Camping in Medicine Bow National Forest

Wow, after sitting at the computer for 2 hours working with photobucket I finally figured out how to put a slide show on my blog. YOU had better enjoy and say all sorts of wonderful things about me! Ok, the normal person would have figured it out in 5 min. Well now that I am all stressed out from the computer, let me tell you about our vacation. We headed to Wyoming on Wed afternoon. We planned to camp in the Medicine Bow National Park. We called ahead to find the best camp ground and to make sure that we didn't need extra protection from bears. We got to the first camp sight in plenty of time to set up before dark. Unfortunately there were not a lot of sights available, and those that were had no trees around them. (Pine beetles have hit this area hard, and the forest service has had to cut a lot of trees down so they don't fall on campers) So we head to the next camp sight, Sugar Loaf. There are more openings here, but surly there is a better one down the road! Story of my life. To make a long story short, after visiting another sight, and turning around 4 miles into a 14 mile trip to another camp ground, we ended up back at Sugar Loaf, setting up in the dark. No fire, No enjoying the evening, just off to bed. The next morning, Mark and I were up bright and early. I headed to the bathroom, and on my way back I heard someone walking behind me. I turn and look, and there is a big bull Moose. I whisper Yell at Mark, as the dog is coming out to greet me and the Moose. Mark grabs the dog, hands him to me and heads for the camera. My Hero! Luckily the Moose just wanted to get out of camp, and was not in a fighting mood. After the girls got up, we went for a hike, and played in the snow, on August 1st! We ended up moving camp sights that morning, as we were in one that was reserved for Aug. 2nd. We were able to do the red neck moving of the camper which involved sliding one bed in, keeping the camper raised and driving really slow to the next camp sight. Unfortunately then next camp sight was on the other side of the camp ground, so everybody got to see the move. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of that. That afternoon, the rain clouds came up, and dumped on us. The parents of the group decided that this was a good time for a nap. We ended up eating in the camper, but the rain did stop long enough to get a camp fire going so we could sit and enjoy. The weather temps were great if you were an Eskimo! That night at 8:00 pm the temp was already 48. The next day we headed to Saratoga WY. There is a hot spring there, and more importantly Hot Showers! We were starting to smell each other! After doing some work on the computer I brought just in case, we headed back to the camp sight. Saturday, we headed home, but stopped in Laramie at the Wyoming Territory Prison. We had a good time, but did not stay as long as I would have liked, as we had a dog in the car that was getting hot as his shade moved. We are home now, working on the laundry and getting ready to go back to work. Next week, the girls and I will head back to Cheyenne to shop for school clothes, while Mark stays and works, and the dog guards the house. Hope this isn't the last blog for a while. Will try to do better now that I know how to get the pictures on!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  Ok so it's a little late, but that has become a theam with my blog, and I would hate to change things and mess everyone up.

My plan was to not stress about the Christmas letter this year, and simply write one on New Year's after all the Christmas rush was over.  Well you know what they say about best laid plans...  I guess I had too much Christmas, because a head cold with killer sore throat hit me New Years Eve day, and I was down for the count.  So, I guess those that read my blog will be the only ones to see my Christmas Letter this year.  Ok, maybe an abbreviated Christmas letter, as most of you who read this will have read previous blogs of mine.

Kyra got braces on her teeth on New Years Eve day.  Since I was sick, Mark and Lexi took her over to Scottsbluff to get them on.  She hurt for only a day or 2, and seems to be doing fine, as long as she doesn't play "spoons" and get elbowed in the mouth by her Pastor.  She had a multi cultural fair at school this year.  Her country was the Netherlands.  Texas Grandma made a costume for her to wear, and a nice patient of mine, lent her some wooden shoes to wear also.  She and her Dad made a wooden windmill, and all her artifacts and landscape items went on a table to display to the school and the community.  She had so much fun researching and finding everything, and so did her parents.  She just had the food day (everyone brings in food from their country for the class to try) this last Friday.  Kyra and I made a "Thousand Layer Cake", which took forever as each layer had to be cooked under the broiler for 2 min, and there were 12 layers.

Lexi is a teenager.  Enough said!  She has discovered boys, or should I say they have discovered her.  No fears, Mark got a new gun for Christmas, and is not afraid to use it!  Lexi's "boyfriend" was here for Christmas this year.  His name is Zac, and he lives in Michigan.  He is the nephew of our minister and his wife.  I have never heard so much giggling in my life!  Zac is a good kid, but kinda glad he lives hundreds of miles away.  I am not ready for my baby to be dating.  We did let them go out to dinner one night while Zac was here, but had spies in the restaurant that reported back to us.  Yes, we really did.  After the date, we picked them up and they came out here and watched a movie with the entire family.  The day Zac left, Lexi started practice for her traveling basketball team.  We will have 3 tournaments, and all of them will be closer this year.

Mark continues work at 21st Century Equipment.  He has really gotten back into hunting this year, bringing home 3 deer, that have to be cut up on my clean counters.  I hate the outdoor channel!  Actually it is good exercise for him, and since someone else is going to make the sausage and jerky, it's a win for me.  Mark has spent most every weekend, but when he was working, since the fire fixing fence at the ranch.  They are done for the winter, as the ground it too frozen to do anything, but will start again this spring I am sure.

I continue to work for the local hospital, but work everywhere but in town most of the time.  I mostly split my time between Sidney or Scottsbluff nursing home, and sometimes do both in the same day.  Not much has happened with me this year, so will not talk about boring things!

We hope everyone has a blessed New Year!
The Douthits