Family makes the world go 'round...

 (The above picture so cracks me up - me, my sister Jamie, my cousin Meg rockin out hard (because apparently that's what we did in the 80's) and my sister Jodi looks like the goodie-too-shoes - who is thinking "Oh I am so gonna tell mom and dad")

After our weekend in Sheridan we headed to my home town - Miles City.  I love going home - staying my parents is so wonderfully relaxing.  I love sipping coffee on my parents deck - so nice - even when it's hot their swing in the shade is dreamy.  Spending time with my parents, grandma, aunt, cousin, sister, bil and nieces is always a wonderful time.
I wish I would have had more time for visiting while I was home (I think the kids got a little bored with me working so much).  I did a lot of jewelry making - a last minute rush to be fully "stocked" for my first trunk show.  It was a very successful show.  I loved it.  (Here's where I hang my head and whisper)  Man was I unorganized.  I learned many a lessons.  Like:
*Don't forget to get change.
*Good lighting is essential.
*Price and label pieces as I make them to save lots of stress and worry later.
*Better signage.
*Need a better display system.....
Really I could do a whole blog post on tips for a better trunk show...hmmm...maybe one for a future Star Hitched wagon blog post.  But over all a successful show - had lots of help that I REALLY appreciated (Mom and Jodi's baking, Meg pricing, mom running to get change, Jodi's organizing and "ringing" people up)

After 5 days in MC we all headed to Ennis to stay with my sister and her fam - and to celebrate her birthday - 80's style.  What a blast. 

Yeah we are cool - we know it.  The outfits cracked me up - big huge bright plastic jewelry, mesh shirt, pegged jeans, big hair, side ponies, multi-layered socks, pink shirt and blazers for boys, lots of bright makeup.

The rest of the week was spent enjoying each other's company and the beautiful scenery around Ennis.  We told ghost stories around the camp fire (ok mom and Carol and the kids did - oh how cute they were), Jamie and Dad did a little deck dancing (pictures below) - really just having a wonderful time.  I love Ennis!!  (oh and I won a 50/50 pot at the Ennis 4th of July parade - woohoo)

Above - Dad and Jamie deck dancing and singing to a little Lady Antebellum - hilarious.  This is why I love my family - never a dull moment.

We did get to spend some time in Virginia and Nevada City - it's such a wonderful place.

 My beautiful auntie Carol!!

I love being with my family - the people I can laugh with - those who think I am funny when no one else does.  We love lots and laugh lots!  These are my people......I love you and miss you guys.....

More photos in and around Ennis:

Thank for sticking with me for that long - it's so hard to weed out images when you take well over 1000 photos - especially when they are such great memories/moments or breathtaking scenery....

Wordless Wednesday: Avalanche Creek Gorge Glacier Park

We interupt this program.....

....to bring you - Connor!!!  :)

My dear son has had really long hair for the past couple of years!  Really I can't even remember when he had super short hair maybe when he was 8????

So check him out.....

Before

After

I hardly recognize him!!!  What a handsome guy....

Good friends

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
- Bernard Meltzer

That's these guys - they love me at my best and at my worst - or at least I hope they do!  :)  I love them unconditionally - not that they have a "worst"!!!!  These are my whatever friends - friends who to laugh with, cry with, drink with, dance with, be crazy with, walk with, visit with - no judging - just good friends!  Friends who I miss terribly!  
I love you guys!!!

I enjoyed my days in Sheridan.  A great way to start a great trip.  So good to hang out and catch up.  My dear friends Kim and Eric have the most wonderful front porch on their beautiful home - makes coffee so much better.  And their back yard is a retreat I tell you.  Such an amazing friend.  Kindred spirits we are.

Catching up and hanging out with Denise and Dave and Logan and Levi - oh I wish I would have brought my camera to the park - her boys are so sweet!!!  Denise I miss ya deary...you are such a terrific friend! 

 And sweet Annie....never a dull moment....beautiful and fun.

Ok guys I have come back to Sheridan many a times now it's your turn to come visit me (Denise you rock - you've been here twice since we moved - love ya) - or at least let's plan a girls weekend....

Slowly....

.....trudging back into the waters of blogging!  :)  It's hard to get started again after being gone for so long....
But I do have a ton to share - amazing photos from my most fabulous month long get-a-way to Montana and Wyoming.  Yup - you heard me right - almost 4 whole weeks.  Our journey began on Thursday, June 24th and ended Monday, July 19th.

We visited:

Sheridan

(I love these girls)

Miles City - sadly I have not a single photo from Miles City!!!  :(

Ennis

 

Virginia City

Nevada City

Butte

Missoula - darn it Macey has some good ones somewhere!

Big Fork

Whitefish

Glacier

and Bozeman

All of this equals perfection.....lots of family - lots of fun!!!
I even squeezed in a most successful trunk show at mom and dad's!!!  Woohoo!!!  (Can I just add really quick how great Star Hitched Wagon™ has been doing the last few months - lots of new customers, lots of sales - the dream I tell you.....)
I really miss family being out here in Nebraska.  When we were in Wyoming I didn't go over 6 - 8 weeks without seeing someone in our family - now sometimes we go a full 6 months.  It sucks to be perfectly honest.  So this trip made up for that.
Another big reason I decided to take this trip is that our boys are becoming city boys (Macey does ok)  and that doesn't thrill me.....I see why - we don't live an outdoorsy life much at all anymore.  I wanted to make sure that during this trip they had little game and computer and tv time and tons of outdoor time.  I think I achieved that.  We loved it - we did miss Steve though - a lot!!!!  And our Sadie girl....
And one last thing

(so not a good photo of me - but the only one of the "road trip")
I feel a bit braver now - this trip was a big deal (to me) - I did it by myself (sort of - the kids were great company and great help) I logged a ton of miles on the ole Suburban and I was thrilled to be doing so!!!  Can I just say - dang that Deborah Garmin get's you from place to place easily....:)
More details will come - like an 80's party, deck dancing, ghost stories by the fire pit, 50/50 winnings, 4th of July parade, creeks and rivers and lakes - oh my! And lots of family!!!
I just found my camera cord this afternoon - I have a ton of editing to do and this was about all I could handle.  So much beauty I promise....

The Bright Side Project....

Check out Star Hitched Wagon on The Bright Side Project!!!