Family Reunion

Its over for another year and more importantly I don't have to be in charge for 9 years!

I really had a wonderful time and I want to thank everyone who came to the reunion for making it a success. I really appreciate all those who helped, which made it easier for me.

We had some cute kids and some...not so cute kids.

We had some adventurous kids and some not so adventurous kids.

We had some young kids and some not so young kids.

We had kids that like chocolate and kids that like s'mores

We had kids that got rides and kids that gave rides.

We had kids that tried to blow up balls, kids that got their hair done and kids that popped popcorn...yum!

I can't wait until next year. Thanks everyone!

Yellowstone

Spring time is a spectacular time to visit YNP. The Dodge family and I spent Mother's Day weekend in the park and had a great time. We stayed in Gardiner which is at the North entrance and is also the original entrance to the park. Spring is a perfect time to see lots of bears and of course bison calves. Because of the heavy snow fall, the bears where lower than usual, we especially saw an above average number of grizzly bears. The pronghorn where awesome as well and didn't seem to mind their picture taken. My favorite however was the bison. I love watching the calves explore and learn about their new world. Its hard to imagine such a massive animal can come from such a small beginning. Speaking of small, we saw plenty of small animals too. Squirrels, ravens, blue birds and coyotes where all out looking for food, happy for spring to be chasing winter away for another year. My next trip will hopefully be in the fall. Its a great time to see the elk and bison. The majestic bull elk with his antlers and harem of cows. The sound of an elk bugle and of course the challenge of a younger bull is incredible to see and hear. Plus the bison with its full cape rolling in the dirt to make a big fuss and fighting any bull that dares get too close to "his" cow. There is no such thing as a bad day in Yellowstone. Anyone is welcome to come along, I'll hopefully be going in October. I'll probably stay in West since there are a lot of elk near the west entrance and the bison will be in Hayden Valley. Also, since the tourist season will be over the hotel rates are pretty good.

Telene and Shawn's Familia

Hey everyone, I graduated from USU on May 2, 2009 (WooHoo!!!). About six months ago when I realized that I was going to graduate, I began hyperventilating. Then realizing that I would either have to join the "real world" or continue my education, I applied to a few schools. After much stress, anxiety, and the required seventy-five dollar application fee I was admitted to only two schools. Utah State University and the University of Arkansas. I love Utah State but, my wife and I are ready for an adventure so I accepted the research position at the University of Arkansas (Go Razonbacks!!). We will be moving after rodeo weekend sometime in August.

My wife also had our third child so we are now officially outnumbered. India is 5, Eva is 2, and Max is 18 days. India is very smart and loves people, all people, the thing my wife and worry about most with her is Stranger Danger. Eva is very pretty and she knows it. She often negotiates with me and we "Make a deal" where she indubitable gets what she wants (not all the time I am a firm parent). Max only sleeps, poops, eats and cries. I can't wait till he's a toddler. My wife recently graduated with her Associates degree in Science, so she is very happy being a Mother and wife.

My church calling is one that stretches me, every three weeks I teach gospel doctrine. It takes a LONG time to prepare a lesson, then I pray that the spirit my reach into the cavern of my mind and pull something out I either read or learned, that can inspire and uplift someone in the class. I know I learn way more than everyone else in the classroom but, I hope and pray that the people attending church are hearing what they need to from the spirit.

I have an interesting job this summer before grad school I will be working for Nicholson Construction company they are a nation wide company and their salt lake office services, everything west of the Mississippi, so I start on the 11th of may and they will train me and send me to work on one of there job sites (Oklahoma, four corners area, Salt lake valley). After grad school I want to work as a Geotechnical Engineer (I will work with dirt ei... Earthen dams, large foundations, tunnels, and deep excavations). Like the picture at left (I just found that picture I didn't actually work there). I would especially love to work on dam rehabilitation projects (Making old crappy dams, better).

Wow I really let you guys have an earfull I hope I didn't bore you. I will try and remember to update this site every now and again. If any of you every wanted to visit Arkansas we will be living in the northwest corner near the city of fayetteville, you are welcome to crash on the couch, eat our food and you won't be obligated to stay and make weird small talk. Just come, crash, eat, and leave. Just seeing a familier face would be great.

Spring

I wanted to share this spring photo with everyone and remind you to plan for the family reunion which is June 26 & 27. Make sure and bring your camera and laptop so we can share reunion photos before we go home on Saturday.

Hi, everybody. I wanted to share a family picture we finally had taken. I was going to have one taken but then we had Danika so we waited. Now she is 1 1/2 yrs old. So here we are in the backyard. I hope everyone is well and have a peaceful Easter.

In Memory of Neil Kevin Bodily

March 20, 1959- November 12, 1998!

for a memo go to elizabethbodily.blogspot.com

The Doren Family

Well, This is Dawson. He turned 4 on Aug. 30th. He is so creative and attentive. He still likes Blues Clues but there is a new love in his life. He likes to pretend he is Sporticus from the cartoon Lazytown. He jumps in the air and off my couch trying to do the same jumps he does. He loves to eat fruit and vegetables and good things because they will help him grow big muscles and strong bones. He thinks it will be instantaneously though. very funny. He broke his arm back on July 2nd. Trying to get on the neighbors trampoline. I didn't think it was broke because he didn't cry. But I took it in anyway to be sure and he had broken both bones in his arm. So I think I will be paying for that till next July. I don't think that will be the last time I am at the hospital with him. Dawson loves to play games on the nick jr. website. He is very computer savy. He watches me and then he does it. He amazes me every day. He also likes to try to get everybody to go to grandma pitchers for a party. Grandma is great to welcome and help make the imagination of the grandkids grow. Dawson constantly asks to call grandma and grandpa or he wants to use my cell phone to text with my sisters or grandma. We recently are recovering from Dawson learning we don't color on walls and furniture. About a month ago he colored on his walls and down the stairs and on the livingroom walls with crayons (I only bought washable) so we had a cleaning moment and a learning moment (I did get pictures.) But just last week we were rearanging our livingroom furniture and Rob gasped from awe, Dawson had drawn a mural on the back of the couch. It was a love seat, microfiber, Mashell had told me to clean it use babywipes.. (works awesome by the way) So it did come off thank goodness. Anyway, Dawson is always asking questions and wanting to know how things work. I call my mom almost everyday to tell her funny stories of my days with my kids. It doesn't get any better than this.