Cramming in the Summer Fun

With all Chris’s final papers turned in and tests taken, we only had a month and half left to us of summer.  We needed to pack as much fun into the summer as we could. 

We started by taking a trip to Yellowstone for Chris’s 23^rd birthday.  It was our first family vacation with just us three. 

Lilly didn’t enjoy the constant getting in and out of the car at all the stops, and she wasn’t too impressed with the sights either.  The bubbling mud at the Artists Painting Pots didn’t impress her in the slightest.  (I on the other hand, thought they were pretty sweet). 

Watching the bubbling mud

One of the coolest things we saw was a momma bear and her cub.  I say “one of the coolest things” for several reasons.  One is they were pretty far away.  We had pulled into Roosevelt’s Tower (a waterfall) and saw every person there (about 100+) crowded around the guardrails.  We jumped out of the car and saw a mamma black bear with her two cubs about 200 yards away.  We only saw them for a couple seconds before they disappeared in the tall grass.  Needless to say we saw wild bears!  Later as we were coming back from seeing the waterfall, we saw the mamma bear in profile before she sauntered away into the woods.

The other reason this event was one of the coolest things, is The Lion Group Geysers located by Old Faithful.  After seeing Old Faithful erupt we walked along the boardwalk behind Old Faithful and looked at the other geysers.  We passed an older couple with their young adult daughter sitting at The Lion Group Geysers.  They informed us it was going to erupt in 15-20 minutes.  We weren’t on a strict schedule so we decided to stay.  Chris chatted it up with the couple, while I pretended like I could hear them.  (Wind and hearing loss don’t go well together).  Then in a guttural eruption, the water started gushing out.  It squirted about 20 feet in the air and rained just to the right of us.  The boardwalk got soaked, but we stayed dry.  Then Chris said, “I’m just waiting for the wind to change,” and instantly the wind shifted and cold water fell right on us.  We jumped out of the way, except for the old man.  He sat on the bench and laughed.  Eventually his wife convinced him to move. 

You don’t see a geyser go off besides Old Faithful, very often. 

We found Lilly's geyser

The day after we got home from Yellowstone we headed down to Salt Lake to see Wicked.  My parents had gifted us, Jackson & Katie with tickets for a late 1^st anniversary present. 

It was the first time Chris had ever seen a Broadway play, and the third time Jackson and I had seen Wicked, which was the only Broadway play we had ever seen. 

Apparently, I had forgotten how incredible Wicked was.  I was amazed most of all at the skill of the dancers.  Jackson, during intermission, found out that the actresses playing Glinda and Elphaba are paid $5,000 a week, and they are only contracted for a week at a time. 

We were also able to stop by Chris's Great Grandma's place.  Lilly has now met all of her great, great grandparents! 

Lilly on the carousel

 Last week was our last summer vacation.  Chris’s uncle got married on the Oregon Coast, and Chris’s parents decided to make a vacation out of it.  It was Lilly’s first time on the coast.  She got to see the seals at Seaside, ride the carousel in the mall with Dad, and be smothered with kisses and hugs from her grandma.

Chris and I got a date night one of the evenings.  We went and got Tilamook ice cream, then walked on the windy beach.  It was a relaxing evening where we didn’t have to worry about Lilly. 

Chris, his dad and brother went clamming one morning.  They got up at four and were out on the beach at five digging for clams.  That evening I made clam chowder from freshly made clams. 

Recipe for Clam Chowder

Two 6½ cans minced clams

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery

2 cups chopped potatoes

1 cup chopped carrots (optional)

¾ cup butter

½ cup flour

1 quart half & half

1½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

Drain juice from clams and pour over vegetables in medium saucepan.  Add enough water to barely cover veggies.  Simmer covered over medium heat.  In another medium pan melt butter and add flour.  Blend and cook a minute or two.   Add half & half to butter and flour.  Stir until thickened.  Add to cooked vegetables.  Season with salt, pepper, and sugar.  Add clams.  Do not boil.  Add a little vinegar when ready to serve (optional).

One of my favorite parts of the vacation was watching Lilly play in the sand for the first time.  Chris and Matthew built a sand fortress.  Lilly was the monster that destroyed it.  She loved squishing the sand between her little fingers, knocking down the sand castles, and trying to eat the sand.  She was even rolling in it at one point.  She had a blast, and I couldn’t get enough pictures. 

Right after she tried to eat the sand

Don't ask about Chris's face