This and That {June - Aug}

Mark took Kars to Diamond Lake for some float tube fun!

Emmrey completed another level of swim lessons at Mountain Kids ... and ... she even got to have Bay as her instructor a few times:)

We had a HAIL of a storm mid June that did some serious damage to our car (unfortunately I was teaching a Science camp at the school when it happened, so there was no garage protection)

I taught a one week STEM program called Camp Invention. 

Emm came along to help for a few days and loved it.

preparing "marrow samples"

We made a trip to Water World. We had so much fun, but it was the craziest of the three times we have gone there. We swore "never again!"

Emmrey got obsessed with baking and decorating cupcakes

Kars had another basement jam session with several guitar students

Lots of time spent floating in the pool ... even for Rose

Another summer hailstorm nearly did our garden in:(

That there is a bucket of hail ... no joke!!

Emm pressured us into Slurpees on 7-11

Date night fishing on the river

Made a visit back to Laramie to get this girl a little more settled in ....

Loved spending the day with her💜

Kittens were born near our garden and then momma moved them to our window well

Celebrated? going back to school with cupcakes from our local Cakery

Bay spent lots of time training and team building with her fellow RA's

Forty and a half

My 1st day of school was also my birthday. Emmrey did a little decorating on my behalf:)

I had already been working off and on for the past week. Between getting a permanent position and getting Bay off to UW early, the couple of weeks prior had felt pretty chaotic. Keeping it simple sounded pretty good. We stayed local and had dinner at the Grille.

After a delicious meal, we returned home for thoughtful gifts from my crew. Mark gave me a new phone and a sweet note with some memorabilia representative of our engagement 25 years ago to the day.

Emmrey gave me some of my favorites ... peanut m&m's and lotion for a foot rub {I hope}. Kars surprised me with a creative candy gram ... I loved it!! 

Especially the "I love you more than you love Reese's"

We didn't do cake this year .. just ice cream was enough. 

*cute initial bracelet from Les

I got to face time with my other girl. Not a great picture, but it was the only one with her in it. 

Happy Birthday to me!!

School Rules 2018

This phase of life has me feeling scattered. Partly because of the emotional/mental state I am in, and partly because we are literally scattered. Adding to this, is the fact that the girls all start school on different days. Kars began her Junior year on August 20th. She wasn't excited at all and is pretty much over this whole High School thing. I frequently remind her "Baby, just slow down ... You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast ... These are some good times"

grade 11

I had her drive me to school (still a few more months with a permit) for some practice. 

She kinda loves when I take photos of every little thing.

Then I watched her walk into the building and couldn't help but feel a pain in my heart. 

It just goes too fast!

Emm started her Middle School career the following day. She was pretty enthusiastic, which is typical for her. There was also a bit of worry.

grade 6

I drove her over since I was also starting my first day across the road at Eyestone. 

I will be working full-time in Special Education:)

Bay started classes the 29th. She has a heavy load in addition to her RA responsibilities. This is what I got from her when I asked for a first day pic. Enjoying the beautiful day with friends in Prexy's Pasture.

Sophomore year

I am blown away at how the girls have changed since starting school here in Wellington just 4 years ago. It really is too much for me at times.

and she's off .....

I feel like we got jipped! Between her working 10 hour days and heading back to school earlier than we planned, we didn't get enough time with Bailee this summer. 

She was offered an RA position which required her to be in Laramie two weeks prior to classes starting for training. She will be in the same dorm she was in last year.

Living/working on the 8th floor this year, a step up from the 4th floor  ... 

"movin' on up ....to a deluxe apartment in the sky"

It's crazy how different "move-in day" {and even the days/weeks leading up to it} was this year compared to last. It was hard to get her to even crack a smile last year because she was SO NERVOUS and uncertain about being on her own. This year she was BEAMING the entire day!!

It doesn't make me want to leave her any more than last year, but it sure does make it a little easier. Even though we didn't get to see her a whole lot while she was home, just knowing she isn't around leaves a big hole in our family. I will miss her so so much! 

I am also extremely excited for her and the adventures that await. There is so much goodness wrapped up in that little package. The world is yours Bug ... go get it!! Here's to year 2 as a Poke🤠

A visit from the parents

My Mom and Dad came to visit us for a few days in August. I love having them come ... even if it always seems too short. They arrived Friday evening. We took it easy with pizza and visiting at our house. Grandma always brings some sort of fun goody for the girls. 

 Once we got going on Saturday we had lunch at Spoons and took a walk along the Poudre River.

It was a beautiful day. A little on the hot side. We found a somewhat shady spot to watch the tubers float by and the girls play in the water.

Later that afternoon, we went to their hotel for some swimming. 

Sunday we had a BBQ at our house and played some games. 

Grandma did a little question-answer session with the girls. 

Mark gave my dad a little tour of the garden:)

We got up Monday and prepared to take Bay to start her training as a Resident Assistant at UW. We caravanned to Laramie and they got to see the dorm she will be living in for another year. Then they went on their way and we spent some time getting Bailee settled in. 

It was a lovely weekend spent with my favorite people.

Jackson

Mark needed to get out with the Jackson crew for a few days in August, so me and the girls {minus the working girl} tagged along. It was a foggy scene as we passed through Laramie.

We stopped for some fishing on Shoal Creek along the Hoback River on our way.

We arrived close to dinner time and when Pinky G's let us down (closed for a private party), we ended up at Jackson Drug. This was purely by accident, a need to find somewhere that didn't have a line spilling out to the street (thanks to all those Utahns;). We had more than our share of fries due to a goof in the kitchen and larger "side" orders than we anticipated.

Emm enjoying a fry sandwich with all three types of fries that ended up at our table

The atmosphere was fun and the food was good, but it wasn't until after the fact that I learned we were part of a little history in the making. After reading up a bit, I learned they had just reopened this summer after a 17 year absence. Jackson Drug Co was one of the oldest businesses in town, opening in 1912.

The family owned business closed in 2001, resulting in disappointment that the best of old Jackson was disappearing in place of modern profit-seeking. The family bought the building back and attempted to restore it as close to original as possible. They brought back the soda fountain and added a kitchen and seating. There you go! A pretty cool little bit of history sprinkled in there:)

We walked around Town Square and enjoyed all things Jackson.

Mark left the next morning for an overnight outing with the crew.

So the girls and I spent time at the pool and walking around town. We enjoyed lunch at our favorite sub shop.

We took part in some very "touristy" shots

Emmrey could really spend every minute at the pool

We walked and walked. I loved this art project the local school had done to add some beauty to the boardwalk that was under repair.

When Mark made it back the following evening, he and I went on a little date to Bon Appe Thai. It was pretty delicious! One of the great things about Jackson is there is no lack of good food.

We picked up the girls and went to Moo's for some ice cream.

On our final morning, Mark had to go to the office to meet with a colleague. So the girls and I went to the Visitor's Center to get Emmrey her commemorative coin in the Penny Press Machine. 

We made one last stop to fish a little at  Blackrock Creek near Togwatee. 

Mark and Emm were the only ones really feeling it. 

Kars and I relaxed on the big boulders in the sun:)

It might not have been as fun for Mark since it was a work trip, but us girls sure enjoyed ourselves. Glad we were able to tag along!