Road Trip – The Middle – Food Trucks

Finally my vacation had started.  I had fun in South Dakota.  Can’t deny that.  But this trip was for one thing and one thing only for me… Colorado.  More specifically, Kyla and her family.  It had been too long since I had seen her.  Even longer since I had seen most of the kids and Steve.  I couldn’t have been happier when I pulled into their driveway and opened the back gate.  So weird how it feels almost like coming home when I go there.

My Vacation Had Finally Started

We had planned to take Matt to the park down the street where the food trucks come every Monday night.  I had done it last year and it was OH so good.  Definitely word was out, because it was much busier this year.  But still a good time.  Once we got our food it was just sit back, enjoy the music and friends, and relax.

Chill and Eat

Kids seemed to enjoy their burgers and waffle cakes.

Eats

Of course Perry was in pizza heaven.

PIZZA

The kids played (and threw mounds of dirt…) in the back of the park while we caught up and chatted.  Kyla and I just pick up right where we left off.  Seamless.  Kate and Brodie seemed to have the same connection.

Fast Friends

 

 

 

Road Trip – The Beginning – Hide and Roam on the Range

Double Trouble

Roam

Running with the Bison

 

 

Road Trip – The Beginning – Mount Rushmore

Marley put it best…

“It is AMAZING!  But there is not much to see.”

The Griswalds

Road Trip – The Beginning – Badlands, South Dakota

Our vacation started on a Friday, the day after the boys were done with school.  We set out on our 10 day adventure.  Where we were going?  Not quite sure except we knew Monday we would end up in Longmont, CO at Kyla’s house.  We had no plans, no reservations, no anxieties.  It was fabulous.  We drove a lot on Friday.  Ended up getting in late in Sioux City, woke and found a doughnut joint (and a Starbucks!), and set out for the Badlands.  This was a destination Matt and I had in the back of our minds to hit either going to Colorado, or coming back.  Crazily, Kyla was also taking the weekend and visiting South Dakota.  Our lives are always crossing like this.  Saturday we got into Wall, South Dakota.  Home of the famous (not quite sure why?) Wall Drug.  We found a cabin to hunker down in for the night, woke early the next morning to a leftover doughnut breakfast, and headed to see the Badlands.

The boys thought it was SO cool.

Boys First View

Matt and I had to agree.

Badlands

More Badlands

Matt and the boys went off exploring rocks, while I went running Castle trail.  wanted to do the full 5 and back, but I was afraid I was going to get lost.  The trail was flooded out and muddy as hell.  Then at one point I found myself running through the high grass to get back on the trail.  At that point I realized I should head back, they don’t tell you to stay out of the high grass for no reason.  Rattlers are prevalent.  So, I found my guys and we went around to the other end of the trail.  This side was a bit better marked, but eventually I lost track of those markers too.  I hopped around running the rocks for awhile, but never made it all the way back and forth on the trail.  It was such a blast.  I was muddy and exhilarated.  I hope I get a chance to beat that trail.  I have a feeling we will be back there again sometime.  This time lets hope Brodie doesn’t almost lose his shoe in a sink hole…

Bad Ass Running Badlands

Road Trip – The Beginning – Wall, South Dakota

You see all the signs for Wall Drug.  You are intrigued.  You have to stop.  You visit shit shops.  You wonder what you just spent time doing.  You leave having paid $15 for 3 bags of rocks.  You realize they have one hell of a racket.  You have been another causality of Wall Drug.

Race Until You Feel Like Vomiting

This hot and humid Sunday was spent cheering on our favorite Daddy.

I got some pics of Matt before the race.

A Boy and His Bike

Number 289

All ready to start.  Notice he looks happy here.

On Your Mark

But not so happy here…

Half Way

At the half way point we ran to him and cheered for him and the other racers.  He yelled out “Winner!” to me (our inside joke of some ridiculous comments we have heard), which cracked me up.  The man always makes me laugh, even in the midst of killing himself with an average heart rate of 177.  Anyway, we only got to see him 3 times during the hour and a half race.  The start, the half way point, and the finish.  But this race was so family friendly and had mapped the course around a playground.  So that kept everyone busy in the meantime.

See Saw

Finally, he finishes…

Finish Strong and Ready to Vomit

I’m so jealous of Matt.  He really puts everything into it when he races.  He ends and has to lay down and feels like he is going to pass out or vomit.  I wish I could do that.  Something holds me back.  Maybe I would finally reach a goal or PR if I did.  But then again he had put so much into it that he doesn’t even remember (perhaps from lack of oxygen to his brain) yelling “Winner!” to me.  Wonder what else that lack of oxygen to the brain erased?  Let’s just hope it wasn’t something important like my birthday or my dress size.

Graduation the Third Time Around

Before Cale graduated, his class had an end of the year party that I got to attend.  It started with a little booty shaking…

Dance Party

He must win the happiest child alive contest (at least in this moment).

Right On

After lunch it was to the playground for a last playtime with his classmates.

Peek-a-Boo

In the evening we all gathered in the police station.  The last minute weather had to have things moved inside.  I hope it is not a sign of things to come that Cale’s preschool graduation took place in a courtroom.

The Graduate

Shoo Fly

And as we have done twice before, it was an ice cream celebration to end the evening.

He had a pretty rough start, but ended the year a-okay.  Let’s hope (for the teachers sake) that next year will be smooth sailing.