YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE- campfire fun

Yes...it is now September and I am still trying to get through this Yellowstone vacation...I can't keep up. OH WELL. Several evenings, we were able to have a campfire for S'mores and fun in Grammy and Grandpa's awesome fire pit! We had a blast out there singing camp songs and laughing at Tatum and Hannah! They were hilarious and got us all giggling! OH TO BE A TEENAGER AGAIN! The pictures look a little hazy because there was lots of smoke from the fire... and i was sitting across the fire from them. Happy Hanny Landon, Katherine and Tatum Great-Grandmother Fairbanks

John and Roo

Daddy-O and Kirkie

Sweet Ada Lou

GRANDPA (everyone's BUD)

Whit with his boys, Marshall and Luke

Marshall, Luke and Kirk

Georgie and Grammy

Ruby, Georgia, Grammy and Tiff...isn't this cute? They were laughing at Hannah and Tate

Our entertainment that evening...they put on a GREAT show!

LOVE YOU GIRLS!! XOXOXOXO

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE-the RODEO

Our first night together we had dinner and then we all hit the local rodeo...I LOVE A GOOD RODEO!! I can't explain it folks, I just do...I LOVE RODEOS!! Small town or professional, I don't care... We had a blast, THANKS RICK AND KAREN!! What a fun evening! Although we were at the RODEO...no one could keep their eyes of this little man...HOW CUTE IS HE?? Sweet Landon, I could eat your cheeks!! (and tootsies too!!) Hanny and Tate...checkin' out the COW BOYS!! YEE HAW!

This is one cute DADDY-O!

In between events, they asked the LITTLE PEOPLE to come out to chase a calf???

There was a ribbon around it's tail...they were supposed to grab it...I couldn't believe it, but John, YES, MY JOHN, jumped right threw the fence and was ready for action! Ruby was in, so John didn't want to miss out!

Georgie wanted to go too, so Aunt Tiffy followed the leader!

Here they are warming up for the big calf chase! JUMPING JACKS!

Afterwards the rodeo clown gave them all a silver dollar! COOL!

John has never been so excited about anything in all his life!!

Seriously...CHECK HIM OUT!!

Kirk tried out the "BIG" kid version...FUN STUFF!

Smiling at those cowboys AGAIN!!

Auntie Tiff and Miss G

Ruby, Gram and Kirk

Tiff kissing on sweet Landon...or maybe it was the other way around!

Grandpa and Georgia, blowing kisses to the cow boys!

What fun! Uncle Whit went out and danced in front of the WHOLE CROWD! I will post his picture as soon as I get it from his wife!! HE MADE US ALL PROUD!!

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE-the drive

Now that the kidlets are in school, I FINALLY HAVE TIME to blog about our family vacation!

We set aside a week for a grand Yellowstone adventure with my husband's family. We all get together a couple times a year. It is difficult, now that we are all spread out...Whit and his family are in Dallas, Katherine and her family are just outside of Phoenix, we are in Idy-ho and my in laws still reside in Ogden...SO, we all make the journey to rendezvous at the family compound, in West Yellowstone, Montana. WE ALL LOVE IT THERE! It is great! No matter what time of the year it is, there are a MILLION ways to entertain yourselves!

We almost always spend Christmas/New Years in Yellowstone with all of the Fairbanks clan and usually hook up during the summer as well.

This year, we let Hannah bring a friend (since she has no cousins her age) to keep her happy and entertained! It was a grand idea. We brought her darling friend Tatum, who is the daughter of our dear friends, Sean and Dini...anyway, Tatum was a doll! I hope she had as much fun with us as we did with her!! WE LOVE YOU TATE!!

We left on an EARLY Saturday morning, at about 5AM, so we wouldn't waste the whole day in the car. I really thought my wild ones would SLEEP...but no, sleep was not to be had! We stopped for breakfast and Hannah and Tatum were a hoot! I knew instantly, IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT TRIP!!

GOOF BALLS! I am sure they frightened off a customer or two when we stopped for nourishment!

SORRY FOLKS!

John and Ruby thought Hannah and Tate were super entertainment, I was happy to have happy travelers! It was a win win!

*Kirk was in Utah, spending time with his Dallas cousins and my in-laws, so he met us at the cabin...just in case you are wondering were wild one #2 is in these photos!

A couple of funny things to share! (or document before I forget!)

Oh these kids...they are adorable and they completely MELT me! My brain doesn't retain much these days so I thought I better write about these darlings before I forget! Ruby just started 2nd grade on Monday. Last night when she looked bothered, I asked her to tell me what was bugging her. I figured with a new teacher, new rules and new class mates (and by the look on her face) there must be something bothering her. She looked at me for a minute and then said, "My teacher's bangs are really buggin'!" I bit a hole in my lip to keep from laughing. All she was concerned about...was her teachers BANGS??!!?? She kills me. Her teacher is lovely and has lovely hair, I would post a picture of her but I don't want to get arrested! ha ha John is LOVING having my folks close by. The other day I was telling the kids that Grandma and Grandpa Kirk were coming over. John got really mad and started screaming. I was totally confused. HE LOVES THEM! He said, "NO! Grandma and Grandpa ME!!" It took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about...he doesn't understand that Kirk is their last name. I guess he thought I was saying that they are Kirk's grandparents and John wanted me to know that HE was claiming them!! HOW FUNNY IS THAT? I wish I could find a way to get in that little head of his! He says the funniest things! We just recently returned from an awesome Fairbanks Family trip to Yellowstone. We were there with Rich's parents, his Grandmother, Connie, his brother, Whit and his family and his sister, Katherine and her family. Katherine has a six month old baby named Landon. John has never paid much attention to any baby...but boy did he love Landon! He talks about him night and day. It is adorable. The other day while we were running arounds (and talking about Landon) John was convinced that I could go inside the store and purchase a Landon. He kept saying "Mommy buy IT pease!" Yes, he calls Landon "it!" Sorry Sam family. He doesn't mean any harm! Too funny. Katherine, know that you are all loved, especially "IT!" OH KIDS!! I LOVE THEM!! Stay tuned for lots of grand pictures from Yellowstone. I took over 700 pictures and they are all adorable. I break out in hives every time I try and decide which ones I should post and which ones I shouldn't. I also have cute pictures from the first day of school! Check back soon! I know you are DYING to see them! ha ha Thanks for checking my goofy blog!! XOXOXO

Ruby's Birthday Party

We threw a birthday party for Ruby on July 31st. We had a lot of fun. It was an outdoor evening of grand, semi-organized chaos! We rented a water slide, used our "white trash" pool and served all the usual party food! PIZZA! It was a hit! John claimed the pool at the bottom of the slide as HIS from the moment they set it up! Here is Ruby and EIGHT of her closest friends! THE DARLING BIRTHDAY GIRL!

Whenever one of the girls wanted to go down the slide, this is what happened! (TANTRUM) I made him move each time to keep the injuries to a minimum!! He wasn't happy! He would yell and tell each girl to get in the "big pool!" Oh THAT child!

Needless to say...I had a massive headache by the end of this par-tay!

Hannah was the ultimate lifeguard! THANKS HANNY-HOO!

Ruby served homemade snow cones to her guests while they waited for Daddy to come home with pizza.

They were a hit! Here is Kami enjoying one...yum!

The girls patiently waited for Ruby to make their treats. It was a great evening. Everyone got along and had a good time. It is so nice to have good friends!

A is for Alyssa...and ADORABLE!

PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUN TIMES!

AND FINALLY...Birthday cake! MAKE A WISH RUBY!