Convention was the best ever. How could we ever explain?
I enjoyed so many things including the scenery all the way to and from, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are all beautiful and the greenest I have seen them in many years. The grass is so long and lush, the rivers were roaring and some where still muddy, especially in Wyoming. Clean mountain air and beautiful sky's will not soon be forgotten. And the smell of sage!!! How I love and miss it.
But as lovely as all that was, it is the people that we saw and the message we heard that is the nearest and dearest to me. So for my own memories sake I will list in no particular order some that we saw that have made me very thankful and make me feel more....whole. You may know some of them too. Of course listing them by first name only, you'll have to guess-
Dad and Elaine;Lana and Graham; Ty; Alisa; Lorraine and Rich; Virginia, Damon, Jessica, Amber, Amy, and Mitchel; Jean and Brian, with all of their 5 children; Karen and Dave; Will and Shelley and boys; Scott and Rene with Chet and one on the way; Aunt Dorothy; Jim and Gwen; Nate and Lorraine with Sawyer; Jim, his mom Jane, and sister Debbie, Scott and Lisa and 3 children, Lisa and husband who I can't quite remember his name, twin sister to Elaine, and their two girls, Will and Kathy, Susie and George, Press and Nelda, Carrie T. and daughter Sandy, Albert and Sherri T., and the rest of the T. crew Eric P; Jana P, Eacel and Dennis and family; George and Cammy L with all of thier children; Morris and Milly and all their girls with their families; Wayne and Wanda; Brett; Shawna M; Randy and Sandy M and all their kids, Harold M and grandson; Lillian M; Meryle D and all his girls (and families) ; Ed and Teri and all the kids with families; Bonnie and Darrel, Lex; Roger and Dawn; Donna from Riverton, Debbie L (maiden name) from Albin girls- Ainslee and Lindsey, and Todd L daughter; Tyler G;Lorna and Garland; Joni and family; Carilee? and her beau....just a beginning I am sure but I have enjoyed thinking of each and every one as they come to mind!
So sweet to see all and there were many I had hoped to see who weren't able to come due to age or work- Uncle Andy, Eli and Michelle and new baby....etc.
I also saw many of my fellow bloggers who I only know slightly, and unfortunately for me I had several bouts of shyness that did not allow me to introduce myself and get to know you one on one. For that I am very sorry!
Another regret is that I was so in the moment, every moment (thankfully) that I forgot to take pictures!
Tim had to do a lot of prep work on the peeling paint but already it is looking better.
And now it is all matchy-matchy with the house.
And with my car for that matter! (Beth's sister Ginny says that I am the only person she knows who has matching accessories for our house.) Funny.
Gentry did not have a successful putting-in-culvert session for our VR neighbor (the man did not have what was needed to complete the job), so he picked huckleberries to relieve stress, or more probably because he just wanted to. The pie crust looks very hopeful, not beautiful since it was made in a quick hurry but the texture looks like it might be what I have been hoping to achieve...maybe I will get this figured out? And the filling....it will be amazingly huckleberry!! Yum!!!
Remember this sweet little home? I have been showing and showing and showing this house, taking applications, calling references, and showing it again. I like this little house but I want this process to be over! I have had a slew of tatooed folks come through, 3-4 young working divorced women with a child, lots of calls from people who want to have dogs, (no), parents looking for thier children, or grandchildren...and on and on. Sigh. The ideal I keep looking for: A young couple, both working, who look at the big lawn with delight and ambition!
I love this picture! But then, I was having fun and even getting a couple smooches with my eyebrow flirting friend, then there is Luke, getting ready for pictures includes cleaning out the proboscis, Brian, is obviously taken with the view, Andrea and Micah have matching poses, Victoria is having sweet moments with Danny, Beth is getting ready, the back sides of the boys are a nice contrast, and Grant has matching pant legs in this picture.
Ryan and Jennifer: This would be a better looking picture if you were here too...we missed you!
As it turned out we girls were not any more cooperative for the camera than the boys. These are the best of the bunch. Here we have Andrea epitomizing the words, "Mother of all boys!" She is tough!
And Beth is welcoming anyone else who would like to join?
They may be tougher, smarter, and younger- but I will always have the height advantage! HA! We sure had fun together.
The beginning of the uncooperative modeling. Aren't we proud to know...who is that goof at the end?
I made them turn around...they are a clever bunch.
And oh so handsome!
Trying a little harder.
Pops, this is your fault! (Just trying to look respectable.)
Well, the lake and the mountains are beautiful and the boys...we still have work to do girls.
Future convention water pourers in training. They were very good comrades in this worthy endevour.
And more work being done, ice cream in the making.
Can you tell that she is getting faint from waiting? Goofy kid.
Success! 
The requisite marshmallow, I have to say that this one looks perfect! I want one just like that...now.
The working man's pants, can get a bit doity.
Sharing his ice cream....aww! (Well, who knows what he was sharing?)
Happy ice cream face!
Assembly of the Origami Swan was put to by these brothers. It held the usual intrigue.
Waiting in the shade was prudent and they had the best seats for the circus that was unfolding. Horses going down to the water to drink, assembly of above mentioned boat, overloading a boat with gear, kids, wife, and dog and other folks leaving, also with a couple of dogs. 4th of July weekend is a busy place on a body of water.
Brett took a spill off Mom and Dads bed and got some angry looking marks. In spite of that he is a very handsome fellow.
Grant was not waiting for the boats to get in the water. He was in that very cold water for several hours. Good thing it was such a hot day!
This is one of my favorite pictures - I love the reflections.
Nap time?
Victoria was brave to get in the boat with such an inexperienced skipper.
Brian shuttled all the kids and Andrea back to the other side while some of us stayed and provided fresh meat for hungry mosquitoes. Oops, left the skeeter dope on the other side!
Anyone know what kind of flower this is?
Relaxing.....this was definitely taken after we found the deet.
We enjoyed a pre-camping camping trip with Troy and the boys. Beth stayed behind to go to a bridal shower, and then the kids and I left for Wyoming from camp. Helped make the day a little shorter for driving. Troy helped Gentry get things ready for the rest of the crew coming in a couple of weeks. Danny was dragging around a shovel right before I took this picture, I missed that shot but this is pretty cute too. 
A couple of our young friends work at this fine eating establishment that cooks up great burgers, fries and malts, so we had to go try it out to celebrate the last day of school! I loved the oldies music and the food was awesome!
Lisa was able to join us since she stayed with Beth for a few days while her parents were away for a funeral. Afterwards, Beth and I went shopping and what a fun and successful little "quick run to make a return" we had! Bonus!
