Authentically Lifing: October 2014

Happy Fall! This has certainly been a most busy few months. I feel like I always say that. It has been a jam packed, adventure filled summer and fall. I feel super blessed. Where to start?

School got out the first week of June and the boys and I headed out on a 3 week camping adventure. As you may remember, Kai's 7th birthday theme was Junior Ranger. So our goal was to visit National Parks and participate in the junior ranger programs. Jeff joined us in our last week and we all went climbing. Rather than ramble on, I will tell our story with pictures and short captions.

We set out on June 13th. Our first stop was Dinosaur National Park. I highly recommend it to anyone with children and/or anyone interested in dinosaurs. The fossils are amazing and there is a great short hike for the whole family where you can search for fossils and petroglyphs along the way. There are two entrances. One in Colorado and one in Utah. The Utah side is more exciting.

We then drove up to Wyoming to the Tetons National Park. As we were coming into WY, I saw we were driving into a big storm. I stopped to get a hotel and quickly researched how to turn on the heat in the pop-up and thank goodness. Temps dropped down into the 20's and it snowed. We used the heat for 4 nights. BRRRR!

Old Faithful

The first day was the coldest, so we drove up to Yellowstone (in a foot of snow) to see the hotpots and geysers. I figured that might be warmer than exploring in the Tetons. The boys LOVED it and were fascinated.

The weather cleared and we were able to see the mountains. We hiked around in the Tetons, took a boat ride across Jenny Lake, hiked to hidden falls and enjoyed the views.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Mammoth Hot Springs

Petrified Tree

We conquered Yellowstone. We left the Tetons after two days and then spent two more days and nights in Yellowstone. There is definitely a reason it is the Nation's first National Park. It is so varied and offers many wonderful vistas and wildlife viewing. The boys loved every bit of Yellowstone. I wasn't psyched on the camping there. Tetons is MUCH better and is a lot less crowded.

We drove to Cody, WY with the goal of going to the Rodeo. It was, however, cold and rainy, so we spent the day at the Buffalo Bill Wild West Museum and I would say it was a hit!

From Cody, we drove to Devil's Tower. What an incredible formation. We enjoyed hiking around the base and exploring all the things little boys find in nature.
The KOA just outside the park had a very small video arcade that the boys found. They laughed so hard and spent about an hour in there while I cooked dinner. They thought they were actually playing the game when it was just what is already on the screen while it blinks 25 cents. That made me laugh. I let them each have a quarter just before we left so they could see what it was really like and they just laughed so hard. So much Joy!

On our way into South Dakota, we stopped at the Vore Buffalo Jump. This is a very small, off the highway stop, but worth it. It was a place the Native Americans chased Buffalo off a cliff into a large sinkhole. There are layers upon layers of ancient fossils. They have little areas for the kids to dig for hidden arrowheads and fun crafts of putting tee-pees together.

Being the mother of two small boys and appreciating interesting stops to break up a long drive, I stopped at Wall Drug to see what all the fuss was about. It certainly is a tourist trap, but fun for the little ones. They had their first fudge!

We ventured our way through the Badlands in SD.
Then explored Mt. Rushmore. Not that I understand why someone would choose to deface a mountain, however, it is very impressive to see these carvings and read how it was all done. Isaac can still tell you the 4 presidents on Mt. Rushmore. Have I told you how much I love the Junior Ranger Programs?

OK. If you haven't been to Custer State Park in SD, you must go. Amazing. It is in the Black Hills of SD and it actually reminded me of where I grew up in NC a little. It has great lakes for swimming, awesome camping, wild burros, a huge buffalo herd, rose quartz towers, climbing, hiking, biking, fun skinny tunnels to drive through, lots of switchbacks, fishing, mountain lions (one ran across the road in front of my car, stopped on the side of the road, turned around and hissed at me - yikes). I seem to have a thing for mountain lions. Just go if you haven't been!

This was at Jewel Cave National Monument. Super fun for the boys to explore.

Wherever we camped, the boys made friends. This couple just emailed me to tell me they bought a pop-up after witnessing how I set it up solo. Yeah to pop-up camping! Especially in a VERY rainy summer and snowy/cold beginning to our trip.

We left Custer State Park and traveled to Bear Butte. It is a fun little stop. We then traveled back to WY to the little town of Gillette where Jeff flew in to. The boys and I did a coal mine tour. They loved to see all the big mining machinery. Boy Heaven!

We were all excited to see Papa and spend the week camping and climbing in Ten Sleep, WY.

Kai lost his first tooth in Ten Sleep, WY Quite the happy face.

Isaac is a master Bocce Ball player.

Kai showing off his fire building skills.

Especially if you can't spell!

Just in case grown men didn't get enough of Tonka when they were boys.

We enjoyed Lander, WY 4th July Parade!

Home and all Badged out!

We arrived home on July 5th. I started work 2 days later. I worked for a month with a sweet little boy from Maui. Little did I know at the time what was to come :) (keep reading and you will see) While I worked, Kai attended Goat Camp. Every day he fed the goats, brushed them, trimmed their hooves, learned goat anatomy, did goat related artwork, and learned how to take the goats through obstacle courses. The children were also helping train the goats to be pack goats. 2 of the goats were just sold to a company as pack goats. Super cool! Isaac had fun too playing with one of the 8th graders from school.

Isaac and Kai both took a turn at Mutton Busting.

These three won gift certificates for their Mutton Bustin looks.

My beautiful friend Amy and her Family visited from NC. Amy was my college roommate.

After seeing this show, Isaac told me he wanted to be a belly dancer when he grows up.

Carbondale's local Mt. Fair. An event not to be missed. Boy's first funnel cake.

So...This past spring, our school held an auction. One of the items was a trip for 8 to Costa Rica. The auction ticket was $250. Some of my colleagues and I each chipped in about $32. We had a 1 in 10 chance because only 10 of these tickets were sold. What do you know...WE WON! My girlfriend Annette and I were planning a trip to Costa Rica for our 40th birthday and still trying to figure out how we could financially make it happen. It happened! We had the best time. Thanks to Ryan and Sohan Zeller, parents at the school and owners of KayaSol Surf Hotel. We had 10 exquisite days of surfing and playing in Costa Rica.
Thanks also to my mom who came to CO to help Jeff take care of the boys so I could do this. She is a rock star!!! So, you will see pictures of me in Costa Rica mixed up with pictures of my boys in this next part to show you what we were all doing during this time that mama was away!

Once home, we had a couple weeks before school started. A friend of mine and I took our boys camping to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We also visited Colorado Gator Park, which is always a huge hit.

Kai's first day of 1st Grade!

Each 1st grader is paired with an 8th grader. On the first day of school, we have a Rose Ceremony. The 1st graders enter with their parents. When their name is called, their 8th grade buddy meets them and walks them up on the stage, presents them with a rose and a wish for the year. The 1st grader greets their new teacher and then joins their first grade class. At the end of the year, the 1st graders do the same thing for their buddy to say thank you and wish them well in high school.

So remember what I told you when I had to work the month of July with a sweet little boy from Maui? Well, the family saw such wonderful results that they wanted to fly me to Maui to work with their son for 10 days. My mom, the rock star, came out again to help make this trip possible. The Haleakala Waldorf School jumped on board when they heard about me and what I do and so I was hired to consult at the school for 6 days. I mentored, assessed students and did two workshops/lectures for the faculty. I worked my booty off AND had a most wonderful trip. At this point, 2 weeks after getting back from Costa Rica, you can imagine I was on cloud nine, knowing I was and am blessed.

These are rainbow eucalyptus trees.

The Bamboo Forest.

The first day I was at the Haleakala Waldorf School, I see this beautiful lady walk across the lawn. Sarah Nelson, the current 2nd grade teacher and my friend from Waldorf Teacher training who I hadn't see in 15 years. Fun!

Brad and Amy (on each side of me) are the lovely parents who flew me out to work with their son. Stacia (to the far right) hosted me in her beautiful home and Carrie (between Brad and Stacia) played with me and is a friend from Carbondale that moved to Maui 3 years ago.

Every morning, I woke up, opened the doors and looked out over the island and down at the ocean. This sweet chicken came in every morning to greet me.

Coming home to Colorado, in the fall is always such a treat! I LOVE FALL!

September 29th I turned 40! Magic is in the air!

This 1st grader joined cubscouts and is a proud Tiger scout!

This video is my theme for my 40th year. This was in Costa Rica on the world's longest zipline. 3 hours of ziplining above the jungle. Most fun day of my life!

My 10/10/10 baby turned 4! Cowboy birthday party. We had a blast!

Jeff went to Chamonix France for 10 days on a press trip. He worked his booty off, but got to play hard. He accomplished one of his big dreams which was to climb the Frendo Spur. This was quite the accomplishment because the season had ended and he and his partner, Shane Johnson, did it in full alpine conditions and were successful.