Our first day of vacation was spent in 4 different airports.

We actually went in to 3 of them and the other we just parked and waited for others to board and deplane.

We departed Indy a little late because there were quite a few older peeps in wheelchairs.

I found out on the first leg of our journey that people over 70 are very squirmy

More so in fact than my 9 year old.

I also discovered that these folks like to travel very early in the morning because over 50% of the first flight were elderly people.

Then we landed in Las Vegas.

Vegas is very hot and dry.

So dry in fact that my hair static clinged to my face.

The temperature hovered near 105 degrees. UGH!

We flew over many many mountains and lots of desert.

I haven’t ever seen a place that didn’t have lots of greenery so it was a new experience for me.

In Vegas Cade saw slot machines for the first time and thought they were very cool video games.  He wanted to play.  I told him it was illegal.

We landed in Boise briefly then flew on to Spokane, Washington.

Angie and Mason picked us up at the airport there.

We had a lovely dinner at Bonzai Bistro, just as Angie and I had done the month before.

Day number 2 we traveled.

And it rained.

So we set up camp after dark when the rain stopped at a campground at West Glacier, Montana.

Our Camp

My Christopher modeling his new hat.

Chris and Merlin being themselves.  Merlin has started calling Chris Shnookums.

We took a trip across The Road To The Sun and this is some of the scenery.

If you look closely you should be able to see some mountain goat butts.

We traveled close to the top of the mountain and found some glaciers.

More scenery.

And finally some wildlife.  These guys weren’t even scared of us.

Share on Facebook

On Wednesday Angie, Maddie and I packed an overnight bag each and headed to Montana.

Road To The Sun was closed and we were reserved on the Eastern side of the Park at Many Glacier.

Riding with Angie is much like riding a roller coaster or maybe even bumper cars.

You know how when you’re getting ready to hit someone’s car and you anticipate the blow and slow down.

Yes I’m serious.  There were so many bad patches of road around the park that we had to slow down quickly and frequently.

I’m saying this all in good fun.  Angie is a great driver.

Really.

I took quite a few photos of our trip over/up.

Angie & Maddie

Finally we reach the lodge.

The hallway where our room is located reminded Angie of ‘The Titanic’.

The view from our room.

The backside facing the water.  Our room was on the 4th floor, this side of the lodge.

I believe they were trying to get cell service.  I think not.

Angie & Maddie just hanging out.

The big fireplace on the main floor.

Because I couldn’t resist a photo of this plumber in the making.

The fireplace up close.

The trek up to the parking lot.

The front side of the lodge.

Maddie

These surrounded the lake on the back side of the lodge.

Can’t wait to go back.

Share on Facebook

After working all night then staying over for a very special baby delivery I had just enough time to get out of the hospital and to the airport for my flight.

From the air over the Montana.

Above the clouds.  The first flight was an adventure in itself as I had a 4ish little boy that pulled down his tray and used it as a drum.

The entire flight.

From Minneapolis to Spokane wasn’t so bad.

Angie texted me that her sister was on the flight with me.  She even sent a picture.

I found her right away.

Having words with the desk lady about why their seats had been changed from what she had chosen.

She wasn’t happy.

I didn’t introduce myself.

I was afraid.

LOL, not really.  Her name is Heidi and she’s great.

She also has two very cute little boys.

This is Santa.  She’s Angie’s foster daughter.  She loves playing with Max.

We went down to the lake for dinner.  Since we arrived a half hour before our reservation we took a walk on the boardwalk.

Here’s Angie.

This is where we had dinner.  They have amazing lettuce wraps.  Very comparable to PF Chang.

There is a hill next to the lake named Tubbs Hill.  I just had to capture all the information about it for my husband.

His nickname is Tubbs.

This is Mudgy the moose and Maddie.  Mudge the moose has been cloned and appears everywhere.

After these photos we went back to Angie’s home as I’d had no sleep in 37 hours.

I was very tired.

And called it a day.

Share on Facebook

Celebrities?

You would think so.

Not really though, these kids have been together through some of the toughest times of their lives (thus far).

And oh the drama.

I thought high school was tough when I was growing up.

But alas, they always stick together.

And remain a pretty tight group.

Not to mention they all get very competitive when it comes to their appearances.

A small group of friends?

When Cory asks to have a few friends over (in my mind I’m thinking 5 or 6) I think twice now.

Having a few friends over after Prom resulted in a very loud rambunctious group of 35 kids.

I’m so happy it was a stormy night so the neighbors 5 miles away (across the ravine) didn’t call us in for noise.

Here are photos from this wild and crazy night.

Cory went to prom with his very dear friend Kimberly.

The one on the right is one of Cory’s BFF’s Sam (who’s giving me the peace sign apparently).  The other one is filing his nails ~ I think.

I loved the rainbow tie die tux.  The girl in white and blue is Emma.  She’s a very sweet girl and I loved her dress.

The guys.

This is Hannah.  She’s a very very close friend too.  She’s in Rewind with Cory and is probably his best female friend.

Another of Emma because her dress was my favorite of the night.

The guys trying to look studly.

Cory helping out his friend with his cuff links.

Okay the first studly pose didn’t work out so well so they tried looking like nice boys (they really are for the most part).

The girls.

All of the girls this time.  Had to go try at an angle so they would all fit in the photo.

So then they decided to try for all Seniors.

Cory and Jenna.  I loved her dress too.  She’s a beautiful girl though so I think she can make a burlap sack look good.

Another girl.  I don’t even try to remember names anymore.

I’m sure I’ve met these girls before but seriously there were some that the Mom’s pushed up into photos with Cory just to get the photo.

You’d think he was a celebrity or something.  Come to think of it I did have a Mom once tell me he’s like the movie star of the school.

I’m NOT joking.

Going for studly once more.

It is amusing to say the least.  I think they are a blast.  The pink sunglasses are my favorite.

Another girl.

Cory and Kaitlyn.  She is Jon T’s girl.  He is currently in Florida with his very sick Mama.  He plans to move back though.

I think this one is Jordan and I think she graduated last year.

Another of Jenna.

BFF’s.

Another girl.

And another.

She’s a foreign exchange student from Sweden (I think).

Beautiful.

My favorite of Cory for the night.

Ethan (Olivia’s brother), Kimberly and Cory.

Ethan and his parental unit.

One last girl.

There were no photos of after prom or after after prom.

I was too busy keeping kiddos quiet and doggies from freaking out.

I think they had a great night (albeit emotional).

You know since it’s one of their last big hurrah’s.

Share on Facebook

Some of my favorite girlies met up with our kiddos at:

The Incredible Pizza Company.

.  .  . and had a blast.

As usual.

Yes they’re very intense.

Her expression is priceless.

And sometimes she is a spitting image of her big brother.

But she adores her big sister.

Always.

Share on Facebook

On a Wednesday long long ago.

Well not really, but I’m beginning to feel like I’m that behind on blogging our events.

Anyhow on Wednesday March 31st Cade had Award’s Day.

.  .  .  . and I had Girl’s Night Out with these ladies

Share on Facebook

Last weekend one of our DMC turned 41.

So we had a little celebration.

.  .  .  .  first ~ dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise.

followed by a few adult beverages at Jake’s Pub.

Then downtown to the Cadillac Ranch.

For drinks.

Goofy faces apparently.

.  .  . and some bull riding.

A good time indeed.

Happy Birthday Mikey.  We love ya.

Share on Facebook

Mike & Michelle had a party.

Here are the few shots I got before my camera was destroyed.

Yes, it was kid friendly .  .  .  .for the most part.

.  .  .  .until someone’s maturity level sunk below that of the children present.

Share on Facebook

What a crazy and emotional weekend.

I started off doing a photography session that brought me to tears.

The next day we said our goodbye’s to our friends “The Petersheims”.

I posted this first photo on my photography blog but decided I should probably put it here as well for those of you who don’t follow the other blog.

You see Brittneigh’s Mama has cancer and we’re not sure how much longer she’ll be with us so My Christopher asked me to take photos of the two of them together.  Their very dear friends came along with them that day so we got a few shots of the four of them together.  I loved this one because everyone seems so carefree and happy.  They just don’t have many of these moments lately and I’m so happy I captured it for them.

The next photos are of a little gathering my work girlies (and a few spouses & kiddos) had for our dear friend Angie and her hubby Merlin.

They’re moving to Idaho this week.

It’s been a blessing for all of us in NICU to work with such an awesome nurse.

We will miss her dearly.

Share on Facebook

Seriously I can’t believe I forgot to do a post about our “girl’s night” to see New Moon.

I mean this is “the one”, you know the one we’d been waiting for all year long.

See our “girl’s night’s” originated with “Twilight”.

We all had read the books and decided to get together for the movie opening.

We had such a good time that it continued as a monthly event from that point on.

Only this one included a few guys.

Even they like the books.

Or. . . . . they liked the idea of going out with us women that night.

Share on Facebook