It has been a month

In the sense that it has literally been a month since I posted, and in the sense that it has just been a month. I'm in a bit of a low point, but I'm trying to just keep pushing forward and keep my head up. As my good friend Dory says, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming!"

So. In the past month. Carmen tore his achilles and was put in a cast/boot with no weight bearing at all for about a month. I gave a speech in front of 900 people. We spent a week in Idaho/Wyoming in the Tetons and a week in Seattle. And now it's ESPY week and Carmen will be in L.A. until sometime Thursday.

There have been good things too: Jayden rode a horse for the first time and loved it. Dakota touched snow for the first time and was completely confused. Jayden spent three days at kids camp and has been talking about it ever since.  Both Dakota and Jayden were completely adored and doted on by anyone and everyone who saw them - family members, fellow travelers, random people on the street, etc. I got a week or so of not putting Dakota to bed, thanks to my mom and sister, which was a mixed blessing. Dakota took her first steps!

That's the summary. There are so many little stories, I'll try to tell them here and there, but mostly I'll just get some pictures up. This is June 14 to June 30.  I'll put up July in a separate post.  This is already going to be the world's longest blog post.  Ack!

Jayden's hair! This is a pre-father's day father's day picture. :)

A funny picture for Gramma's birthday. 

Out to lunch for father's day. Check out Jayden's outfit - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shorts pajamas. Amazing.

Beautiful Mt. Rainier.

Enjoying the plane.

Freedom! After a day of airplanes, everyone was happy to be off the plane and on the way to dinner.

Beautiful Idaho roads. I only sort of got us lost going to the hotel. But we got some amazing views out of the deal!

Enjoying the view from the Snake River on a scenic river float with my cousins.

A bald eagle.

At dinner with the baby girl.

Sunset in Idaho.

Cousins, after a scavenger hunt, ice cream sundaes, volleyball, a campfire and s'mores.  Seriously the best vacation.

Jayden and Gramma on our "walk" that lasted 7-1/2 minutes until Jayden had to pee.

Cousins.

Ferrin girls.

Everything is funny!

Ferrin girls on a wildlife tour - after a very early morning wakeup.

View of the Snake River.

Bison. 

The most photographed barn in America.  I mean, the backdrop.

Horses!

Cows, while riding horses.

Me and my horse. After Peanut was kicked by Ashley, my sister's horse, we got along well.

Jayden's first (and second) horseback ride. I was so proud of him. He loved it.

That smile. There is nothing better.

Wildflowers!

At kids camp - playing tennis!

Auntie helping a mama out with some tired kiddos.

No, it's cool. We're not afraid of heights - look at our smiles! (riding the tram up from Teton Village on my birthday).

Yup, a really amazingly beautiful day: 72 degrees at 10,000+ feet.

And the view. It was actually breathtaking, with the cloud shadows, and the snow and the green. Just incredible.
Also, every path down was either a black diamond or double black diamond. Even when I was at my best skiing, I don't know that I'd brave those runs. 

SNOW! Turns out, snow is wet and cold. But still fun.

The view from the gondola, which *only* went to about 9,000 feet.  Through the Wyoming state logo.

Poppa!
(Poppa was brave enough to hike from 10,000 to 9,000 feet - and then he pocket dialed Carmen 7 times in a row and Ellen and I were pretty sure he'd fallen and was trying to summon us. Turns out he was just being careful, which we appreciated. But all of us Ferrin girls are pretty good at imagining the worst!)

Pedicures with my sizzle. The best, even if a little blurry.

Family silliness.

Maybe one of the best cakes ever.  Polar bear!!!

And really, the only way to end a birthday, a Ferrin/Wallace family dance party in the living room, featuring "Can't Stop the Feeling," "Uptown Funk," and "Happy," of course!

What happens when Jayden gets a hold of the camera on my phone.  Just you wait.

More Jayden photos. It's actually pretty impressive that he got both of us mostly in the frame,

And some more Jayden originals.  I honestly have no idea.

And then it rained. So, clearly when it rains you have a dance party outside that also includes races, running in circles and pretty awesome posing from Auntie and Jayden. Until the lightning shows up, then Jayden tells you to get inside, stat!

Yup, that's right.

And more. Amazing.

We made it to Seattle!  

Ferry boat, Jayden and Gramma.
Check out Jayden's traveling outfit: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajamas that I bought him just a few months ago that are already a little too short for him. They're size six, for goodness sakes!  I measured him this morning, and he is now just over 49 inches. That means he has grown about 3 inches since his birthday. I honestly cannot keep up if he grows three inches a year.  That is insanity.

And now it's my bedtime.  Here's hoping I get to sleep through the night tonight. Fingers crossed! More pictures from Seattle, the last week or so, and the videos to come.  Maybe tomorrow, but maybe later this week, depending on how work goes.  Ugh.