Chicago

My last summer adventure.

Chicago.

Well, not really. More like Morris, IL. But who knows where that is? Not really anyway.

Let me tell you though, this town is cute with a capital C.

Imagine perfect historic houses, wrap around porches, white picket fences, red doors, beautifully landscaped. Yup, and my best friend lives there. With a husband, a baby, and two dogs. She literally has the American Dream.

It was so fun to go and be apart of it for a week.

We did a variety of baby friendly activities. We unpacked her house, organized, watched Olympics, cooked, shopped, and had an Olympic themed Bunco night. By the way Bunco is kinda a pain. It is all based on luck of the hand and guess what I lost all but 4 rounds. Literally. However, the present steal at the end was incredible, funny, and so much fun!

Oh! We also went to a Paint Nite. That is a really great activity! You pay some money and go paint with your friends and a bunch of strangers. Lets your creativity out. Loved it.

This cute town of Morris also had a vintage market and car show that we had a great time at.

We spent a lot of time inside. Have you been to IL in the summer? It is HUUUUUMMMMIIID. I would not survive there no matter how adorable it is.

Now I am home. Home for 6 days before school starts and it has been 24 hours and I am already to bored. I am glad that I literally only had 2 days home this whole time. Staying busy is tiring but exactly what I need.

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New Mexico

First up: Jemez Waterfall hike

5 miles, cliff climbing, natural swimming holes, hiking through the river

My favorite memory in NM by far

This hike was magical. 

On the way to this hike we passed a neat formation with a little cave:

Soda Falls: you can climb in that dark hole to the left, the right is a waterfall.

The rest of the week has been exploring during the day while J is at work and then adventures together at night. We had the most insane thunderstorm I've ever experienced. Lightening, hail, a true downpour, thunder:

Albuquerque bio park botanical gardens:

Double date night with Indian Food anD board games.

Hiking the petroglyphs national monument:

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Mesa Verde National Park

My fourth national park in four days... I've been busy. I got so lucky today. Woke up super early and couldn't go back to sleep bc I'm so excited to see Jeremy today. Arrived at the visitor center before it even opened hoping I could get a ticket to the cliff dwelling. When I got there the lady said it was sold out until 11:30 and I panicked. However, she said there might be a single ticket earlier and guess what there was one single ticked available for 9:30! So I snagged it! Now I'm waiting for the tour.

These cliff dwellings are something else. To think that a people saw a cave in a mountain and decided to build their community in the slot is mind boggling. 

I'm a little nervous of what I'm about to get myself into with ladders and heights but I know it will be worth it. 

Things are coming together nicely and I'm so blessed that it had all worked out and that I get to see so much beauty and so many parks!

Notes: 

I'm in cliff palace 

80-100 people lived here

Largest site in the park

600 sites in the park

Trees date between 12 and 1280 

80% moves into alcove sites for about 100 years then they move again

Moved from up above to down below

60-80 feet above of sandstone

120 feet below drop off

There is no such thing of wild corn it's cross pollination of two grasses

Depleted woods and soil so they had to leave 

800 years old built by hand!

Life expectancy: 35 years women height: 4'8 men ten years longer 5'

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Arches National Park

On my way to Albuquerque I planned to stop at Arches and Canyonlands. Due to time constraint I only made it to arches. 

The setting: 110 degrees, 1-5pm, the hottest part of the day.

The good: there were not very many people there.

The bad: it was HOT! Also not enough time to hike delicate arch so I need to go back.

The best: my favorite was the sand arch:

It was a short hike and through a canyon and lots of red sand. I poured so much of it out of my shoes!

The place was very beautiful especially the drive out. The views on the drive out are spectacular. Camera can't do justice, 

But it was beautiful!

There were so many different views and structures of rock. My suggestions: go in fall or spring and leave all day so you can do the hikes!

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Tetons/Jackson

The Tetons are stunning. This national park is so beautiful! The mountains are jagged and rough with snow peaks. They are unique and beautiful!

Here too, I need to revisit. I've been battling a cold which completely drained me of energy. Therefore we did not do any hikes but we did just marvel in the beauty. 

We stopped by Mormon row where they have preserved pioneer houses and barns. There was a field of buffalo as well. Most of these photos are on my camera. 

After our quick tour we went into Jackson Hole Wyoming, an adorable western town. The whole town keeps the theme. It's beautiful and the flowers were pretty too. We walked around and looked in the art galleries and little shops, just enjoying the atmosphere. 

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Yellowstone

Mikelle, Ali, and I headed out on a road trip to see some national parks. It's extra awesome because they happen to be Mikelle's favorite places so she is our tour  guide. 

Stop 1: Idaho Falls, Reed's Dairy

The best ice cream ever. They also make grilled cheese on homemade bread with their cheese and butter.

That stuff was good.

Stop 2: Mesa Falls. Talk about a beautiful place in Idaho!

Idaho is so pretty!

Stop 3: Montana: Hebgen Lake for our campsite and a little swimming!

We camped a little walk from the lake in a cute spot. 

The water was very cold but super clear! I've never seen lakes so clear! 

Next day: YELLOWSTONE

Every human needs to experience Yellowstone! It's beautiful! If you live in driving distance, no excuses!

How are these colors real?! Isn't this fabulous! And the steam was blue! I was awe struck.

Look at this! The water in the hot pots was crystal clear turquoise blue! It lured you to swim in it but some of them are 209 degrees! 

This place needs to be experienced!

It is so diverse too! This is their Grand Canyon and the water is green! Every turn is a new site! I took my real camera so I can't wait to see those photos later! 

Also I was getting so sad that we weren't seeing busin and then bam one walked right down the road 6 inches from our car! It was so neat! Those pictures are on my nice camera.

I have hundreds of photos! 

Yellowstone lake! 

Problem is I'm sick so my body has been so tired. Everytime I sat in the car I started to doze off. My body just wanted to sleep the whole time. That with the itchy eyes, runny nose, sore throat... A mess. But Yellowstone was worth it. Even if I have to camp two nights and use vault toilets. The camping has actually been super fun! Just hard when you're sick. Mikelle and Ali are awesome they are super prepared and have everything. Also we had Cadbury smores. We don't do that Hershey's crap. 

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