THURSDAY - 10 AUGUST - DAY EIGHT

Here we are in Glenwood Springs, CO.

We resumed the tradation 0430 wakeup today and again - it works. {sigh} Staica slept better last night. I bought some Tylenol cold and drugged her - she was so stuffed up on Tuesday night. I it scaredher to be stuffy.

The drive today was gorgeous. It got me to thinking and planning again for our "retreat center" when we retire. The time is now for us to begin saving big time if we want to make this happen. We assume we'll need to save Mike's pay raise for a few months after getting home to replenish our depleted savings after this trip.....and then we hope to be able to put the entire raise into savings each month. We'll see.

Our hotel tonight is REALLY nice. Lots of space for all of us to spread out in. The kids were swimming....Mike and Jamin working out and I am doing laundry - 30 minutes left on the dryer.....unfortunately (or most likely fortunately) Mike broken glass and such on the pool deck and so we all had to get out while they figure out what to do about it. I suspect they are simply going to sweep up what they see and not drain the pool.

The front desk assured me that no one will be able to hear Staica if she wakes up tonight. I doubt THAT....I can hear her NOW. BUT they told me to relax and not worry about it - so I will. She can't be more obnoxious than the poodles and dogs next door last night. {G}

WEDNESDAY - 9 AUGUST - DAY SEVEN

I began the day exhausted. Staica was up all night. In fact I ended up sleeping in the van with her so that eveyrone in the hotel would be complaining. Stacia is slowly - oh so slowly- warming up to the girls.

We drove through Yellowstone National Park today. We only had one day but got to quickly see everything that was on our list of "must sees". We arrived later than we had planned and so didn't see as much wildlife as we'd have liked to see....but really we've seen most of it in our yard in Alaska. {G} I couldn't help thinking of Grams and Bill often during the day. They loved the park. We had never stopped there for as long as I could remember - either as a child or an adult...so I greatly enjoyed the chance to check it all out in person. Old Faithful erupted right as we walked up. We got some pictures that I'll share when I have a way to upload the photos. I kept hearing grams voice saying "It's a big country, kiddo" - right she was.

I'm feeling overwhelmed today - tired and thinking of what the next months will hold as I try to keep everything running smoothly without Mike. I'm also realizing that Josiah may only be home 10 more months and Mike will be gone 6 - 8 of them. It makes me sad. When he was talking about bieng a fishing guide I thought we'd have another year or two with him.....because he was thinking of taking some business and marketing classes at ASU. NOW he's talking an internship this summer with a youth organization and then either Master's or college next fall...WAAAA....they are leaving home to FAST....and it's ruining my vacation....I must quit thinking about it for the next few weeks.


Wow - we've seen the most beautiful spot! I can say with 100% confidence that it is the prettiest I've seen in the lower 48 and certainlyo ne of the prettiest if I factor in AK. The Grant National Teton Forest. It was a gorgeous drive out of the Park. I had no idea that WY had such beautfiul spots. We are spending the night in Dubois, WY. That is pronounced "DEW boyz" and never Dew BWAH.... ::::snort:::

TUESDAY - 8 AUGUST - DAY SIX

Mike had pity on the girls this a.m. and we didn't get our customary 0430 wake up call. {G} We slept in and left the hotel after taking advantage of the free breakfast. Yeah - "free".

By the afternoon we remembered WHY we like to get an early start even if we don't have far to drive.....Stacia and Zander travel much easier this way.

We arrived in Livingston in time to enjoy an afternoon rain and thunder storm. This hotel had a POOL that worked. We enjoyed that while I washed a few loads of laundry.

THEN we headed over to Marlin and Sharon's house for dinner. My kids were a bit unsure of meeting one of Mom's online friends...but we had a blast! I'm still amazed that anyone in America has a garage empty enough to move picnic tables into for an impromtu meal - we got rained off the deck. Sharon had fixed a wonderful meal - complete with cherry pies made for HER cherry trees. We took great care in showing Zander and Nolan the fruist trees...they were improessed. They enjoyed the trampoline, 4-wheelers, and room to run. I enjoyed meeting Sharon in person and seeing photos of their soon to be new home. Marlin started a great fire - I loved it - felt like camping and we had fun telling stories around the fire. I'm only sorry that we didn't arrive earlier so we could have met Rebecca and Melissa as well. That luandry was crucial - Zander had thrown up in the car on the drive through the mountains from Spokane to Livingston.

The girls are exhauseted and slept a lot today.