The Month of July

Okay~ so I have been horrible about keeping up with my blog this last month. We have been busy with what summer has to offer. For those of you not from around here, Laramie only has 3 to 4 months of amazing weather~so it is important to enjoy them to the fullest before they fade away into the dreaded winter. So, here is a recap of our July...

4th of July

Lance, Simret, and I went to visit my biological sister, Jessica and her boyfriend Tony in Story, Wyoming for the weekend...and let me tell you...they live in a little piece of heaven. They have this gorgeous little house in the woods with wildlife everywhere. There were deer in their back yard; in fact, most of the houses in Story don't grow flowers because the deer eat them-or they have to fence them off.

Simret watched her first fireworks in a neighboring town called Big Horn (because Story is too small to have its own fireworks). She loved them...it was 10:30pm before they even started (way past her bed time) and she just sat there mesmerized for an hour.

We also went fly-fishing on the 4th-Simret allowed me to fish for an hour-while she sat in my little front pack for her. She loved watching the running water and flip my fly rod back and forth...she thought it was so funny....laughing with every stroke. I didn't catch any fish...but had a great time!

a hike we went on (Jess, Tony, Lance, Simret and I) only minutes from my little sister's new house.
Fly fishing with Simret in my front pack...I fished for about an hour while she cheered me on by clapping the whole time!

Uncle Tony

Simret and her Aunt Jess


Simret watching her first fireworks...she loved them...she seemed mesmerized by them. Simret loves dogs...I mean she loves them; especially when they give her kisses...she returns the kiss, but it is usually open mouthed?

July 5th~We went to visit my adopted mom for the day before we headed back to Laramie. Simret found this toy in her basement and just started to walk around the house, pushing it by herself. I was amazed-as I have never seen her walk by herself? She usually wants me to hold her hands while she walks. This toy could be dangerous...I am afraid!

July 6th~Simret in the bike carriage...headed to the park to do her favorite activity: swing!

July 12th~Our community had its annual summer celebration this weekend. Simret went on her first carnival ride...with her friends Tayler and Ty; as the grown-ups enjoyed the brew festival in the park. What more could you ask for in a weekend: live music, good friends, and beer...in the Laramie sun. Did I mention how much I love summer here?

July 18-24th~My best girlfriend from college, Aurora, came to visit! So, I took the week off to spend it with her. We had an amazing time! We went to the Mile High Music Festival; where I of course fell in love with a couple band members...I am such a groupie...I have a thing for guys, and for that matter girls, that are talented musically. My mother (adopted) watched Simret (overnight) so that we could go to the festival. It was my first night without her...and yes I called about every four hours during the day until she fell asleep for the night. Simret did great...it was my mother who I should have been worried about...I think that it took her 2 weeks to recover from the 30 hours she spent with Simret! For those of you that don't know...Simret is a busy girl...she is nonstop from the time that she wakes in the morning until nap and then she is off again until the next nap or bedtime. She is what books refer, in a kind manner, as a "spirited child". I wouldn't have her any other way though!

We went floating down the Big Laramie River on tubes one day, went hiking/biking in the mountains another day, and found time to reminisce throughout her visit. It had been 8 years since she had been to Laramie...so we had to go visit all of our old college hang-outs. We hadn't seen each other in about 5 years...but it felt like only yesterday once we were together. We ran out of gas and got a speeding ticket, just on our journey back from the Denver airport. Good times! Anyway, I miss her so much and wish she would move back; although, I swear that when she is around my IQ drops dramatically...and I find myself having another adventure...but I guess that is what best friends are all about?

Aurora and Simret...

July 25th~

Time with Daddy...

July 26th~

Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants; Jeffery's. This is what is meant by a "spirited child". In fact, I am reading the book Spirited Child...I will let you what I think when I am done.

July 27th~Playing with Daddy in the front yard...as you can see...she is drooling like crazy...yup you guessed it more teeth! She is working on number 9 and 10? The leg-warmers are to protect her poor little knees while she is crawling...she is starting to get calluses on her knees from crawling around.

Napping in the back yard...