A New Boy!

I have a little catching up to do. Oh how I miss the summer already. I used to be such a scheduled person. Not so much anymore. I love the freedom of summers. Another school year has begun and with that Isaiah has had another birthday. His 8th birthday was on his first day of 2nd grade. He awaited this birthday with much anticipation. It was his magic birthday because he turned 8 on the 8th!

I can't believe my boy is a cub scout! He loves it. He was so thrilled when his uniform came in the mail. He couldn't wait to put it on.

He had a really fun birthday party with lots of family and friends.

He saved up for a long time to buy this tether ball. This kid loves tether ball. It's the only thing he does at recess. It cracks me up because I can't help but think of Napoleon Dynamite.

This kid scored big time this year. His grandparents got him his very own tackle box. This picture does not do justice of how excited he was. He kept wanting Daniel to get out his tackle box so they could compare. He organized and reorganized it all week long. It was very cute to see him haul it around with such pride.

His mom and dad spoiled him a little this year;) I have been wanting to buy him these clubs ever since we saw them about a year ago. They are a little big for him but that was the idea. I wasn't going to buy him clubs that he outgrew in a year. He was so excited to use them. We took him golfing for his birthday and it was a little rough for him. The clubs are a little too long for him so it was harder for him to control. He was expecting his new clubs to make him play like Tiger, (he really did think his clubs looked, "exactly like Tiger's clubs"). He was a little discouraged after that and it made me nervous he wouldn't want to keep playing. My dad took him out a few weeks ago and helped him with his swing and encouraged him to keep playing and have fun. Thanks dad. That really helped!

The most important decision Isaiah made since he turned eight was to be baptised!
I can just cry looking at this cute little boy here.

A little pre-baptism bumper big wheels in the culd-e-sac with his cousins.

Handsome boys!

I am so happy for the choice Isaiah made to be baptised. Isaiah and I had several conversations prior to his baptism. One of them went like this:

Me: "Isaiah, have you prayed about your decision to be baptised?

Isaiah: "Yes, but even if I said I didn't want to be baptised you and dad would make me.

Me: "No we wouldn't. This is your decision to make (I said this with much hesitation, because had he came back with, "I don't want to be baptised." I don't know what I would have said:)

Isaiah: "Really? You guys wouldn't make me get baptised?"

Me: "Nope, really"

Isaiah, after pondering for a moment: "Well I want to be baptised. It's the right thing to do and I want to live with my Heavenly Father again someday."

My heart immediately swelled with joy! Can a mother really ask for more than to hear their child express such righteous desires? I felt so much gratitude at that moment of motherhood. Gratitude for such a sweet little boy and gratitude for all the people in his life that have been a positive influence and example.

Thank you.

Yellowstone National Park

Our Vrtiska family reunion was at Yellowstone Park this year. We stayed in a resort in West Yellowstone. We had so much fun. Most families had their own rooms except for the little ones, which is mine and my little sister who is a newly wed and pregnant with her first. We stayed together. All the rooms were right next to each other so we all left our rooms propped open so the kids could go from room to room and play. Each morning the kids would wake up and go find their buddies and play until it was time to go to that days activity. At one point I had all the four and five year old kids in my room playing and Isaiah was off somewhere else. It was pretty fun!

First shot of the kids inside the park. They were just a little excited.

Our first stop was the Artist Paint Pots. Very beautiful and not as stinky as the geysers.

We were pretty lucky to get an amazing view of the buffalo. Daniel and I took a wrong turn and ended up getting lost from the rest of the family. We went all the way north to the Mammoth Falls which are amazing. On our way back to find the group, pretty much impossible since there is no cell phone range and the park is huge, we came across some traffic. This usually means there is an animal to see. The cars slowly moved along. When we came up over the hill we could see this huge herd of Bison come up over the hill. The cars kept moving forward and some people had pulled over and gotten out of their cars. Just as we were the car in the front the herd started to cross the street. It was right in front of us! Daniel looks over and says, "Look at that guy jump into the back of his truck. Wait isn't that Adam?" We had found my family. They ended up in the exact spot we did and we all got to experience the Bison together. It was a pretty majestic sight!

Daniel and Isaiah wanted to stop at about every river and creek in that park to fish. Finally on our way out we did. We never caught anything of course but the scenery was so relaxing.

The park days were long and packed. They were super fun but we all need a day off after the first couple outings. It's tiring to go all day long with 18 kids! The next day we all hung out at the resort. The kids' favorite thing to do was swim. They were in that pool for hours. The adults organized a mean game of whiffle ball. I am sad I didn't get any pictures of either. I have known my whole life that my sisters and I are all very competitive but I had no idea how competitive every one's husbands were. My dad even got after it. Luckily nobody got hurt....as far as I know.

The next day was Old Faithful day. I have seen Old Faithful erupt before but I had no idea that there was so many more cool things to see around the land there.

We had front row seats. We only had to wait 45 minutes and the kids kept themselves entertained playing in the rocks the whole time. Daniel and I found a lovely couple from New Zealand to chat it up with while we waited.

This is actually just after it went off.

It's starting to go. The rest of it I got on video so you can't see the maximum height of it all.

The next few pictures are just of the geyser's and springs that caught my eye. The whole thing is really just amazing. The coolest thing is that the volcano is constantly changing so you won't necessarily see the same things each time you go.


One of my favorites. It looks like coral but it's not! :)

I also love the ridge that has formed on this one.

I know the colors just look dirty here but the camera didn't capture the whole picture and the beauty of it all.

Another one of my favorites. I love the different color.

Makes you want to jump in it's so clear. I don't think that would be too safe though.

This is called Anemone Geyser. Can you guess why?

Heart Spring

All the kids wanted to throw something in the holes that look like they go to the center of the earth. I'm sure it took a lot of self restraint for them not to.

On our way home from Old Faithful we drove down Fire Hole Canyon drive just to see what was back there. We were pleasantly surprised by a beautiful canyon with water falls and a great place for Daniel to try out his fly fishing.

I guess this is the fastest way down. Makes sense to me.

Isaiah and I had fun exploring while Daniel fished.

Last day:(

There is this nice little swimming hole on Fire Hole Canyon Drive. The water is supposed to be 75 to 80 degrees. On a nice warm day that would be great. Our last day at the park just happened to be the coldest one. The original plan was to go for a nice family swim before we had to leave. I backed out and Isaiah, Stephan, Daniel Dewey, and Daniel Long went.
I was pretty impressed with the boys just jumping in and swimming. There was a little rock slide upstream you could ride down. You just jump into the current and let it take you down the river. The boys had to swim.....
...and climb all the way there.

Isaiah not too sure about his decision to do this.

Daniel had to help the boys swim once they got closer to the current. The rest I got on video. The video basically shows Stephan get in just fine and have a blast and then Isaiah refusing to do it after. I told him that was the only way he could get back and so Daniel and he jumped in together and they did it. Once Isaiah reached the other side it was all frowns from him.

We had such a great trip. It went by way too quick though. For those who have never been, I highly recommend, at least at some point in your life, taking a trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Grandpa and Grandma Dewey's House

We had a reunion for the Vrtiska side of our family this summer at Yellowstone National Park (post coming soon). We were able to stop along the way and have a quick visit with Grandpa and Grandma Dewey. It was way too short but we had a good time while we were there. It was nice to break up the long drive to Yellowstone as well.

Isaiah got to try his hand at driving. I love this picture because it shows so perfectly what kind of driver he was. He was very nervous and cautious. No joking around with this kid.


Daniel set up a course and we each had a turn to see who could drive the fastest around the course.
I think I know where Isaiah gets his cautiousness from. Daniel had no fear on the lawn mower so of course he was the winner.

Isaiah running away from Daniel. It was funny because the lawn mower really can't go that fast but Isaiah was still nervous Daniel was going to get him just because of the noises Daniel would make.



Isaiah acting like Darth Vader with his helmet.

Later that evening Daniel and grandpa went out to the field to move some pipe. Isaiah ran after them wearing grandpa's irrigation boots. I think they were a little too big. Who knows, maybe some day he will fit them? It's hard to imagine that!




After the pipe was moved grandpa went to turn the water on.


As soon as the water started to trickle out Daniel and Isaiah prepared themselves for a water fight.....

.....getting some more water pressure....

.....a little more.....

......full blast!

Isaiah soaked Daniel.

Daniel cheated and used his height advantage over Isaiah to pick him up to get him back.

They managed to still walk away as friends.

We love visiting G&G in Idaho. Next time we need to stay longer than one day!