Summer Science

Remember your Chemistry Lab class in college? Remember what happened when you took two compounds and put them together? Depends on the compound, right? Well, see what happened when we put these two compounds together in the water this summer...

Compound #1...we'll call it S.T.E.A.L.T.H.

Compound #2...We'll call it S.M.O.O.T.H.E.

Mix with H2O

Hypothesis: What is tried to be kept apart will eventually recoil back together.

Experiment in motion...give it some time please...

And we have success! Hypothesis confirmed as true.

Hypothesis #2: Does the same result happen when another compound is added to compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H.? Added compound S.L.I.C.K. and confirmed hypothetical outcome as true also.

Compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H. acting radically after experiment

Compound S.T.E.A.L.T.H. showing off

So, what do YOU do when it's cold outside? Sip hot chocolate and read a good book? Not Brandon or Morgan. They brave the waves!

Oh Geesh!

We miss our ski buddies! (Hi Linda and Johnny "Apple-seed"!)

Summer Adventures

There is this trail that I'd like to take you on and at the end of it is the most hillariously ambiguous sign I've EVER read. It's a 4.4 mile r/t paved road that leads toward the bottom and top of Buffalo Bill Reservoir Damn.

You start by crossing under the main highway towards Yellowstone NP.

The road winds itself along the river Through a tunnel...
You can feel the mist of the water being spewed out of the damn.

You're almost at the top...

We're getting closer to the sign...I'm laughing already...

So does this mean that I can throw my teenagers below? HA HA HA! Does 'equipment' include vacuums and irons?

I'd be crazy to throw this guy down!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Work We Go!

The Bakers are busy this summer "bringing home the bacon"! (I just cook it). We are all gamefully employed learning the business world through our own eyes and hands. Dave is still with Eleutian. Morgan and Brandon work at the Holiday Inn QT's Restaurant, and Brandon, Bradley and Brian got approval from the city to sell water bottles on the main street this summer.

Brandon and Dave designed the cart and had a local company construct it.

However, when Brandon got his job at the Holiday Inn, he gave the business to Bradley and Brian to run.

Morgan and Brandon leaving together for work. And the best part of all this is that they LOVE IT!!!!!

The Ranch Expericence

We're alive and well and have weathered our first Wyoming winter! We've come out of hybernation and so, on the first beautiful Saturday, we headed south about 2 hours to a small town called Ten Sleep. About ten minutes from there, we drove to the foot of this mountain where we were invited to do some ranching. (WARNING: Some pictures may contain gruesome content...proceed at your own risk).

First order of the day...get to know the victims.

Pretend they're gonna have a wonderful time.

Hussle them around a little to let them know who's boss.

Guide them through the tunnel while whispering sweet nothings.

Give them last minute instructions, and then...

WHAMO!
They got branded, castrated and vaccinated all within maybe 2 minutes time.

Yep! That's me...vaccinating them in the neck. I'll try anything once!

Brandon was taught how to castrate (with rubber bands).




David prostrated, Brandon castrated, and I vaccinated. What a team! Word got around and we've been scouted for a branding at another friend's ranch in a few weeks.

David and Craig (co-worker who invited us)
(His wife, Asia, and her family own all the land you see in the background and that side of the mountain.)

Asia (on the right), her dad and sister

Sorry, but if you come visit us this summer, all the branding and fun will have already been done, so we'll look for something else for you to do. We could take you through a slaughter house...

So, what do you think of Keith Urban (music)?

About as country as I can get for this blog!

Why we love to end the year in California...

Years ago we started the tradition of going to California for Christmas. Granted 65 degrees is much colder than summer-time, 65 degrees is also MUCH warmer than 30 below (wind chill in Wyoming, OUCH!). This year, given that we are so much further away than we were in Salt Lake, we thought about chillin' (litterally) out here in Wyoming. But one week away from Christmas, we couldn't stand the thought of not being with family, so we booked the plane tickets and took off! It was the MOST wonderful Christmas! (It gets better every year as the kids get older). And this is why....

The first thing we did after we rented a car was of course, HIT THE BEACH, DUH

So the boys found this sea weed that looked like a toilet plunger and discovered new ways it could be used as a more useful tool such as a brain massager for Brandon...

and a hockey stick for Bradley

In front of the LifeGuard station was a 10-foot sand dune. This eventually became a favorite go-to spot everytime we went to the beach. Best boy-romping-spot around!

Later that night, we all got together for a good 'ol fashion Christmas Eve night at Rob and Jill's.

Good thing THESE cousins aren't related. I've never seen a bigger smile on Bradley. PRICELESS!

Brandon and Tanner just got done shooting hoops but somehow found more energy to boogie.

The adults were getting jealous..."Move over kids, this is wiiiiii too much fun!"
Christmas Day, went to Coronado Island and played football on the beach while everyone else ice skated at their rink. NOT US...NO SNOW FOR US!

Grandpa Roy is a good hiker

Christmas Dinner at grandma's house
Also, a favorite tradition, is to catch some waves at the Wave House. If you notice from years past, the kids have improved to where they can actually stand up! (In the winter, we always rent wet suits)

Brian is always the first one in though he doesn't last long since the force of the wave just scoops him away.

My, my, my, isn't he just gorgeous?

Nothing beats a soak in the jacuzzi to relieve some bumps and bruises pain

IT'S ALL GOOD!

We rented the suits for the rest of the day and took advantage of some other waves just across the boardwalk. Had to introduce the sand dune to the cousins too.

On another day, we took the cousins bike riding around Mission Beach for a couple of hours. Also, another favorite and traditional event very much looked forward to every time we go to California.

"Stay in single file...don't run into anyone...if you do, we'll get sued!"

At La Jolla Cove, we stopped to observe the seals (sunning on the beach here) and look what I found...BIG FOOT sitting right next to me wearing Brandon's shoes! (He's only 13. I'm surprised that we had the money to do this trip as he's eating me out of a house!)

I'm trying to practice my artistic 'eye' for photography and so with my little Nikon Coolpix S200, I set out to find the best shots. All taken at La Jolla Cove.

After flying back to Salt Lake, we picked up the truck and drove back to Cody. On the way, I noticed our odometer...Mmmm, what date is it? Too funny!

AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA!!!!

Signing out for 2010...see ya next year! Hope you have enjoyed keeping in touch with us!

Michelle