All by Myself

I'm sitting here all alone in my own house (which is a very strange sensation). Alan is back at work. The kids are back in school. Our bags are unpacked, our house is reorganized, and I've done my morning chores. I'm even almost accustomed to the constant sweating and fuzzy hair that comes along with the Hawaiian paradise package. In other words, we have transitioned at last. 

The drive to Jackson Hole was beautiful, with highlights including 2 bear sightings (Wyatt says 3) and a close encounter with a bull elk that sent our pulse racing. Upon arrival we were overcome by the outlaw spirit of Jackson Hole and had to get a family photo.

Bear Lake isn't nearly as pretty as Island Park, but the water is nearly as bright and blue as the oceans in Hawaii. We added to our pot of awesome family memories.

And then there was Chicago for Alan and Zach, where they were welcomed like celebrities by the Junior Olympic committee. During the opening ceremony Zach got to run out of the Soldier Field tunnel with his name in lights and his face on the big screen. The Cubs game was a classic father-son moment and Zach especially enjoyed the polar bears at the Chicago Zoo. He made a lot of friends and came home with a bronze medal and a bag full of gifts for the family.

We are happy to be back together as a family all safe and snug in Hawaii and we're thankful there were no broken femurs along the way.

Thank You Notes

Thank you notes posted by Paul and Jennifer on Boyd and Dixie's blog after our Island Park Reunion: 

Alan: for "Born to be Wild" memory, for bringing up your outgoing children, for your prayer for the family before we left, and blessing for Melissa, for your lefty frisbee throws in frisbee golf, for your advice about how we are all human beings striving for similar things, and for entertaining us on the tubes.

Debbie: for getting along with everyone, for being the best cheerleader, for being Jennifer's picture buddy, for letting Shelby use your computer to look at pictures, for running with Jenessa and Paul and getting further distance each time, for leading songs by the campfire, for dancing and singing with us, for being so interested in Jenessa's dance, and for letting Shelby and Jenessa steal your chocolate raisins.

Tatum: for keeping a simple and positive mindset, for liking scrapbooks, for talking with Shelby out on the dock and tickling her to get her laughing, for giving everyone compliments (even uncle Paul's singing), for tying with Colby on the biffs, for staying up late with everyone, for getting into Avatar, for dancing with Shelby on the Pokémon dance even though you didn't know it, and for running with Jenessa and Paul.

Zach: for sticking melted marshmallows in Shelby's clean hair, for playing pool with Devin, for watching Avatar with all the kids, for playing Craps with the kids, for leading the Check the Poo skit, for leading a bunch of songs at the campfire, and for laughing at Uncle Bruce's jokes.

Wyatt: for dancing and bringing energy! for playing pool with Devin till the end, for catching crawdads and sacrificing them in the fire with Devin, for the Check the Poo, for jumping right in and swimming in the lake, and for sitting in the flowers for a pretty picture for Jennifer.

Garrett: for your Nacho Libre jumps, for letting Bailey push you in the lake, for Check the Poo, for your dance moves, for laughing and teasing Kim, for being so 'cool', for playing pool with Devin, for being so outgoing, and for watching Avatar with the kids.