Yellowstone 2010

What you're about to see may be painful.

Just bear with me as I put you through picture vomit.

Once you go to Yellowstone, you'll understand.

This is us.  Yours truly, the Perucca clan.

At Yellostone.

Minus the two big brutes, Nicholas and B-ray.

Oh Yellowstone was soooo grand.  It was candy, or should I say "lollies" to the eye.

See what I mean?

But our vay-cay to Wyoming started in a much more quaint place.

1960's?  CHECK.

In the middle of nowhere? CHECK.

Perfect for our family vay-cay? CHECK.

My great aunt and uncle's cabin was definitely an adventure.  It felt like we'd stepped back in time.

Even a friendly 1961 Friend magazine welcomed us.

We stayed there for three days and loved every minute of it.

Now on with the picture vomit!

Mars?...nope!  Just Yellowstone!

BUFFALOOOOOOOO!
Want to touch them?  No problem, just not highly recommended.
But they were definitely close enough.
Such beaut isn't he?

Poor fella.  Looks like somebody hacked his haircut.

The water was so blue!

This place was just magical.

Here's Jocey at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
It certainly was grand!

These are our bubbling buddies.  I could just watch and giggle each time they went "blumb!".  Kinda wish it didn't smell like sulfur though!

Hello, would you like a photo here?

...or perhaps here?

...or here?

...ooooorrrr here?

Come on! All the cool kids are doing it!

This is probably one of my favoritest moments.  I smile when I look at this photo.

Ever heard of Old Faithful?

We have!

Here we wait for the old geyser to give way...

...apparently we're not the only ones.

BLAST OFF!

Contrary to picture viewing belief, the geyser was really big and it didn't come out of Phil's head.

mmmmmmm

Bear print off the side of the trail.

Philly boy has a love for small fluffy rodents.  

See?

He's very intent on finding a little chipmunk.

  

Once Phil found one of his buddies, he'd follow it all around.

Cute!

The girlies!

This is our elk-friend-guy.  Such a nice ole chap just eating the day away.

Can you believe that we saw much more wildlife that I could snap a photo of?
Spoiled little explorers we are!
But do not fret, I've left the best for last.
A GRIZZLY BEAR!
They're rarely seen at Yellowstone and bless our hearts, we saw a momma bear and her two cubs!
They were so cute and cuddly...but we didn't cuddle of course.

See the cubs! Awe! I want a baby bear!

and THAT my friends, was our trip to Yellowstone.

Whew you made it through my picture vomit- commentary and all!

Thanks folks!

~July 14-16, 2010~

ps...watch out for giant flies in Wyoming!

Eight is great

This is my sister Jocelyn Jean.

We call her Jocey or JJ.

We love her.

She it eight.

We just had a family dealio for her on her actual birthday.  Mom made a nifty cake and we got to eat it.

Of course, birthdays = presents!

Ha oh boy- can't forget the wrapping, courtesy of Chantel.

Webkinz and bendaroos!  Is there anything more you could want?

~July 11, 2010~

What else do birthdays equal?

Birthdays = parties!

We got to go to Jump on It! for Jocey's party.  There are trampolines everywhere and you just exhaust yourself for a whole hour of fun!

~July 12, 2010~

And what else comes with a birthday?...an eighth birthday?

Baptism.

Jocey chose big brother Nicholas to baptize her. 

We were so happy that we could be there for her special day!

~July 17, 2010~

Summer Nights

Isn't family just great?  Sure is!

After my cousin's wedding reception, we decided to go out to eat with my parents, Aunt and Uncle and some of my cousins.  From left to right: Aunt Luanne, Diana, Uncle Howard, Candace, David, Phil, Me, Allyson, Dad and behind the camera is Mom.

After some yummy yummy Rumbi's Grill, we didn't want the fun to end. So what did we do?  Mini Golfing!

We left the parents behind and the Boondocks, here we come!

They have the coolest thing at Boondocks.  To sole the problem of boring people playing a boring game of mini golf, they kindly provide a fun spinner!

The spinners were at random holes around the course and each time you came to one, you had to spin it before your turn and then complete you turn following it's directions  Sometimes we got to switch balls with another player or even stand in front of someone's ball while they took their turn!

Here is lovely Phil demonstrating his "throw your ball instead of putt it" turn and "behind the back putt" turn.

We had a lot of fun on our cousin outing full of dance moves...

...flooded holes...

...and maybe, just maybe we stayed too late because we thought they were still open and they had to ask us to leave...maybe.

~July 9, 2010~

Later that week it was time for the long-awaited Gates Hall 1912 reunion.

This photo just puts a smile on my face.
Look familiar?

It's crazy to think it all started in our freshman year 2007...

...and we're still besties.

heather hosted us at her house and we had some yummy chicken thanks to Kevin, and the grill, and the hornets.

We played some intense croquet and Kami and Brandon stole the game!  Then we topped off the night with our own new version of Apples to Apples.  We all laughed so hard we cried.  It was a blast!

I love these girls and they're some of my best friends.

Love you my 1912 ladies!

~July 10, 2010~

aaand to top the week and this post off, Phil and I went with my family to the AF Steel Days Parade.  Don't even worry, we were there together last year too...

~Steel Days 2009~

...but we were "just pals" back then.  Little did we know that all of my neighbors who we were sitting with were making bets on how long it would take us to get together.   Ha-who would've thought that the next year we would be attending as Phil and Kaylee Bennallack.

Well obviously my neighbors did!  And luckily, so did Phil.  It just took me a little while to come around.

and good thing I did cuz look what I got!  How lucky am I?

~July 11, 2010~

Park -to the- City!

I always took Utah for granted growing up, and now when it's a vacation to visit, I realize how much fun it is!

My family rented out a condo for a couple nights up in Park City while we were there.  It was so fun!

The resort was awesome and the family time was great. Who knew Park City was that awesome?

Our first day up there we visited the Utah Olympic Park.

So fun.

We learned a lot about the Olympics when the were in SLC and got to see some cool things in the museum.

They even let Phil and I light the torch...that's already lit.  How kind!

We got to watch the aerial ski jumpers practice.  They go right down and jump into a bubbly pool.

Skiing in warm weather?...sounds ideal!

You know, what are the chances of two Aussies being in Park City at the same time?  Not high you'd think?

Then what are the chances of 20 Aussies being in Park City at the same time?

DONE!

The Australian Aerial Team was training that week in Park City.

So who got to watch them? - yes an Aussie himself!

We were going to talk to them, but I wimped out. Oh well.

Next up, the long jump.  No snow? No problem!

We'll just wet the grass with a sprinkler and you can land right on it.

No biggie.

I'd recommend the Olympic Park to anyone and I hope we get to go visit again.

Maybe we'll meet a few of these skiers while we're there!

Our next adventure was the Park City Resort.

A ski resort by winter and a family fun park by summer.

There was so much to do that we spent the whole rest of the day there. 

 

(check out dad trying to get an underarm tan! haha)

There was the Alpine Slide where we all raced to be ther first one down.

GO GO GO!

Here is Justin getting ready to blaze down.

Then our dear friend the Alpine Coaster.

This ride is a little bitter-sweet for us.

You see, mom lost her camera on the first ride down.  That put a damper on the day, and then the ride broke down after our first ride.  Ugh.  Luckily because it was broken down, mom and dad weren't afraid to break the rules and brave the terrain around it to search for their camera.

Sneaky parents!

But after some good hiking and prayers, Dad fount it, at the very top in the bushes!  Good thing Dad didn't obey the rules that day!

aaaand the ziprider!  There are two tiny specs of people in this photo, promise.

Because the coaster broke down, the lines for the zip line were super long, thus Phil felt the need to rejoice after getting off the ride.

"We made it!"

There was also rock climbing which Jocelyn loved!

And knowing Phil's inner child, he had to give it a whirl.

All and all, it was a fun trip full of nature, missing cameras, swimming, beautiful scenery and family bonding.

Thanks PC!

Seven Peaks Babaaaay!

Growing up in Utah County, there are a few things that a kid just can't go without.  One of them...

SEVEN PEAKS!

Love this place!  I think I've spend many many hours there, especially the years when my family got season passes.

YES!

We thought we'd show Phil what 7 Peaks was all about.

First stop: The Boomerang.

Sounds ideal for an Aussie yeah?  Correct!  We couldn't get enough.  The first drop down is such a rush!

Oh and our other fave, the wave pool!

But- Phil kinda put a damper on it when he decided he would lose his wedding ring in it, while the waves were on!

Silly Phil!

After some stressed moments, a run to the lifeguard shack, some goggles and some searching, WE FOUND IT.  Problem solved. Whoohooo!

We loved hanging out in the Lazy River.

We may or may not have been sneaky and jumped out at one exit and ran and got in further up when Phil tried to race us around the river.
Girl power!

A guaranteed wedgie on a huge, tall body slide sound fun?
Negative- but I guess that's just me.  It didn't stop Chantel and Phil.

Those two hooligans loved it.

I almost forgot!

Justin's epic sunburn!

Oh boy- this was a constant laugh!  People all over the water park wer doing double takes when Justin walked by.

Check it out...

Understand the double takes now?

This sunburn was courtesy of a previous boating trip, Justin's refusal to put on sunscreen and Phil's sunscreen signature.

Classic.

Oh I miss it!  can't wait for the Australian summmmrrrrr!

~July 16, 2010~