Our Adventure called Life

Wyoming.  The state that was my home for a short time.  The state in which I wed my husband.  The state that calls me back, speaking to my heart, the mountain air speaking to my lungs.  Like an addiction, I think about it, long for it, aching to put my feet on the trails that scar the mountainside. Scott mentioned in the early part of 2016 that we needed to get back to Wyoming.  We hadn't been there since our wedding in 2010 and it was time to introduce our children to our favorite piece of land. As summer came to end and we looked for a fall escape, our eyes landed on the western part of the states.  Plane tickets were booked and room accommodations were made.  The mountains had called and we were on our way. As our plane landed on the tiny runway of Jackson Hole, the bright yellow aspen dotted the landscape in every direction.  The mountains rose up towards the heavens shining brightly in the sun.  And there with my little famil...

I remember when my parents turned 40.  In my mind I thought, "man, that's old!" As the calendar showed the date of my birth upon us, and I turned the corner from "early 30's" to "late 30's" I am happy to report that almost-40 didn't really seem old.  In fact it felt/feels good.  It feels better than 20 or 25 or 30 felt.     I remember in detail how excited I would get about the mound of presents wrapped in pink paper and fluffy bows that had shown up on my birthday every year since birth.  Yet the older I get, the less interested I am in those shiny packages and the prizes they hold inside.  I am more interested in the faces that surround those packages.  I am more interested in the conversations that take place during my birthday meal and the memories that are made as we sip after dinner drinks and eat cake...or cheesecake. This year as the ever popular question escaped the lips of my parents and spouse ("What do you want for...

Even though the calendar shown the summer months had slipped away, the weather was still warm, encouraging us to get out and soak up these dog days of summer. The weekend explorers Excitement ran high as Friday evening rolled around and we loaded up the camper with s'mores, glow sticks, and outdoor clothes.  We headed a few hours down the interstate to land that Scott and his brother had grown up on. Happiness is fishing with your Papaw  Scott's dad, my parents, and the owner of the property met us there for a weekend of fishing and fun.  We spent mornings sipping coffee by the pond, afternoons hiking and 4-wheeling, and evenings cooking under the stars.  The kids got to spend time with family, run through fields until their legs couldn't go another step, and ride 4-wheelers until windblown hair and wind burnt cheeks were worn with pride.   Every time I mention taking the kids to DisneyLand, Scott reminds me how excited and happy the kids are doing ...

If you don't write a post about your children turning another year older, does it really happen? Just like last year, at least they know what they like Yes, yes it does.  Not only do I have a 3 and 5 year old, but they have been for the past 2 months! Both kids wanted the same party theme as last year, that made decoration preparation super easy!  Donut Bank provided the delicious cake again and we invited our closest family and friends.  We had rented a couple inflatables for the kids to play on, but due to a massive storm that was supposed to hit our area on party day, the inflatable company cancelled our rental *insert sad face here.*  I was a little nervous the kids would get bored...I was proven wrong as they found plenty of entertainment in silly string, water balloons, swings, and chasing one another.   The worst part of the storm missed us completely and a little rain didn't stop the kids from running about while the adults kept dry u...