Cody, Wyoming: Day Four

This great guy (a.k.a. My Dad). . . 

 . . . got us all up early to head to the Pryor Mountains.  It was a fantastic day!  We four wheeled a total of 65 miles!  

We started out clean. . .

 . . . and were all very dirty by the end of the day!

(Notice Taylor's face, it's nearly black!)

Our first stop was the ice caves . . . 

I love my dad's face in this picture . . . 

~ Grandpa & Tim ~ 

(Doesn't Tim look like Weird Al Yankovic?) 

~ The Groppe's & The Matheny's ~

Nothing beats a picnic lunch in the mountains.

~ Halli & Laurie ~

We then headed further up the mountains to see the beautiful view . . .

~ Katelyn, Taylor, & Lauren ~

~ The Matheny's & The Groppe's ~

 And the wild horses . . .

They are my favorite!

There's a little cabin at the top that is first come first serve if you're ever in the area, need a place to stay,  and don't mind if it's covered in deer mice poop!  :)

~ Zack, Halli, & Laurie ~

When we got off the mountain, Carter got a turn driving the Razor. . .

He was in heaven!  He loved driving it almost as much as Lauren. . .

. . . loved riding in it!


Thank you coach Lorenz for chauffeuring the girls all day and letting us all drive your Razor . . . Dave wants one of his own now!  :)  And Thank you Norm for all the great pictures!  It was so fun to see you!

Cody, Wyoming: Day Three . . . The 4th of July!

Not only was it the 4th of July, but it was also Laurie's birthday!

~ Laurie ~

I hope she had a fun birthday!  We went to the parade... 

~ Laurie & Halli ~

~ Taylor, Zack, & Carter ~

~ Zack, Lauren, Katelyn, Carter, Uncle Sam, Taylor, & Grandpa ~

~ Dave & Gary ~

~ Grandpa ~

 ~ Zack & Carter ~

We rode horses . . . 

 ~ Taylor & Lauren ~

 ~ Halli ~

 ~ Hardy & Halli ~

 ~ Lauren ~

 ~ Taylor, Carter, & Lauren ~

 ~ Katelyn & Lauren ~

 ~ Taylor, Katelyn, & Lauren ~

 ~ Taylor & Hardy ~

 ~ Taylor & Laurie ~

We had a BBQ, watched fireworks, and ate ice cream cake!

Yum.

Thank you Hardy for bringing  your horses for us to ride and teaching us what to do . . . you're the best!

Cody, Wyoming: Day One

Our first day in Cody, Laurie & I took the little girls to the kiddie parade . . . 

~ Katelyn & Lauren ~

Then we all headed to Red Lake to do a little four wheeling . . .

 ~ Taylor ~

 ~ Carter ~

~ Carter ~

 ~ Zack ~

~ Dave & Carter ~ 

~Taylor & Grandpa McDougall ~

Carter & Zack could have done nothing but four-wheel & been thrilled.  I think it was the highlight of the trip for them!  

We also did a little shooting . . . 

 ~ Dave & Gary ~

 ~ Gary with Katelyn & Dave with Lauren ~

~ Carter ~

That evening was my 20 year class reunion adult only get together.  So, Dave & I went to that while the rest of the bunch did the "tourist" thing in downtown Cody, Wyoming.  I enjoyed catching up with my old high school friends (unfortunately I didn't take my camera).  One of the best parts about going home is getting to see old friends!

Cody, Wyoming: Our arrival!

Last week, we took our best friends, the one & only Groppe family . . .

 . . . to the wild wild west for a vacation like no other.  We arrived in my hometown of Cody, Wyoming after a long drive (24 hours to be exact) the evening of July 1st.  The kids were ready to burn off some energy, so we went on a little stroll around town . . .

 ~Taylor, Lauren, & Katelyn ~

 ~ Grandma McDougall, Lauren, & Taylor ~

 ~ Matheny & Groppe kiddos on the Buffalo Bill Statue ~

We had a great week!  I can't wait to show you all the fun stuff we did.  I want to give a big thank you to my awesome parents for hosting all of us and showing the Groppe's how it's done in Wyoming!  :)

Taylor's Utah Trip

Last week, Taylor got to go to Utah to visit Leah & her family!  Last summer, Leah came to Texas to see us.       Remember?  We love Leah's family and are so thankful that they let Taylor come.  She had a fabulous week!

~ Taylor & Leah ~ 

Leah is the oldest of 7 so, she also got to re-connect with Anne & Kate (Leah's younger sisters) . . . 

 ~ Kate, Leah, Anne, & Taylor ~

 ~ Kate, Anne, Leah, & Taylor ~

 ~ Leah, Taylor, Anne, Kate, & Lilly ~

Thank you for having her!  She misses y'all already.  I am still sad that I didn't get to go too.  And, according to Taylor, Miss Lynne (Leah's mom) is WAY cooler than I am.  I'd have to agree, she's as cool as they come.  :)

Keep Praying

Last night at dinner, Taylor said, "Every time you pray, your husband or wife gets hotter."  Carter thought about it for a minute and then said, "I hope my wife keeps praying!"  

We all laughed.  That Carter, he's so funny!