Junior High Dance

Milan's first junior high dance was a total blast!  She and Rosie came out here to get ready and snap a few pictures then I dropped them off fashionable late (which ended up being the perfect time because everyone else was showing up too.)  Milan said she had a a blast dancing with her friends and I am so grateful that she is killing it in junior high!  

Eden's Birthday at Vedauwoo

This year was a big one for Eden-bug, double digits!  She spent weeks talking about her birthday plans, but ultimately decided on a shopping day with mom and birthday schindig with friends at Vedauwoo. 

Eden really loves shopping so I let her pick out her gifts again this year.  I'm always a bit surprised about her gifts, and glad that she gets things that make her happy.  We started our date with lunch at Olive Garden, which Eden thought was fancy and yummy.  Next, we went to Target to enjoy the $40 that grandma Kat had gifted her for the store; Eden picked out the Birkenstock-ish sandals of her dreams, a hedgehog squishy, best friend necklaces for Claire, and a farting pig game.  We weren't done there though, because she still had money to spend so we hit up Michaels for glitter glue, a bath  bomb, jewelry kit, and pencil gifts her class. (I'm sure I missed a thing or two, but you get the idea.)

We ended the celebration at Vedauwoo with Claire's family; this is the third year Eden and Claire have celebrated their birthdays together, starting when they turned 3 a day apart.  The girls had a great time with the endless sugar, limited supervision, and giant rocks.  We partied until the sun set then still managed to squeeze in baths on a school night.  Eden was excited to take cinnamon rolls and pencils to school for friends so I'm glad that she was able to enjoy her day without smelling like bonfire :)

We're so grateful for our Eden bug!

Star Valley

To celebrate Dave's 40th birthday, we booked an AirBNB in Pinedale where we slept in the "Navajo" room and listened to a very chatty host.  We initially planned on exploring the area, fishing, boating, and hiking, but our plans changed right before we left.  We started researching a practice opportunity in Afton so took advantage of our proximity to Star Valley to meet with the owners.  It was a lot of driving and exhausting with their high pressure sales tactics and contradicting stories.  The verdict's still out on that life decision.  

The highlights of the trip were playing at Grey's River, exploring South Pass, panning for gold, and of course stopping in Farson for a "big scoop."  Not only once, but twice! 

Enjoying the Last Few Weeks of Summer

The last couple weeks of summer seemed to drag a bit, maybe it was the lack of a/c, the desire for some routine, or just that we needed some new people in our lives for a few hours a day.  Even though we were all feeling a little antsy, we tried to make those last weeks count!

We hit up the pool, watched Dora the Explorer in the theater, played with Quinn (next door), did some crafts and played outside when the weather was cool-ish.  My attempts to paint the sun room were unsuccessful, but my summer goal of teaching Indie her letter sounds was a success.

The girls looked spiffy in their back to school outfits and we have almost adjusted to early mornings and busy schedules.  Cora is in 2nd grade with Mrs. Lipps, Eden has Mr. R and is really enjoying his laid-back teaching style.  Milan started junior high this year and lucked out with being in the same core as her BFF, Rosie.  She is also doing cross country, soccer, and girl scouts so she's extra busy!  Indie started preschool after Labor Day and I can already tell that her classroom behaviors have really improved this year.  I'm even thinking of requesting a change in placement to the neighborhood school so that she will be with more typically developing peers. 

Green River Lakes

I always love hanging out with this fella so we enlisted Megan's help, grabbed some haphazard camping gear and headed for Green River Lakes.  We did wish we had packed more warm-weather gear for camping, but loved Anong's Buffet, Farson Ice Cream, hiking for miles and miles without any whining, fishing, reading, and then rowing all the way back when the canoe motor decided it was done.  Such a great time of relaxation and connection and I can't wait to do it again.  

Cheyenne Frontier Days

We partied it up for Cheyenne Frontier Days this year!  Milan was most excited for helping with the pancake breakfast and ushering so I woke up at 5 am IN THE SUMMER and dropped her off.  I must really like her or something.  We also hit up the parade (it was great and Indie loved waving at everyone), the rodeo (I still have PTSD from chasing Indie around the stands), and pancake breakfast until we were CFD'd out.  

Addi's Suprise Par-tay

Milan has a great group of friends; her besties are Addi and Rosie.  Addi had a birthday in July and has never had a birthday party so the other girls really wanted to surprise her with a celebration.  We hosted at our house so the girls decorated while I ran to town to grab Addi and she was truly surprised when they screamed at her the minute she opened the door.  There weren't too many organized activities, but we fed them, they attempted homemade ice cream, rode around the property and posed for lots of pictures.  Addi kept saying this was her best birthday ever and I am so proud of these girls and their big hearts.