Making Memories

listen to: Where The Black Top Ends, Blue Shadows, then click on Lost Highway when "On To Yellowstone" picture comes up.

Enjoy! We sure did.

How To Respect Your Elders

I have some pictures to upload into a slide for you all, but it is late and I am exhausted, physically and emotionally. We had such a great time with my sister & her family, and when they left I cried. And I cried more later. Then, we went to Brandon's folks' house for dinner and we played my early birthday present, Ticket To Ride. I love this game and have wanted it for about a year now. We were laughing because my father-in-law blocked Brandon(well, we were laughing at a lot of things) and I got after Brandon for pouting about it, and then my sweet father-in-law blocked ME and suddenly I was losing big time. He wasn't even following a route! He was just meandering to make his train longer! I took it quite well and threatened to take that big ol' head of his and roll it across the lawn like a bowling ball. Ah, well. It was still fun and we were grateful for the pick-me-up, because we sure are in a mope about losing our week-long company. More about that later, but for now: Hooray for family.

Cody Top 10

The Kids & Buffalo Bill In City Park
(the sculpture is by our good friend, Jeff Rudolph)

What should we do? Can we do something today? I don't have anything to do! Well, here you go. Our favorite things to do in Cody, Wyoming, in no particular order:

~Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Don't let the boring moniker fool you. This is one fantastic museum. It never fails to take visitors by surprise, so it is one of our favorite places to go. The kids even like the Art museum, but their favorite is the Natural History wing. Maren loves the Plains Indians museum, and I like the Buffalo Bill Cody wing. Of course, the guys all ogle the guns, and the trophy rooms. The gardens are beautiful, and even the food is great!

~Trolley Tour. We haven't actually done this yet, but it is on our list. Jacob went with his class on a field trip. It is over an hour long and the tour guides are supposed to be very entertaining. There is so much history we walk past every day, it is fun to find out more about our town, the buildings, and the area.

~American Dream Drive-In Theater. A taste of my childhood, 30 minutes away in the lovely farming community of Powell. One price per vehicle, and all you can eat popcorn.

~River Rafting. We have several rafting companies, and the Shoshone River runs right along Cody. All levels. The river is high right now, and we saw a couple of groups yesterday on our way back from Cody Meats (gotta have those brats!).

~Miniature Museum. This is a great place because 1) It's FREE, and 2) Electric Trains. It also has a great gift shop.

~YNP via Sunlight Basin. It's true that Cody is 50 minutes from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park, but the best way to get to Yellowstone from here is by the NE entrance, through Cooke City, MT. Leave early in the morning and your breath will be taken away again and again. Moose, Buffalo, Wolves, Elk, Deer, and amazing scenery. You can come home through the East Gate, and see some evening elk and maybe even a bear.

~Shop Cody. Main Street (actually called Sheridan) is a fun place to be, lined with American flags and flower pots, all kinds of shops and restaurants, City Park, where you can play miniature golf, buy tickets to the rodeo, or hire a stage coach ride.

~Cody Shoot Out. Every Monday thru Saturday at 6 p.m., in front of the Irma Hotel. Good, old west fun.

~Cody Historical Murals. Beautiful displays in the old LDS chapel building, depicting the history of the first saints to settle this area. The building is still used as a meeting place for the church.

~Scenic Drive to Meeteetse (mee-teet-see) and Kirwin ghost town. The Wood River area is gorgeous and nearly untouched. Stop in at the Meeteetse Chocolatier for some melt in your mouth goodies, not to mention the cute cowboy behind the glass cases. Try the Buffalo Burger at Lucille's. Slow-paced goodness with a smile.

Nothing to do? I don't think so. Saddle up.

She's Got High Hopes

listen to: High Hopes
Do you know how much I love gardening? I wait like a puppy at the window for the signs that say "It is warm enough." Well, it finally came and I attacked with gusto. So much gusto, that I bought a beautiful tree at Northern Gardens (one of my favorite places) and carted it home in the back of the truck. When I got home, I jumped into the back, grabbed the trunk and the burlap root ball, then lifted and shoved. Then said, "OWwww". I called the kids and they helped me get the tree into the garden cart (oooch), and Braeden pulled it around back (Brandon was busy reading off names at Cody High School graduation ceremonies), while I gingerly held my lower back. Did I stop? NO. I grabbed my gloves, the shovels ("ooh."), and headed through the gate. I dug out the dead tree I was replacing (dumb dead tree). It had been raining hard for a few days so at least the ground was like butta. Still, I owwwed and ewwwwed my way through the pain as Chels helped me get the new tree into the ground. It was beautiful. And I was done. 4 days later I went to the doctor, because I kept thinking it would get better if I just lay low. I was wrong. I could barely walk into the office and I was shaking with the pain. That was Thursday. I have been going to physical therapy to get massages and things (aaahhh), and teaching my kids an important lesson: Mom can't do everything, and they are great at the things I usually do. And let's not forget the meds. So nice. So now I am like a puppy at the window again. The vegetables are almost all in the garden, and Brandon planted 2 more trees yesterday. I admit I helped steady the trees while he worked the soil back down around the root ball. I probably shouldn't have done that, but I love gardening. I waited all winter for these 2 weeks. Dumb dead tree. Dumb ol' back.
But, today, Chelsea planted 3 roses for me, and is enjoying driving me around to my appointments. The boys weeded out what used to be a dog kennel, picked out rocks, raked the area smooth, and laid down plastic, to get it ready for pea gravel and the kids' pool. And, Maren cleaned her room. Wow.
I have slowed down, but the TO DO list is getting smaller. Thanks so much, Guys. You don't know what it means to me. And I'll be smarter next time. I promise.

p.s. Part II of "An Angel On Poop Day" is now posted under DROPS OF INK.