Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo

I stumbled across a new photography blog thanks to Pinterest last week. I've been feeling very bored and quite frankly bad at photography lately and really needed something to get the creative juices flowing again, challenge my photography skills and teach me to use my camera better. Each Sunday, at the blog Ashley Sisk, she posts five items to photograph each week and a link up from the previous weeks challenge. So here goes my first week. 

If a picture is bad or mediocre....make it black and white, thus the two black and whites this week. 

Cozy

View from the Top

 Orange

 Faceless Self Portrait

Stacked

 Pulled this last one from my archives but here's my nephew Benjamin stacked on his momma's knees

Yellowstone Adventures

Or how we drove 24 hours in four days and got the stomach bug along the way.

Let me just start off by saying I think David and I are a bit crazy when it comes our determination to enjoy living out west this year. Don't worry, I don't think I'll be skiing while wearing Laura in the Ergo but we certainly don't let having a baby hamper our adventurous spirit.

David had a four day weekend the first weekend of October and we planned a trip to Yellowstone a few weeks prior. We knew it would be our only chance to go while living so "close" (if a 12 hour drive is your idea of close) and wanted to take advantage of his coveted time off of work.

I haven't completely lost my mind luckily and we decided against camping and rented a (heated) cabin in the park instead. I'm very glad we chose not to camp because the temperatures were as low as 9 degrees one night and we even received a light dusting of snow.

We decided it would work best to leave around 2 am Friday morning and drive while Laura (hopefully) slept since it would be her normal sleeping time. T- 2 hours David wakes up throwing up. Gulp. I practically cried and I fell back asleep knowing we would have to cancel the trip. We awoke the next morning and David was feeling much better and we decided to go ahead and make the 12 hour drive to Yellowstone. The car was already packed so I grabbed some coffee and hit the road.

The drive went very well and David was feeling well enough to drive by the afternoon. Laura got a bit crabby so I broke out the laptop with a few Signing Time DVDs I had borrowed from the library. We arrived at the East Entrance around 7pm and by that point, I wasn't feeling so well and it had begun to snow. Fortunately we drove out of the snow at it stayed about freezing so we didn't have to put the snow chains on the car.  It took nearly two full hours to drive to the far northwest side of the park where I cabin was located. We checked in and settled into our cute cabin (without a bathroom) for the night.

We didn't get much rest that night as I was up the entire night throwing up. Read 10 times!! At first I would run out to the communal bathroom behind our cabin but I eventually gave up and just threw up in the trash can! Laura couldn't sleep because she had a cold and spent part of the night asleep on David's chest.

Grand Tetons

I felt reasonably better in the morning so we set off in the car once again to see the park. Yellowstone is so huge you it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get between the different features in the park. We stayed in Mammoth Hot Springs and enjoyed seeing the elk herds who frequent there as well as the mineral deposits and steam vents. The landscape and scenery in Yellowstone are for the most part, not as awe inspiring as Yosemite or the Tetons but the landscape is very unique and dotted with thermal hot spots and geysers that make the park interesting and beautiful in it's own way.


The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was probably my favorite stop on our trip. The water falls drops 300 feet and we were able to get near the drop off point as watch the water gushing over the massive falls.

The thermal activity in Mammoth has created calcium-carbonate deposits that look like snow from a distance. You walk to the different thermal spots, geysers and mud pits via a board walk that protects you from boiling steam and water and keep the thermal features from being destroyed by the 2.3 million people who visit the park each year.

We saw Old Faithful and another geyser erupt as well as the thermal pools and gurgling mud pits. One place smelled so badly I nearly gagged. Laura was such a trooper the whole trip. She's such a great little traveler.

Old Faithful

Boiling river where a hot spring meets the Gardner River and you can swim

Yellowstone River water fall at the canyon

We drove home through the Teton Mountains to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Again I was wishing for more time but glad we were able to see these incredible mountains on our way out of the park. We stayed a few hours at a motel and got up at 2 am to drive home. After a sausage biscuit breakfast around 7 I started feeling badly again. David passed me a tupperware and I threw up three times on the drive home. Somehow if we both get sick I always get it much worse than him.

Finally made it home around noon on Monday morning and I slept the day and night away trying to fight off this nasty bug. By Tuesday I was mostly recovered but sure glad to put all that behind me. Maybe many moms feel this way, but I'm starting to find vacations no longer relaxing but just stressful and draining. I planned this trip for several weeks, took three days shopping, cooking and packing and just felt exhausted after we got home!

I really enjoyed our trip but I wish we had time to savor the different areas of the park more. We didn't do much hiking as I was still feeling rather weak and tired from being sick and we always enjoy our hikes together. I'm glad we were able to go but if we ever go again, I'd love to spend a whole week there.

Laura 10 months

Nothing much new out west here in Colorado. A rainy day yesterday cleared in the late afternoon to reveal a snow capped Pikes Peak. I just can't get over the mountains. They take my breath away every time I see them and I am reminded of God's goodness in creating such incredible beauty for His Glory! Laura is close to walking and keeps teasing us with a step or two every now and then but all in good time I suppose. 

Her first word besides babbling "mamama" is "dog." She had uttered "d" a few times at Lilly and other dogs, but at friend's house on Monday she looked out the window and said "dog" clear as day. It has been so fun watching her develop and learn new skills each month.

10 months and I could barely get her to lay still for a picture

She wanted the felt numbers on her head

Our little joy! 

Baby love is a chubby tummy in a onesie 

Skirt and tights  

Loves the windows 

Found daddy's reflector belt

I think this captures Laura very well 

Costco - Is it worth it

After some debate we decided to join Costco for a year. I had been with a friend and impressed by the prices on diary and produce and we felt like the savings on milk alone were worth the cost of a membership. The regular membership is $55 for a year but they have an executive membership that earns 2% back that is $110. 

While the executive membership is twice the price, Costco is so sure you'll use it (ie that you will spend at least $2750) that they will refund the difference if your 2% cash back check is less than the cost of your upgrade making it a no loose situation. $2750 x 2% = $55 Since the total doesn't include gas I highly doubt we will spend at least $2750 but at least we will get the difference back no matter what. I guess many people either spend more because they are getting 2% back or don't come back in for the difference. 

Here's a price breakdown of items I believe are a good price at Costco. I have heard that prices vary by store and can fluctuate. The gas is a great price often 10 cents cheaper but the standard gas here in Colorado is 85 Octane which is not good for your car. We are having to buy midgrade 87 Octane and Costco only sells 85 Octane and 91 Octane. The 91 is often the same price at the 87 at other stores but I wish they sold 87 at a discount. 

• Cheddar cheese- $2.50 per pound for a two pound block. I'm happy to get it on sale at Kroger for $4 per pound so this is a great price. 
• Bacon - $3/pound - $11.79 for four pounds.  I don't know if this is a good price since I've never really kept an eye on price per pound at the grocery store. 
• Breakfast sausage $2.33/pound 
• Butter $7.49 for four pounds - $1.89 per pound (awesome price!) 
• Fresh strawberries- four pounds flat at $1.09 per pound 
• Eggs - 18 count $2.99 - 16 cents each. What's up with egg prices? Oh my! 
• Protein powder - six pound bag for $49 - $8 per pound. Cheaper than what we usually buy online. 
• Milk - The Costco in Augusta sells the gallons individually but the Costco near us only sells them two in a box which is fine since David drinks a lot of milk. Two gallons for $3.95 - $1.97 per gallon! This is a savings of at least a $1 per gallon versus the grocery store. Milk is cheaper in Colorado than it was in Georgia. 
• Extra Virgin Organic Coconut oil - 72 ounces for $20- .256 per ounce. Fantastic price! 
• Dog food - I was feeding Lilly Iams or Purinia One but the Kirkland Brand is cheaper and much better quality according to Dog Food Review so I'm going to switch her over in September. 40 pound bag $28- .70 per pound verses the $1+ I was paying at Walmart for Iams. 

First Camping Trip in Colorado

Last weekend we headed out west to Lake George, Colorado to camp with some friends from our Sunday School class at 11 Mile Canyon. After setting up our tent we enjoyed chicken cooked over a campfire and fellowship with our new friends. Laura had a hard time settling down but finally fell asleep only to wake up again hysterical and overtired at 10 pm when we headed to bed. Nothing would settle her down so David drove her around for 30 minutes (!) until she was sound asleep. We've never done that but it sure works in a pinch.

Saturday, Laura and I relaxed at the campsite while David hiked to the top of the canyon. David also did some rock climbing with another guy in our group. We ended the day with another hike with Laura in the Ergo before closing up camp before the rain headed in. Laura enjoyed herself and was able to crawl around on a tarp and play with her toys.

On Thursday we went rock climbing for the first time outdoors and I loved it! I will confess I did not look down the entire time I was climbing and wasn't too keen about repelling down after I reached the top. We are going again this week and I can't wait. We climb with the other residents from David's dental program and they take turns holding Laura. Who says you can't have adventures with kids?

Laura 9 Months

Our little munchkin is up to trouble these days and I can only imagine the disasters to come in the future months and years. I think she has transitioned to our new home very well. She even took a nap in the church nursery on Sunday! She's often pretty quiet, slinking off to the staircase when I have my back turned or suddenly appearing right at my feet when I thought she was off playing by herself in another room.

Playing in the kitchen while I unpack

She is pulling up and cruising the furniture and pushing a little toy walker Grandma bought around the house. If there's papers or books on a table or surface of any kind they must be thrown on the floor according to Laura. Taking toys in and out of her toy basket is always fun and our living room constantly looks like a tornado (or a 9 month old) destroyed it. I have caught her eating dog food on multiple occasions or drenched in water from Lilly's water dish. 

Hamming it up for the camera

She is finally cutting her first two teeth! Laura loves opening and closing doors and cabinets and our old house is full of doors for her to play with. The front door looks out onto a busy road and she will stand at the door for 10-15 minutes at a time watching the world go by.

Hanging on with just one hand

Hiking in the Ergo with Daddy

This Week's Menu and freezer inventory sheet

I have a new system for meal planning and freezer inventory that is working very well.  I have a white board calendar that I fill in with the dates and any activities that are going on for the month and add the meals on each day. It's easy to erase and change up meals as I buy more meat throughout the month as well.

When I buy meat I package it into dinner size portions plus leftovers for lunch. This is often 1.5 -2 pounds of meat each night. I generally only buy meat that is $2/pound or less but David has been begging me for steaks. Since I started from a bare cupboard and freezer this month our grocery money went very fast but hopefully I will be able to buy steak next month. Despite rising food prices I am able to get great prices on meat at the commissary. It's the only place I can find ground beef for $2 a pound anymore. The average price at the grocery store is around $3 for 80% lean or higher and it rarely goes on sale for less than $2.50.

We are following the Primal Blueprint and eating mostly meat, and veggies for dinner. David still eats some grains in the form of sandwiches, hummus, crackers and granola bars but for the most part we no long consume grains or legumes. Here's a few more links on why grains are unhealthy. The Definitive Guide to Grains & Is Going Grain Free Healthy. I have lost 12-15 pounds (depending on the day) and am back to my weight when we got married. I even had to go buy new pants this weekend because I could literally pull down my old jeans without unbuttoning them and they were falling off of me! That being said, we do eat at least 8 ounces of meat per person each night plus I try my best to cook enough for leftovers the next day.

Back to my freezer inventory- Once I have packaged the meat into servings I write down the name of the meat on my inventory sheet, find a day to cook it on the calendar and then write the day I will be cooking it on the calendar AND the inventory sheet along with I how I plan on preparing the meat. Eg, next to 1 pound of ground beef I write "Taco Salad" & "8/25" and write it on the dry erase calendar as well. I do this in pencil so as I buy more meat throughout the month I can alter the menu for more variety. I have been able to plan out the whole month of meals which I was never good at before. This also gives me a good visual reminder on what meat to pull out several days in advance in the morning or while I'm cooking dinner.

All that being said here's what we are eating the rest of this month. I just write out the main dish and cook up whatever fresh or frozen veggies we have, slather them in butter or fat and often a salad.

Monday August 20 - Grilled chicken quarters
Tuesday August 21 - taco salad
Wednesday August 22- bratwurst
Thursday August 23- Chicken breast - still need to find a recipe for these.
Friday August 24 - camping with church so not sure what we'll be taking to cook out there. Any suggestions for easy camping food?
Saturday August 25 - grilled chicken breasts
Sunday August 26- taco salad
Monday August 27 - grilled chicken wings drenched in this amazing hot sauce I bought at Costco
Tuesday August 28 - bratwurst
Wednesday August 29- hamburgers without buns
Thursday August 30- pork sirloin roasted in the oven. Oh my this is my new favorite meal.