An Update in Pictures

It has been a crazy summer.. and that has turned into a crazy fall. Soooo, for your viewing pleasure, here's a picture-heavy visual update of our lives!  :)

In the beginning of July we went to Laramie Jubilee Days with Colin and Kassidy...

Then we went down to Denver and hit up another Rockies game with them.

Later in July we went to Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Brad Paisley concert. So good and so much fun! And this year we got to be in seats instead of standing the whole time! :)

The next weekend came Bear Lake and it was a great day with the Ericksons!

The weekend after Bear Lake we went back to Star Valley again. This time for Zane's high school reunion- his class decided to get together after just 5 years, so we went! And Kassidy was in charge of it all, so I pitched in with decorating and setting up.. but mostly just by doing the cupcakes :)

Next up, my parents came out for a 10-day visit in August! It was wonderful having them here and we had a great time together. They also gave Zane an early birthday present of laser-etched Wyoming golf clubs. Talk about a happy boy ;)

The week after they left it was time for another Erickson reunion! We had been working on getting our camper ready all summer (well, off and on...) so there's just a few pics of that too... The walls were originally gross,gray, fake wood panels, there was also a hinged bunk that had been water damaged, and the ceiling as well. SO, we removed the bunk (Zane's sawing away at it below), replaced the ceiling, then painted everything with white Kilz primer...

 Then we replaced the floors...

 And added final touches- the Pokes rug and the cushions that Wendy made for us. I also replaced the curtains, but ya can't see them in the pictures.. 

At the Labor Day Reunion we went for a ride on the Polaris Ranger with some of the kids... They absolutely love it!

And the family has what in my opinion is an AWFUL "game" they play a tradition called "Snatch Pretty" that they do with the kids in the family every 4 or 5 years. Why not every year? Well because one year isn't enough time for the kids to forget! You see, they have two practice rounds where the kids gather around a pile of saw dust that has a bunch of prizes mixed into it.. and a big box over the top. So on the count of 3, the adult takes the box off the top and the kids snatch at as many prizes as they can. Then they have to put them back until round 3.. when they're told they can keep all the prizes they grab... But on the third time, this is the result instead....

The prizes were replaced with fresh cow manure (the kids of course are blissfully unaware of this switch) and they dive right in as soon as the box is lifted...

(Note the variety of facial expressions...)

And just to make sure it's clear that Amy is laughing while poor little Kado is in tears... ;)

Zane says our kids will participate in this "lovely" tradition. I'm thinking that we'll just mysteriously disappear when the time comes...

After we got back to Laramie, it was time for football!

At the first game, Senator Barasso was at the College Republicans' tent and Zane was super excited to meet him!

And last, but not least, Zane turned 24 this week! Although he had work and school, it was still a pretty good day- that ended with Grasshopper pie!