Celebrating 21

If things had gone as she planned and hoped, Bailee would have been in Oregon working for the summer. Since that didn't happen, we were able to celebrate this milestone birthday with her. COVID put limits on what we could or were comfortable doing, but I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. She had training that Friday, but as soon as she got done I took her to a Day Spa for facials. It was so relaxing and although we were separated in different rooms, she said she thoroughly enjoyed it. 

We arrived home to a kitchen that had been transformed into a fine dining experience (or at least that was my intention;) Mark had picked up the Italian food, Kars and Emm were in charge of getting the table set and decorating. Team work makes the dream work!! 

Bailee was definitely surprised. She thought we were picking up pizza. Instead we had Mushroom Ravioli, Truffle Mac, and Pomodoro Tortellacci.

Isn't she the cutest 21 year old?

She requested Malted Moo Shake ice cream for dessert. 

She got some gift cards to Sephora and Ulta from Grampa Wayne and Gramma Cheryl.

Her sisters gave her an earring set, scrunchies and a face mask.

She could not think of anything she wanted for her birthday other than a wallet and hiking socks. 

So that is exactly what she got ... with some dinero inside for her to use at her discretion. 

I am really happy we got to be with her on this momentous day and celebrate her the best that we could. Love you the most Bug ❤️

Thoughts on 21

Today is your 21st birthday Bug!

From the day you were born and even before that, I have loved you and cared for you, cheered for you with each success and ached for you with every challenge.

You are gaining your freedom to go out into this wonderful world without me and hopefully make it better.

My heart is so happy to see the young woman you have grown to be, but my heart also breaks a little with each step that takes you further away, even though I know you are walking into so many amazing things that I can't wait for you to experience.

The moments under the same roof are becoming fewer and farther between.

I have unsuccessfully tried to hold onto time, desperately wishing for it to stand still.

I love watching you become your own person with your own thoughts and ideas. As you set our on your path to more and more independence, know that I will always be here for you to lean on.

I love you more than you can imagine❤️

Father's Day

Since Mother's Day weekend worked so well for us, we decided to try again for Father's Day. We left Friday after the girls finished their shifts at the club and drove as far as Green River. Got up early Saturday in order to be at Grandpa Smith's to help with some yard work. 

 Kevin & Migdalia and their girls joined along with Susan, Luckie and Tori.

 He had a list of things we could help with. These girls spent the morning painting yard decorations. 

 Jobs like fixing bricks on the chimney were left to Mark.

 There was A LOT of weeding that needed done. 

 Around noon Mark and I went to pick up lunch. Ralph was very assertive about wanting Arctic Circle. After lunch we chatted for a bit before calling it. These two are the best of friends.

 Glad to be able to help out and wish Grandpa a Happy Father's Day!

I took the two college girls to IKEA to get some things for their dorms/apartments. The line to go in was like nothing I had experienced during the pandemic. It moved surprisingly fast and I was glad they were taking things serious. 

 With COVID still a factor, we decided to do the hotel thing again. Our hotel made an error with our booking and ended up having to give us two rooms instead of the one suite. Mark and I ended up in a separate room and he had the best time messing with the girls about where our room was [eventually they figured out it was right next door]. We got up early Sunday and took a walk. 

 He came back to this surprise from the girls. 

 We had plans to Heart Attack my dads front yard, so we met my family at my parents house around 11 am. 

 Everyone had brought hearts and signs to decorate. 

 We tried to cover as much as we could without it turning into a burdensome job for him to clean up later. 

 We were just missing Ryan. Sean and Kristy were in town so that was extra fun! 

Quite the crew!

 We had planned to go picnic at the same park we did for Mother's Day. After inviting my parents to come along, they decided they would be comfortable having us eat in their front yard so they could be at home. We were all fighting for the shade, so social distancing parameters became a little loose. 

 Dad was pretty excited about his new church history books and DVD's.

 I sure love this guy and am forever grateful for all he does for his family.

 We headed for home close to 2:00. These weekend trips are fast and furious and the girls zonked out almost immediately. 

 We were nearly home when I realized in all the commotion, I hadn't got a picture of Mark and the girls. We pulled off an exit near Rock Creek and I am so happy it worked out this way. It made for a great photo. The girls and I are so lucky!!

Summer Kick-off Hikes~ The Loch and B-17

The first two weekends of June we did some pretty incredible hikes. The first was to Loch Vale Lake in RMNP.  Emmrey had just hiked with a friend a couple of days before and has a rule of not hiking two times in three days 😉 so it was just the four of us. 

Emm and Bella at Disappointment Falls

 The out and back trail is roughly 6 miles. It started out pretty flat, but ultimately has an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. 

 These two are good hikers

Early in the hike we ran into Alberta Falls, an attraction in itself. 

For many, this is the destination point where they turn around. The die-hards keep on trucking to The Loch.

The girls made it to the lake before we did. 

Just as we arrived the sky changed quickly and a light drizzle was starting to come down.

We realized we were in for a good rain and quickly tried to find some shelter. We still got pretty wet. 

It rained for a good while. 

 Mark was eager to get out and fish so as soon as it let up a bit he was on the lake. 

 It was so worth the climb and the rain ... absolutely gorgeous!

We stayed for an hour or so and it did eventually clear off enough to be enjoyable. On the way down we gave into those slippery snow covered sections and just skied down them.

It was such a fun hike with lovely people and scenery.

The following weekend we hiked into the Stormy Peaks to the B-17 crash site. 

[Mark took great photos so I am stealing his]

Bailee was camping this weekend with Makell so it was four of us again. The trail starts out innocently enough, but to get to the crash site there is some significant elevation change. I went into this 5 [turned out to be closer to 7] mile hike with the understanding at the climb was just the last 1/4 mile. In reality it was a climb the entire time with an even steeper climb [straight uphill] the last 3/4 of a mile. 

By the time we got to the site, I was hot to say the least. Once I cooled off I was able to appreciate the magnitude of the event. 

In October of 1943 the Army bomber was doing a nighttime training flight from Rapid City to Denver. A combination of wind and an inexperienced crew proved to be fatal. All eight of the crew were killed.

We enjoyed a snack lunch and then Mark and the girls did a little more climbing up and down the hillside to get the good pictures. I was content to take it all in from the rocks.

 It was worth seeing despite the grueling climb. A very sobering scene to say the least.