Trek Across America Summer Tour 2013

This year for Summer Break, Sherri, Mia (dog), and I packed into our new Toyota Prius on a trek across America to visit family. First stop, Camp Bighorn for a reunion party with some of Sherri’s old friends. We tried catching some shuteye camping under the stars, but proved to be a fitful night for Mia in her outside kennel. So we hit the road again before sun-up and drove straight to my parents’ new home in MN. After abandoning our Mapquest app around 3am, Dad finally guided us to their place with Morse code from a floodlight perched on the top of their garage. Mom and Dad sold the farm and moved onto a beautiful ranch to board their horses and watch sunsets over the rolling meadow in their backyard. That week we got to enjoy the company of my entire family (all 17 of us)- nieces, nephews, the works. We threw an epic baby shower for my brother, Joe, and his wife. We spent a whole day together scavenger hunting diapers in the woods, drawing autographed pictures for an alphabet book, and spoiling them with gifts (my favorite was a bottle of Jack Daniels). Of course the day wouldn’t have been complete without some Bocce Ball, Badmitton, Horseriding, 4-wheeling, lots of great tasting/fattening food, and a dooser campfire with plenty of burnt smores on the side. I love family.

Foggy meadow view from Ranch backyard

Jenna and Mia color coordinated

Mia always wins playing Chuckit

Sherri and girls debating on how to draw their letter picture

Boys dive in on drawing for the alphabet picture book

Walla- alphabet book finished product!

The cure for all ailments, including raising children

Mia getting a birdseye view from Sherri's lap

Good 'ol naptime with Grampa

Family Photo

The fearsome Outlaws- watch your back Billy the Kid

Never a dull moment around our family

All the Birthday Babies- Sherri included

Jake and Jenna scoping the fence line

Sara giving the rookie rider some pointers

Mom leading the way around the corral

I'm ready to race- Let's do this!

Living it up on the Ranch

Mom sure loves her horse

Kickin' it back around the campfire for some ukulele strumming

Cat Tree Finished

This is a little project I've been working on for the kittens. They love the hammock house best of all.

InstaYard

We finally have something to show for all the back-breaking labor on the yard. Our sod order showed up just in time before the rain. Sherri and I busted our butts installing the new grass over the weekend and Walla- InstaYard.

Brick work around the perimeter.

Front yard sectioned-off for Mia to terrorize.

A modest, little garden in the sunny corner.

Latest Pet Pics

Sherri has taken the role of Cuddle Queen with all of our pets.

Mia decided to take over the Kittens' playhouse one day- Nice Beard!

Stage 1 of the kitty play tower- now they can finally climb something.

Barely enough space for everyone- heat conservation.

Our niece, Savannah, and Bilbo having fun playing together.

Evidence that our Co-ed Softball team actually one a game!

Mia trying to squeeze in on all of the fun.

Our first Columbia Gorge hike. Mia loved sniffing in the forest air.

Latourell Falls- beautiful as ever.

Still Buddies

Sleepy Heads

Who Says Dogs and Cats Can't Be Friends?

Ridiculous Pet Tales

Mia was running with me on leash the other day when a gnarly German shepherd came bolting at us from across the street. It was a typical freaky dog attack—growling and barking at us with the hair on its neck all ruffled up. Before I could even conjure my imaginary karate skills, a huge Suburban screeched to a halt, plowing right into the poor mutt. A strange mixture of shock and relief washed over me. I truly don’t enjoy seeing animals get hurt, but this particular situation was oddly satisfying. Mia and I didn’t even turn around to assess the damage. We just kept on running while reciting a prayer of “Thank you Lord for not allowing us to DIE today.” Other news on the home front is that Sherri and I are, once again, caring for three little kittens that crawled into our yard. This is the second time we’ve done volunteer kitty foster care. It’s all because of that same old hussy, Momma cat that roams around the apartments and poops in our yard. I’ve thought several times about trying to catch her so the Humane Society can get her fixed. She’s just too dag gone wild to let anyone get close to her. Apparently, once a cat gets used to freedom and mice, there’s no going back to Kitty Chow and laser pointers. However, now that Momma knows we have her kittens, she’s been snooping around our house planning a rescue operation. I saw my golden opportunity and staged a trap with the kittens holed up in the back of a portable dog kennel. A bunch of kids from the apartments saw what I was doing and started setting up shop on the other side of the fence to watch. I overheard one boy say, “Neighbor dude’s gonna try and catch Geronimo.” While cracking open a soda, a girl responds, “Oh, this ought to be good.” As soon as Momma cat took the bait and peeked her head into the kennel, I threw a blanket over her. Unfortunately, Geronimo not only weaseled her way out from my grasp, but also managed to snatch one of the kittens all at the same time. The kids cheered me on as I went huffing across the parking lot in pursuit. After cornering Momma into a fence, she dropped the kitten and ran off. I made a second attempt awhile later after she returned, but still came up empty handed. The story will continue as soon as I scrounge up a live trap. To Be Continued. We’ve named the kittens Bilbo, Froto, and Gandolf, but I’m starting to call the big one Smudge. He carries himself with a bold legged stance like a linebacker and has the fur of a polar bear. Smudge is also the only one brave enough to spar with Mia. I think we’ve found our puppy a playmate.