Vacation!!!

It's amazing what a little time away can do for the body and soul. I just returned from being off work for 10 full days, and I couldn't feel better!! The last weekend in June, I traveled to Lindsborg for Holly Higbee's wedding, and then headed west to join Gage and the rest of the family for wheat harvest! Harvest was nearly done by the time I got to Dighton, but I enjoyed some wonderful, restful time with everyone on the farm. When harvest was completed, Gage and I took some time and headed over to Scott Lake and Camp Lakeside. We were so sad that neither Keith nor Andie were there, but we still enjoyed checking out the facility updates and hiking around. One thing I did NOT enjoy was seeing the horse corrals gone ... so sad. I tortured Gage with memories of hours and hours spent in those corrals. Gage yelled at me for climbing up here - said I would drop Peanut on his head. I told him I was simply developing a sense of adventure in our child. However, a word of caution to other preggos: a hike that was easy 10+ years ago, may not seem so easy now. Correction: the hike may not seem bad, but your body will protest later! I'm certainly starting to feel pregnant. The camp looked so beautiful! Lakeside always has and always will be my favorite sanctuary. After our hike, we met Libby at the hospital, where she did our first ultrasound. Now, I have to admit that for the most part when people talk about pregnancy as being "magical", I usually look at them like they are crazy (think swollen feet after hiking ... pure magic ...). But, seeing my baby for the first time was .... amazing. There is no other word for it. I of course cried like an idiot. (oh yeah ... another "magical" thing - pregnancy hormones). I will try to remember to scan the sonogram pics later. Libby thought it looked like a boy, but told us to get it confirmed by someone else. :) A little boy .... amazing. That night, we went to Andy and Libby's for dinner and pool time for the kids. :) Mags in her ducky towel after a bath - so cute!!! Kalo's Uncle Gage taught him how to shoot off fireworks .... much fun! The many faces of Kalo :)

I also have some really sad news to share. Right before vacation, we lost Ellie. She was run over in our driveway on a hot, hot day ... probably trying to keep cool under the vehicle. It has been really hard of all of us - especially Emily. She wants to make a cross to put on her grave this weekend. We will miss you Ellie ...