Rocky Mountain vacation

August 4, 2020. We are in the Rocky Mountains!! We had big Bahamas vacation plans this summer, but our world is currently in the middle of a pandemic. COVID-19 made its debut in January, and we are still trying to figure out how to navigate a world during a pandemic. Face masks required, travel restrictions, etc. more about that later. We drove out to Colorado on Saturday, 9 hours on the road. Minimal stops. Before we even arrived at our hotel in Estes Park, we were all in awe of the beauty of this place. None of us could remember ever seeing anything so beautiful. When we arrived at our hotel, Murphy’s River Lodge, there were elk on the front lawn along the river! The boys loved that. After check-in, we went downtown and got some local pizza at Antonio’s. On Sunday, I got an early morning run in, and then we all went looking for adventure together. We climbed most of the way up Old Man mountain, located near our hotel, and then went trail riding in ATV’s. I have to admit, I didn't quite know what I was getting us into when I signed us up for that! The trails were rugged, and the ride was exhilarating, to say the very least! After an afternoon spent riding, we headed back and walked downtown for dinner. Our walk downtown is about a half mile stroll along Fall River, and the boys love throwing sticks in the rapids. We had dinner at Ed’s cantina and grill-Mexican , and then strolled back to the hotel, where we all played cornhole on the front lawn until dusk. After that-movie night. Movie nights included Karate Kid (the original), Remember the Titans, and Spider-Man. On Monday morning, the boys wanted to go back and conquer Old Man Mountain, and so we did! Then we spent the rest of the day at Rocky Mountain National Park. And it was truly an adventure. We started on the trail up Deer Mountain, but somehow lost the trail at a switchback, and ended up literally scaling the side of the mountain for an hour and a half. The boys thought this was great, until Cole got tired, and we still hadn’t come across a trail. Just when we were considering trying to find another way down the mountain (and as I was beginning to wonder if we would survive a night on a mountain), we came across the trail that we were supposed to be on the whole time, and a mile or so later made it to the summit. Whew! We sat down, had a snack, made friends with some chipmunks, and took pictures. On the way down, we got caught in a hailstorm, and ran most of the way down the mountain. After getting back to our car and drying off, we set off to find more adventure, this time in the form of waterfalls. We chose (okay, I chose) to go see Chasm Falls. What I hadn’t anticipated (and would have realized if I had paid more attention to the map) was that Chasm Falls is located on a one-way, narrow dirt and gravel road with about a hundred really nasty switchbacks up the side of a mountain. We were all a little leary of the way up, but when we got to the top, the view was absolutely magnificent! We could even see a herd of elk across the valley. Ater more local fare for dinner-burgers and fries- and some ice cream to top it off, we collapsed into bed. Tuesday brought a travel day. We headed down to COlorado Springs, where Jackson, Cole, and I enjoyed a horseback riding tour of The Garden of The Gods. You really do forget how big and powerful horses are when you haven’t been on one in years. After our tour, we headed to our hotel, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. The boys enjoyed the pool and the water sports-kayaking, paddleboarding, etc. We even found a fun little miniature golf course nearby and played. The next morning, Wednesday, we were up bright and early. It was white water rafting day. This was probably the excursion that had been causing me the most anxiety. I was concerned Cole would fall out of the raft, and would hit his head or I wouldn’t be able to get to him, etc. Once we arrived, there were lots of rules and precautions (and a few extra due to COVID), but then they bussed us out to the river. We were rafting down a stretch of the Arkansas River that had Level 3-4 rapids, and we were all pretty excited. Our boat captain was “Corndog”, a chipper redheaded young female who was clearly very comfortable on the rapids. She made the experience fun for everyone and made me feel very safe (even though I may have reminded Cole to “lock your feet in” and “turn your hand over” no less than 75 times). When we reached the end of our rafting, we headed to the Royal Gorge. We crossed the bridge (the tallest suspension bridge in the United States) and got in line to take the gondola back across. After waiting about 30 minutes, they told us they were closing the gondola for high winds through the gorge, so we walked back across the bridge and headed back through Canon City (which houses the highest level security prison in the U.S.) to yet another new hotel in Denver. Upon arriving at the Gaylord Rockies Resort, we immediately knew we were in our element. A quick trip to the room to change into swim gear, and we headed straight for the pool, which was pretty incredible. Think resort on the gulf of Mexico, but with mountains as the backdrop. We floated in the (heated) lazy river, went down all the water slides, and ordered dinner poolside. A perfect last evening before the long drive home on Thursday.

Still Home Base

Cole had his first experience at overnight church camp was this week, and he loved it! I loved the feeling of him running to greet me when I picked him up yesterday. He threw himself into my arms, and while I know he had an incredible time at camp, I also know I am his home base, his safe space, his person (for now, at least). Jax left this morning for Kanakuk, and he is also excited for his church camp experience. He will be electronic-free for the next 7 days, but I am so eager to hear all about it when we pick him up.

A list of Happy

Time spent with friends. Hugs and kisses from my people. Ice cream with chocolate syrup. My repeat music of the moment. Elvis Presley’s voice. Blue skies. Rainy runs. Laying on the beach. Water slides and roller coasters. Sweaty little boy smell. Bread pudding. Dark chocolate. Lilacs and hydrangeas. Holding hands. Holding babies. A good book. The feeling of a job well done. Handmade gifts. Watching a storm roll in. Sunrises and sunsets. Waves. My children’s laughter. Smiling. These are the things that make me happy.

The Teenage years begin

it’s weird to even think this, much less say it out loud, but my baby, my sweet baby boy who made me a momma, will become a teenager this year! It is so surreal how quickly these almost 13 years have flown by! About this time 13 years ago, we visited Hawaii, me about 6 months pregnant with Jax. I loved being pregnant, and everything about it seemed so magical. My favorite part of being pregnant was the feeling of the baby kicking. I have very little advice for him as he goes into these teenage years. He has a good head on his shoulders. Have courage and be kind. If you do these two things, most of your decisions will be made for you. When he goes out with friends or stays the night somewhere, I tell him, "Make good decisions." I hope these words of wisdom lead him in the way he should go.

random musings

12/17/18: This year, when asked what he wants for Christmas, Cole can not come up with anything really. Finally, he told TJ, “Dad, I really already have everything I want”. I think we could all learn a little something from COle. Jax requested to go to a week-long summer camp next summer, and after recovering from sticker shock ($1250 for the week), we got him signed up for Camp Kanakuk in Branson. I have heard really amazing things, and TJ’s response to the cost was “Does that include airfare??” Lolol.

Notes about the GreatGrands

Grandpa Harper: he would swing me. For hours. And every time I asked. I don’t remember him ever telling me no.

He would also say “hey, you know what?”

And my response would always be “what?”

And he’d say “I love you”

He frequently told me he wouldn’t trade me for a ranch in Texas.

And my heart hurts Bc I miss him so much. Tears are streaming down my cheeks. He was my person.

Grandma Harper: she was afraid of the water. Bath time at her house was like 2 inches of water. Lolol.

She vacuumed every morning, at like 6 am.

She always had food waiting for us when we arrived. Chicken patties.

She always told a story about when I stayed with them when I was a baby. Apparently, I had a fever, and when my parents called to check on me, she let me talk to my mom, and I said, “momma, hoooooooot baby!”

Grandpa Round: he would drive to Missouri to pick us up to take us to stay a week with him at his home in Peoria, Illinois. ANd then in Kentucky.

He drove a station wagon with the wood looking side panels.

He played softball. He always smelled slightly of cigarette smoke (his wife smoked), but not in an unpleasant way.

Grandma Round: she had these great books about “the thingamajigs.” they were my favorite! They have since come into my possession and we have added to the collection.

Great grandma Harper: she liked to knit and crochet and taught me when I was young.

Great grandma Stufflebean: she collected salt and pepper shakers.

She just lived a few houses from my grandparents in Brookfield.

And she grew the most beautiful roses and loved them.

And there was a huge apple tree in her backyard that we would eat the apples right off of.

Great grandma Lajoie: she always had those peanut butter filled chewy candies at her apartment and gave them to us.

Great grandma (Round) Long: she always seemed very delicate. Not frail, just small. Her apartment was decorated in lots of butterflies. And delicate glass things.

Middle School and 3rd Grade

Another summer flew by, and I am just astounded that school has already started again! Each year the adjustment to the boys being gone during the day gets a little easier. I had bunches of time off to spend with them this summer, and it was our best summer yet. Back to real life for all of us now.


This year, Jax is in 7th Grade! I know I say this a lot, but how is that humanly possible? How is this small person that I grew in my tummy, what feels like just days ago, a middle schooler? Yet, here we are.
Back to school night was a great success. We met all of his teachers, and he seemed to like them. He has had no trouble navigating the halls of a new school. And he is making new friends.
He is just so Chill about the whole process that it really sets my mind at ease. He has a locker, and takes his phone to school, and is just turning into this young adult.


Jackson (and Cole-all of us, really) had a summer packed with fun things to do! On Jackson's birthday, we flew to Mexico, and an entire 747 sang him "Happy Birthday!" Then, he had basketball camp, church camp, a week of volunteering with local animal shelters, and some time spent in Tennessee visiting Brett McGuffin and family. not to mention a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks with Nana and Papa Patterson.
Whew! A busy boy, indeed!


Cole is a big 3rd Grader, and so far he is liking it. He has stories to tell me about friends when he gets home, and he is elated that he got the "no homework" teacher. Haha. The only downfall is that he was put in a class with none of his friends. A few acquaintances, so we will see how that goes. He is walking to and from school on his own, and thinks he is big stuff.
Since Cole's teacher will not be sending homework home, we have instituted a few of our own weekly requirements. Flashcards, a reading comprehension page, and 20 minutes daily of reading aloud to a parent.

This summer, we got Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun season passes (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Harper). The boys preferred Oceans of Fun, and we made it there probably 4 times this summer. They love the slides, the wave pool, and the lazy river. We will try to make one last trip to Worlds of Fun during Winterfest in December.