Summer Menu

Right about this time, I start to feel a marked decline in my energy levels...and the kids start really enjoying the food. 

I officially declare the start of "Chicken Nugget Season"

Cornflake Heart

This seems like a lucky way to start the day!

7-11 Slurpees

Dear heaven, it is hotter than hades and we are more than happy to go get some free frozen sugar to make us forget our troubles for a while.

Art Camp

The girls are at art camp this week. Megan is helping out with babysitting and assisting the younger girls with their projects. That means a couple hours of free time for me!

Oh..did I mention that it is my friend Lauren that is doing this whole thing? That means that not only will they have an amazing time, they will come through it with style and coolness....

And gorgeous photos.

And I get basil butter!!

Bounty

The garden has missed us!! 

Day 17 - Colorado, Clarkes and Churches

Admittedly, this is not the fun part of the trip. The fun has been had, the memories made and now we must make the long trip home. 

Mark would like to do that with a clear windshield, if possible.

We took this photo many at a Colorado rest stop 3 years ago. It has always been one of my favorites.

We did our best to recreate it, but the trees are not the only things that have doubled in size!

We met up with the Clarke family at a Wendy's in the middle of nowhere. We all had frosties and met their new little boy.

Then we buckled in and made it all the way to an Airbnb in Goodland, Kansas. I'm not sure if Mark knew it when he booked it, but it was a church! It seemed a little weird, but I tell you what...

It was so cool!

They left behind some neat reminders of its history..

And there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out. It's officially one of the favorite places we have every stayed.

If I ever run a place like this, I will remember what a difference these little touches make! It was so nice to have some noodles and a jar of spaghetti sauce to tide everyone over and take a break from fast food.

Tomorrow we have a relatively short drive to Olathe. We can't wait to be home!!

Day 16 - Our last hurrah

Our last day here. Lara and John both had to go back to their lives already. 

Ethan was up with the sun to go catch his breakfast.

He taught Laney how to gut and cook a fish in foil. Not sure if she loves fish, but she sure loves Ethan and attention from her big brother is the best.

We walked over to Jordan's cabin to pick them up for our hike. Reif has patiently built a trusting relationship with their resident potgut. He rewards them with cheerios for their bravery.

We stopped at the bridge to do a little fishing. The Blanchards helped the kids to reel a few in!

We heard there were falls so we set out to find them!  The little girls started really struggling with the hike about 20 minutes in, so Mark took them back to the cabin and I kept on to catch up with the rest of the group. It was kind of nice to have the time to enjoy the silence and the sound of the wind in the trees.  The view of the lake from this side is perfect.

Mathew did his level best to climb rocks and trees at every opportunity...I gave him the speech about not wanting to spend the rest of my day in the emergency room. It's our thing.

We snapped a cute family photo for the Blanchards.

We never did find the falls. We hiked for a couple hours and turned back when we figured we'd be running out of water and snacks soon.

I spent the rest of my day looking for driftwood and using my burning tool to make souvenirs for everyone. This one turned out the best...for Mom!

One last 9 square battle and we were off to bed.

We will miss our quirky little cabin, the door that doesn't open because the bed is too big, the shower handle that mysteriously zaps you with a non-lethal electric current, the bed in the dining room. But mostly we'll miss making new memories with our family. We all want to come again! That's all I need.