Moving update and more Wyoming photos

So, I feel a little silly doing more vacation photos, because that was so last month. But, I had them all edited and ready to go before we started the packing. My plan, of course was to just pop in at some point and toss them into a blog post. Alas, the weeks have flown by. I guess technically it hasn't been that long, but so much has happened in that time that if feels like it's been forever. 

Quick moving update: Everything went very smoothly, thankfully. And, so far we are really enjoying it here. It's always a bit of a shock to move--just the upheaval and the new everything, and the details to work out, and so on and so forth. But, those are things that while I might complain about it in the moment, the bottom line is that I actually really enjoy moving--the process is a pain, but the adventure of it is a lot of fun.

I will be posting "where we are now" pictures soon, with some details and conversation. I'm almost done getting the house put together, and once I'm at that point I will be able to get out and explore a bit more with a clear conscience. :-) For some reason **cough cough**Daria**cough cough** it's taken me longer to put the house together this time than ever before. But, we're getting there--some days I get an insane amount of stuff done, and the next I feel like a waste of air. 

Anyway, on to the post at hand.

These photos following are from a hike we took one day to the Intermittent Springs. I've blogged about it before--here and here--the last time we did it was snowing. This time it was a clear sunshiny day with wonderful fall colors.

These girls LOVE hiking with their uncles.

Yep--it's that steep. No, the photo isn't sideways. :-)

When you hike with your uncles you get to take detours. Like down into this rocky island area...

Where strange manly rock throwing/splashing contests take place.

And you get to climb over the creek on a fallen tree, with much coaching and encouragement.

You get to follow along on wild goose chases.

And going back the opposite way...

Such a fun time... I'm so glad we were able to do as much outdoor stuff as we did.

The following pictures are just a few from my phone.

It was pretty dark in the room, so this one ended up pretty fuzzy. But, it was fun to see sweet little Miss K with her new cousin. She's going to be a great big sister. :-)

Brianna with Shine. She loves animals so much. It's fun to watch her with them.

And a SOOC sunset shot. No filters whatsoever. 

Wyoming Vacation Photos... and stuff

Thought I'd pop into blog land here quick-like and update. I am waiting for my washer to do it's last load, so I can switch it to the dryer, and then it's bed. I say that now, but I'm going to find forty other things to do so it probably won't be bed for a while.  I'm running on moving adrenaline right now, so I should probably apologize in advance for any strangeness in this post. 

I should, but I don't. Moving adrenaline affects me very weirdly.

The moving truck is showing up tomorrow morning, so I've been living in the land of random to-do lists. Granted, it's not anywhere near as bad as it has been in the past when we were selling a house and moving. I can't even say how much of a relief it is to be moving from a rental instead of a "ownal". Hardy har har.

And, thank the Lord for that, because seriously. I've got a four month old who WILL NOT sleep through the night. I can't even begin to list the crazy-stupid things I've done in the past few months. 

But, that's all right. This too shall pass, as long as I can outlast her we'll be good. 

I'll sleep when I'm dead.

She sure is cute. Good thing, too.

So, this is a post of the first part of our super long vacation that we took right in the middle of this moving frenzy. Thankfully Garrett was able to join us for it, because we really miss him.

The vacation started with a wedding. This is one of two pictures that I took, because I was coordinating that wedding, so I didn't have time to take pictures.   

It was a beautiful, lovely wedding. My mother deserves special thanks from me for handling Daria through the whole thing so I could coordinate it.

 I coordinating almost the whole thing commando. True story, we had a bridesmaid underwear situation and they needed my slip. But then my underwear showed so I had to take them off. Haha. Is that TMI?! Sorry, don't care. It's funny, is what it is. That's the stuff memories are made of folks, and since I got me no pictures, well, at least I have a good story. 

It was a great time, with people we love. At one point we were all laughing hysterically and Keira walked in the room and said disdainfully, "Clearly there hasn't been any growing up done around here."  Clearly.

We've reached the point where I'm embarrassing her constantly. I find this equal parts delightful and terrifying. 

And, after the wedding we headed to my brother's house in Wyoming with almost all of my family. Except a few peeps who had to head home from the wedding right away. Which was sad, because there isn't going to be a Famuary Famiganza this coming January. Because we will be having a baby. I use the word "we" loosely here, as I won't be having the baby. I just did that. Someone else in my family will. So you know, "we" will be having a baby, so no Famiganza for us. But we get a baby, so it's a very good thing.

The good news is I took my wonderful camera of blessedness out of it's Pelican Case, and used it! So not all pictures on this post are from my iPhone.

Shock and Awe, groovy people, Shock and Awe. 

Every time we go to Wyoming I wonder how I'm going to leave. Someday I might not. I felt particularly much that way on this trip because of the whole not-being-outside-very-much thing, what with a newborn and all. 

Miss this guy... less than a week now, YAY!

We all had so much fun together. We always do.

So happy to be using my camera. 

These photos are from a hike we took one day... more like a glorified stroll, really. But that's all right. It was beautiful, and we had fun.

At one point the bridge on the trail was out, so we did what any reasonable family would do, and rock hopped over to the other side. On the way back Garrett and I got impatient and just plowed through the water to the other side. Then we went out to dinner with very wet feet. That wasn't weird at all. Actually it wasn't. We had good socks and boots on, so our feet were warm and cozy. And slightly squishy.

We (by which I mean "they" as I was wearing Daria) did some rock climbing types of maneuvers. 

It was SO SO SO beautiful. 

A "camp" fire with loved ones is the VERY BEST kind of therapy. If folks ever figure that out, there's going to be a lot of unemployed therapists out there. 

Stay tuned. But don't hold your breath, because it might be a while.

Also, folks should read the word "we" very carefully all the way through this post. I'm not sure that I used it correctly once. We wouldn't want to get confused about who is doing what now, would we?!

Wyoming Vacation 2011 (part 3-canoodlin' edition)

"Camping opens and cleanses man's senses, just as a warm bath opens and cleanses his pores. Campers see more clearly in the woods beyond the cities and suburbs. Ears dulled by the endless clatter of machines pick up subtle and soothing sounds. The sense of smell, jaded by exhaust fumes, is awakened by the tingling odors of lakes and forests and meadows. The skin gains a sharp awareness of warm sun, cold water, the soft pressure of wind. There is something basic about the acutenes of these senses. It has to do with being fully aware and alive." -Excerpt from "Complete Book of Camping" by Leonard Miracle, with Maurice Decker. published 1961.That quote explains in a few short words why being outside is so very great. I love it. So, we didn't exactly go camping, but the last night (with joy-to be headed home to Frank-and sorrow-to leave our loved ones-mingling, as the hymn says.) we headed to The Palisade Reservoir to eat our last meal together outside.

The Palisade Reservoir is normally much much deeper--they have drained it to accomodate the very swollen rivers flowing into it... the amount of water is remarkable.

We entertained ourselves for quite sometime throwing rocks, admiring the view and wandering around.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Then we worked together to put dinner together.

But, mostly Uncle Cowboy actually did the work at this point.

There's just nothing quite like having a great meal outdoors.

Aren't you glad I cleaned up my plating for you in this picture?! Yes, you can tell I took very careful pains to make sure my plate was properly clean, and the food arranged just so for this picture. Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Pineapple, Grilled Asparagus (alternatively titled green licorice, or green stick food), grilled onion rings and beans cooked in the fire. Topped off with a spectacular 2004 Russell Creek Syrah that was a gift for us to enjoy together from Grandad and Gramma. It was an amazing meal.

Then we entertained ourselves watching the kids play, and enjoy the outdoors.

I miss this sweet, sweet baby!

Finally, one of the reasons we headed for the reservoir in the first place was so that we could go "canoodlin'." It should be noted that we DID NOT go "canoeing" or even "canoodling". No, we went "canoodlin'" as had been discussed and planned all week long with Uncle Cowboy, who deemed it "canoodlin' in the first place, and the term has stuck for all time.

Unloading the "canoodle".

Ah, my heart, the view. These mountains were glorious.

Headed off in the Canoodle.

Debris tends to be a little bit of a control freak. Therefore she wasn't too sure about this. However, since we came home she has announced over and over how much she loved it. Kiki, on the other hand, thought it was the most amazing thing ever, and kept saying, "THIS IS THE LIFE!" the whole time.

She was happiest of all when she was "oaring the canoodle". I'm pretty sure it shall never be known as a canoe in this household, ever again.

Do you see the forest, or do you see the trees?

I could have stayed and enjoyed this view for all time... alas, we headed home at the butt-crack of dawn the next morning. Thanks to my parents, my brother and sweet sis-in-law, and baby niece for such a wonderful time. Can't wait to do it again soon.

PS: Sunday is Father's Day! I will be doing the third annual Father's Day kids interview for our Happy Sanitarium. I thought I'd mention it now, in case anyone else wanted to do something similar--feel free to do the same one, or take just some of the questions. It makes for a fun, lovely keepsake. Here's the link to last year's!

Wyoming Vacation 2011 (part 1)

Last week the girls and I went to Wyoming with my parents. It was a wonderful trip.

We went for this little Miss's first birthday.

All three grandaughters with Keens from their Grammy and Poppa. The best shoes for outdoorsy kids!

Birthday cake that she loved-after the frosting had been scraped off. :-)

Listening to A and her fiddle is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Playing with the sunlight.

A sweet series I captured that I love... occasionally being the creepy lady with the camera pointed at everyone pays off. Hee hee!

Getting a hand-wrapped bouquet from my eldest...

Visiting very dear loved ones on a Pocatello, ID day trip that was a total bonus.

Watching CRAZY but beautiful thunderstorms, and being so thankful for the Hand of God in the miniscule timing by the seconds of our movements versus where lightening strikes. Was so scary and I am so thankful.

Watching this one learn to walk. So very sweet.

Took so many pictures, and did so many things, too many to blog about. Loads of fun was had by all. Currently un-burying myself from loads of laundry, and dish piles that happen when I get back home to my sweetie, and don't want to leave his arms to do dishes. Will be back for more fun vacation pics soon!