America's Birthday

Happy Birthday America!

This past week my family got to go to the cabin in Island Park! It is our favorite place to vacation; I’ve been going there since before I can even remember! This is the first time, I can remember, that we went over the 4^th of July and it has now become my favorite time to be there!

Before we headed up to the cabin we started the week off with a bang with the annual Rupert, fireworks! I went to a play with my neighbors and met my mom at our usual spot for the fireworks, got some infamous kettle corn and enjoyed our little town’s traditions!

Wednesday morning I headed off by myself to Rexburg to get Holli and Heidi who were ecstatic to join me in the journey to Island Park!

We arrived and just hung around because that is the best thing to do but we eventually ventured out for a moose drive which came up hopeless until we drove on the cabin road and were greeted by not 1 but 2 moose! It was a great start to our trip!

Thursday we went swimming and then a thunderstorm rolled through so we decided to go on another moose drive and were able to see 4 moose 2 moms and 2 babies! The babies we so cute! We could have watched them forever!

Everyone else came up that afternoon/night and we enjoyed another night of relaxing and hanging around the cabin!

Friday we decided to celebrate America’s birthday by floating down the Buffalo Rive just a couple miles from our cabin. We also saw a bull moose not far from the cabin just before the float trip.

Floating was quite the adventure! When we float the river at home we just use inner tubes from the tire store. Well this river was a lot more shallow and had a lot of rocks! We made it through the first part just fine and were willing to go on. As we went we thought it was better than the first part, but it eventually got way worse, and we were split up with the rest of the group. Erica, Holli and I trudged through the water and eventually decided to just get out and go find a phone because there was no way our tubes were going anywhere. We got my dad and he came to get us and the rest of the group said it never got better so we were smart to get out when we did.

We went into West Yellowstone to watch the fireworks and had a great rest of our night!

Saturday we decided to do a re-do float trip and went down Box canyon which was way more fun and exciting than the first day! We had a few rapids and the weather was perfect, it was a great way to end the trip! We had plenty of sun for a while and decided to call it a day!

This was one of the best trips we have been on! We relaxed and had a lot of fun! I can’t wait to go back up in a couple of weeks for a longer! 

That one time we made Mac&Cheese!

That one time we made Mac&Cheese!

So Holli and I can be really spontaneous sometimes, and when we get an idea we are a lot of times very set on it and will make sure it happens!

Well one night Holli and I were starving, and nothing sounded good…except for Macaroni and Cheese! Luckily we had a box the only problem was it was 11:30 at night and we didn’t want to wake up my mom and dad!

So we were EXTREMELY quiet! One of us was on guard at all times while the other watched water boil…literally for twenty minutes we watched water come to a boil, it’s not as exciting as it sounds!

We continued to do so until the noodles were cooked! Holli then thought it would be much quieter to strain the noodles down in the bathroom with the door shut…kinda weird we know but it worked haha! It’s a good thing we did it at the other end of the house because we were laughing so hard as I mixed our mac & cheese in the bathroom!

No one else will probably find this as funny as I do, but I would never want to forget it!

Dakota's Bachelor-ette Party!

So the weekend before Dakota got married her sister Brecken threw her a bachelorette party in Salt Lake! It was SO much fun!

She booked a room at the Grand America, and it was such a pretty view and room!

 We left Friday morning and it was a non-stop party the whole time! We stopped to pick up Abby in Logan, and continued on to Salt Lake to do some shopping, one of my favorite pass times!

After shopping Brecken scheduled us to go to a Pole Dancing lesson! I can honestly say I have never done anything like that before, but it was SO fun! Haha, I was definitely feeling it the next day though!

It was half pole-dancing, and half silks which silk fabric is hanging from the ceiling!

I was surprised at how much of a workout it is more than anything sexy. Which is what our instructor said surprises most people. She said they have competitions, and shows and it is really just cool to watch how much body strength they have to do some of the cool tricks!  

After the pole dancing and silks, we went back to the hotel and had virgin margaritas, with an ice-cream cake! We opened presents and just laughed the entire time!

We went home on Saturday and just stopped at stores and malls on the way home!

I really can’t believe Dakota is married; I’m just really behind on blogging! I always knew this would come but it came a lot faster than I thought! But, I am SO incredibly happy for her!

Dakota was very graceful, and I certainly was not haha! 

This was my {favorite} trick! haha! 

Happy Wedding Dakota! 

Memorial Day Adventures!

I moved home from Rexburg Memorial Day weekend! I threw a bridal shower for my friend Dakota, that will be in another post. Erica came home, and while most of the weekend was spent getting ready for the bridal shower we also had some time to play, ride 4-wheelers, and see some family!

Everyone left on Sunday night, so Holli and I decided to celebrate Memorial Day on our own!

We have this fire pit that we decided to try out! We {thought} we could easily get a fire started with our amazing skills, but needless to say it’s times like that I really wish I had a brother who could help us out!

Holli and I wanted to roast marshmallows and have a great time, we went to all this trouble to gather supplies, and get some kindling for the fire! As we tried, and tried, and tried again to start a fire with just matches and tree bark Holli thought of the brilliant idea to use the gas can! It worked for a little bit, but the fire would never keep going…I have no idea what we were doing wrong I passed every certification test in girl’s camp!  

So eventually pouring gasoline on paper-towels was just not doing the trick so we proceeded to just {dump} gasoline on the fire…yea this is where our judgment may have gone wrong!

As Holli is pouring the gas I am getting some great pictures of the food we have prepared when all of a sudden I hear a few choice words and Holli is running like crazy to get the hose! I look over and the {full} gas can had caught on fire!!! With the sprinklers attached to the hoses and running on the lawn, and no water near Holli and I panicked! I ran for Sassy’s water bowl while Holli soaked herself unscrewing the sprinkler! Someone had to be watching out for us because we got it out in time, and all that we have to live with is a few scars, some scorched hairs and the embarrassment that we are definitely not boy scouts!

I would have taken some pictures but the added stress of Holli tossing the flaming gas can near a weed burner had me a little preoccupied!

This is something we vowed to never ever tell our parents, because our lack of judgment would have certainly gotten us in trouble…but I’m pretty sure the only people that read this blog is me and Dakota so hopefully they’ll never find out right Kode? Haha!

All in all it was a great weekend! I will post about the shower as soon as I get some pictures!!

Last Weekend in Rexburg!

This was my last weekend in Rexburg for a while, and it was honestly one of the best ones I have had. Friday night Erica and I went out to dinner at Pizza-Pie Cafe, one of my favorites, and then watched a couple of movies. 

Saturday was probably my favorite day because we got to go to Island Park to get the cabin ready for Summer! It was so so so fun! The weather was beautiful and everything was so green! It was such a fun little drive. 

It was Erica's very first time in two years to be back in Island Park, to say she was happy is an understatement! 

We, Kyle, had to hook up the cable while we were there and there was still a huge snow drift so we were unable to get the ladder from underneath so Kyle got creative and this was the outcome! 

I was a nervous wreck but Kyle was ok with it so I guess if the Alaskan feels safe, we should all feel ok right? ;]

We made a quick trip to Elk's gas station for some jerky, and then went to go feed the fish! 

It was quick but it was really fun! It made me so excited for Summer and to be up there for our vacations!

When we got home we watched a movie and Erica decided to sleep over! 

It was a great weekend that I would not have spent any other way! I love being so close with my family, they really are my best friends! 

Mother's Day!

Ok so I kicking myself today because I didn't take one picture over Mother's Day weekend and I am so mad about it! So I apologize for just words but hopefully you can create a picture in your mind! :]

So....

For Mother's Day I was able to go home and had spoil my great mom! Friday night we made it home and just relaxed, we watched some old movies and didn't do much. Honestly when I go home I just love to relax, and spend time with my family! It doesn't happen as much any more, but it is wonderful when we get to the chance!

Saturday we woke up and ran errands in town, and got stuff for dinner. I was able to go get ice-cream with Dakota. It was so fun to catch up, life is so crazy sometimes and I am so glad we were able to talk other than snap-chat and texting! 

Saturday night we made my mom one of her favorites breakfast for dinner! We had Crepes, bacon, and fruit! We watched a couple of movies and then called it a night! 

Sunday we went to church and then came home to have another dinner with my grandma Stocking. We gave my mom a book that we made of us all growing up. It made her cry, so I guess that counts as a successful Mother's Day right? haha! 

I love my mom SO much! She has taught me so much and continues to teach me every day! Her self-less love and Christ like spirit are things I strive to be like! She always puts her kids first, and even at 21 years old no one can make me feel better like my mom can! She defends me, supports me, cares for me, and loves me unconditionally! I may be a bit biased but I have the BEST Mom in the world! 

Oh and the prettiest!