Have and Have Not

This summer I have:

-gone to the pool, not as much as we'd like though (sickness, vacation, ear infections interferred)
-let the kids play outside in the sprinkler
-gone on a long vacation and have one more planned
-taken K to gymnastics two times a week for 1.5 hours each time which she is fairly certain she wants to quit and I am actually kind of relieved about
-played a lot with Harry
-watched a lot of movies
-kept up with the house
-planned lessons for school next year
-planned out my classroom decor for school next year
-cleaned out the basement and purged
-gone to SDC once and have plans for more
-ran lots of errands in the middle of the day on a weekdays (yea for grocery shopping on weekdays!)

I have not:
-read to the kids much
-gone to the library with the kids
-did worksheets with the kids


You know what?  I don't care about the have nots.  My kids are bright.  I'm sure one summer off from learning isn't going to kill their education.  I have had to do those things for 6 years. It's nice to have a break and go with the flow. It actually feels like the way summer is supposed to be.  Finally.  It's hard to believe, but for us summer will be half way over in one week.  B goes back on the 5th of August, I on the 8th, and K on the 12th.  I plan on going in and starting on my room the 5th, so to me, that's when my summer is officially over.  I don't feel ready to go back yet, but I am excited, and think by the time it arrives I'll be ready. 

Yea to my first REAL summer vacation.  Love it!

Throwing them in there, almost forgot

I almost forgot, we did go trail riding in the mountains, my Dad, Teresa, and I.  It was Teresa's first time on a horse ever.  We dodged branches, crossed over big fallen trees and boulders, and went through rushing creeks.  I was so proud of her for taking it like a champ.  She loved it.  We even survived having a group of pit bulls come running at us full steam, shew! 

Totally random here, but we also stopped and saw the Sante Fe Trail on our way back home.

It blew my mind that it was still there. I kept thinking maybe they came and remade it in secret.  I mean, how can something last that long?  Amazing!

Trail to the tracks.  It. was.so WINDY>>>>>>>>>

And there were lots of blooming cacti

The GC Part CO trip 2013

On our way to CO we stopped in GC and stayed with my inlaws. They took us to a rodeo.  On the way back they brought me my favorite food, El Zarape.  Love them!  It was fun.

Mutton Buston, AKA little kids get bucked off sheep

Rodeo queens, girls were most impressed by this part

All looking our cowgirl best

Toothless cowgirl....and me

The pink hats were bought by our friend Teresa and were perfect for the rodeo was sponsoring Breast Cancer Awareness

Colorado 2013 Part 2

More pics from our trip to CO

My Mom

Small museum at CO National Monument

He's kissing her head, sigh!

A deer taking a chill pill in my Mom's yard

Loving up on Papa

4 generational photo with Mom, Dad, Me, Girls, and My Grandma and Grandpa on my Dad's side

Colorado 2013 part 1

This year was the first of what I think will finally start turning into an annual pilgrimage to Colorado each summer to visit my folks.  We left on Friday and returned the following Friday with one stop in Garden City each way to break up the drive.  My sweet neighbor joined me to keep me company and help me.  We had a blast and she is more than willing to accompany each year if need be.  Jeff had to stay back and study for a test. 

Driving that far was

very intimidating to me, but it was just as easy as everyone said it would be and with a GPS to guide me it required little to no thought.  Shew!  I was certainly born in the right era with technology that can help directionally challenged people like myself. 

The kids traveled like champs.  This was the longest stretch of time I've seen my folks in YEARS.  Usually they come to see us and only for 2 days at a time once or twice a year.

Here are some pics.

Four wheeling with Papa was B's favorite activity.

Watching a cattle drive on the four wheelers in front of house

Riding horses with Papa was K's favorite

B not so much

Hiking where we can have a snow ball fight....

Great views everywhere we we went

Sharing views our friend Teresa had never seen before