Travel Home

I can't believe how quickly the past 3 weeks has gone by-well except the waiting for John to return...Sunday morning came and we spent our last morning with my family. Amber & Norm blessed cute baby Whitney and we were able to attend. It meant a lot to me for us to be there!

After playing with the Stephany's and finally getting packed-and having our last Sunday night of Pancakes, curtesy of Grandma Harris we piled into the van and headed North.

Tate got some new toys-where the rider actually stays on his horse. He's in love and it helped to break up the time.

The girls entered...the Movie Zone to pass the miles

We finally arrived at the Chapmans' around 8 pm-not a moment too soon. We again spent the evening just enjoying each others company and then trying to get the kids into bed.

The next day we just kind of did the same-the kids played with one another and had a great time. The kids had a great time on the golf cart. They could've ridden it for hours...days. Oh wait they did. They love playing with their cousins! Ain't nothing like family!

We were able to sneak away and have a delicious lunch with just the adults at one of Audrey's favoriterestaurants Chapalas.

The drive through Mt Rainier Park was beautiful, it was like summer finally arrived-the sun was out and more important the Mountain was out.

we couldn't believe how the snow levels had dropped. Here is the picture from the drive up and the one from the drive back down. The change in just 3 weeks.

Who can resist the snow in the middle of summer...

And who could resist throwing a snow ball...at their kid?

You do funny things when you get bored, when your children ask you to take their pictures you go a little crazy sometimes-and so do they do.

The kids were thrilled to find their big surprise a new tire swing . Which they LOVE and want to play on EVERYDAY!!!

Ahhh the travel home came way too quickly. The day we left Baby Whitney was blessed by her father Norm. It was awesome to be there with my family for the blessing-something

Day 4-5 Lander Wyoming

Monday morning we piled back into the van and headed to Wyoming. It really must be a good age for the kids because they have done so well in the car...knock on wood. Mostly movies but we break it up with some toys, coloring, reading, and snacks.

Wind River Range-Just outside of Lander.

One of John's favorite places.

Never seen it as green as it is this year.

Polly Pockets-great Ice Breaker!

We happily arrived in Lander and while we were catching up with Jillyn and her Mom Linda it started to rain-big Huge Raindrops. It was a pretty impressive storm. John made the comment that he'd never seen it rain in Lander before-The drought must be OVER!

The kids had a ball playing in the storm!

Tuesday: Sinks Canyon-lunch, park & Nature Hike

Future Rock Climbers

At the Trail Head kids picked them up some beautiful bouquets.

Jillyn & Baby Kate

The hike plum tuckered Tate out-he finished it the way we'd all like too, asleep and being carrying.

We stopped and fed the HUGE Trout.

Tate on his 1st Date with Ruby Duby!

Tuckered Ruby & Josie right out!

After Dinner we headed out and saw some TeePee's and some original houses and building from early settlers of Lander. For sure want to go when they are open next time. Very intriguing.

Next we headed to the Johnstone's to have a ride on the horses. George was nice enough to saddle a few horses (for us and their current guests-grandson & friends). The kids had been looking forward to this pry since we left a couple of years ago. It's one of the highlights of their trip to Lander.

We weren't too sure we'd get Tate on a horse, he seems to love them from a distance but always hesitant to get anywhere near one.

Little did we know he knew which horse he wanted to ride, and it wasn't the cute little brown horse Mr. Friendly. He had pointed at Midnight earlier a rather large grey and white speckled horse but he's always pointing at horses so I hadn't paid much attention. He didn't even hesitate when I passed him to his Dad. He was in 7th Heaven!

As the horse riding wound down a storm blew in, the wind was howling and all plans for a bonfire were put aside. Linda, Jillyn's Mom doesn't get discouraged we still made smores by a Natural Gas fire from the stove top. :)

Wish I'd gotten a picture before Mitch left-One of John's old roommates. Jillyn and Mitch are some of our dearest friends-We love Lander and so thankful we could go visit them.

The time went all too quickly and we wished we could've stayed a few more days-but Jackson Hole was calling and so off we went.