A Refreshing Father's Day

(Get ready for a novel, but this one has pictures :) )

Our day didn't start off the best, but it turned around. I did make Jason a nice breakfast before church, but we were late in leaving and then we got stuck behind some slow drivers in a long construction zone on the only road to Cody, which takes us 30 min to get to church. I arrived at church after our Pastor was up asking for announcements and I had to walk on the stage to take my place at the keyboard, only to have my two chairs I had stacked as my seat to clang together as I sat down, while it's totally silent of course. Anyways, no harm done but a little blush to the cheeks. We were to have lunch with Jason's cousin Jessica but we postponed it because we were headed up to a private guest ranch our friends John and Theresa are working at on the North Fork to Yellowstone.
Jason and I worked at a public guest ranch the first summer we were married and even though we loved it, the working conditions and living conditions weren't ideal. John and Theresa have quite the opposite. A brother and sister own the place and they have their friends and families come up at different times of the summer as their private getaway. It is far more laid back than where Jason and I worked. We ran from 6am-10:30 pm 6 days a week and catered to anyone who drove off the road up to our lodge. That not how it works here. Theresa and John have been blessed with a NICE HOUSE! This is a far cry from the 1970's camper we slept in and watched movies in up by the horse corrals. They even have running water. That would have been a luxury for us. No running water meant no bathroom where we were at.
How would you like this picture coming out your front door?
We thought it was going to rain the whole time we were there, but the sun came out and it got warm, but it smelled so clean and cool. It was so refreshing!

We got the grand tour and Katelyn got to meet the animals.
This was Norma Jean. We went on a walk a fair ways down the drive to the river, and she followed us all the way there and back, like a little puppy dog.

These were Scotch and Soda. They were very friendly and loved each other.


"Do you wanna see my rock?"


Then Mr. John showed her the horses.


"Hi horses!"


"Whoa, what is that thing?" ( That's the horse talking)


Then Norma the cat came up for a visit while Katelyn sat on her new favorite chair on the porch watching the humming birds come to the feeder. The boys were off shooting guns at the owners little outdoor target course close to the house.

After supper and a much needed cat nap for the babes, Jason took her out to see the "lawn mowers". They have two retired horses they leave out during the day to graze certain areas. These horses are both old and have worked their days. They are just living the high life as glorified lawn mower and ornaments. Jason threw Katelyn up on ol' Jesse, which didn't seem to faze him. So Katelyn has officially had her first horseback ride.

We all took a downhill walk to the raging river, where Katelyn threw rocks into the water. Her new favorite past time and her new fetish is rocks! The uphill walk was a little harder than downhill and left me breathless at times. I do have to say that it was better than any treadmill and something I need to do more of. My muscles are still feeling it. Katelyn's walking is more my speed and even she did really well. Of course we had to stop every so often and pick up the precious rocks we found on the gravel road. She is her father's daughter.

We just had such a relaxing, fun day and there was no cell phone reception, so Jason's phone wasn't ringing like it usually does. It was a great get away and something I'm sure we will do more of before John and Theresa leave.


So to my dad and all dad's out there Happy Father's Day!!!