Sunday, July 22, 2018

More Fun from June and July

On the 4th of July, the ranch family came over and we were all treated to a brisket that Joe cooked on the new Traeger we got him for his birthday!  It was really good!

Waiting for the fireworks to start at Lake DeSmet

Our friends from Denver, the Gomez's came for a weekend visit.  Octavia and Gabi have been pen pals, so it is fun for them when they get to hang out.

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The Gomez kids loved taking care of and walking the sheep!  They are city dwellers, so aren't around livestock very often.




Here are some random pictures from our phones:

Maya and her friend walking the sheep

Jacob helping Joe install the new basketball hoop!

Jacob swathing hay with Seth
 
Fun at the pool

"God's Country"

Jacob spent lots of time on the playground at the State Softball Tournament in Casper

Some of Joe's family from Texas came to visit this past week.  We went to the Fish Hatchery, had lots of family picnics and even hiked up to the top of Windy Ridge!  It was fun to hang out with them!
Jacob feeding the fish



Hudson thinks he is a lap dog.




Even Jacob made it to the top!!

Softball

Both girls played on the same softball team this Spring/Summer.  Since there is only one team in Buffalo, we had to travel a bit to get some games in.  They struggled a bit this year, but that was expected.  They improved a lot and have great plans for future years!







Walking during Opening Ceremonies at the State Tourney

Opening Ceremonies with all the teams

Gabi sliding in for a run and Maya up at bat!


Maya sliding in at home...the parents called her, "wheels" since she is so fast!



Gabi played catcher most of the games and did a great job!

All smiles in the dugout after scoring a run!

Road Trip!

The kids and I set out on a multiple destination road trip in early June!  Everything went so well and was definitely a success!  It may have to be an annual trip from now on!
Ready to Rock!
 Our first stop was Laramie.  Gabi attended the University of Wyoming Basketball Camp from 10-4 for three days.  She had a blast and learned so much. Her favorite part was spending the day with many of the UW Men's team players.  She walked away with a slingpack full of their autographs.  It will be fun to watch them play this winter.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but this is the only one I got at the end of one of the days.



While Gabi was at camp on the the first day, I took Jacob and Maya to meet my Mom in Ft. Collins for the day.  We had great plans of shopping, but shortly realized that five year old boys and quaint little shops don't go together.  We let him get soaked in the splash pad instead and everyone had more fun that way!  :)  We also had a fun lunch at a new restaurant in Old Town Ft. Collins.

 


Maya was able to stay with my Mom & Dad for the next couple days. They had lots of fun hanging out and riding bikes!

At a Sculpture Garden in Loveland

On a long bike ride...almost 20 miles!

A big breakfast of cinnamon roll French toast after the bike ride!

Jacob and I returned to Laramie and explored many of the town's parks and fun spots!  It was fun spending time with just Jacob and celebrating summer!

University of Wyoming Geology Museum...this is "Big Al" behind Jacob


We left Laramie on Wednesday afternoon and headed for a quick night at my Mom & Dad's house before we headed to Lincoln!  My Mom came with us for the 8 hour journey East on Thursday.  We stayed at my Grandma Dot's house.  It was really good to spend time with her.  On Friday, we met my cousin and her cute little boy, Colton, at the Lincoln Children's Museum.  What a fun place!  Jacob especially had a blast.  We literally could have spent an entire day there.

Driving in the tractor!

Gabi's almost as tall as Grandma Dot!




Serving Grandma Dot some pizza!




All of the Great-Grandchildren after dinner at "Screamers"...a restaurant in downtown Lincoln where the servers are also members of the University of Nebraska show choir perform during dinner as well!

Walking/riding around Grandma Dot's neighborhood
 On  Saturday, we left Lincoln really early and headed to Denver!  The girls' softball team was invited to participate in a parade around Coors Field ahead of a Rockies Game!  So...we met my Dad and Joe in Denver (Joe had been in Golden for company meetings) and enjoyed the game.




Other baseball teams from Buffalo participated in the parade as well...including some KL&A friends.  It was fun to watch the game with them.