Happy 16th Alex!!!

I don't know how the time has gone so fast. You were a happy, funny baby. Now a young man. I am excited to watch you grow and curious to see where your interests and achievements will take you. You make me proud. I love you <3

Happy Birthday my precious Nicole

We celebrated your life with your friends today. We all wish you were here with us. I am glad to be getting to know the people you loved and loved you better.
I miss you. It is so unfair I only had you for 25 years. I was so looking forward to the coming years as you continued to bloom. You were an amazing young woman. I couldn't wait to see where your potential would take you. You were so smart and beautiful. I wanted to have the time to hang out and just be together. Your absence leaves such an enormous hole in our lives. The world is poorer without you. Your spirit was inspiring. No one will ever forget you. I love you my darling girl.

Been in the Woods for a Week

We are still settling in. Lots of things to do. The boys have jobs now. This is their 3rd day. They are working at a Riding Stable. This is supposed to be a busy weekend. It's rained every day they have worked so far. They get there at 8 am and have been coming home about 12ish. The people running the place are going to give them riding lessons and show them the ins and outs of being a guide when they take tourists out on the trail. I would have loved that as a first job. They are doing some shoveling too. After all they are the new guys and there is tons of "fertilizer" in a horse barn...

Went yard sale-ing yesterday. Came home with a bicycle and a boat. The boys negotiated a deal on an 8 foot dinghy which we had to carry back to camp in the Expedition. Needless to say there was very little room for the kids on the way back. Alex and Mike squeezed themselves around the boat to get home. Alex literally was draped across the bottom of the boat (it was upside down). Fun stuff. I posted a picture on my Facebook page.

Happy 4th of July everybody. Hope your adventures are as good as the ones we're having at the moment.
Love Ya!!!

We've Driven Off the Map!

We drove into camp early this morning after driving most of the night and taking a nap at a service area about 20 minutes from Utica. We didn't want to get to the grocery store too early and get hassled by security waiting for it to open. Besides, I was really tired. Nobody was at their best when we did get to the grocery store before 6 am and found that it was open 24 hours a day. Anyway, we stocked up and headed to camp a bit more than an hour from there. It rained on the way, but not hard. It is such a heady experience driving closer and closer, the smell of the balsam and pines perfuming the way. My eyes dilate to soak in the green. I LOVE trees! We don't have enough of them in Southern California. They aren't lush like these either.
I guess we are now officially off the map until we come into town to get on the internet. Through Otter Lake and after Old Forge our GPS signal failed. Our cell phones don't work here either. So I guess, we are officially off the map for the summer. You may see me sporadically here. If you don't, Have a Great Summer!!!

Lightning and downpour in Indiana!

Morning update- It is clear a muggy this morning for our trip to Cleveland and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

We had a long day today, driving from Claremore (near Tulsa) Oklahoma to Richmond, Indiana at the Ohio border. The last couple of hours we were treated to a light show as we drove. We finally had enough driving and got off the road to get a hotel. The lightning was a little closer. By the time we were parked and got to the room the rain was coming down in torents and I was trying to get the kids inside before someone got hit by lightning. We were all soaked in a few feet and climbing the steps. Then the power blew. We watched the storm from the room and were really glad we'd stopped when we did. What excitement!

As far as Tucumcari...

We got into Tucumcari last night and stayed in a quaint little motel with the pool filled in with cement and a smell in the room. I wonder if I am just used to it or having the air conditioning on all night has made the smell go away. Kids are still sleeping. but I'll need to wake them soon. We'll be getting into Texas once we get moving and going on to my cousin's in Claremore, OK by the end of the day...I think. We're still open for a side trip if we think of one. I think we're all still having fun.

Our Expedition Begins..

Off we go!

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We got as far as Flagstaff tonight. Had dinner at In-N-Out in Arizona. Snacks in the hotel. Looks like the Rock Slide State Park is towards Sedona. Planning on doing that tomorrow... good night.

Prepping to Leave for Camp!

It's getting close. The car is getting it's last touches/repairs for the trip. I am procrastinating getting my laundry done. I guess we'll all be trying to get everything done at once. Today is the planned day for getting the car carrier and Swing-Away out and ready. The kids are starting to get excited. I guess my oldest daughter will get to join us this trip too. It'll be good to spend some time with her. Lots of catch up work around the house to try to get to. Some more driving practice on the freeway in the Expedition with loaded weight for my son. We have a birthday party for my youngest daughter to get through Friday, Father's Day and Summer Birthday dinner Sunday, orthodontist appointment on Monday then ON THE ROAD!
I wish everyone was going but Paul needs to work and Justin has other things going on. Besides someone needs to look after the house. Hopefully they'll come out before we leave. Paul will probably fly in to drive us home. It's usually quite a haul on the way home. It's strange to be starting out without them.
I finished knitting a bag for the trip. I just have to felt it now. I need to get what I want to work on this summer organized. I would so like to work on some glass flame working but that is just too much equipment to have to take along. I don't know what Jewelry making stuff would be appropriate either.
Time to start packing...

Summer Vacation Starts Today!

So Close I Can Almost Taste It!

Only three days left of the school year! With students that is. I have to take everything down, pack it up, clean and get my paperwork in. One day extra to check out and I'm FREE!!!! From that kind of work anyway. Appointments, car service, household upkeep, and driving back East will keep me really busy!

A New Life