Exploring a snowy Yellowstone & Shooting guns

Brads best friend, Mitch, and his girlfriend Ashley drove out to Billings to spend some time with us this past week. We met them in West Yellowstone, just a mile or so drive from the West entrance of the national park. Mitch had talked Brad into doing this snowmobiling trip with them and we accepted. I was sort of hesitant about it because I had never been on a snow mobile, let alone through Yellowstone National Park. I didn't know what to expect, thus I was sort of scared. Turns out, I had a blast.



It started around 9:30 and our journey took us to Old Faithful, although we had a few unexpected visitors along the way. Yes, it's the reason for the trip to see wild life in their habitat and the beauty of the snow covered land. The bald eagle, the deer . . . however, getting ten feet away from 100+ bison walking down the road . . . no thank you.


We made it up to Old Faithful with no problems, walked around, got warm and watched her blow. After that, we made our way back into West Yellowstone and promptly made it back to the hotel to get into warm clothes. It was quite the experience. Brad and I rented one snow mobile for the two of us because I wasn't interested in driving. He wanted me to try and drive but I was perfectly content with sitting on the back holding on to my sweetheart. :-)

A few days after we got back, we took up our shot gun and a friend of our's AK-47 to the open shooting range 17 miles outside of town. Now . . . Brad and I went on a date with another couple to the local in-door shooting range, but you aren't allowed to shoot from the hip, so I didn't get much shooting in. I like to do things the old fashion way. So we went out there and shot off a few rounds . . . it was TONS of fun!

Holy Crap! It's February!!

Where did January go? Well . . . it took Brad and I to Seattle to see a new life and bid farewell to my Grandmother. January brought Brad back to school and the awesome schedule that he has. January also brought me to the end of working at World Market. It's brought ups and downs but learning experiences were abundant.

I've been trying out this new thing called "keeping the Faith" . . . which isn't as religious as it sounds. I have issues with trusting that things will work out and life will sort of just come together.
For instance, our Dodge Durango that we bought and then the dealership called and asked for it back . . . that caused lots of unwanted drama in our life. However, the dealership figured it out and we actually walked away with a newer Durango. As frustrating as it was, I tried to Keep the Faith that they would find us a vehicle that we loved and we would feel comfortable spending that money. We still have minor details that need to get figured out, but we have a vehicle that we love, so we completed the objective.

It's been hard to be happy for other people lately though. It seems to be that great things are happening to lots of people around Brad and I, but nothing is happening for us. Maybe I just wear my heart of my sleeve and am super sensitive. Well, obviously I'm super sensitive, that's no surprise to the 5 of you who read this. :-) But keeping up with my new way of life, good things will come to us when we least expect it.

On a totally different subject, my very best friend Nicole is pregnant again with their 2nd child and I couldn't be happier for her. :-) This is so exciting. What's even better is that her husband, Peter, is finishing up his Air Force tech school and they will soon be Wyoming residence. :-) He is done with school next month and they are to be in Wyoming by the 24th of April. This couldn't make me happier! Yes, it's Wyoming, the land of absolutely nothing but open fields. But I for-see lots of road trips down to Cheyenne to visit her and her family. What an exciting adventure they are about to embark on!

On an even better note, my mom gets to retire this year and we are both excited for that. We are currently planning a trip to Hawaii in April and she plans on coming out at the end of August or beginning of September to spend a week out here. She has enrolled herself in a long arm quilting class that is offered out here. The goal is to not be in Washington when school starts. It's going to be so nice to see my mom more often.

Oh Wait! one more GREAT thing that January brought. My brother got hired at Swedish Medical Center as a cook. This is so very exciting and I am so happy for him!! I can't wait to hear more about his job and how much he enjoys it!!


So I suppose things are going alright here in Billings . . .lets see what February is going to bring us!!