Life Is But A Dream...

...at least that's the way it has seemed the last few weeks!

It's been a busy three weeks since my last post! Besides catching up with a bunch of orders, I have spent the last three days at the hospital with my hubby. He just had knee replacement surgery and will be coming home tomorrow. So hope things will get back to SOME normalcy around here.

Today was also the first day of school for my youngest. He is a freshman this year in high school. From past experience, I know the next four years will fly by! So it was a bittersweet day for me. I wish there were some way to slow it down...

It's been a week since I flew back home after moving my daughter, Katie, to Michigan. She is working at the Grand Rapids Press as a photographer. It's only a nine-month internship...I keep telling myself that and she does as well. I know she's homesick and hope and pray after this job is over she will be able to find a permanent position somewhere a little closer to home.

But moving her out there was so much fun...a week I will always treasure! It was such a wonderful trip and the one-on-one time I had with her made it even more special. We talked more during that week than probably all together the last five years since she graduated from high school! We decided to make it a sightseeing trip along the way. Here are a few pics from our trip.
Katie and I both love those weird and wacky roadside attractions. Our first stop was in Ellensburg, WA, at this interesting house. Both of the above photos were taken there. The house and yard took up the whole block and was pretty much decorated every inch of the way!

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Our second stop along the way was in Granger, WA. Katie had to stop here because it boasted having a volcano toilet. However, what we discovered was much more. Everywhere you turned there were prehistoric animals! It was so interesting seeing all the dinosaurs and wondering where the next one would pop up...or in this case pop OUT!

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Our first stop that night was at a college friend of Katie's outside Hailey, ID. We arrived at night, and once we reached Hailey, we still had to travel down a long and remote road to get to her house. Fortunately, Katie had been there before and knew where to go. It was pitch black and I can't remember the last time I'd seen so many stars! Anyway, the next morning I couldn't believe what I saw! This place, albeit off the beaten path, was absolutely beautiful. And her parent's home was so unique! That's their home above. It's sits across the road from several old, abandoned mines up in the mountains.
And her backyard view was gorgeous!

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After having breakfast with Katie's friend, we continued on our journey. First stop that day was at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Very interesting place.

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We drove on across Idaho and into Wyoming. We've been through here many times, but the Grand Tetons never cease to amaze me!

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It was getting late in the day and I knew we wouldn't have too much time in Yellowstone, so I stopped at a couple of my favorite geyser basins.
We were in Norris Geyser Basin and it was starting to get dark. We were blessed with this gorgeous sunset! By the time we left Norris it was pretty much dark. Katie was driving as we traveled over to Canyon and the East Entrance of Yellowstone. No street lights in Yellowstone...just total darkness. So it was quite startling, to say the least, when Katie almost hit a buffalo that had parked itself along the side of the road!

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After staying in Cody that night, we got up bright and early as we had so much driving and so much more we wanted to see! On to South Dakota and our first stop...Mt. Rushmore.

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WHY we always have to stop here, I'll never know. Maybe it's all the signs you see along the way!

But we did, and Katie met up with another OLD friend of hers! hehe! I think she's arguing with the lady for cheating!

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From there we drove the loop through the Badlands. Once again, it was getting late in the day and I wanted to make it to Sioux Falls, SD, that night. It was midnight when we rolled into our hotel!

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The next day we made it to Chicago to visit family. I grew up with SIX older brothers. Three stayed in North Carolina and three moved to Chicago. So, half my family lives there. As a kid, I remember visiting Chicago every summer. And I had a brother who loved taking us everywhere! I LOVE this city!

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All my family actually live in suburbs of the city. But on our second day there, my nephew took us into Chicago. Seems every time I come here there's something new to see. This time it was THE BEAN! We were totally mesmerized by this thing!

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This is Katie in front of the bean. I love how it reflects the sky scrapers.

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And this is me, taking a picture of me, in the bean! hehe

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We didn't know until we got there that The Thunderbirds were in town and putting on a show. This was at the Navy Pier. It was so neat...and SO loud! LOVED IT!

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Our last stop before leaving the city was Wrigley Field. My brother use to take me to White Sox games when I'd visit, but I've never seen a game here. I'd love to one day!

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That night all the family got together at a good friend's Polish restaurant. We had perogies and stuffed cabbage, and potato pancakes, and kielbasa and so much more! Katie and I were in hog heaven!

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After dinner, we went back to a nephew's house. This is him getting ready to take Katie for a spin on his Harley. I wasn't very happy with the NO HELMET law they have there. She had a blast, though!

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The next morning we got up and headed for our last stop...Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's only three hours from Chicago, and I hope Katie will take advantage of that. I stayed a couple of more days and helped her get settled in. It was hard to leave her, but I know she's a big girl and she will be fine. I keep telling myself she'll be home in no time.

This is the boarding house she is living in. She shares a suite in the upper right side with another gal. She has her own room and a nice little sun room where she can cook and watch TV. Rent is cheap and it's close to where she works.

And now I must go...I have an urge to call her! LOL! ~~Annie