A Touch Of Tyrell

  We went to Colorado for Fall break.... because what better place is there than Colorado in the Fall??! Jake had been on a guys trip to Colorado the week prior, so the kids and I drove to meet up with him at my parents house.  We didn't waste any time. We went for a scenic drive and then ended up at our favorite BBQ place. It kind-of feels like we do the same things every time we go, but the kids love it and it's turning into a fun tradition.  We drove up to Fort Lewis and found some deer right on campus.  We were SO close. It's funny how I've turned into one of those city slickers from Phoenix that stops to check out the deer! The girls spent a lot of time playing in the sand box, coloring, crafting, and playing with the trinkets they brought. It's so fun to see the girls have so much fun together.  Jake and Braxton even taught Everett how to chop wood.  Before we left to go back home, Grammy made me chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and apple pie for...

Because of the several rough emotional days behind us, I just woke up early the next morning. Plenty early to feel the slight chill of a July morning and Mt. bike the roads around my hometown.  I needed the solitude and movement before being on the road for the 9 hours to get home.  It was good for my heart.  A little time alone in the country never hurt anyone :) I made it home from my 11 mile ride before the family was even up. #success   I don't think either Jake or I knew how much these 10 days we spent in Colorado would change us.  There were plenty of conversations on the way home that continued to peel at the layers. We were getting close to hitting rock bottom. We thought we'd hit rock bottom so many times but there always seemed to be a basement... and then a trap door that would take us even farther down. 

We decided to go on one last adventure before we went back to the desert.  Silverton. Just the drive there is an adventure. It's SO GORGEOUS and fills my nature & mountain loving heart to the top!  When we were almost there, we mentioned to the kids that we would stop in town and get some lunch before heading out on the hike. Breckie says: "I want Wendy's!!!"  Jake and I smiled big time.  There's no such thing as a chain restaurant... or chain anything in Silverton. It's all local and all awesome.  We ate at a BBQ place that was super good. My mom's cornbread and butter was like the most delicious manna from heaven possible! We walked in a few shops real quick and then promised the kids we'd walk back through after the hike.  It's a super popular hike (and it was a Saturday) so we had to park 3/4 mile away before we even got to the trailhead 😅 We didn't end up doing a whole lot of the hike, but we played in the river a lot and it was super...

 If you're in for a long story about the good/bad or our marriage (and lot of pretty pictures of the trail up to Ice Lake in Silverton Colorado... then this is a post for you.  But first, I must post this quote (that I found on Instagram) that I just love:  Not that I think I'm the coolest for telling the truth, but I do think it's pretty important to be more transparent than not. I don't need to share EVERYTHING to tell the truth... in fact, I don't need to share anything at all, but I find that the more real stories I hear, the more I am satisfied with my life because I discover that everyone has baggage. So, if you can relate, I guess this is for you.  It's a long story, but I have tons of pictures, so it should work out :) I have talked with Jake and he has given me permission to share this part of our story/journey. We are just shy of being married for 14 years. We are both the 3rd of 6 kids growing up #middlechild and I have always been used to compromises...