Last year's goals

Just a reminder of what we had tried to do last year. Like I said in the last post, we haven't gotten a list for this year yet, but I hope that people are thinking about it.

1. Plan at least 10 parties


2. Attend the Roosevelt cookout


3. Snorkel in the Yellowstone


4. Snorkel in the Firehole


5. Have a House marathon, complete with martinis


6. Wii tournament


7. Get drunk on the Fourth of July


8. 3rd annual Chocolate party


1. make sure to put it in the newsletter
9. Make a plan to BBQ with the boys in Tower
10. Go see "Sex in the City"
11. Float the Yellowstone in innertubes
12. Plan a weekend to float the Madison River and go to Virginia City and maybe go to Lewis and Clark Caverns
13. Attend an art walk in Livingston
14. Find a new summer drink

Chocolate Party

It was the year of the third annual Gardiner Chocolate Party. We had over 20 people show up. Of course, when you put it in the news letter and announce it at yoga, people tend to come. We even had a white trash fire. Just like the one in my back yard. Every edible thing was chocolate (except the red wine.) There was hot chocolate, chocolate tea, chili, chicken mole, mousse, french silk pie, double chocolate pie, and more. The chicken mole that Heidi made was wonderful and she even posted the recipes! I live in a great town!

Checking in with the Summer 2008 to-do list

1. Plan at least 10 parties (seven completed, two more planned)
   
2. Attend the Roosevelt cookout (all booked, not going to happen)
   
3. Snorkel in the Yellowstone
4. Snorkel in the Firehole
5. Have a House marathon, complete with martinis
6. Wii tournament
7. Get drunk on the Fourth of July
8. 3rd annual Chocolate party
1. make sure to put it in the newsletter
9. Make a plan to BBQ with the boys in Tower
10. Go see "Sex in the City"
11. Float the Yellowstone in innertubes
12. Plan a weekend to float the Madison River and go to Virginia City and maybe go to Lewis and Clark Caverns
13. Attend an art walk in Livingston
14. Find a new summer drink It's pink lemonade and blueberry vodka (heard about on the "How Much Do We Love" podcast). I have no idea if it really has a name but we're calling it a Pink Lady.

Snorkeling the Firehole

We crossed another item off the to-do list for the summer yesterday. Snorkeling in the park is great fun, especially this time of the year when you just have to ride the current a look around. We saw a bunch of rainbow trout. Heidi, Carrie (pictured left), Trudy and the bundles of people they've told all think it's hilarious that I scream every time I see a fish. This is somewhat difficult to do with a snorkel in your mouth. Usually I end up sucking in water and then having to spew it everywhere. We also agreed on a new summer drink last night. Pink Ladies (we don't know they're real name, but it's blueberry vodka mixed with pink lemonade) are the official Gardiner drink of 2008. Woo team! Today, we attempt to float down the Yellowstone as well as getting some snorkeling done at the same time. That should cross off two more items. Some of the things just aren't going to happen (cookout at Roosevelt, they were all booked up) but I think we're going to get well over half of them done. It's so exciting!.

Drinking on the Fourth of July

This weekend was Shannon's wedding. She got married up in Belgrade. Trudy was nice enough to let me ride up with her. We got to the location and it was gorgeous. Big, red barn in the middle of the country, chickens running around everywhere. It was actually in the contract that we weren't allowed to harass the chickens (i.e. no chasing. No fun.) I even managed to adhere to that rule. But, come on, it's hard not to chase chickens.
The bride was radiant, the groom was handsome, Tyler was GREAT as the "priest." The dresses were even beautiful. Well, they might be usable again. And they flattered all of the women. At least, I thought so.

Ring bearer practicing for when the bride and groom emerge

The flower girls were also cute. This girls hair was done in a bow. not tied in abow, done in a bow. So cute!

Also cute, the already married couples
Becky and Dan
Kendra and Doug
Doug on the fence
Doug plays on both sides of the fence

The dinner was lovely and delicious. I think there were maybe a hundred people there. The music for dancing was provided by a play-list of tunes that the attendees had sent in beforehand.
The next day, we went tubing on the Madison River. It was, unfortunately, overcast and the runoff from the snow-melt is still going on. The river was quite chilly, but at least we didn't have to stand up and drag our tubes ever. Sometimes, when it gets warmer, you have to do that because the river is so low. Then, Kendra, Doug, Kevin, Trudy, Heidi, Emily and I went to Norris Hot Springs. it was low key and wonderful. I've never been there before and it was so different from Chico. The social atmosphere was so laid-back it was nice. I loved seeing all of my friends and it was so much fun to just hang out.