Elkfest 2015 and the weekend

In the back of my mind, I associate Elkfest with my mom. She always made it a point to come up and attend the festival. I can still see her dancing in the street and clapping to the music. But that's in the past, and I'm trying to focus on the present. Making more memories and sharing good times with those I love.

So Friday, we took Xander and Kaleigh to the Safari Park just outside of Springfield and we all got up close and personal with a camel named Clyde and a few other critters. Xander doesn't care for anything with a long tongue and Kaleigh made really good friends with one of the apes.

Saturday evening Dad treated everyone to a marvelous dinner at Low Gap Cafe (the monster truck in the background belonged to Lauren's friend Scott). If I had known Dad was gonna pay, I might not have ordered the prime rib, but I don't regret it-it was that damn good. There was some live music-and fans blowing and the temperature was just right (sure wish Robyn could have been there-she would have loved it).

At Elkfest, there was a man selling sugar gliders. They are absolutely adorable. Very calm and soft, but at two hundred bucks a pop I really did not want one to become a chew toy for Oscar and Dixie. May be Cocker Spaniels wouldn't chew on them?

Fire works ended the Elk fest. Whistling Dixie was the final band, and they did a great "Newton County" version of Copperhead road.

Playing with paint apps

Fun in the Sun on a cloudy day

Posting some pictures from the weekend

Wonderlust

As I stare dreamily at the calendar, I can't help but notice I still have over 70 days until vacation. Maybe if I start packing now, I won't forget anything. I've already started making lists on what to pack, what to wear, snacks, things to do before the trip. I've already decided on getting 2 cards for the camera. I hope I get some good shots. These aren't mine, but it's a little preview. There's the skywalk of the Grand Canyon, one of the drive through trees in the Redwoods, the Golden Gate Bridge, and one of the waterfalls.

Connor's time... leaving the Nest

I get to watch my little sister see her son off to boot camp. I wish I had some wise words or something to make it easier for her, but I come up with nothing. She won't get to stand in his door way and watch him sleep. She won't fall asleep listening for his key in the lock. She won't know what or if he ate that day. She'll go days or maybe even months without seeing him and it will be one of the hardest things she's ever done. She's always been a lot tougher than me, but I know she loves her baby boy with every breath she takes. It doesn't matter that he's a man and half a head taller than she is-he'll always be her baby. She's done so much for him and taught him so well. There is no doubt that he'll do well. He'll make us all proud. Robyn should be proudest of all. Not because she gave him birth and not because she loves him more than anyone else, but because she gave him wings. He has the strength to spread those wings, the knowledge to know how, and the wind beneath them. There are grown people too afraid to live their dreams. Afraid to try and afraid to fail. The never leave their "nest" and they never learn to soar.