FMCA National RV Rally and PAW 2013

Everywhere you look you see RV's - 4,000 of them to be exact.  FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) had their 50th birthday party in Gillette.  Well over 85% of them were high end coaches. They packed them into many nooks and crannies - like the Rodeo grounds.........Dirt floor......hmmm
They looked like matches in a match box.  Way too close for me.  As I took KaCe out every morning for PAW (Performing Arts Workshop) I was thankful over and over again for being retired.  I smiled as I saw signs such as - This lot for CAM-PLEX PAW Staff only or Please Do Not Walk your pets on this lawn - Children play here during the day.  I just grinned and thanked Wyoming Retirement to pay me to stay away.  Ahhhhh Life is SO good.  Oh Yes and remember the dirt in the rodeo arena -------we got OVER .5" of rain and hail in the afternoon yesterday.  UMHUMM - Dirt+rain=MUD  :)

This picture was taken from the top of the Heritage Center by I have no idea.  Wasn't me.  :)

 One of the reason we journeyed to Gillette when we did was to let KaCe be in the Performing Arts Workshop.  It is an intensive 3-week "workshop" for ages 6-college in 4 companies-Academy, Jr and Sr Company.  This year was the 20th Year Anniversary.  This year KaCe was more of a participant and less of an observer.  He did great and knew all his moves, songs and lines.  As I strode down PAW memory lane I must admit there are several memories that aren't so "wonderful".  But as with everything growth is painful.  (Okay so I typed a LOT of stuff here that probably shouldn't be public so I deleted it - but BOY was it great to express it.)  The best part of what has happened is they have an excellent program for the 6-8 year olds; all nighters (or most of the nighters) are still banned for the Senior students and it seems there are still a few lines that won't be crossed for staff. When I took over I made some drastic changes in staff which were very good for the long haul and sent the message of acceptable and unacceptable staff behavior.  I DO hope Ethan, KaCe and cousin Kylie get to participate next year and hopefully the year after.  If we can coordinate housing for Whitney to be here with them next year (WE are in Oregon) hopefully they can.

The first 1/2 was in black, white and grey.  The 2nd 1/2 was WILD.  Also they invited alumni back to participate in a couple of songs.  It was good to see several of them.

 They used the scaffolding (on large wheels).  This was a hit with the performers, especially the boys.  No, the Academy weren't allowed on them.

The beginning of Munchkinland.

 They are assuring us that "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead".......but I think she just came disguised.

And another year is done.  KaCe was exstatic to see his brothers, Mom and Dad.  He didn't stay in the bus last night, but Ethan did.  During the week my left knee has begun to give me fits!  If I could just reach down and pull on my foot I'm sure it would be better.  But it and not feeling well caused me to rethink keeping Ethan for the next week.  I do love that boy but he is SO like his Uncle Mike - if it feels good do it.  So he'll be staying a few night by himself in the bus when we return to Rawlins - that is IF he gets KaCe's room cleaned up by the time we get there.  :)  Gotta love those Gkids!

A Few Biffs - Here and there!

The door flew open and there stood Ken, head hanging down saying something I couldn't understand.  Turned out it was "get me a rag I'm bleeding".  Well THAT moved my tush.  (I actually thought the dog had thrown up on him..........go figure!)   He'd been outside with the 2 dogs (which are pretty inseparable) and when coming back onto the cement pad he tripped and caught the sidewalk with his face and ribs.  Otherwise ok.  Yup!  That night we changed sides of the bed ( I DO HATE THAT!!) as his ribs hurt like they did when he broke a couple.  NO - why go to the doc - "I'll be okay!"

I'm still on the wrong side of the bed.  Wonder when "okay" will get here.

Then the other day we heard a little commotion outside and looked out to see. Oops! A nice shiny black toolbox face-planted!  This little exercise took about 2.5 hours to rectify.

The "Nameless Guy" (NG) customer had told Kevin his box would be empty, just go pick it up and I'll meet you at your house with a trailer.

Kevin's first clue was how hard it was to get loaded at the NG's old shop.

Ken and his rib are supervising.  The project is 3" or so at a time then brace it up.

See all those little pieces laying on the ground.  They all came out of an "empty" toolbox.

Okay they got it upright!

NG goes to backup his trailer.  

Kev and Ken both ask - "Got a good floor in that thing??"

Yes he said.  

2 minutes later we all knew that was a lie as the front tires went through the floor.

And here is where most of the time took. Inching it up 2"+ at a time from one side to the other using Kevin's portable fork lift.  4 2x4's, 1 2x12 and 1 1" board later the wheels pop out of the floor.  Lori went to the store to get a REAL floor board.

 
On Friday Kevin brought home a new trailer that "kneels" almost to ground level, will hold their big Cadillac and a wonderful floor.  And he'll take $40 a ride donation to move your toolbox from point A to B.  He'd been thinking about it for awhile but that day was the clincher.
The times and life in Gillette, Wyoming.

The Bull Starts Here????? And it's HOW deep?

After going to the Children's Memorial we rested awhile then went out to the Lodge to eat and watch the branding process.  I was tickled to see they are keeping their perspective.  They even measure it.

I presented Ron with his Mexican hat.  He wasn't sure in the beginning he wanted my "surprise" but he fell right in when I plopped it on his head.  Then I gave him the Fish Asshole and Chicken Lips cans and the night had begun.
Chartered in 2002 the Lodge finally has a home of it's own.,  It's tiny but has room to grow.  They were branding boards to become decoration in the lodge.  Duane - Jack of trades and MASTER of them all - fixed BBQ for dinner and the members brought sides to compliment it.

Nola, Bev (SIL) and Ken study the current results.

After branding - they wrote who, what, when and where about their brand.

The one on the far left is the Nephew's brand.

Somebody should have brought the calves - it was all set to go. And they could have done all the brands on all the calves!  Oops!  It's not done that way is it?

Back inside 2 Gmas attempt getting the booster seat securely attached..........

.....HOW many Gmas does it take???

Yup - 2 and an Exhausted Rooster (Exalted Ruler).  :)

Just had to get the two crazy hat men.  I love both hats.

Then since he had been so good (for 3 hours entertaining himself) I took KaCe home.





Back home we had us a Mardi Gras!!!

And that ends the first week in Gillette.  Bring on the rest of them!

Remembering Our Children - June 8, 2013

The Children's Memorial Walkway has been dedicated to all the lost children of the area.  This is the site where a drunk driver t-boned a van and killed a killed a small girl, Madison Scalzo in 2006.  She was 10 years old.  Her mother needed an outlet of some kind to help deal with the nightmare and worked diligently to get this Memorial up and running.  The Mayor's Arts Council joined the effort and then the City of Gillette itself.  It is becoming a place of peace and somewhere to visit and remember the our little ones.  People have donated money for benches, etc and the Mayor's Arts Council purchased a bronze of a dove to be the focal point.  The walkway up the middle are stones people can purchase to remember their loved ones.  This year the family of a 7 month old infant were the keynote family.  Along with a balloon launch the family sent up white doves.  It was a very moving ceremony and helps give families another avenue to release pain - a pain that just keeps giving.

Our friend Chris Clark purchased one for K.C. She's also purchased several more for families she knows each year.  During our journey I requested she pick the gravesite for K.  She did an amazing job and continues to watch over the place every year.  Several years ago she brought her parents' urns over from Germany and created a place for them.  She chose K.'s site (and ours also) just across the road from her family.  She decorates all the graves.  Thank you Chris - we love you!

The stones in the garden have tiny feet in them.

It doesn't matter how old your child is when they pass - your heart has a hole in it.  Parents should pass FIRST after all.  This is a beautiful sculpute by a local Dentist/Artist Pat Love for the parents of this young man.

 This year they finally came up with a logo - and are selling tshirts with this on them.  It fits right in with our family as the Butterfly has a deep meaning for us.  Our little ones no longer need their cocoon of body and have become beautiful butterflies.

 A big Thank You to the folks that donate time, talent and materials to create this oasis in a painfilled desert to the grieving.

I Lost My 'double u'!!

Good Grief!  Do you realize how many times you use certain letters on your keyboard?  Surely some'doubleu'here I could get a grant (government of course) to study the probability of using every key on the keyboard.

Shortly after getting to Ra'doubleu'lins I noticed my 'doubleu' 'doubleu'as sticking.  So I pried it off; gave it a shot of canned air and 'doublu'as about to put it back 'doubleu'hen I dropped a teeny tiny black peice - some'doubleu'here.  And of course can't find it!!!So I decided to store the other 2 pieces and 'doubleu'ait until I got to Gillette to do something about it.  (This statement of course after 'doubleu'hitney tried to put it back on.  I'm thinking - it'll be fine.  After all 'doubleu' is one of the least used keys, right??? 'doubleu'rong!!!  As you can see - it might become crucial.  It is driving me nuts as I try to come up 'doubleu'ith synonyms for 'doubleu'ords 'doubleu'ithout 'doubleu''s.

Think about it.  Usage of the famous letter is long and many:
doubleuas
doubleuhen
doubleuhere
doubleuhat
doubleuho
doubleuhy
doubleuant
doubleuater
doubleuaste
doubleuait
doubleuyn
knodoubleu

You get the picture.  And you'll kno'doubleu' the second I get it fixed!!

Graduation with Field Day

Guaduation?  In preschool?  Yup.  Off we went to see Ethan in his cap and gown.  
I really don't think Aedan was impressed.

My great neice CeeJae was one of his teachers.

Giving Miss Stephanie (CeeJae's SIL) a going away blanket.  She's moving on to older pastures.

As I took the wrong camera (the one that doesn't stop the action well) I don't have many pics of Ethan.  He never stays still.  But here he is The Ham - third from the right.

And Kendall (Ceej's girl) 5th from the right.

Cee Jae givin Kendall a big hug - that brought lots of tears in the audience.

And finally.  It's official - He is a Kendergartner!  Yes, can't even stand still for a still photo.

Next was KaCe's field day.  It was SO cold.  I had layers and layers on including long handles. So I went to the side of the building and stayed there watching.  Pansy?  Yup!!  Ethan using the slide improperly.

Ethan and tether ball

KaCe getting ready for basketball.


Notice the little boy with the ball head - Aedan

Aedan driving the girls.

KaCe putting his bullet proof vest on.  Next came the helmut and the sheild.  Then they chased a bad guy.  Funny he was wearing a policeman's uniform.  Great fun!

Here he comes.  He's about the catch the bad guy.

A field day wouldn't be complete without running.

After the running he took pity on Grams and told us to go home.  We did.