Summer Unmasked: To Colorado and Wyoming

I have never been more excited then to travel to Wyoming and Colorado to visit my family as soon as school was out. It had been almost two years, so going home was icing on the cake for us. We spent two glorious weeks visiting family and seeing my parents new retirement home up in Thermopolis. We missed an atrocious heat wave that knocked the PNW to its bum. As always, the Rockies did not disappoint.

Dinosaur Monument

On our way to my folks, we stopped at Dinosaur National Monument to check out the fossils at the quarry. It was HOT. But it didn't stop the kids from being super stoked to see dinosaur fossils and bones intact. Made Jaxson's day!

Buena Vista

Arriving in BV we were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa! We spent our days being lazy poolside, hiking in the woods, watching the white water rafters, and enjoying the mountains. It was perfectly cool and enjoyable the entire time up in BV.

Seeing Grandma after a few years was great!

We love Mt. Princeton pool!

We hiked to Agnes Vail Falls

Had a lake side picnic

Explored the Arkansas River

Waved at passing rafters.

Denver

We trekked to Denver to spend a couple days with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. We enjoyed a Rockies game and exploring the Aquarium.

Aquariums are always a favorite!

D's mood.

Who doesn't want to hug a shark?

Stingrays!

We played MANY card games.

She was so excited because she understood what was actually happening, watching the game!

Coors Field

Rox win!

Love this pic of Jax and Damion

Thermopolis!

For the last leg of our trip, we went to Wyoming and spent the 4th of July with my parents at their new retirement home. It was superb. And hot. Inside jokes included how many times we could all go to the grocery store since we simply forgot something. Oh my gosh, so much...lol. Plus, having our other extended family over for a BBQ was simply fantastic. We can't wait until Christmas!

Visited the dinosaur museum in T Town.

Checking out the dino lab.

Gearing up to watch the fireworks

Touching the mineral pools at the Hot Springs

Unsure of this bridge

Sitting with Grandpa

Happy flowers. :)

Walking with Grandpa

Wind River Views

Grandpa teaching Maddy to play Solitaire

Taunting Grandpa with the hose

Getting squirted by Grandpa

Family!

Fireworks at Boysen Reservoir

Visited Grandma and Grandpa.

4th of July BBQ

Cousins playing in the sprinklers

Cousins!

Grandparents and Grandkids

Fun at The Star Plunge

Brave jumping off the diving board!

Until next time!

Comments

For the future's not ours to see...

There is so much going on in our world today that is negative. I get irritated with watching the news and seeing such drama the media portrays. I never really paid that much attention to it until I had Madelynne and then everything changed about my perception of the world. It is scary, out there, when all you want to do is shelter and protect your little one. Maybe I am coming to the terms with growing older and realizing that life on this great planet is limited and to make the most of it. Being a SAH mom has really caused me to think and reflect on so many different things. It hasn’t always been sweet, happy thoughts, either. I know a few weeks ago I was really concerned for the end of the world and for my daughter and future generations that have to endure such drastic changes that will continue to occur over time. I find myself getting caught up with questions about my faith and my journey as a Christian and feeling lost and not knowing who to turn to or talk to about such conflict

Just B

In teaching poetry and preparing my kiddos this week for their poetry presentations, we watched a few spoken word poets via pre-selected versions on YouTube. One video that stood out the most was from the 2012 TED talks from spoken word poet, Sarah Kay. The poem is a perfect depiction of having a child and advice that a mother wants to carry on to her daughter...If you have an opportunity, I'd check it out on YouTube and just watch the "If I should have a daughter" or the title of the poem is "B". Sifting through the poem, I extracted a few of my favorite quotes and a few recent pictures of Madelynne to accompany them. Enjoy. "...Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away" (Sarah Kay, TED Talks, 2012). “...Remember, your Mama is a worrier, and your Papa is a warrior, and you are the girl with small hands and big eyes who never stops asking f

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