Jeff's 32nd birthday camping extravaganza :)

Jeff's birthday was yesterday and we celebrated in Jeff style! We came home from work on Saturday and loaded up the truck with our gear and our dogs to go camping (check out the doghouse on our tent, one of Jeff's favorite features). It was beautiful outside and therefore pretty crowded but we found a spot near the creek just down from Emerald Lake. We had big plans to fish and maybe even do a little hiking but because of the crowds we opted to just hang out at our camp for the most part which turned out to be exactly what we needed. I love my sweet husband dearly and am so very grateful for him, we had a great time celebrating together! The big birthday dinner included deer steaks cooked on the terra cotta grill Jeff received for his birthday last year, potatoes baked in the coals of our fire and a miniature raspberry swirl cheesecake I picked up on Saturday before we left. Here are a few pics and a video from the birthday adventure:

Baby's First Hike

Today we blew off our household duties and went to the mountains. It's that time of year again when everything is vibrant, alive and awesome. The skies were blue, the water deafening, the grass green and the temperature absolutely perfect! We went up to the Stillwater river where it comes out of the Absaroka Beartooth wilderness. The Stillwater this time of year is anything but still, in fact, it's in such a raging, boiling, frothy frenzy that you often get sprayed just walking up the trail. In short it's completely spectacular. If you've never been up there in June you really should go! It's an easy hike too. Otis and Ruger accompanied us, it was their first time in the mountains and they enjoyed themselves immensely. We have lots of spare bedrooms . . .

First house guest

This weekend we had our first house guest, my stepmother Yvonne. We cooked, went to fun kitchen stores, toured Red Lodge, went up Beartooth pass, introduced Yvonne to sushi (which she loved) and had some good down time at the house. She put up with our partially packed home and a guest room that has 3 random colors of paint and all of our animals. She was a great first house guest. Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Ruger Pics

We really love our new dog Ruger. As far as puppies go, he is about the best behaved one we've ever seen. He's only peed in the house once. He is content to sleep on his bed while in the house as long as you are in the room. If you leave he follows you and as long as Otis is with him in the backyard he doesn't whine. Best of all, he doesn't run off, you can leave him off leash and he just follows you wherever you go. Even Moose the Cat likes him. OH and he has awesome ears to play with! Here are some new pics.