Hot...hot...hot...

I don't mean to complain...

and I know I live in Arizona...

but {{ENOUGH ALREADY!}}

Look at these pathetic flowers -

who else has had enough?



Colorado...

 One of the main reasons for our trip was for Trent to go back to Fort Collins, CO (it's about 90 minutes from Laramie) and eat at Hu-Hot Mongollian Grill.  It's like YC's here, but much bigger, and according to Trent, much better.  It's his favorite place and we agreed it was De-Lish!

 Houston learning from the pro...

On the main street downtown Ft. Collins were tons of shops, a great vintage thrift store, and these fountains to play in. Houston was freezing but having a blast!

Mom had to go to the thrift store and buy a towel to warm him  up!

We traveled on thru the Rockies...how pretty.  The only time I've been in Colorado was to fly to Denver and then drive on interstates...so the little winding back roads thru the mountains were really fun...got to see Durango and Breckenridge, lots of the ski resort towns... quite the trip!

the daddy of 'em all...

 I know, I know...more road trip stuff -the rodeo in Cheyenne...it was a blast! The best part is at the end of the day they have a wild horse race where a team of
3 people have to saddle and ride a wild horse...crazy fun.

 This is "Devil's Tower" - a huge rock that's a national park, you can hike all around the base of it and some people rock climb on it...probably NOT!

 Papa and Houston in Sturgis, SD ...vroom vroom.  We were there the week before the Black Hills Biker Rally so they were all gearing up for the {{thousands!}} of bikers that converge on the town. (Check out the Saloon sign in the background -oopsy)!

...and of course Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota...it was really amazing to actually see it...not just a picture on a calendar or something.  Pretty interesting how it came about!
(few more "road trip" posts left...humor me!)

Critters...

As most of you know...we have the usual chickens,

birds, turtles, and the Geico dude (remember him?)

so lo and behold I walk outside last night and

KERMIT was sitting on my patio... whatever!

(and to make matters worse...doesn't it look like

he's smiling as if to say "ha ha gotcha!")

Farmhouse...

 We stayed one night with Trent and Sarah's friends from school...

they live in Powell, Wy. in her grandparents 100-ish year old house.

It was very humble, fun, and comfortable

and there were sooooo many treasures they

didn't even know they had! Look at this

old cabinet that was outside in a shed full of tools!

 VERY old tricycles...

Another old cabinet in a shed...{{sigh}}...almost enough to make a grown woman cry!

Up, up and away...

 Another interesting thing we happened upon in Wyoming...hang gliding off a mountain...

 This guy is 68 years old and has been
 doing this since 1973!

                       Jumping off...

                          Free as a {{bird}}!

                          Maybe next time Trent ;)!

"Bullwinkle?..."

 More roadtrip adventures...we went to Yellowstone...
saw lots of wildlife-a black bear, lots of elk and buffalo,
a yellow bellied marmet (never even heard of it but we saw one) some beavers, deer,
and of course Ol' Faithful!

                     "Thar she blows..."

...but the {{most}} exciting thing of all

was when we were traveling outside the park,

we came upon four of the biggest moose's(?)

ever.  We had never seen a moose in the wild

and right off the side of the road in Wyo. were

four of them.  It was crazy, caused quite the traffic jam!



Wildflowers...

              We had a chance to go camping last week...

...with Emily and the kids!

Lots of FUN.

Saying good-bye...:(

We'll miss you Sadie dog...

Raspberries...

After staying with our friends in Utah,

we headed for Jackson Hole. 

On the Utah/Idaho border is a little town

called Garden City that is apparently

famous for its raspberries!

We all had a shake...except Houston...

he opted for a coke and fries!