Traveling Summer 2009

Mirror Lake in the High Uintahs

Our family loves Mirror Lake. We stop in Kamas at the Samak Smoke House (which has the BEST jerky by-the-way) and rent a canoe for 2 days. There are no motors allowed on Mirror lake so it is very peaceful and quiet. Riding in the canoe is probably the kids favorite part. They get to fish and splash. The lake is very clear and they can see when a fish is coming up to their line. AND Mirror Lake has albino fish, which could be the coolest thing they've ever seen!

The Lin family joined us for a day of fun and fishing on Saturday. They played ball int he meadow and dug holes in the tent spot. They filled them in when they were done.

As for Daisy swimming or sinking, we still don't really know. She really wanted to get in the canoe, but then would immediately jump out before we could go anywhere. Sissssssssyyyy. And if her nose went under the water, even a little bit, she would freak out and turn around. Next time maybe. She did prove herself, however, to be an awesome bird dog. Squirrel dog, that is. Not one could go by unnoticed. She even treed a couple and wouldn't leave until she knew for sure that it wasn't coming down.

SQUIRREL!!!!!

In Loving Memory of Diesel - Our Big Boy

Our sweet Bulldog was hit by a car and killed on a Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Diesel was a favorite member of our family that is already being missed incredibly. There could be no better dog than Diesel, he was a model bulldog. Diesel had a very special personality that made everyone fall in love with him instantly. We would get stopped everywhere we went to get asked questions about our "awesome dog". Diesel would sit down and then lay down with his jowls flapped out because we were talking to long and he needed to rest. He made a great show-and-tell.

Some of our most favorite things about Diesel were:

• His gentle demeanor
• Big brown eyes
• His HUGE bulldog head and black face
• "Happy Butt" This is the way he had to wiggle his whole back end to wag what tail he had
• After every drink, he let out a huge burp
• He was a pro wrestler
• He always wanted to be with the family and NEVER wanted to be left behind
• He was to scared to go through an open door that wasn't open double wide enough for him
• He had the most ferocious growl to scare any predator - or friend :)
• We loved hearing his growl when he played - Zach said it sounded like a broken dishwasher
• NO ONE was strong enough to take away the webbed rubber ball
• He loved to play keep away
• If he liked you, you knew it because he would run and get one of his toys for you to play with him
• You could hear on of his stinky farts from across the room - seriously!
• He wasn't a big kiss giver, so you knew when you got one, you were loved!
• He had the cleanest ears and jowls around. Daisy cleaned him constantly. ewww
• Big, big, big bulldog stretch with his butt in the air and all his skin would gather around his nose
• He would sit on the driveway and watch the traffic go by
• Even the mailman, FedEx, and window washers loved Diesel
• Diesel "chirped" like a bird when he wanted in the house
• He would ring the bell to go outside when he was a puppy, but then wouldn't anymore. He started just sitting by the door until someone noticed him.
• BIG, LOUD, OLD MAN SNORE
• He had great manners and wouldn't jump up on people
• His big, sleepy breath he would take in and then blow it out through his jowls
• He would sit on your head if you wrestled with him
• He loved Zach's ears!! He would always nibble on them during a wrestle session
• He would nip Zach's bum, just enough to get some fabric in his mouth and let Zach know who was boss.
• Diesel had major laser issues. He would sit by a laser all day waiting for someone to move
• He loved his Nylabone and tires
• Destroying stuffed animals. He would work on the ear first, then move to the nose. He would gut the whole toy and spread the fluff through the whole house
• Diesel had great moves. To take Daisy down, he always went for her legs
• Diesel was a good dog

Traveling Summer 2009

Next Stop.....Yellowstone National Park. We went up through Yellowstone June 26 for two days. We didn't see as many animals this time, but we did see more of a variety, including two black bears and one with two of her cubs. That was a treat! The bison weren't out and all over the road this time, but then, we've seen them before. We stayed in West Yellowstone.

After that..... Glacier National Park.

June 28 - July 2 Glacier is the "American Alps". It was developed and promoted by the Northern Railroad in the early 1900's. Officially becoming a park in 1910. Everyone had been traveling to Switzerland to see the Alps. The Railroad came up with the slogan "See America First". It cost $46.50 to ride the train to Montana from back east and ride horseback through the back country of Glacier and stay at the Chalets for two weeks.

We can't really say what our favorite places were. We did really enjoy Avalanche Lake and Many Glacier. The Going-To-The-Sun Road was incredible and a real "butt-puckering" experience for Brandon to drive. The first time anyway. He became a pro because we drove over and back two times. Four times total past the Weeping Wall - A high point! We camped on Lake McDonald in the Fishcreek campground. A mountain lion had been there earlier that week, so we had to take extra precaution walking the dogs and making sure the kids didn't go off walking by themselves.


Glacier Park was acquired from the Blackfeet Indians, so many of the mountains and glaciers were named by them. Two Medicine, Many Glacier, Going-To-The-Sun Road, etc.

To see more photos from our trip - click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/30597579@N02/.