Wyoming Vacation - Part 5

On our second to last day there, we got to do one of our favorite Wyoming things...hiking around Vedauwoo.  I have never been there with my kids, so I wasn't sure how they would do at first, but they loved it and were climbing all over the rocks!  Thanks goodness we had Cameron there though, with me, my mom and my sister Lindsey, because he was certainly helpful in getting kids down a few times!

Wyoming Vacation - Part 4

Even after all the fun during the day on the 4th, we had some more fun in the evening!  We killed time waiting for fireworks by letting the kids play with poppers and sparklers.  There may or may not have been some men in our family (ahem, Cameron and Kipp) who also shot off some illegal fireworks in the street.  Those crazy guys.

When it was time for fireworks, we loaded up all the kids and took them to the hill behind our house to watch them.  They all loved them, and it was so fun that they all got to watch them together!

It was a wonderful 4th of July!

Wyoming Vacation - Part 3

The 4th of July was a big day for us.  Everyone in my family was finally in town (after my sisters ran a 5K in Colorado that morning).  We kept very busy during the day at the big celebration at the park.  Some of the highlights were...

....a demonstration on having sprinkler systems in your home by the fire department.  They lit two small mock houses on fire and showed the difference between one with a sprinkler system and one without.  Those suckers got HOT and we were just sitting across the street from them.  Afterwards, we got to talk with Chase, a firefighter who is a good friend of ours.

We also enjoyed getting free ice cream, and having cousins to enjoy it all with!

Later that afternoon, everyone spent some time playing outside.  It was so fun to have all of the cousins together, although it was a bit crazy at times (sorry for the picture overload...I just can't ever narrow it down!)!

It was great to spend such a fun day with the whole family.  Wish we could do this all the time!

Wyoming Vacation - Part 2

I was lucky to be able to catch up with some of my very best friends this year while we were in Wyoming.  On Saturday, June 29th, my friend Kelly drove up from Colorado to spend the day with me.  I have not seen her in four years, but we also pick up where we left off like no time has passed at all.  We spent the day visiting, shopping, getting lunch at one of our favorite places from college, getting pedicures, and having dinner together.  It was sad to send her back home, but it was so great to see her.

I also got to see my friend Alexia, who I have been friends with since 6th grade.  We went over to her house for dinner on Tuesday night, July 2nd, and got to hang out with her and her husband, Dane, and their new sweet baby girl, Bailey.  It was a great night, and it was so fun to catch up with them as well.

I love when I can go home, and see family AND friends!  It's the best of both worlds!  I am so blessed to still have these wonderful ladies in my life after all these years!  It was so great to see them!

Wyoming Vacation - Part 1

We were able to take a trip to Wyoming this summer for the first time in 3 years.  We have been back since then, but this is the first time going in the summer since 2010.  I was very excited, because I was going to see my WHOLE family, also for the first time since 2010.  That is just way too long to go without seeing everyone.

Cameron and I went out about a week before my sister from Arizona came out.  We did our usual method of getting there....driving through the night.  It always makes for a rough couple of days after the drive, but it sure is nice to have the kids sleeping most of the time!  I definitely never like the very beginning of that drive....

....but am always thrilled to see that Wyoming sign and know we only have a couple hours left!  And I love the fact that there was only on quick pit stop for breakfast along the way.

We got to Laramie early in the morning on my birthday.  It was so fun to be back "home" for my birthday. We spent the day relaxing with my parents, and going out to a yummy dinner.  On the way home, we decided to atop by the University of Wyoming and get some pictures, just for memories sake.  :)

After we got home, we had some cake and then went to bed early to try to catch up from the previous night!

It was a great start to the next 10 days!