Trip to Wyoming

Several weeks ago we started having problems with our well. At the time we believed it was running dry due to lack of rain and my watering of the yard. Logic said that if we just let the well alone as much as possible it would recover. The problem was that the temperatures were in the hundreds and we use a ground water heat pump. A ground water heat pump uses well water to heat and cool a house. A very efficient system but one that needs the well in order to provide air conditioning. All this means that living with out water was more serious than just having to use the neighbors home for showers. We bought a window A/C unit and set it up in the living room and waited to see if the well got better. It didn't, so we thought maybe the best thing to do was to leave the house for several days. Since our friends the "B's" had just moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming and we had a trip already planed to visit them later in the summer we just decided to go sooner. In two days time we took off to the much cooler hills and mountains of Wyoming.

Of course as Murphy's Law would have it we found out before we left that there was in fact enough water in the well but we still didn't know what was wrong with it. We called the professionals and they put us on a two week waiting list to get service. Still a good reason to get out of town.
Here is the crew on the first evening we arrived. When Mike got off work we headed out for a hike. The air was chilly enough to warrant carrying jackets. Much better than the furnace (our home state) we left behind.

rock climbing

Vedauwoo, a small portion of Medicine Bow National Park. It sits 30-40 minutes from Cheyenne and is several impressive piles of rocks. There were lots of boulders to climb for the kids and big stuff for the climbers who use ropes. On the last day we took the kids to do some bouldering. They had been itching to do so for quite some time and we turned them loose. It did lead to some stress for us adults, but in the end no one got hurt and everyone had fun.

and off they go...

Here is the gang on top of one the the smaller rocks that's on top of more big rocks.

Nora mastering the "mountain".

Dassah, Nathaniel's "favorite friend".


Tim and Dassah taking an easier route to the top.

My Tim-O-T

Nathaniel being entirely too serous for his personality.

extra pictures

Chad's favorite picture. The pronghorn were everywhere. I love this picture because of the clouds, they were so much more dramatic in WY. Heather thinks it is the high altitude that brings them closer. What ever it is I love the bright blue sky and the clouds.

Nathaniel being cute.

The "B's"

Chad on babysitting duty while we bouldered. He is holding Ben, the "B's" youngest. He apparently had a strong opinion about being left with someone other than mom.

Mika

This was the first vacation we took Mika on and she loved it! She loves hiking at home but even more so in the mountains. At the "B's" she got to play with Ajax and became great pals with him. Now that we are home Mika runs to get in the van any chance she gets with hopes of going back to Wyoming.

Mika and Ajax

Dassah's Birthday

While it was early by several weeks we celebrated Dassah's birthday in Wyoming. She is the "B's" second child and Nathaniel's "favorite friend". The older kids decorated the cake and surprised her. Doesn't she make a darling birthday girl?


The party

Dassah opening her present from Nathaniel.

We now think Wyoming is the place to visit in July and August, but not the winter. I have never seen snow fences so big or so sturdy. An ominous omen for the "B's".

When we arrived home my father (bless his soul!) had just finished replacing our well with help from the family and a friend. It took a couple of days to straighting things out but we believe everything is running fine now. Knock on wood!