Adventures In Outlaw Country

Outlaw Canyon!

Checking out the pictographs

The cave where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid out.

Today we drove to Outlaw Canyon, outside of Kaycee. It was the coolest place I've been in a long time! I brought my slack line but I didn't ever put it up. It was windy and wonderful there. We made hotdogs and hamburgers--well, antelope burgers, I guess they were. Dan and Juanita brought those. Then we took many pictures and explored everything. There wasn't time to go down into the canyon to find the cave that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid out in. That we'll save for another time, when we don't have a 4-yr old and a 1-yr old along. Then we went to the pictograph cave and looked at that. I was fascinated by the cool rock formations--little bumpies all over the rock, like warts, or softballs sticking out of the surface. All in all, it was pretty cool. It might be my new favorite place.

Bow

I bought my first bow! Dan found me a good one on Ebay and I entered into the great adventure that is an Ebay auction...I'm lying. I actually DO NOT enjoy bidding on Ebay items. I am too competetive and I don't think, "The best man won!" whatsoever. I get annoyed and grumpy when someone else bids and think uncharitable thoughts about them. Anway, the point of the story is that I won! And my new bow shall be arriving soon.

And for this weekend? Slack lining, putting together my sweet scrapbook that Heather D made me at camp for my birthday, figuring out my jewelry storage situation, and my creativity project!

Counting

Today was the longest day ever...I had plans originally to set up my slack line in the front yard, but longer so that I could walk something more than 10 steps, but when I pulled into the drive all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. So I put on a movie and did not set up my slack line. And now I am having to count all the good things I currently have going on right now just to pysch myself up for tomorrow.

1. I can walk my slack line no matter the set-up or the height!

2. I am in the process of buying my first bow! I'll keep you posted on how my Ebay adventure pans out. So far I am the highest bidder.

3. The weekend is coming up and I have many plans.

4. I have a great project in the works that is going to help my creativity when I write.

And now for more relaxation and the rest of my movie.

Slack

I took my slack line to the park tonight and set it up while the boys played and Kat read a book for class. Dan came too and we practiced. I had it set up really loose and wobbly, because I figured if I could walk it on there I could walk it anywhere. And guess what?? I can! It was the coolest feeling, to sway all over the place and still be able to walk it. Then we set it up super-low to the ground so that Dan could get on and try to teach his leg muscles to stabilize. Just get the feel for the rope. And he was doing it! It was so cool. And then I learned that I can walk it low, too! It was a good time. It was such a high. I didn't want to leave. And then we realized it was 7 and the boys were starving.

I can't explain the way it feels to suddenly know you can walk that thing--and to know that I finally have a marketable circus skill! It is the biggest rush. I never wanted to quit. More later, definitely.

Archery!

I have been bitten by the archery bug--or something like that. At any rate, I have been loving it ever since I came back to it at camp this summer. Granted, I was shooting with 11-yr olds and using a bow that 11-yr olds can pull without any problem. Tonight I shot with Dan, and the bow I am using is a lot harder to draw. I can get it back to my cheek, but then my wrist starts to wobble all over the place. I shot a few good ones, at any rate. It just takes lots and lots of practice. And I am up for it! Dan told me my shoulders and arms might be sore tomorrow--as far as that goes, I think only my wrist was affected. It hurts!

I Would Rather Be Walking!

I have discovered, after a week being back at work, that I am no longer used to sitting down for any amount of time. After a summer of activity, this sitting business is killing me! My lower back was so stiff all weekend that I came to the conclusion that something different must be done. So I switched chairs, and that seems to be helping. I have been trying to get up and walk as much as possible, strech it out, but that only goes so far. The fundamental problem is still there. I do not want to sit anymore!

Whoo!

My room is almost finished...I still have to find a spot for my bookcase, unpack my boxes of books, move the armchair into the boys' playroom and bring in my Pappazan, and get a few more organizational things. I am feeling much more settled now.

Bright and Shiny

Not the cult on BubbleBoy...

More my outlook on life at the moment, which after last night I never would have thought possible. Last night everything was awful and pessimism abounded in my thoughts--I had so many negative words I could have written my own negative thesaurus. And then Kameron kept me up from 2:30 until 5:30, kicking his crib and yelling "No!" every 10 minutes. Oh. My. Goodness. I was so tired his morning.

And then I went back to work and everything was like it was when I left...except Jean wasn't there, and that makes me sad. However, I remember how to do everything, I got a raise!!!, and it was just good to be settled down again. I still miss camp. Ah well. And after work I took my car through the car wash, something I never do, and now it is all bright and shiny too.

AND THEN, Kat was having a jewelry party here so I got to try on some pretty great pieces--I even bought a few. I have been more and more into jewelry lately, I don't know why. Bronze pieces in particular. My new fave? A bronze chain with an airplane and a tiny swallow. I got quite a few compliments on it today at work.

And we begin again tomorrow...

Vacation Wonderland

My parents rented a house on Echo Lake, near Bigfork, MT. So the whole family was there for one glorious week--very stress-free, if you don't count Kameron getting a cold and being extremely grumpy the whole time. Ashlie couldn't make it, with it only being her second week of teaching kindergarten, but Brandt came down for a couple days. We had some good times jumping off the dock, staying up late playing games, and going golfing. I haven't golfed since I dislocated my wrist doing it a few years ago, but I tried again. I golfed a sucky 61 the first time, and then the second time we went I golfed a 48! It was pretty sweet. I think I've got the golfing bug again.
The boys and I by the water--we wore our pjs a lot. Hey, we're on vacation, right?

Taking the paddleboat for a spin--Easter came with us.

I set up my slack line while we were there and left it up all week, which was so much fun. I even made it all the way across!!! A new personal record. I haven't quite gotten the turn and start back move yet, but I am sure that will also be the next thing to happen. Walking it felt so steady after two tries of it. Part of the first walk across--Dad got the beginning at least.
We took Kaelan to the waterslides. For the first time ever, I got stuck on the waterslides! Does that mean I'm getting old?? No, maybe my suit wasn't made out of slippy material. There were a couple fat ladies who were bombing down those things. I went fast when I was in the tubes, but then it was almost too fast. I don't know. I guess maybe I'll just chalk it up to not having a slippy suit on, and not being fat enough to go super-fast, and that the waterslides are getting old.

And now...I packed up my stuff and made the horrid drive back to Casper today. I go back to work in the morning. I am more than a little unsure about that situation right now, as I sit here. I miss camp!