Tae Kwon Do
I think I forgot to mention that sometime in Spokane - Monday that would have been - Krista took Jared, Arielle and Nolan to TKD with her. This is held at a local church and is cheap - as an outreach. It is free to Christian Workers and so is free for Krista. I wish we could find something similar in TX....we'll have to look....Anyway - it was a new thing for the younger ones and Jared and I know the younger ones enjoyed it - not sure about Jared.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
SATURDAY - AUGUST 12TH - DAY TEN
Everyone is sleeping in - which believe me after adjusting to our 0430 starts this is a luxury. Unfortunately, Stacia woke up at 0400....I laid around a few hours and here I am. {G} I'll catch up "my" part of the story of yesterday.....btw....John Beloushi and Glenn Ford slept here too.
Mike, Krista, Josiah, Jamin and Jared took off after grabbing a hotel breakfast at 0600 to hike to Marble Caves.
The rest of the crew woke up slowly. I shuttled them down one or two at a time to the Continental breakfast. Did I complain about nothing but apples and bananas to choose from at these hotel breakfasts? I repent. We had NO fruit at all here. BUT there were waffles, whole milk, real butter, yogurt and lots of sugared cereals options. Thankfully, Wal-mart (aka known as the gates of h*ll by some nameless family members) is across from the hotel. I picked up some granola bars and cereal that Zander can eat....and he enjoyed having milk again.
After breakfast we set out to explore the Canon City.
Our first stop was the Dinosaur Depot. This was awesome. We have been talking about going to Glennrose, TX to check out the digging sites and dino tracks but haven't made it yet. Right HERE - totally unplanned by US - was the perfect thing to make the young ones feel like they had a special adventure while the older ones hiked to the top of a mountain. Bre stayed to help me with the younger ones - I don't think hiking to the top of a CO mountain was high on her "to do list" of life's accomplishments. :::snort:::: Anyway, it turns out that 8 miles west or north or some direction from here are the famous digs where two palentologists "duked" it out in the late 1800's early 1900's. Both found amazing fossiles. The "world's" {?} most complete stegasourasus skeleton is on display at the Dino Depot. They had a huge bone that the kids were able to sit on and climb over and touch. (We have no pictures as Mike had the camera yesterday - sigh). They had posters and lots of bones and such under glass. A palentologist was working on fossiles and stone and took a lot of time to answer questions and explain the process to us. Upstairs they had a "discovery room". This room was full of dino toys, books, videos, microscope, fossiles to inspect and a digging box. The box had various parts of a dino skeleton burried in walnut shells. There were also dino tracks outside.... COOL. We had a great two hours. I woke up to the fact that, yes, these newer three youngsters have fully hit the dino phase and I need to check and see if there are new resources available. I have some books from ICR and such but I'm sure in the past 12 years they've published new things. I'd love to hear of your favoirte creationist dino books. We'd also like to find some good reading on the Loch Ness Monster - which many say is a pleasiosaurus.
I've been trying to find the perfect daily award for Zander to earn with his "obeying tickets". I was able to pick up 12 little tiny dinosaurs for about $6.00. He was thrilled last night to buy one of them off me. He said, "can you tell me something new to do now?" {g}
After the Dino Depot we hit the historical downtown. The buildings are awesome but there really wasn't much worth looking at IN the buildings. We did find All Star Pets. We miss the days of pet stores with puppies you could play with. Though looking back on it we know that these weren't great settings for the puppies. Which reminds me of a verse I read in Proverbs 12 this a.m. My paraphrase is that a righteous man looks well after his pets/animals. This store did have 4 cute, cuddly kittens that were looking for homes. It also has a big pond with koi in it. We fed them.
Lunch found us at McDonald's with a huge play area. The little ones played for a couple of hours while Bre and I caught up on her life. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the first year of Spokane Master's Commission. I'm loving the young women of God that my daughters have matured into. I think some of the projects they did were so good that I'll imitate them with the other children if they aren't going to such a program after they graduate. More on that later- maybe - if I remember. :::snort::::
Stacia had the "tropical trotts" all day. I think it's the water. She can't drink Concho water at home but has done fine on the trip. I went to Walmart and bought some drinking water, a tube of diaper ointment, dish soap, and water bottles for .10. Big outing, huh?
We spent the next couple of hours playing with the big dino floor puzzle I'd purchased earlier in the day. We also watched a huge thunderstorm - that changed our afternoon swimming plans - and wondered where the rest of our family was.
Now for their story: details will have to wait until I excavate them all. I know they started up the mountain in good time. They met up with Earl (Mike's brother), Crystal (neice) and Dominque (her son) and Jerome (nephew). They saw marmutes and bear. They were filthy but happy when they showed up back at the hotel about 10:00 p.m. They got caught above timberline in the big storm...hail, thunder etc. This was hilarious. It seems that Krista has got caught in rain on every sight seeing trip of her year. When she heard that they were going to attempt the climb she said, "we'll probably get caught in rain". None of us put much stock in her meterological predictions but sure enough - they got wet and cold. More details to follow.
Oh - in the light of day - this hotel well.....though it appears seedy.....when the pool tournament ended the overcrowdedness abated. It is possible to see that it in it's DAY (about 1940/50) this was a GREAT place...there are still glimmers of "faded elegance" here and there.....it's just loud and smokey.....but at 0600 they've not started the music or opened the pool. Never, never agree to a pool side room.....
Everyone is sleeping in - which believe me after adjusting to our 0430 starts this is a luxury. Unfortunately, Stacia woke up at 0400....I laid around a few hours and here I am. {G} I'll catch up "my" part of the story of yesterday.....btw....John Beloushi and Glenn Ford slept here too.
Mike, Krista, Josiah, Jamin and Jared took off after grabbing a hotel breakfast at 0600 to hike to Marble Caves.
The rest of the crew woke up slowly. I shuttled them down one or two at a time to the Continental breakfast. Did I complain about nothing but apples and bananas to choose from at these hotel breakfasts? I repent. We had NO fruit at all here. BUT there were waffles, whole milk, real butter, yogurt and lots of sugared cereals options. Thankfully, Wal-mart (aka known as the gates of h*ll by some nameless family members) is across from the hotel. I picked up some granola bars and cereal that Zander can eat....and he enjoyed having milk again.
After breakfast we set out to explore the Canon City.
Our first stop was the Dinosaur Depot. This was awesome. We have been talking about going to Glennrose, TX to check out the digging sites and dino tracks but haven't made it yet. Right HERE - totally unplanned by US - was the perfect thing to make the young ones feel like they had a special adventure while the older ones hiked to the top of a mountain. Bre stayed to help me with the younger ones - I don't think hiking to the top of a CO mountain was high on her "to do list" of life's accomplishments. :::snort:::: Anyway, it turns out that 8 miles west or north or some direction from here are the famous digs where two palentologists "duked" it out in the late 1800's early 1900's. Both found amazing fossiles. The "world's" {?} most complete stegasourasus skeleton is on display at the Dino Depot. They had a huge bone that the kids were able to sit on and climb over and touch. (We have no pictures as Mike had the camera yesterday - sigh). They had posters and lots of bones and such under glass. A palentologist was working on fossiles and stone and took a lot of time to answer questions and explain the process to us. Upstairs they had a "discovery room". This room was full of dino toys, books, videos, microscope, fossiles to inspect and a digging box. The box had various parts of a dino skeleton burried in walnut shells. There were also dino tracks outside.... COOL. We had a great two hours. I woke up to the fact that, yes, these newer three youngsters have fully hit the dino phase and I need to check and see if there are new resources available. I have some books from ICR and such but I'm sure in the past 12 years they've published new things. I'd love to hear of your favoirte creationist dino books. We'd also like to find some good reading on the Loch Ness Monster - which many say is a pleasiosaurus.
I've been trying to find the perfect daily award for Zander to earn with his "obeying tickets". I was able to pick up 12 little tiny dinosaurs for about $6.00. He was thrilled last night to buy one of them off me. He said, "can you tell me something new to do now?" {g}
After the Dino Depot we hit the historical downtown. The buildings are awesome but there really wasn't much worth looking at IN the buildings. We did find All Star Pets. We miss the days of pet stores with puppies you could play with. Though looking back on it we know that these weren't great settings for the puppies. Which reminds me of a verse I read in Proverbs 12 this a.m. My paraphrase is that a righteous man looks well after his pets/animals. This store did have 4 cute, cuddly kittens that were looking for homes. It also has a big pond with koi in it. We fed them.
Lunch found us at McDonald's with a huge play area. The little ones played for a couple of hours while Bre and I caught up on her life. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the first year of Spokane Master's Commission. I'm loving the young women of God that my daughters have matured into. I think some of the projects they did were so good that I'll imitate them with the other children if they aren't going to such a program after they graduate. More on that later- maybe - if I remember. :::snort::::
Stacia had the "tropical trotts" all day. I think it's the water. She can't drink Concho water at home but has done fine on the trip. I went to Walmart and bought some drinking water, a tube of diaper ointment, dish soap, and water bottles for .10. Big outing, huh?
We spent the next couple of hours playing with the big dino floor puzzle I'd purchased earlier in the day. We also watched a huge thunderstorm - that changed our afternoon swimming plans - and wondered where the rest of our family was.
Now for their story: details will have to wait until I excavate them all. I know they started up the mountain in good time. They met up with Earl (Mike's brother), Crystal (neice) and Dominque (her son) and Jerome (nephew). They saw marmutes and bear. They were filthy but happy when they showed up back at the hotel about 10:00 p.m. They got caught above timberline in the big storm...hail, thunder etc. This was hilarious. It seems that Krista has got caught in rain on every sight seeing trip of her year. When she heard that they were going to attempt the climb she said, "we'll probably get caught in rain". None of us put much stock in her meterological predictions but sure enough - they got wet and cold. More details to follow.
Oh - in the light of day - this hotel well.....though it appears seedy.....when the pool tournament ended the overcrowdedness abated. It is possible to see that it in it's DAY (about 1940/50) this was a GREAT place...there are still glimmers of "faded elegance" here and there.....it's just loud and smokey.....but at 0600 they've not started the music or opened the pool. Never, never agree to a pool side room.....
Friday, August 11, 2006
Our Family Fun....
Thought I'd check the blog to see if Becky and Ian have a new little one in their home.....I typed ourfamilyfun.blogspot.com and there was a BABY....but it was a grace....and then I scrolled down and figured out it was a different family fun!
If you read this - I'm praying for the end of your classes, smooth details as Ian seperates and a wonderfully blessed labor and delivery.......but you can wait until I get home if you want. LOL
Thought I'd check the blog to see if Becky and Ian have a new little one in their home.....I typed ourfamilyfun.blogspot.com and there was a BABY....but it was a grace....and then I scrolled down and figured out it was a different family fun!
If you read this - I'm praying for the end of your classes, smooth details as Ian seperates and a wonderfully blessed labor and delivery.......but you can wait until I get home if you want. LOL
FRIDAY - 11 AUGUST - DAY NINE
Oh goodness! This is going to begin with a major whine. I think I've been plunked back in red neck land....or worse. I won't type the word I was thinking. Our Quality Inn looks to be a very old, old Holiday Inn with a peeling layer of pink and purple paint. Our hotel room has a moth-eaten curtain - it glows PINK! Hot PINK! Somehow our hotel reservation got mixed up; and here we are. I'm praying that our hotel in Santa Fe is NOT like this. The same chain had a fabulous hotel in both Glenwood Springs, CO and Spokane, WA. You don't believe me about red-neck heaven? Well.....o.k. The hotel is hosting a huge pool tournament....I thought it was a punker convention - but maybe not. The music that BLARES through all the hallways is honky tonk country. To my right I can hear rowdy music and I'm right outside of the two giant pool lounges - as in pool tables.... Groups (more like mobs) of punkers loiter in the parking lot.....and it all reeks of smoke...... Our rooms are second floor and right above the pool - which means we get to hear all sorts of shenanigans and I decided there was no sleeping so I may as well update. Oh yes...there are little plastic - woodburned looking "welcome" signs on each door....and some doors are graced with actual wood burnings that fill you in on who occupied the room before you "Patty Duke, John Wayne, James Arness, Slim Pickens, Goldie Hawn, Charles Bronson, Tom Selleck".....I can assure you it was not any time lately that the likes of these slept anywhere near here. LOL
OK vent over. We'll be here two nights...then on to Santa Fe where we booked another Quality Inn.....a tip for military travelers they give wonderful military discounts at all the Choice Inn hotels....and this is the only bad one we've run into. :::snort:::
Now t0 back up...we ended the night last night by watching *Fat Albert* in our spacious, clean, modern, smoke free room. Jared DID cut himself on the glass on the pool deck. They gave us $40 off our bill - not sure why but they did. {G}
We left this a.m. and began to wander through the off roads of Colorado. I think I mentioned that we are deliberately avoiding the Interstate on our way home. We are making progress each day but are loving all the new scenery. Today was a combo over very lush, gorgeous scenery and some stark but still awe-inspiring scenery.
We stopped at Leadville and ST Elmo. Saint Elmo is a ghost town but it seems that many are buying the property up and moving in. We ran into a lot of ATV's today. . . and jeeps. We hiked to a mine...then sent Josiah and Krista back to get the van because it looked like the van could handle the terrain. Anything an ATV can do our 15 passanger can do better. :::snort::: We found the exact mine where Mike had camped with his family over 35 years ago. THEN we got in the van and continued up the path - to land that even the jeeps turned back from. We continued....laughing all the time at the obvoius choice Mike was having to make...adventure or well....anyway he chose adventure. We finally reached a spot where even Mike thought it wouldn't be wise to push the van any further. He set the brake and we hiked to another mine. We heard a loud sliding sound and Josiah dead panned, "I coulda sworn I'd set the brake!"
We left St Elmo and headed on to Canon City (where we currently reside in smoke filled hot pink surroundings). We decided on a lark to drive over the Royal Gorge bridge. The signs pointed the way. We figured it may cost as much as Yellowstone. ...$25 a car...and I was proud of Mike for being willing to put out $50 for this. We got to the pay station and found that they wanted $29 per person and a bit of a break for younger kids. It was going to be $250 for us to drive across the bridge. They have an "amusement park" here and so your fee buys you "all this"....but Sea World is cheaper, Yellowstone National Park is cheaper....we headed back to the hwy.
We are in Canon City because we could find NOTHING in Westcliffe or Saldia. Mike and the older ones are going to go on a giant hike tomorrow.....it will be cool. I did 3/4 of it with Mike over 20 years ago. He told the kids today that I did great but that I've always lived at sea level so hiking 2 miles past timberline....to see a cave....well I did the 4 mile hike to the bottom of the Mountain and then I hiked a good mike straight up to timberline...and then I sat down and quit. I thought I'd just quit and was thinking I'd try again...with Zander and Stacia in tow. Mike remidnded me that last time I quit because I couldn't feel my legs.....and I found lots of bear prints. I'm going to keep the younger ones down HERE in Canon City.....I thought we'd swim and such at the hotel but after seeing the hotel...I think we'll explore the town. One can only take so much raucos pool tournament fun.
Ok - I'm feeling better. It really is quite funny. It always feels safe to pick a reputable chain but you never know until you open that door what you'll find. Mike began seriously talking about selling our pop-up camper and buying a trailer. He checked us in and realized that what we pay EACH night for two rooms is about the same as a month's payment. If we had a trailer we'd know where we were sleeping and we could eat what we wanted to eat too........that's a whole different story. Thank God we had a few home cooked meals along the way ...but restaurant food is getting old. LOL
Oh goodness! This is going to begin with a major whine. I think I've been plunked back in red neck land....or worse. I won't type the word I was thinking. Our Quality Inn looks to be a very old, old Holiday Inn with a peeling layer of pink and purple paint. Our hotel room has a moth-eaten curtain - it glows PINK! Hot PINK! Somehow our hotel reservation got mixed up; and here we are. I'm praying that our hotel in Santa Fe is NOT like this. The same chain had a fabulous hotel in both Glenwood Springs, CO and Spokane, WA. You don't believe me about red-neck heaven? Well.....o.k. The hotel is hosting a huge pool tournament....I thought it was a punker convention - but maybe not. The music that BLARES through all the hallways is honky tonk country. To my right I can hear rowdy music and I'm right outside of the two giant pool lounges - as in pool tables.... Groups (more like mobs) of punkers loiter in the parking lot.....and it all reeks of smoke...... Our rooms are second floor and right above the pool - which means we get to hear all sorts of shenanigans and I decided there was no sleeping so I may as well update. Oh yes...there are little plastic - woodburned looking "welcome" signs on each door....and some doors are graced with actual wood burnings that fill you in on who occupied the room before you "Patty Duke, John Wayne, James Arness, Slim Pickens, Goldie Hawn, Charles Bronson, Tom Selleck".....I can assure you it was not any time lately that the likes of these slept anywhere near here. LOL
OK vent over. We'll be here two nights...then on to Santa Fe where we booked another Quality Inn.....a tip for military travelers they give wonderful military discounts at all the Choice Inn hotels....and this is the only bad one we've run into. :::snort:::
Now t0 back up...we ended the night last night by watching *Fat Albert* in our spacious, clean, modern, smoke free room. Jared DID cut himself on the glass on the pool deck. They gave us $40 off our bill - not sure why but they did. {G}
We left this a.m. and began to wander through the off roads of Colorado. I think I mentioned that we are deliberately avoiding the Interstate on our way home. We are making progress each day but are loving all the new scenery. Today was a combo over very lush, gorgeous scenery and some stark but still awe-inspiring scenery.
We stopped at Leadville and ST Elmo. Saint Elmo is a ghost town but it seems that many are buying the property up and moving in. We ran into a lot of ATV's today. . . and jeeps. We hiked to a mine...then sent Josiah and Krista back to get the van because it looked like the van could handle the terrain. Anything an ATV can do our 15 passanger can do better. :::snort::: We found the exact mine where Mike had camped with his family over 35 years ago. THEN we got in the van and continued up the path - to land that even the jeeps turned back from. We continued....laughing all the time at the obvoius choice Mike was having to make...adventure or well....anyway he chose adventure. We finally reached a spot where even Mike thought it wouldn't be wise to push the van any further. He set the brake and we hiked to another mine. We heard a loud sliding sound and Josiah dead panned, "I coulda sworn I'd set the brake!"
We left St Elmo and headed on to Canon City (where we currently reside in smoke filled hot pink surroundings). We decided on a lark to drive over the Royal Gorge bridge. The signs pointed the way. We figured it may cost as much as Yellowstone. ...$25 a car...and I was proud of Mike for being willing to put out $50 for this. We got to the pay station and found that they wanted $29 per person and a bit of a break for younger kids. It was going to be $250 for us to drive across the bridge. They have an "amusement park" here and so your fee buys you "all this"....but Sea World is cheaper, Yellowstone National Park is cheaper....we headed back to the hwy.
We are in Canon City because we could find NOTHING in Westcliffe or Saldia. Mike and the older ones are going to go on a giant hike tomorrow.....it will be cool. I did 3/4 of it with Mike over 20 years ago. He told the kids today that I did great but that I've always lived at sea level so hiking 2 miles past timberline....to see a cave....well I did the 4 mile hike to the bottom of the Mountain and then I hiked a good mike straight up to timberline...and then I sat down and quit. I thought I'd just quit and was thinking I'd try again...with Zander and Stacia in tow. Mike remidnded me that last time I quit because I couldn't feel my legs.....and I found lots of bear prints. I'm going to keep the younger ones down HERE in Canon City.....I thought we'd swim and such at the hotel but after seeing the hotel...I think we'll explore the town. One can only take so much raucos pool tournament fun.
Ok - I'm feeling better. It really is quite funny. It always feels safe to pick a reputable chain but you never know until you open that door what you'll find. Mike began seriously talking about selling our pop-up camper and buying a trailer. He checked us in and realized that what we pay EACH night for two rooms is about the same as a month's payment. If we had a trailer we'd know where we were sleeping and we could eat what we wanted to eat too........that's a whole different story. Thank God we had a few home cooked meals along the way ...but restaurant food is getting old. LOL
Thursday, August 10, 2006
THURSDAY - 10 AUGUST - DAY EIGHT
Here we are in Glenwood Springs, CO.
We resumed the tradation 0430 wakeup today and again - it works. {sigh} Staica slept better last night. I bought some Tylenol cold and drugged her - she was so stuffed up on Tuesday night. I it scaredher to be stuffy.
The drive today was gorgeous. It got me to thinking and planning again for our "retreat center" when we retire. The time is now for us to begin saving big time if we want to make this happen. We assume we'll need to save Mike's pay raise for a few months after getting home to replenish our depleted savings after this trip.....and then we hope to be able to put the entire raise into savings each month. We'll see.
Our hotel tonight is REALLY nice. Lots of space for all of us to spread out in. The kids were swimming....Mike and Jamin working out and I am doing laundry - 30 minutes left on the dryer.....unfortunately (or most likely fortunately) Mike broken glass and such on the pool deck and so we all had to get out while they figure out what to do about it. I suspect they are simply going to sweep up what they see and not drain the pool.
The front desk assured me that no one will be able to hear Staica if she wakes up tonight. I doubt THAT....I can hear her NOW. BUT they told me to relax and not worry about it - so I will. She can't be more obnoxious than the poodles and dogs next door last night. {G}
Here we are in Glenwood Springs, CO.
We resumed the tradation 0430 wakeup today and again - it works. {sigh} Staica slept better last night. I bought some Tylenol cold and drugged her - she was so stuffed up on Tuesday night. I it scaredher to be stuffy.
The drive today was gorgeous. It got me to thinking and planning again for our "retreat center" when we retire. The time is now for us to begin saving big time if we want to make this happen. We assume we'll need to save Mike's pay raise for a few months after getting home to replenish our depleted savings after this trip.....and then we hope to be able to put the entire raise into savings each month. We'll see.
Our hotel tonight is REALLY nice. Lots of space for all of us to spread out in. The kids were swimming....Mike and Jamin working out and I am doing laundry - 30 minutes left on the dryer.....unfortunately (or most likely fortunately) Mike broken glass and such on the pool deck and so we all had to get out while they figure out what to do about it. I suspect they are simply going to sweep up what they see and not drain the pool.
The front desk assured me that no one will be able to hear Staica if she wakes up tonight. I doubt THAT....I can hear her NOW. BUT they told me to relax and not worry about it - so I will. She can't be more obnoxious than the poodles and dogs next door last night. {G}
WEDNESDAY - 9 AUGUST - DAY SEVEN
I began the day exhausted. Staica was up all night. In fact I ended up sleeping in the van with her so that eveyrone in the hotel would be complaining. Stacia is slowly - oh so slowly- warming up to the girls.
We drove through Yellowstone National Park today. We only had one day but got to quickly see everything that was on our list of "must sees". We arrived later than we had planned and so didn't see as much wildlife as we'd have liked to see....but really we've seen most of it in our yard in Alaska. {G} I couldn't help thinking of Grams and Bill often during the day. They loved the park. We had never stopped there for as long as I could remember - either as a child or an adult...so I greatly enjoyed the chance to check it all out in person. Old Faithful erupted right as we walked up. We got some pictures that I'll share when I have a way to upload the photos. I kept hearing grams voice saying "It's a big country, kiddo" - right she was.
I'm feeling overwhelmed today - tired and thinking of what the next months will hold as I try to keep everything running smoothly without Mike. I'm also realizing that Josiah may only be home 10 more months and Mike will be gone 6 - 8 of them. It makes me sad. When he was talking about bieng a fishing guide I thought we'd have another year or two with him.....because he was thinking of taking some business and marketing classes at ASU. NOW he's talking an internship this summer with a youth organization and then either Master's or college next fall...WAAAA....they are leaving home to FAST....and it's ruining my vacation....I must quit thinking about it for the next few weeks.
Wow - we've seen the most beautiful spot! I can say with 100% confidence that it is the prettiest I've seen in the lower 48 and certainlyo ne of the prettiest if I factor in AK. The Grant National Teton Forest. It was a gorgeous drive out of the Park. I had no idea that WY had such beautfiul spots. We are spending the night in Dubois, WY. That is pronounced "DEW boyz" and never Dew BWAH.... ::::snort:::
I began the day exhausted. Staica was up all night. In fact I ended up sleeping in the van with her so that eveyrone in the hotel would be complaining. Stacia is slowly - oh so slowly- warming up to the girls.
We drove through Yellowstone National Park today. We only had one day but got to quickly see everything that was on our list of "must sees". We arrived later than we had planned and so didn't see as much wildlife as we'd have liked to see....but really we've seen most of it in our yard in Alaska. {G} I couldn't help thinking of Grams and Bill often during the day. They loved the park. We had never stopped there for as long as I could remember - either as a child or an adult...so I greatly enjoyed the chance to check it all out in person. Old Faithful erupted right as we walked up. We got some pictures that I'll share when I have a way to upload the photos. I kept hearing grams voice saying "It's a big country, kiddo" - right she was.
I'm feeling overwhelmed today - tired and thinking of what the next months will hold as I try to keep everything running smoothly without Mike. I'm also realizing that Josiah may only be home 10 more months and Mike will be gone 6 - 8 of them. It makes me sad. When he was talking about bieng a fishing guide I thought we'd have another year or two with him.....because he was thinking of taking some business and marketing classes at ASU. NOW he's talking an internship this summer with a youth organization and then either Master's or college next fall...WAAAA....they are leaving home to FAST....and it's ruining my vacation....I must quit thinking about it for the next few weeks.
Wow - we've seen the most beautiful spot! I can say with 100% confidence that it is the prettiest I've seen in the lower 48 and certainlyo ne of the prettiest if I factor in AK. The Grant National Teton Forest. It was a gorgeous drive out of the Park. I had no idea that WY had such beautfiul spots. We are spending the night in Dubois, WY. That is pronounced "DEW boyz" and never Dew BWAH.... ::::snort:::
TUESDAY - 8 AUGUST - DAY SIX
Mike had pity on the girls this a.m. and we didn't get our customary 0430 wake up call. {G} We slept in and left the hotel after taking advantage of the free breakfast. Yeah - "free".
By the afternoon we remembered WHY we like to get an early start even if we don't have far to drive.....Stacia and Zander travel much easier this way.
We arrived in Livingston in time to enjoy an afternoon rain and thunder storm. This hotel had a POOL that worked. We enjoyed that while I washed a few loads of laundry.
THEN we headed over to Marlin and Sharon's house for dinner. My kids were a bit unsure of meeting one of Mom's online friends...but we had a blast! I'm still amazed that anyone in America has a garage empty enough to move picnic tables into for an impromtu meal - we got rained off the deck. Sharon had fixed a wonderful meal - complete with cherry pies made for HER cherry trees. We took great care in showing Zander and Nolan the fruist trees...they were improessed. They enjoyed the trampoline, 4-wheelers, and room to run. I enjoyed meeting Sharon in person and seeing photos of their soon to be new home. Marlin started a great fire - I loved it - felt like camping and we had fun telling stories around the fire. I'm only sorry that we didn't arrive earlier so we could have met Rebecca and Melissa as well. That luandry was crucial - Zander had thrown up in the car on the drive through the mountains from Spokane to Livingston.
The girls are exhauseted and slept a lot today.
Mike had pity on the girls this a.m. and we didn't get our customary 0430 wake up call. {G} We slept in and left the hotel after taking advantage of the free breakfast. Yeah - "free".
By the afternoon we remembered WHY we like to get an early start even if we don't have far to drive.....Stacia and Zander travel much easier this way.
We arrived in Livingston in time to enjoy an afternoon rain and thunder storm. This hotel had a POOL that worked. We enjoyed that while I washed a few loads of laundry.
THEN we headed over to Marlin and Sharon's house for dinner. My kids were a bit unsure of meeting one of Mom's online friends...but we had a blast! I'm still amazed that anyone in America has a garage empty enough to move picnic tables into for an impromtu meal - we got rained off the deck. Sharon had fixed a wonderful meal - complete with cherry pies made for HER cherry trees. We took great care in showing Zander and Nolan the fruist trees...they were improessed. They enjoyed the trampoline, 4-wheelers, and room to run. I enjoyed meeting Sharon in person and seeing photos of their soon to be new home. Marlin started a great fire - I loved it - felt like camping and we had fun telling stories around the fire. I'm only sorry that we didn't arrive earlier so we could have met Rebecca and Melissa as well. That luandry was crucial - Zander had thrown up in the car on the drive through the mountains from Spokane to Livingston.
The girls are exhauseted and slept a lot today.
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