday. whoo hoo!!! our real estate guy even stopped by with a bottle of sparkling cider (since we were camping locally). what a super exciting and fabulous weekend!

happy father's day!

we support our troop

we support our troop

just a quick update to add that the most wonderful man on the planet is now back on u.s. soil. it's been a thrilling and prefect day. to all of the husbands and dads that headed overseas to relieve our guys & those serving at home and overseas... we're thankful for all you do!

for all of those in our area that saw the signs along the road & sent their love. thank you so much. i received a touching email from a friend today regarding that... we are just feeling very blessed!

we took a few pics today... somewhere over 1000, so i'll have more to share... but for now it's onto some precious family time.

{{hugs}}
noel

tomorrow, tomorrow... i love ya tomorrow

tomorrow, tomorrow...
i love ya tomorrow

the last signs are made, and being hung in the morning along the route home from the base. the giant vinyl sign will be hung off the deck and 75 flags put up in the yard in the morning... since it's pretty windy today. the house is clean, the yard looks amazing (thanks to all of my fabulous friends from church... i can't thank you guys enough!!!), the groceries have filled the cupboards and fridge... we are ready!

we'll head out to pick stan up from the base tomorrow afternoon! yippee!!! we're hoping for some sunshine by then... or at least no rain. it's looking a bit more like fall out there today then nearly summer! thanks for all of the kind thoughts and prayers along the way... the are very much appreciated.


my youngest took all of these pics this afternoon... not too shabby, huh? i love seeing a kid's perspective on life through a camera. very fun. :D

hope you're having a fabulous day!
{{hugs}}

t - minus 4.5 days and counting...

t - minus 4.5
days and counting...

we are almost there now. we finished the giant sign tonight, and will hopefully finish the other signs tomorrow... although we have a major work day planned with some fabulous friends from church who have volunteered to come help get the yard & house in ship shape before stan gets home... all those little things that help alleviate the pressures on him when he gets back (the lawn mowed, the hedges trimmed, the driveway pressure washed - um, yah, he does this on a regular basis! lol.) thank you, thank you to all of our friends, you guys mean the world to us! :)