wind storm that came through. Luckily nothing was too damaged

LaPlata 2010 - The Scott's family photos from our summer trips to LaPlata

We left one of the digital camras in the trailer this year. We took a few photos here and there from the few trips we took up there. The first photos is from the "Parade". Then we have some Karl took outside the trailer at Kenzie's hummingbird feeder while Easton and I took our "quiet time" (He said he's too big for naps but let's have quiet time). Then there's a few from our swim trip to "Little Hawaii" on September 4. While we were swimming and playing with the kids and the dogs in the beaver pond, Karl was fly-fishing just a few hundred yards up the stream. Dad, Mom, Paula, Guppie, Graig, Dori and the kids had just left to go back to the camp about 2:00 pm and Shannon, MacKenzie and I were hanging out at our truck reading and napping while we were waiting for Karl to get done fishing. About 20 minutes after the others left, two trucks full of people pulled up to swim. The one guy come over to our truck as asked if we were waiting for a man that was fly-fishing. We told him we were and he said that they had passed him walking just past the second water crossing up and he said that he had ran in to a couple of bear. So Shannon drove and we went looking for him. We made it all the way up to the bridge and thought for sure we had missed him. I couldn't believe that he had walked all the way back there. While we were stopped there trying to decide if we should go back and look for him, Karl walked down from the switch backs. He was fishing just 200 yards up from where we were swimming and he saw everyone else drive past about 5 minutes before. He looked up and saw three little bears (oops wrong story), cubs that is, right across the stream (about 20 feet away). One of the cubs stood up on his hind legs and Karl said, "oh, s@*t", then he thought, wonder where the momma bear is and then she stood up right behind the three cubs and Karl said "son of a b*#%h". And took off running. He thought that we had left him when the others left, so rather then run down to where the truck was he ran up toward the bridge. Boy was he scared. We went looking for the bear later Saturday and again Sunday but weren't able to get pictures. We also have pictures of sage hen and a beaver from the lower ponds. Boy, was he fat! We also say porcupine, owl, deer, and moose up there this year. We are already making plans for next summer...

Little Pioneer Children

Bryn Leigh sue was named this years LaPlatta Pioneer Day Princess (not really, I made that up). She was the children's winner of the costume contest. If you
asked her what she did in the parade she'll tell you she "wabed". That is how she won the judges over, waving at them.

Xander, Easton, Trent, Bryn Leigh and Raynee. All tuckered out after such a long parade, I mean such a long journey across the plains.

This was the first annual Laplatta Pioneer day parade. We had so much fun preparing all day for this. Dori and Mom were very creative using everything from DPE (100 mph) tape to aspen saplings to make our parade attire. There was a $50 prize for the winner of the costume contest and so we had a vested interest in winning. We had big plans to buy ice cream on the way home with our prize money. We all had been joking about beating the crowds to the parade route so we would be able to get a good spot. Grandpa even wanted to have someone sleep overnight so we would be sure to have a spot.

All the crowds getting their refreshment from the security wagon.

The crowds waiting for the "big" parade to start.

"Warner's Corner" parade entry.

We had such a good time, Jonesy said it was the best parade he had ever been to. The kids only walked about a 1/4 of a mile and it couldn't have been better. The security guards passed out cold beer and water for us lightweights. They even threw out salt water candy. It may not have been the biggest parade in the state but we all think it sure was the best.

There are even plans to build upon it next year with a potluck dinner and horseshoe tournament after the parade.

Saturday Firsts!

Alexis was finally deemed old enough to drive the lawn tractor by herself. She is delighted! (And we're glad for someone else to help keep this place mowed! We do our place and John's, and that's a LOT of lawn.)




And Ethan worked the bobcat with our neighbor, John, for the first time. John even gave Ethan the controls for a bit! Clint and I could tell because as they were going down John's driveway for another load of dirt, the bucket started going up and down kind of erratically, and the steering was a little funky. Not much, just enough for us to know that it wasn't John's smooth, practiced hand at the controls! Does it get ANY better than this for a two-year-old boy?!

Zin Zin Zin a Violin . . . (Recital, That Is)

Alexis performed Minuet 2 by Bach at her Spring Recital on May 21, 2010. It was a duet with her teacher, Julia Parker. Alexis has worked really hard this past six months and made some real jumps in her abilities since her fall recital. We're so proud of her for sticking with it (and since I'm the one who practices with her, I can appreciate how difficult the violin really is! I mean, I don't have to hold the piano a certain way, I don't have to "find" the notes on the piano . . . you DO have to do those things with the violin and it complicates things!)

Anyway, great job. We love hearing you play!

THS Class of 2010

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." — Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

Congratulations Shannon! We are all so proud of you and the woman you've become. Your future is so bright, we can't wait to see what amazing things you'll do next.

"Don't wait for the world to get you... YOU go get the world"-Anonymous