Tipi

I am really looking forward to getting our Tipi!! We would like to go to more Rendezvous than Fort Bridger over Labor Day. We so enjoy going as a family and stepping back in time for a while. The kids even enjoy not having T.V., Playstation, internet, etc... The boys spend hours throwing their Hawks and Knives. Donald bought a muzzleloader kit that he is going to put together so he can shoot at the Rendezvous. Rachel is just happy to look at all the beads and, other bling, in the Traders Tents. Me, well anytime I can be in the century I would have liked to have been born, I am content! We come home sunburned, tired, and smelling of campfire. As we drove into Bridger last year, Andrew rolled down the window, breathed deeply and said "we're home"! The smell of leather, campfire and dutch oven food!

With the Tipi, we are slowly getting ourselves outfitted for "primitive camp". I need to finish some sewing and I think everyone will be clothed, at least for this year. Donald and the boys are going to work on some chairs for us. So at least on the outside we will look pretty good. Just don't look inside the Tipi yet!

Donald has wanted to go bear hunting...I may have to relent so we can have a bearskin for the Tipi.

The Daffodils and Tulips have poked out and I am ready for Spring!

Life zipping by

Yesterday, Donald, Rachel and I went to Rachel's baptism preview. Where has the time gone??? It seems like yesterday that I was celebrating with my roommates because I was an aunt and the baby was FINALLY a GIRL! That baby is now 21, YIKES!!!! Now MY baby is going to be baptized this year. It seems to take the oldest forever to get to certain milestones and a blink of an eye for the baby to get there!

I guess, because I have recently reconnected with friends from the past, I have been reflecting on how quickly time passes. In so many ways my life has changed, and yet I still feel the same as I did as a teenager. There is something to say about "old friends" (Mitzi not in age, just friends that you have known for a looong time). Even though you may not have seen them for a while there is a connection and a nonverbal communication that always seems to be there.

I don't know maybe it is because I turn 40 in a couple of weeks? Age hasn't ever really been an issue to me. I am the age I am. With age brings exprience and wisdom, at least that is what I have heard... still waiting on the wisdom part ;) Just my musings on life zipping by!

What have you done?

What Have You Done?

Copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does standing on the beach count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort(hives and all!)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie/commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby(4 of them)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
98. Owned a cell phone
97. Been involved in a law suit
99. Been stung by a bee

A few of our favorite things 2008

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET.....DERBY TIME!

Yes, it is that time again! Cub Scouts are excited to race a car, dads competitive juices start running high, too much testosterone in one room! It is exciting! Dusty had his first Pinewood Derby on Tuesday. With help from his dad, he made a Bronco inspired rocket car, with bullets as the rockets on the back. He did fantastic! He place third in a very competitive set of races! Then he and Donald ran to the Jr. Jazz draft. We will find out in the next couple of weeks which team he is on. With Dusty around there are always smiles! He keeps us smiling with his jokes and his enthusiasm for life!

Halloween

Then we finally dressed up for Halloween, well almost, this was for the Ward Trunk or Treat the Tuesday before Halloween. After fighting with the wrappings from the mummy, Dusty decided to be an Indian for Halloween night. You will have to visit Nan's blog to see the picture of that! I am getting better at remembering the camera and using it, just not this weekend!




We had a blast at Grandma and Grandpa Wood's carving pumpkins with our cousins. Thanks Grandpa for growing us all a pumpkin!













We had a fun Halloween season. We went for a hayride, with the Bettridges, to find a pumpkin. (Ok here is my plug again! These WONDERFUL people are looking to add to their family, if you happen to know anybody that is in a position to help them with a child, please let us know and we will pass it on to them!) We are so glad they moved close by again!!!

And so it begins!

Thanks NAN!!! Ok, so this hopefully will be easier to keep up my Cramer Chat. There have been times I thought, I wish I could just write this that happened and then I think no, I need to write this in the Cramer Chat. As you can tell it didn't happen. This is just to let you all know I have entered the blogging world! Come and chat with the Cramers!